Author Topic: '76 Honda CB550K paint job  (Read 748 times)

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Offline denward17

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'76 Honda CB550K paint job
« on: April 25, 2024, 03:00:38 PM »
I know there have been many threads about DIY paint jobs, so thought I would share mine.

I purchased this bike back in October and knew it would need to be painted.  My first thought was paint it OEM color, but after many weeks of thinking about it, just decided to pick out a color that I liked.  I wanted a color that reminded me of an old car I had ('94 Miata-Montego Blue).  It looked dark blue until it was in the sun light, then looked green.  I found this color on 66autocolor's website, so I went with it.  It is listed in the blue section of House of Kolor colors, listed as Bermuda Triangle.

I ordered 3 rattle cans for tank and side covers, and used most of it. The color coat cans came in SprayMax (1K) cans with good nozzles.  This color also had to have a black basecoat, so I used a can of Transtar 2in1 primer under the color coat.  This was recommended by 66autocolor.

The Black cleats were an afterthought.  At first, I was not going to add them, then decided at the last minute to add them, so I taped off decals with some Fine Line tape and painted them.  If I had to do it again, I would definitely paint them first, before applying decals, lesson learned.  All coats of primer, paint were 1K.

Decals were installed and I waited 3 days to let them dry before trying to put masking tape on them.

To finish it off, 4 coats of SprayMax 2K Glamour on the tank, 3 on the side covers.

Wet sanding with 2000 and 3000 grit to come 24 hours later (tomorrow afternoon), then buffing.

Will get  better pic in the sun shine after buffing.


Offline Ozzybud

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2024, 03:24:46 PM »
looking great!  good job
1976 Z50A YELLOW
1970 CT70 BLUE
1971 CT70H ORANGE
1972 CT70H GREEN
1973 CL200 BLUE
1973 CB350F RED
1975 CB360T RED
1975 CB400F BLUE
1975 CB550 ORANGE
1976 CB750F RED

Offline BenelliSEI

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2024, 04:14:17 PM »
Nice work. Looks fabulous.

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2024, 11:04:40 PM »
That's actually pretty close to Freedom Green Metallic, a color used by Honda on K3 or K4 CB750's(can't remember which)...you don't see many left with that color.  I think it was pretty unpopular and most who ended up with it ended up repainting.

Looks good all shiny and new!
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline newday777

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2024, 02:19:12 AM »
Freedom Green was on the K4 Sean

I have a friend that had his K4 painted by the guy in South Carolina(I thought I had a link but can't find it) that is similar to this color Den. Very close to the Freedom Green, and is a bit of changing shades in different lighting and camera pictures. Outside it definitely looks green but inside under sodium lights at Riceorama I parked my K5 Planet Blue next to his and they both looked similar.
Stu
Honda Parts manager in the mid 1970s Nashua Honda
My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 2 K4, 2 K6, 1 K8
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline Little_Phil

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #5 on: April 26, 2024, 03:14:12 AM »
Great work and inspiration to get on with mine.
Interesting that you applied the decals then masked to spray the black.
Mine is to be early type 500 with fine line double white decals and was intending to do the black sides then a a coat of lacquer then apply decals and then more coats of lacquer.

Offline PeWe

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #6 on: April 26, 2024, 03:15:55 AM »
That's a really good looking DIY!
Agree about good looking  Freedom Green Metallic.

Green with bluish tone depending on the light.
The set below is not original, another person's DIY found on eBay over 10 years ago.

« Last Edit: April 26, 2024, 03:19:08 AM by PeWe »
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline willbird

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #7 on: April 26, 2024, 04:24:15 AM »
Freedom Green was on the K4 Sean

I have a friend that had his K4 painted by the guy in South Carolina(I thought I had a link but can't find it) that is similar to this color Den. Very close to the Freedom Green, and is a bit of changing shades in different lighting and camera pictures. Outside it definitely looks green but inside under sodium lights at Riceorama I parked my K5 Planet Blue next to his and they both looked similar.

I am not a fan of green vehicles for sure :-). I would have been upset had I bought a blue bike and rolled it outside and it turned GREEN :-). LOL

Offline MauiK3

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2024, 08:00:03 AM »
Very nice color, we are green fans here, Green Rubicon, ZR2 Colorado, Acty Attack and the K3 750 is candy blue-green. I know, the K3 sort of changes depending on the light and looks pretty blue.
Very nice bike, great job.
1973 CB 750 K3
10/72 build Z1 Kawasaki

Offline PeWe

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2024, 09:41:54 AM »
I was close to order an extra set in Candy Bachus Olive Green
https://www.yamiya750.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=246_157_271_242&products_id=2655

Later graphics
https://www.yamiya750.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=246_157_271_243&products_id=2668

OP's paint job must make that bike to shine. Color as paint quality. ;D
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline gearsoup

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2024, 10:35:29 AM »
Hey, I saw this on Facebook! This is a really nice paint job, you cleared up my question about how you determined the black; it was an afterthought?!
Current Project: CB750-K6 (hoping for OEM look)
Future Project: CB750-K8  (likely go wild on this build)

Offline denward17

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2024, 01:00:16 PM »
Hey, I saw this on Facebook! This is a really nice paint job, you cleared up my question about how you determined the black; it was an afterthought?!

Yes, it was an afterthought, but turned ok.

Offline denward17

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2024, 01:16:53 PM »
Cleaned up with trim pieces....

Offline M 750K6

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2024, 02:53:36 PM »
Excellent, you must be very pleased. 👍

Offline majorzozo

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2024, 03:34:04 PM »
Wow, looks beautiful Denward.   Fantastic job....

Offline denward17

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #15 on: April 26, 2024, 04:06:54 PM »
Thanks Guys, I am pleased to say the least.

Offline Stev-o

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #16 on: April 29, 2024, 07:41:42 AM »
Beautiful!  Love how the metallic shines in the sun...
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline MauiK3

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #17 on: April 29, 2024, 07:48:07 AM »
Yes, great metallic!!
Lots of nice bling.
1973 CB 750 K3
10/72 build Z1 Kawasaki

Offline RAFster122s

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #18 on: April 29, 2024, 01:09:45 PM »
She's gonna be fabulous,if you have collision coverage get the insurance company photos of the freshly redone bike and if you can get an appraiser who knows these old bikes that would give you ammo if anything happens to cause you to need to file a claim. Insurance companies will do anything a d everything to lower their payout if they can unless you insure with Haggerty or a company that doesn't pull that bs or you have a stated value policy...
David- back in the desert SW!

Offline denward17

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #19 on: April 29, 2024, 02:04:44 PM »
She's gonna be fabulous,if you have collision coverage get the insurance company photos of the freshly redone bike and if you can get an appraiser who knows these old bikes that would give you ammo if anything happens to cause you to need to file a claim. Insurance companies will do anything a d everything to lower their payout if they can unless you insure with Haggerty or a company that doesn't pull that bs or you have a stated value policy...

I am using Haggerty and have stated value on both bikes.

Offline Shlippery

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #20 on: April 29, 2024, 05:36:56 PM »
That looks awesome. Nice job.

Online grcamna2

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Re: '76 Honda CB550K paint job
« Reply #21 on: April 29, 2024, 07:45:11 PM »
Wow, looks beautiful Denward.   Fantastic job....

+1  ;)
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.