Topic: CB550K - No Fork Dampers?!

[Dr. Frankenstein]

I'm working on a 1973 CB550K and have the front forks apart to rebuild them - but there are no dampers in them! This, and other little signs (mostly chewed up screws) tell me I'm not the first person to be in here - but no dampers??  I had to go back and check the parts diagram, and Sure Enough, there are no dampers indicated in the parts diagram! I thought they were missing those long, slender steel rods that usually run the length of the fork, but No - does anybody know why they're not there?

[CycleRanger]

Which parts exactly are missing? The 550 forks don't have the long rod like the 500's.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Yeah, that's what I'm surprised by; it's 'correct', but I'm just surprised that they aren't there - why do the 500's have them but not the 550's?

[CycleRanger]

Yeah, that's what I'm surprised by; it's 'correct', but I'm just surprised that they aren't there - why do the 500's have them but not the 550's?

See page 110 of the Shop Manual for an explanation. Short answer, product improvement. 

[bryanj]

The 550 has a collar in the bottom of the tube that stops the dampercomming out of the bottom so the slider wont com off till the allen bolt undone.

The 500 has no collar and needs the long rod screwed into the top nut to stop the slider falling off