Author Topic: Cb550 Hooligan (Read 3753 times)

Wreckitralph54 · « **on:** June 28, 2022, 07:00:50 PM »

Hello. I’ve owned my 1975 cb550 for 10 years. In those 10 years I messed around with it here and there but never really made any progress on it. Well 1 month ago I decided to build the bike for the born free show in Southern California and I’ll post some of the build photos here.

Bike was found by my uncle around 2006 from a Craigslist ad that read “free motorcycle”.
My uncle picked it up and it was sitting in a backyard in Los Feliz, Los Angeles for 20 years. Bike had a blue or red stock tank with super long forks, chrome swing arm with a big seat with a sissy bar. You can see yellow paint under the flaky black spray paint.

If you have any info on this bikes history please let me know. Whoever built it back in the late 70s early 80s really took the time and had EVERYTHING chromed. Every nut bolt and washer was sent out.

Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2022, 07:08:22 PM »

This is what I started with. I had since put on a 1970s action fours 4into1 exhaust, clip ons and cb750 forks.

Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2022, 07:25:35 PM »

I will post more photos and info later. This is difficult to do on my phone and the website has crashed twice while I post

Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2022, 02:28:29 AM »

Started off with disassembly of the front end since I was missing parts/material for the rear section of the bike. I noticed the neck was loose so I tried tightening it and realized the lower triple tree was hitting the frame. There was a .100 thick spacer that went between the lower tree and the tapered bearing. I machined a .200 thick spacer and that resolved the issue.

Website continues to crash while I make my posts so ill try posting in smaller batches

newday777 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2022, 03:17:16 AM »

Quote from: Wreckitralph54 on June 28, 2022, 07:25:35 PM

I will post more photos and info later. This is difficult to do on my phone and the website has crashed twice while I post

It sounds like what I went through trying to post pictures from my phone. You try to add attachments and when you hit post you loose all you typed because it gives you an empty screen saying to big of picture size? Hit backwards button to get back to your text you typed so it isn't lost. The attachments that were too big will be removed.

Go to your camera settings and reduce the size the camera takes the pictures at. (Get help from a techie at your phone store if needed...) I know it's very frustrating....
The website has a limit to the individual size at 4096KB. I'm not a techie so I don't know what you need to do on your settings but since I did that I don't have problems posting pictures now.

newday777 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2022, 03:30:50 AM »

Quote from: Wreckitralph54 on July 01, 2022, 02:28:29 AM

Started off with disassembly of the front end since I was missing parts/material for the rear section of the bike. I noticed the neck was loose so I tried tightening it and realized the lower triple tree was hitting the frame. There was a .100 thick spacer that went between the lower tree and the tapered bearing. I machined a .200 thick spacer and that resolved the issue.

Website continues to crash while I make my posts so ill try posting in smaller batches

Did you get a set of tapered steering bearings or are you trying to reuse the round ball bearings? Big suggestion.... dump the round ball bearings and the races in the trash can. Get a set of tapered bearings for your bike. All Balls (or other brand) are available and use a torque wrench and the special socket to properly torque the bearings. The round ball bears put a dent in the race which gives a loose spot(from hitting bumps, almost always in the straight ahead fork position), you cannot get the proper torque once there is a dent in the race and you will have either too tight on the rest of the swing or too loose at the dent which gives you wobbly steering as it bounces back and forth on the sides of the dent.(this is also the cause of tires cupping).

Gurp · « **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2022, 02:05:40 AM »

Hey man from the Ohio KY border. Not alot of chopper folk on here but a few!
Hope you make it to Bron free on it. When you do post pics.

As far as the site crashing I downloaded the Tapatalk app and unload pics from there. Really makes it better since it automatically resizes for you.

Love the start on the bike.

Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:00:12 AM »

Quote from: newday777 on July 01, 2022, 03:17:16 AM

Quote from: Wreckitralph54 on June 28, 2022, 07:25:35 PM
I will post more photos and info later. This is difficult to do on my phone and the website has crashed twice while I post

It sounds like what I went through trying to post pictures from my phone. You try to add attachments and when you hit post you loose all you typed because it gives you an empty screen saying to big of picture size? Hit backwards button to get back to your text you typed so it isn't lost. The attachments that were too big will be removed.

Go to your camera settings and reduce the size the camera takes the pictures at. (Get help from a techie at your phone store if needed...) I know it's very frustrating....
The website has a limit to the individual size at 4096KB. I'm not a techie so I don't know what you need to do on your settings but since I did that I don't have problems posting pictures now.

Yes that’s what I found out it was doing except it wasn’t telling me the photos were too big until I tried to post a single photo by itself. Also the bike does have tapered bearings that my uncle installed. It’s the aftermarket triple tree that was rubbing the frame. Once I get the photos posted you’ll see

Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:01:59 AM »

Quote from: Gurp on July 02, 2022, 02:05:40 AM

Hey man from the Ohio KY border. Not alot of chopper folk on here but a few!
Hope you make it to Bron free on it. When you do post pics.

As far as the site crashing I downloaded the Tapatalk app and unload pics from there. Really makes it better since it automatically resizes for you.

Love the start on the bike.

Thanks man. I ended up making it to born free on the last day and about 3 hours late haha. Finished the bike that Sunday morning at 4am
I’ll try and get the photos posted soon

Gurp · « **Reply #9 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:03:14 AM »

Heck yeah dude! Can't wait to see the pictures!

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Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:12:46 AM »

Ok let’s see if this works now.

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Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:18:01 AM »

Machined a .200 thick spacer to replace the .100
Mock up for the 6” stretch. Ended up cutting 2 inches out of it later and she currently sits at a 4” stretch. Cleaned the carbs and routed new fuel and vent lines. Cleaned the intakes and installed new o rings and grommets. Ran out of money so I used the new tires that were sitting in my garage for the past 5 years. Bike still isn’t street legal and won’t be until I get my next commission check. So at that point she’s going in for some adjustments and new tires.

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Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:20:51 AM »

Made a custom mount for both gauges. Ended up not using it because the headlight was in the way. I’ll come back to it and I’ll need to drill holes in the plastic housing to allow the cables to slip through. I Cut off the rear mounts to install a cleaner set up from Cognito Moto.

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Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:26:36 AM »

You can see the process of extending the swingarm. I used Chromoly tubing, 1 3/8 .058 wall and sleeved it with 1 1/2 .065 wall.
I sleeved 1 inch into the existing swingarm and tig welded the seam along with roset welds.
I started with 6 inches but it seemed like too much so I shortened it to 4.

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Gurp · « **Reply #14 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:30:26 AM »

Seeing the right triple trees I'm assuming you're using an HD front end. Did you do a stem swap on that?
Love that you left the estimation out for the extended swing arm. Appears to be about a four beer job possibly a five lol.
On the next bike scheduled for my lift I've been wanting to do an extended swing arm for years guess there's no time like now lol.
Great work Buddy really enjoying this thread

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Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:30:40 AM »

I got the rear shock mounts tacked in place. Moved on to making templates for the seat. I spent a day and a half making templates and finally just sent it on the final one. I’m still not happy with it but I will make another one.

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Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:35:56 AM »

Quote from: Gurp on July 03, 2022, 02:30:26 AM

Seeing the right triple trees I'm assuming you're using an HD front end. Did you do a stem swap on that?
Love that you left the estimation out for the extended swing arm. Appears to be about a four beer job possibly a five lol.
On the next bike scheduled for my lift I've been wanting to do an extended swing arm for years guess there's no time like now lol.
Great work Buddy really enjoying this thread

Sent from my LE2127 using Tapatalk

Judging that this used to be a chopper I’m sure it is a HD front end. The frame is not modified but the stem looks like it had some machining done to it but I’m not 100%. I’m using cb750 forks for no other reason than they were available on eBay

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Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:40:47 AM »

I built the tail section out of 5052 .065 aluminum. Then I painted the tank oxford white and had my grandpa do the art work. I wanted black art but he insisted on magenta without letting me know haha xD
I sprayed it with a flat clear coat to try and dull it down to match the rest of the bike but ultimately had to hit it with some scotch bright and rub my greasy hands all over it and it came out perfect which you’ll see in the professional photographs I’ll post next.

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Gurp · « **Reply #18 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:43:58 AM »

Yeah probably an HD front end. Considering you said it looks like it's had some machining done probably an old 33.4 mm front end with raked triples for someone's early sportster.

Love the artwork it's freaking awesome! Major props to Grandpa for killing it!

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Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:45:55 AM »

My original plan was to hide all of the electronics under the tail. I later realized I forgot to take into consideration extending the entire wiring harness. So I had to scramble and make a electronics tray that I silicon bronzed to the frame. It worked out perfect because I didn’t have to extend any wiring except the battery cables which I used from my jeeps welding kit that utilizes three batteries to make field repairs. The last photo shows after doing metal finishing and installing Spring loaded dzus tabs to mount the seat and then the tail light

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Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:48:21 AM »

Quote from: Gurp on July 03, 2022, 02:43:58 AM

Yeah probably an HD front end. Considering you said it looks like it's had some machining done probably an old 33.4 mm front end with raked triples for someone's early sportster.

Love the artwork it's freaking awesome! Major props to Grandpa for killing it!

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I’ll keep that in mind because I need to hunt down more of those front ends so I can build more of these in case someone wants me to. As for machining on the stem it looks like they machined away a stop that would prevent the bearing from sliding up the shaft. Thanks man, he swears he’s never done drugs as well haha.

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Gurp · « **Reply #21 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:52:51 AM »

If you have any machining skills it would probably be much easier to make them then hunt down a narrow glide set of raked trees. As this is the first set I've ever seen LOL
Definitely an oddity and rare find I'd have to ask my buddy who's into the old HD choppers if he remembers who would have made a set like that.

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Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:56:41 AM »

Born free is a 2 day event. I finished the bike at 3:33AM on Sunday, June 26th. The day before I did red kote on the tank so the morning of the show, before leaving i put gas in it and immediately started pouring out gas through the petcock. Realized I rebuilt it incorrectly and fixed it. Well then the bike fires up and I realize cylinder number four is not firing. Turns out the float was adjusted incorrectly. My fault again. Lost about half a gallon of gas on the garage floor throughout that entire ordeal xD

Well while I was at the show a photographer from Japan was taking photos of the bike and asked to do a photo shoot so the next batch of photos I post will be of that photo shoot.

Also I added three photos of Tokyo Rose. She’s a CB 750 drag bike that was recently discovered and restored by Karl Ardo

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Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 03, 2022, 02:58:51 AM »

Quote from: Gurp on July 03, 2022, 02:52:51 AM

If you have any machining skills it would probably be much easier to make them then hunt down a narrow glide set of raked trees. As this is the first set I've ever seen LOL
Definitely an oddity and rare find I'd have to ask my buddy who's into the old HD choppers if he remembers who would have made a set like that.

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Yeah let me know man. There is no markings on them either. I’d love to find out some info on them and I can send you more photos and measurements of them as well

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Wreckitralph54 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 03, 2022, 03:01:55 AM »

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Author Topic: Cb550 Hooligan (Read 3753 times)