Topic: Got rid of my 550K... and replaced it with a 550F and a 350F

[Stev-o]

ok!  CBO=candy bachus olive....much easier than trying to remember how to spell that b word ha ha.  Took me a few to figure out CBO...certainly a fine color choice.

Oh yeah, that is a great color...

[carnivorous chicken]

The 550F is out of commission... because I'm getting the exhaust and other parts chromed!

I went a couple months ago to talk to some guys about prices and what they could do, but I wanted to ride the bike and didn't have the time. Term is over, basically, so I pulled the exhaust and collected the other parts and brought it down to the shop -- it's only about 15 mins away.

No broken or stripped exhaust studs, so that was nice. Weird looking exhaust seals, but I guess they worked (I have new crush seals). There is a wonky bolt attaching the clamp that joins the header and muffler -- I loosened it enough to pull out the header and I'll get to it in the next day or so before the parts are done.

I brought down a spare grab rail that was straighter than the one on the bike (but still needed little straightening), the fender the bike had on it (single strut, but with a pretty sizeable dent; I've since replaced it with a 2-strut repro from VN), spare shifter and rear brake lever (both on the bike are slightly bent from tipping over), and the stock 4-1 header (pretty straight, tiny amount of surface rust where it mounts and a small ding on the underside, but the chrome was super dull). I was a little surprised at the price, $4900. That's pesos, BTW, so about $250. The guys had quoted me a higher price on the exhaust the first time around but I imagine they gave me a little discount because I brought in a few things. But all in all -- pretty cheap. Guy wanted to show me some recent work so he pulled out his cell phone to show me a bike they did for a show and inadvertently showed me... pictures of what I assume are his girlfriend, uh, from behind, uh, sans clothes.

They've got a good rep and looks like they do good work, so I'm optimistic. They said I could go back Saturday to pick everything up, or they'd give me a call if it's done earlier.

While the bike is down I'm going to do a few more things -- switch out those damned allen bolts and misc stuff on the head cover, replace both sprockets and chain, and figure out what's up with that clamp bolt. It's been fits and starts, but with a few more things to go this thing will be done and be a really nice rider. Oh yeah, I switched out the tacho chrome ring because the other one had a ding.

[carnivorous chicken]

This was a couple blocks away from the chrome shop. I'm not religious at all (kind of the opposite) but a cool image -- Mexico City is filled with this kind of street art and some of it is pretty cool and/or good.

[Stev-o]

Great mural!    One of my favorite bars in Playa del Carmen has an awesome mural of Jimi Hendrix, we're booked to go there next month.

Curious about how your chrome turns out.

[carnivorous chicken]

Great mural!    One of my favorite bars in Playa del Carmen has an awesome mural of Jimi Hendrix, we're booked to go there next month.

Curious about how your chrome turns out.

I'll post for sure. Crossing my fingers.

[Oddjob]

Odd thing about the mural, drive chain goes in front of the rear wheel at the bottom, but behind it at the top 

[carnivorous chicken]

Odd thing about the mural, drive chain goes in front of the rear wheel at the bottom, but behind it at the top 

It's one of those magic ones that passes through the hub, and obviates the need for spokes on half the wheel and a swing arm -- the lord works in mysterious ways, apparently. Trying to figure out if the exhaust is more Ariel square four or Vincent but leaning toward the latter.

[grcamna2]

Chris,how's the CB350F ? 

[carnivorous chicken]

Chris,how's the CB350F ? 

Absolutely floundering and about to get parked. It was smoking over 5k rpm, and it's rings (compression went up with a little oil in the cylinders), but now it's smoking at 4K rpm and riding that thing at that low of rpms is pointless. I was waiting for the 5500F to be (mostly) done and now that it is (mostly) it's time to park the 350F. I have a 400F engine that was rebuilt a few years ago and I'm gonna switch them out. Crossing my fingers. If it's bad then I have two sets of jugs in PHX and a set of pistons, but I'm not sure what shape they're in. If the 400F engine doesn't work out I'll probably do an overbore on the 350F engine at some point. But that's my 350F here in Mexico City...

The 350F in PHX is doing great. Was running a little lean at idle but just needed adjustment. Want a new air filter and brake shoes and line the tank and it's set. Trying to decide if I want to bring it here or leave in in PHX -- it's parked some friends' house and they have been more than patient about it. And it'd be nice to have bike to ride when I am there.

Went to the chrome shop today. Looks like the guy did a great job but I honestly was in a hurry and just had a quick look. The fender I got chromed has a 2" X 3" dent and he straightened that out very nicely -- can just barely tell holding it at an angle. He rechromed the shifter and the rear brake lever for the 550F, and they look great too -- he told me the brake lever was cast differently, had more texture, so he smoothed it out a little (a la Oddjob?). He also straightened out and rechromed the 550F grab bar and it looks great. He told me he wasn't satisfied with the exhaust so I have to wait until Tuesday. Was looking forward to getting it together tomorrow but I'll just have to be patient. I'll post photos tomorrow.

I got the new chain on today and cleaned out the cover. I've got to work out the clamp bolt for the muffler -- it's stripped and not stock so I'll just use a grinder and cut it off. I thought I had new exhaust seals but they are for the 350F (and the Busso system I got but haven't mounted yet). I've ordered new seals and will pick them up in Seattle at Xmas, but for now will reuse the seals that were on there and cross my fingers that they'll work. They look like DIY but seemed to do fine before I took the exhaust off. Tomorrow I'll mount the grab bar and levers too.

[Oddjob]

TBH Honda are guilty of this, they smooth the side you can see but leave the parts where you can't see sort of semi rough and the chrome is quite dull because of it, gear lever is like that as well. One thing they are guilty of is not dressing the edges of things like the brake lever, were they were cut from the mould they tend to leave them rough, like the edges of the chain adjusters, this means the chrome doesn't have a smooth surface to adhere to and it's where water can sit and slowly seep into the surface through the really small holes that are there due to the rough texture. When doing stuff like that I grind all those rough edges off then sand and polish them, not only do they look better when they come back but they should last much longer as a result. That's the theory, we'll have to wait and see on the practice.

The standard 4 into 4 exhausts on the 500 are a good example, really shiny chrome on the outside but dull on the inside. The new ones aren't like that, my set from CMS is bright chrome all over.

[carnivorous chicken]

Of course I didn't take any before photos (but have one of the brake lever since I got that on fleabay), but here's the new chrome. Exhaust on Tuesday, hopefully.











All in all, not bad. I had the rubber bit for the shifter laying around -- I think I bought that part years ago and never used it -- so nice to have that. Took my son to the park today, and we're going to go play some more later, so I'll switch out the grab bar tomorrow and grind off that exhaust clamp bolt.

The fender is the stock one for the 550F, and I may just sit on it in case I want to put it back on later.

[Oddjob]

They ground off the rough edges on the gear lever, good job.

Is the brake lever round? Or is that an optical illusion, the 550f has a flat sided brake lever cause of the 4 into 1 and clearance issues.

[carnivorous chicken]

They ground off the rough edges on the gear lever, good job.

Is the brake lever round? Or is that an optical illusion, the 550f has a flat sided brake lever cause of the 4 into 1 and clearance issues.

It's the photo, it's flat.

[Oddjob]

They’ve done a decent job from what I can see, is it triple plated eg with a copper layer?

[grcamna2]

Chris,good that you're taking the 'smoker' 350F off the road and really making the 550F wonderful  !! 
Keep it locked-away from anybody that can see it parked at your residence.

[carnivorous chicken]

They’ve done a decent job from what I can see, is it triple plated eg with a copper layer?

This I don't know, but am planning to ask when I pick up the pipes. I viewed this as an experiment to see what I would get and at what price, and was happy about the latter. They also have a good reputation. The pipes might be the true test.

Chris,good that you're taking the 'smoker' 350F off the road and really making the 550F wonderful  !! 
Keep it locked-away from anybody that can see it parked at your residence.

I live in a 7-unit condo with security, and have an underground parking space for the bike with a remote controlled security door. We've got security cameras in the garage, at the door, and on the street. It's not going anywhere while it's home. I use the steering lock and have a small cable with lock when I go out, but if anything feels sketchy I can just pay a buck or two to park it somewhere supervised. My university is public, so there are cops crawling all over the place so I'm not worried about it there.

I've owned that 350F since 1997 so I'm eager to keep it on the road in some form -- but yeah, it's embarrassing riding something that smokes (when it isn't supposed to).

[grcamna2]

They’ve done a decent job from what I can see, is it triple plated eg with a copper layer?

This I don't know, but am planning to ask when I pick up the pipes. I viewed this as an experiment to see what I would get and at what price, and was happy about the latter. They also have a good reputation. The pipes might be the true test.

Chris,good that you're taking the 'smoker' 350F off the road and really making the 550F wonderful  !! 
Keep it locked-away from anybody that can see it parked at your residence.

I live in a 7-unit condo with security, and have an underground parking space for the bike with a remote controlled security door. We've got security cameras in the garage, at the door, and on the street. It's not going anywhere while it's home. I use the steering lock and have a small cable with lock when I go out, but if anything feels sketchy I can just pay a buck or two to park it somewhere supervised. My university is public, so there are cops crawling all over the place so I'm not worried about it there.

I've owned that 350F since 1997 so I'm eager to keep it on the road in some form -- but yeah, it's embarrassing riding something that smokes (when it isn't supposed to).

You mentioned about the police & security;makes me feel good knowing they're there to do their jobs. Living here in Davis,Ca. (I had never lived out West:in CA. before 2017',it's a lonely place for me)hearing about all this stuff going-on w/ no police presence really pisses me off..    Oops  sorry,that's for a different thread 

[Stev-o]

The fender looks amazing!

[carnivorous chicken]

Finally got the header back and... it's about a C- on the chrome job. They told me three days, then 5, then... they'd call me. It was ready last Saturday but I couldn't pick it up until today. It's certainly a lot shinier than it was... except for the dull areas. I asked him about it, he told me that was the best he could do but they tested it under a flame to show it would hold up to heat. Meh... not much I could do but take it and go. The other parts turned out fine, so I guess find someone else to try to do exhaust if I want to that again.



Cleaned up the flanges.



And replaced a rear turn signal that had a small ding. The other was from a front turn signal so I switched the guts.



Steve O is gonna send me a few of my missing pieces for the airbox, and I'm gonna get that together at some point soon. Will probably have to think about rejetting at this altitude -- the current set up with pods is fine but I'm guessing an airbox will let in less air and I'll need to step down the jets.

Couple minor details left, including recovering the seat at some point -- I have a cover that might work. Want to replace a front turn signal stalk too. but it's getting pretty dialed in. Will give it a wash this weekend and take a photo of the whole bike.

[Oddjob]

The problem with headers welded together like those is that it’s almost impossible to get a polishing rig into them, so you end up with less than shiny areas.

[carnivorous chicken]

The problem with headers welded together like those is that it’s almost impossible to get a polishing rig into them, so you end up with less than shiny areas.

That raises three questions.

Why didn't they say that when I brought it in?

How did Honda get that done at the factory?

And if Honda could do, how can I?

They did verify they use nickel, copper and zinc under the chrome.

[Oddjob]

First of al the metal would be brand new before chroming, so no dents, no staining, no rust. Secondly they could polish before welding if need be, then chrome after welding.

Never heard of zinc being used before chroming.

As for not saying, maybe they just didn’t think about it or thought it would be possible but then found it wasn’t.

It was cheap though, you can do it, just not feasible for a professional to do it.

[scottly]

The polishing and chrome plating wasn't that great to begin with on the 400 header, especially on the back side. Hey Chris, want a 400 project?

[carnivorous chicken]

The polishing and chrome plating wasn't that great to begin with on the 400 header, especially on the back side. Hey Chris, want a 400 project?

Although on the 400F header the 1 and 3 pipes were removable. They're the only pipes I've had replated (once at Papago Plating, once at Metro Plating -- dunno if you knew them, PHX and Mesa, both closed now). And both times they turned out great.

Up to my ears right now -- trying to find time to switch a 400F engine into the 350F I have down here, and wrenching on that 350F I have in Phoenix when I am there but I guess I have to ask -- how much of a project and how much?

When I told me wife about the 350F I've got in PHX and might bring down, making it three here, she asked me how many more I wanted. "One for each day of the week," was my answer.

[scottly]

It's a total basket case with no title.