Topic: Another project-1976 Honda CB550K

[grcamna2]

Good points, will look into the fork pipes, but at quick glance I don't see specs for the OD of the pipes.

I have a shop manual in storage Den;I can go there and look up the correct outside mm diameter of the fork tubes for you if no one else here has the info readily available. Let me know 

I saw on Forks by Frank's website that they should be 35mm, that's all I could find so far.

I have a soft copy of a 500/550 service manual, in the technical data section it only lists the free length of the springs.

I'll look in storage tomorrow.

[denward17]

Thanks grcamna, appreciate that.

I inserted each tube into both fork legs and there is no wiggle at all.  I rolled each on a sheet of plywood and don't see any bends.

Don't see any nicks in the travel areas at all.

Quick measurements taken with a digital caliper indicates 35mm, with some areas falling to 34.96 or so.  Obviously need to really clean them and measure more precisely with a micrometer.

Hopefully these are ok to go back in.

[BenelliSEI]

If they’ve only gone 12k miles and there was oil in the legs, they should be just fine.m

[denward17]

If they’ve only gone 12k miles and there was oil in the legs, they should be just fine.m

There was some oil in both legs, but not a lot..

[denward17]

I re-connected the master to the caliper and had success getting the piston out.

Looks like I need a new piston, but I think the caliper is ok.

I cleaned it up a bit with 0000 steel wool, but the piston has some minor pitting.

[grcamna2]

I re-connected the master to the caliper and had success getting the piston out.

Looks like I need a new piston, but I think the caliper is ok.

I cleaned it up a bit with 0000 steel wool, but the piston has some minor pitting.

Yes,I would certainly replace that piston.

I have a complete restored caliper assembly for your bike from member Godfferysgarage.com;Jeff is a member here and turns-out excellent quality parts.
He also sells phenolic caliper pistons;I have one of those also.
I can sell either one to you if needed;I never used either one yet.
I also have a very good condition used complete caliper with a good piston(less pads)for your bike.

[BenelliSEI]

That old piston definitely will eat a new seal. I’d be tempted to try that phenolic piston, they make sense.

[denward17]

Thanks for the offer grcamna, but I had already placed an order earlier this afternoon from PartsNmore.

[denward17]

Thanks Bill (grcamna2) for the spec info.

I measured my forks and they appear to be in spec, so will reuse them.

                #1                     #2

Top          1.3747              1.3745

Middle     1.3755               1.3752

Bottom    1.3755               1.3755

             (.0008)                 (.001)

Specs are .002 / .05mm

[BenelliSEI]

Dennis….. posted off your lever this am. Used “regular post”, so fingers crossed! John D.

[denward17]

^Thanks John...

[grcamna2]

Thanks Bill (grcamna2) for the spec info.

I measured my forks and they appear to be in spec, so will reuse them.

                #1                     #2

Top          1.3747              1.3745

Middle     1.3755               1.3752

Bottom    1.3755               1.3755

             (.0008)                 (.001)

Specs are .002 / .05mm

I'm glad they are both within spec. Do they appear to be in excellent cond. visually ? 
The measurements you have(1.3747" & 1.3745")in the areas of the "Tops" of the fork tubes;is this where there is no factory chrome plating and the forks are bare steel?
I was determined to learn what the spec(wear limit .002"/.05mm)for the wear on the O.D. of the fork tubes are,as I couldn't find the info.
I asked and got this information from Mark/HondaMan.

[newday777]

Thanks Bill (grcamna2) for the spec info.

I measured my forks and they appear to be in spec, so will reuse them.

                #1                     #2

Top          1.3747              1.3745

Middle     1.3755               1.3752

Bottom    1.3755               1.3755

             (.0008)                 (.001)

Specs are .002 / .05mm

I'm glad they are both within spec. Do they appear to be in excellent cond. visually ? 
The measurements you have(1.3747" & 1.3745")in the areas of the "Tops" of the fork tubes;is this where there is no factory chrome plating and the forks are bare steel?
I was determined to learn what the spec(wear limit .002"/.05mm)for the wear on the O.D. of the fork tubes are,as I couldn't find the info.
I asked and got this information from Mark/HondaMan.

Wear thin of chrome sheen and scratches is the determination of good vs bad on any fork tube.

[BenelliSEI]

^Thanks John...

My pleasure!

[denward17]

Thanks Bill (grcamna2) for the spec info.

I measured my forks and they appear to be in spec, so will reuse them.

                #1                     #2

Top          1.3747              1.3745

Middle     1.3755               1.3752

Bottom    1.3755               1.3755

             (.0008)                 (.001)

Specs are .002 / .05mm

I'm glad they are both within spec. Do they appear to be in excellent cond. visually ? 
The measurements you have(1.3747" & 1.3745")in the areas of the "Tops" of the fork tubes;is this where there is no factory chrome plating and the forks are bare steel?
I was determined to learn what the spec(wear limit .002"/.05mm)for the wear on the O.D. of the fork tubes are,as I couldn't find the info.
I asked and got this information from Mark/HondaMan.

They appear clean with a light scuffing down near the bottom, this is where I took the measurement.  I cannot feel any scratches in that area.

The area in the top was measured between the triple tree clamping area, it appears to have some type of coating, but not chrome, maybe it is bare steel as there is some rust areas there I am trying to clean up with some Evaporust.

[grcamna2]

Thanks Bill (grcamna2) for the spec info.

I measured my forks and they appear to be in spec, so will reuse them.

                #1                     #2

Top          1.3747              1.3745

Middle     1.3755               1.3752

Bottom    1.3755               1.3755

             (.0008)                 (.001)

Specs are .002 / .05mm

I'm glad they are both within spec. Do they appear to be in excellent cond. visually ? 
The measurements you have(1.3747" & 1.3745")in the areas of the "Tops" of the fork tubes;is this where there is no factory chrome plating and the forks are bare steel?
I was determined to learn what the spec(wear limit .002"/.05mm)for the wear on the O.D. of the fork tubes are,as I couldn't find the info.
I asked and got this information from Mark/HondaMan.

They appear clean with a light scuffing down near the bottom, this is where I took the measurement.  I cannot feel any scratches in that area.

The area in the top was measured between the triple tree clamping area, it appears to have some type of coating, but not chrome, maybe it is bare steel as there is some rust areas there I am trying to clean up with some Evaporust.

Dennis,I would imagine the inside bores of your aluminum fork 'lowers' are also in very good condition.

[denward17]

^They appear to be, just looking in with a flashlight.

[grcamna2]

You'll have a nice handling/stopping front-end on that 550 

[denward17]

^I hope so, just spent some $$$ at SouthSound Honda and PartNmore....

[denward17]

One fork leg sanded and polished...this guy had a lot of deep gouges in it, can't get them all out.

I'm trying some paint stripper on the other leg to see if it will cut down on sanding time, will see later today..

[BenelliSEI]

That will look great on the bike! Well done.

[grcamna2]

Den,what type of fork springs will you be running ?
I bought a pair of Racetech .85kg straight-rate springs(I like straight-rate springs better than progressive-rate)for my bike off Ebay that a person bought but sold the bike(open package)before he used them.
I first researched the item# and matched the part# I wanted.

[denward17]

Den,what type of fork springs will you be running ?
I bought a pair of Racetech .85kg straight-rate springs for my bike off Ebay that a person bought but sold the bike(open package)before he used them.
I first researched the item# and matched the part# I wanted.

For now I'm going to put the same springs back in it.  The service manual indicates 17.78", with a service limit of 16.73", mine measured right at 18".

[grcamna2]

Den,what type of fork springs will you be running ?
I bought a pair of Racetech .85kg straight-rate springs for my bike off Ebay that a person bought but sold the bike(open package)before he used them.
I first researched the item# and matched the part# I wanted.

For now I'm going to put the same springs back in it.  The service manual indicates 17.78", with a service limit of 16.73", mine measured right at 18".

The front-end on your bike is in very good condition.

[BenelliSEI]

Den,what type of fork springs will you be running ?
I bought a pair of Racetech .85kg straight-rate springs for my bike off Ebay that a person bought but sold the bike(open package)before he used them.
I first researched the item# and matched the part# I wanted.

For now I'm going to put the same springs back in it.  The service manual indicates 17.78", with a service limit of 16.73", mine measured right at 18".

Looks like you have a long tape! 😉