Topic: Another project-1976 Honda CB550K

[Oddjob]

The 13.8 seal looks to have superceded the 14.0 seal, most likely to make it grip the shaft better.

[denward17]

The 13.8 seal looks to have superceded the 14.0 seal, most likely to make it grip the shaft better.

I ordered from 2 different vendors, 1 indicated it was 14mm, the other indicated 13.8 mm (on the websites).  Both Honda seals, when I received both, I measured and both were the same(13..  With the magnifying glass, both were marked 13.8.

I installed this afternoon and will try to go on a ride in the few days, hopefully it won't leak.  I wrapped the end of the gear shift arm with tape, lubed up the seal and the gear shaft, it went on easily.

[grcamna2]

What does that run $, looks really nice!!
Bet it will be throatier than stock, I'm not a fan of loud bikes, some noise, but not loud stuff. I enjoy listening to music at other times too much to ruin it with loud exhausts and road noise...

$999.99
https://delkevic.com/delkevic-cb500-four-71-73-cb550-four-74-76-complete-oem-replica-4-into-4-chrome-exhaust/

Yes, the 4into1 was a little too loud for my liking.

Dennis, did this 4 into 4 system from Delkevic for your 550K come with any mounting hardware ?

[denward17]

^Yes, came with all the hardware and brackets needed.

[grcamna2]

^Yes, came with all the hardware and brackets needed.

I'm buying a good,old 76' CB550F which has a 4 into 2 system (Mac or Jardine?) using the original K headpipes?.. The owner names it Dash.
 I love the look of your 4 into 4 stock K system So much that I'm considering the same one. I don't know whether the 76' CB550F frame will be able to do it,but I hope so.

[denward17]

^Yes, came with all the hardware and brackets needed.

I'm buying a good,old 76' CB550F which has a 4 into 2 system (Mac or Jardine?) using the original K headpipes?.. The owner names it Dash.
 I love the look of your 4 into 4 stock K system So much that I'm considering the same one. I don't know whether the 76' CB550F frame will be able to do it,but I hope so.

I really like them, but I'm not sure they fit an 'F' model.  Thought I read the rear foot peg frame area was different, or maybe that was just the 750.

[grcamna2]

^Yes, came with all the hardware and brackets needed.

I'm buying a good,old 76' CB550F which has a 4 into 2 system (Mac or Jardine?) using the original K headpipes?.. The owner names it Dash.
 I love the look of your 4 into 4 stock K system So much that I'm considering the same one. I don't know whether the 76' CB550F frame will be able to do it,but I hope so.

I really like them, but I'm not sure they fit an 'F' model.  Thought I read the rear foot peg frame area was different, or maybe that was just the 750.

I see..

[Stev-o]

^Yes, came with all the hardware and brackets needed.

I'm buying a good,old 76' CB550F which has a 4 into 2 system (Mac or Jardine?) using the original K headpipes?.. The owner names it Dash.
 I love the look of your 4 into 4 stock K system So much that I'm considering the same one. I don't know whether the 76' CB550F frame will be able to do it,but I hope so.

I really like them, but I'm not sure they fit an 'F' model.  Thought I read the rear foot peg frame area was different, or maybe that was just the 750.

There would be an issue mounting a 550K exhaust on an F.

Bill - you buying Mooshie's bike?  Her's was named Dash.

[grcamna2]

^Yes, came with all the hardware and brackets needed.

I'm buying a good,old 76' CB550F which has a 4 into 2 system (Mac or Jardine?) using the original K headpipes?.. The owner names it Dash.
 I love the look of your 4 into 4 stock K system So much that I'm considering the same one. I don't know whether the 76' CB550F frame will be able to do it,but I hope so.

I really like them, but I'm not sure they fit an 'F' model.  Thought I read the rear foot peg frame area was different, or maybe that was just the 750.

There would be an issue mounting a 550K exhaust on an F.

Bill - you buying Mooshie's bike?  Her's was named Dash.

Yes I am Stev-o,purchasing Dash.

[Kelly E]

^Yes, came with all the hardware and brackets needed.

I'm buying a good,old 76' CB550F which has a 4 into 2 system (Mac or Jardine?) using the original K headpipes?.. The owner names it Dash.
 I love the look of your 4 into 4 stock K system So much that I'm considering the same one. I don't know whether the 76' CB550F frame will be able to do it,but I hope so.

I really like them, but I'm not sure they fit an 'F' model.  Thought I read the rear foot peg frame area was different, or maybe that was just the 750.

There would be an issue mounting a 550K exhaust on an F.

Bill - you buying Mooshie's bike?  Her's was named Dash.

Yes I am Stev-o,purchasing Dash.

Bill, post pics when you get Dash, I'm not that familiar with it.

[grcamna2]

^Yes, came with all the hardware and brackets needed.

I'm buying a good,old 76' CB550F which has a 4 into 2 system (Mac or Jardine?) using the original K headpipes?.. The owner names it Dash.
 I love the look of your 4 into 4 stock K system So much that I'm considering the same one. I don't know whether the 76' CB550F frame will be able to do it,but I hope so.

I really like them, but I'm not sure they fit an 'F' model.  Thought I read the rear foot peg frame area was different, or maybe that was just the 750.

There would be an issue mounting a 550K exhaust on an F.

Bill - you buying Mooshie's bike?  Her's was named Dash.

Yes I am Stev-o,purchasing Dash.

Bill, post pics when you get Dash, I'm not that familiar with it.

I will do that.

[Stev-o]

^Yes, came with all the hardware and brackets needed.

I'm buying a good,old 76' CB550F which has a 4 into 2 system (Mac or Jardine?) using the original K headpipes?.. The owner names it Dash.
 I love the look of your 4 into 4 stock K system So much that I'm considering the same one. I don't know whether the 76' CB550F frame will be able to do it,but I hope so.

I really like them, but I'm not sure they fit an 'F' model.  Thought I read the rear foot peg frame area was different, or maybe that was just the 750.

There would be an issue mounting a 550K exhaust on an F.

Bill - you buying Mooshie's bike?  Her's was named Dash.

Yes I am Stev-o,purchasing Dash.

Bill, post pics when you get Dash, I'm not that familiar with it.

Hey Kelly...here are a couple pics of Lisa and her bike, "Dash".  Pretty remarkable Lisa's long distance trips on that bike.  And it won BOTM 10 years ago...

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,145970.0.html

[grcamna2]

^Yes, came with all the hardware and brackets needed.

I'm buying a good,old 76' CB550F which has a 4 into 2 system (Mac or Jardine?) using the original K headpipes?.. The owner names it Dash.
 I love the look of your 4 into 4 stock K system So much that I'm considering the same one. I don't know whether the 76' CB550F frame will be able to do it,but I hope so.

I really like them, but I'm not sure they fit an 'F' model.  Thought I read the rear foot peg frame area was different, or maybe that was just the 750.

There would be an issue mounting a 550K exhaust on an F.

Bill - you buying Mooshie's bike?  Her's was named Dash.

Yes I am Stev-o,purchasing Dash.

Bill, post pics when you get Dash, I'm not that familiar with it.

Hey Kelly...here are a couple pics of Lisa and her bike, "Dash".  Pretty remarkable Lisa's long distance trips on that bike.  And it won BOTM 10 years ago...

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,145970.0.html

I appreciate you posting this Stev-o 

[Kelly E]

^Yes, came with all the hardware and brackets needed.

I'm buying a good,old 76' CB550F which has a 4 into 2 system (Mac or Jardine?) using the original K headpipes?.. The owner names it Dash.
 I love the look of your 4 into 4 stock K system So much that I'm considering the same one. I don't know whether the 76' CB550F frame will be able to do it,but I hope so.

I really like them, but I'm not sure they fit an 'F' model.  Thought I read the rear foot peg frame area was different, or maybe that was just the 750.

There would be an issue mounting a 550K exhaust on an F.

Bill - you buying Mooshie's bike?  Her's was named Dash.

Yes I am Stev-o,purchasing Dash.

Bill, post pics when you get Dash, I'm not that familiar with it.

Hey Kelly...here are a couple pics of Lisa and her bike, "Dash".  Pretty remarkable Lisa's long distance trips on that bike.  And it won BOTM 10 years ago...

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,145970.0.html

Thanks, nice bike.

[denward17]

Oil leak around head after ~1200 miles...........

After top end rebuild I used a Vesrah gasket set with the supplied o-rings.....mistake I guess.

I now have Hondaman o-rings and a Honda OEM head gasket on the bench waiting.........for cooler weather to work in the garage.  It's been 99-101 the last few days, but today is 95.

I went out today with some foot spray powder and sprayed areas I had seen wet on previous rides.  I did clean the oil wetness first, then sprayed and cranked engine with a fan blowing for about 20 minutes, then I discovered the leak.

Assume it is the o-ring on the left side of engine, right side not leaking.

Pics show the wetness beginning ........Note the dark spots between head and cylinder.  I hate oil leaks....

[grcamna2]

I'll say this up-front: Nice Bike Dennis 

I see the area you found where it's leaking.

You plan on taking it apart to fix this.
Possibly have the cylinder head surface checked for flatness,to see if it might need a small(.004"?)fly-cut/machine the gasket surface?

The other thing I would do is to use a set of thread-chasers(not taps or dies)to smooth the threads on all the studs and head-nuts. imo

[denward17]

I'll say this up-front: Nice Bike Dennis 

I see the area you found where it's leaking.

You plan on taking it apart to fix this.
Possibly have the cylinder head surface checked for flatness,to see if it might need a small(.004"?)fly-cut/machine the gasket surface?

The other thing I would do is to use a set of thread-chasers(not taps or dies)to smooth the threads on all the studs and head-nuts. imo

Thanks Bill!
I'll check the flatness, but had both cylinder and head decked before putting it back together.  All threads were in good shape the first time.

[grcamna2]

I'll say this up-front: Nice Bike Dennis 

I see the area you found where it's leaking.

You plan on taking it apart to fix this.
Possibly have the cylinder head surface checked for flatness,to see if it might need a small(.004"?)fly-cut/machine the gasket surface?

The other thing I would do is to use a set of thread-chasers(not taps or dies)to smooth the threads on all the studs and head-nuts. imo

Thanks Bill!
I'll check the flatness, but had both cylinder and head decked before putting it back together.  All threads were in good shape the first time.

Dennis, seems like you're ready,set with good quality rubber parts and a quality head gasket  only thing I can think of now might be to check the length of the steel knock-pins/dowels to be sure they're not too long and that they'll allow your head gasket to fully compress.

[denward17]

^Thanks for the tip, will re-check those..

[BenelliSEI]

I feel your pain……

[Stev-o]

Sorry to see it Den, it is very difficult to rebuild a motor that doesnt leak.

Silver lining - you can pull the head on the 550 w/o motor removal!

[denward17]

Sorry to see it Den, it is very difficult to rebuild a motor that doesnt leak.

Silver lining - you can pull the head on the 550 w/o motor removal!

Indeed, started the process this morning, battery/battery tray out, airbox out, carbs off and slid back, exhaust is loose, but will now take a break for a day or so, it's hot out there.

[denward17]

^Good call Bill.....

Head is off and I think I found the culprit.....the guide pins between the head and cylinder.  I did have the head and cylinder decked (don't exactly know how much the cylinder was decked, but the head was .006" if I recall).

Anyway, measuring the guide/dowel/knock pins, they were ~17.7 mm.

I measured the depth of each head/cylinder guide pin holes and they came out ~15.5mm, so the guide pins were ~2mm too long.

I have already grinded them down to about ~14.9mm.

I am pretty sure I measured these before I put the engine back together the first time, but somehow didn't catch it.

Anyway, it is right this time, hopefully that was the reason it was leaking.

[grcamna2]

^Good call Bill.....

Head is off and I think I found the culprit.....the guide pins between the head and cylinder.  I did have the head and cylinder decked (don't exactly know how much the cylinder was decked, but the head was .006" if I recall).

Anyway, measuring the guide/dowel/knock pins, they were ~17.7 mm.

I measured the depth of each head/cylinder guide pin holes and they came out ~15.5mm, so the guide pins were ~2mm too long.

I have already grinded them down to about ~14.9mm.

I am pretty sure I measured these before I put the engine back together the first time, but somehow didn't catch it.

Anyway, it is right this time, hopefully that was the reason it was leaking.

I don't mind if they're a tad short.
I usually install the head w/o the gasket to give a quick check.

[denward17]

Finally got all the parts I was waiting for, and waited for a cooler day to work in the garage.

Back together and took maiden voyage in the garage (raining today).  Enjoyed using Hondaman's book to help with assembly.

After warm up, let it idle at 4K RPM for 15 minutes, with a few blasts up to 6K RPM, no oil leak, sounds like a sewing machine.

Ready for a real ride though, either been raining or too hot.