Topic: DRESDA Swing Arm Identification (76 CB550F)

[Sw1ssdude]

Hello All,

I am still collecting parts for my 1976 CB550 F project. its a 9005-rattlecan-mess, but i dont mind the looks, as long as it performs. so i bought me a crusty  Dresda swing arm, supposedly off a CB550.

Shortly after, i found a NOS still-in-the-box Dresda Swing arm, also labeled for a CB550.

However, there are differences.

The NOS one is slightly longer, has the shock bushings further and the brace closer to the axle than the crusty one, and the left shock bushing is shifted towards the chain.
Also, the NOS one is made to accept a chrome chain guard, and the crusty one is for a plastic guard.

I asked directly at Dresda, they are still in business, and i got a reply from a knowledgeable guy named Guy, but he told me that Dresda made lots of custom set ups for racing etc, so he could not give me a definitive answer.

so my questions to you: could someone tell me all the differences between CB500, CB550K and CB550F stock swing arms? are they interchangeable to some degree? are my Dresdas 'direct replacements' to said swing arms (apart from the Wheel spacers)?
or are they custom swing arms, or for other Honda models?

Thank you all in advance!

[Sw1ssdude]

Man, picture posting is difficult...

[Sw1ssdude]

and the other ones

[jlh3rd]

K model 550's used a black plastic guard and the F's used the chrome.

[bryanj]

500's used the plastic as well
As to fitting they should both fit either frame so use whichever you wish, possibly chain length might alter

[Sw1ssdude]

Aha, thanks for that!

I compared pictures on google: it seems like CB500 swingarms have open ends, while CB550 have closed ends. but how about the shock bushings? are they equally far from the axle on both models? or would changing swing arms change the geometry (unless the shocks on both models have different lengths)?

[bryanj]

Only some 550 have closed ends

[jlh3rd]

only the "F" models had closed ends.

[jonda500]

The geometry/length is identical on all 500/550 swingarms.
John