Topic: Tonights The Night (Gonna Be Alright)

[UFOwasaband]

The title of this thread title is from the #1 song of 1977.

I'm going to try to document the restore and update of this 1977 CB550F Super Sport.

It came from Iowa to Arizona in 2015 and sat since.

Original owner.

Pics are from the original listing.  And the one in the back of the pickup is from 8.30.25.

P.S.  This thread is totally open to comments, suggestiions, arguments, and general fart humor.

[denward17]

Nice looking bike, glad you were able to grab it.

Following for progress.....any plans for it yet?

[newday777]

Congratulations on getting it. Get it running properly and jump on it as it is for 50-100 miles to give it easy exercise to wear off any rust in the valve train and rings from sitting, to see what it does and the experience with the Windjammer so you know how it feels, then you can do as you will on the resto. Love the Blue color on it. I had my eye on one when they were new but chose the K5 750 instead. I have another K5 now.

[WhyNot2]

Congratulations on getting it. Get it running properly and jump on it as it is for 50-100 miles to give it easy exercise to wear off any rust in the valve train and rings from sitting, to see what it does and the experience with the Windjammer so you know how it feels, then you can do as you will on the resto. Love the Blue color on it. I had my eye on one when they were new but chose the K5 750 instead. I have another K5 now.

Love those wheels.......

[newday777]

Congratulations on getting it. Get it running properly and jump on it as it is for 50-100 miles to give it easy exercise to wear off any rust in the valve train and rings from sitting, to see what it does and the experience with the Windjammer so you know how it feels, then you can do as you will on the resto. Love the Blue color on it. I had my eye on one when they were new but chose the K5 750 instead. I have another K5 now.

Love those wheels.......

They are Invader Wheels 5 spoke from the early 1980s

[UFOwasaband]

Once I remove the Windjammer, what parts will I need for the headlamp and headlamp bucket? 

Will the light it has on it work?  I do see HL buckets on eBay.

[newday777]

Hopefully you have the chrome headlight ears with the turn signal mounts. Sometimes the turn mounts got hacked off to clear the fairing.

https://www.southsoundhonda.com/--xpartsstream#/Honda_Powersports/CB550FA_(77)_SUPER_SPORT_550_FOUR%2c_JPN%2c_VIN%23_CB550F-2100001_TO_CB550F-2114871/FRONT_FORK/1b5eb75a-fa9f-4eb5-8319-cdf6328d9897/44ef2644-32d7-41d1-a722-8c0ff9546215/y

Headlight bucket and headlight parts.

https://www.southsoundhonda.com/--xpartsstream#/Honda_Powersports/CB550FA_(77)_SUPER_SPORT_550_FOUR%2c_JPN%2c_VIN%23_CB550F-2100001_TO_CB550F-2114871/HEADLIGHT/1b5eb75a-fa9f-4eb5-8319-cdf6328d9897/bacdf454-79cc-4403-9d2e-2b14d9145e3c/y

[newday777]

Will the light it has on it work?  I do see HL buckets on eBay.

Yes some of the headlight parts are from the bike headlight but not all are used in the Windjammer.

[Don R]

 We always left the headlight bucket on the bike and put the Windjammer cover on it but I have seen them removed. On the newer windjammers the headlight bulb mount was different than the original Honda trim but there are some nice replacements available.

[carnivorous chicken]

Congrats on picking that one up! Gonna be a great looking project.

[UFOwasaband]

Welp, here is where I ended up.  So, i'll have to source some parts! 

[carnivorous chicken]

I might have the correct fork ears for that bike -- but I think they are in Seattle and I won't be back there until Dec. unfortunately... I can check here in CDMX and see if I brought them down.

If you see the parts diagrams, you'll notice some smaller parts that go with the ears and headlight, like the little rubber grommets for the fork ears. If it's possible to find the parts complete with those things it'll save you some time and headache chasing them down. You could post an ad here and someone on the forums might have them, or there's fleabay.

I've got a set of stock fork ears that have been pinched a little to fit a smaller chrome headlight, and I've got them here in Mexico if you want a quick solution -- just PM me. They'd have to go DHL or FedEx...

[WhyNot2]

Congratulations on getting it. Get it running properly and jump on it as it is for 50-100 miles to give it easy exercise to wear off any rust in the valve train and rings from sitting, to see what it does and the experience with the Windjammer so you know how it feels, then you can do as you will on the resto. Love the Blue color on it. I had my eye on one when they were new but chose the K5 750 instead. I have another K5 now.

Love those wheels.......

They are Invader Wheels 5 spoke from the early 1980s

Oh yeah I know them, and want a set so bad. But, man, the coin people want for them.

[Stev-o]

Welcome to the Blue 550F Club!

I may have a spare headlight bucket but would need to confirm it is for a 550.

[UFOwasaband]

There is a fat hose coming out the head and over to the carburetor.  I assume this is like the PCV system in cars???

Should I just leave it or is there a best practice

[MauiK3]

Good luck, we are following. Get Hondaman's book, it will save you much worries and problems, best tool in the tool box.
 https://www.lulu.com/search?sortBy=RELEVANCE&page=1&q=my+cb550+book&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00

[denward17]

Look here, these diagrams might help:

https://www.southsoundhonda.com/--xpartsstream#/Honda_Powersports/CB550FA_(77)_SUPER_SPORT_550_FOUR%2c_JPN%2c_VIN%23_CB550F-2100001_TO_CB550F-2114871/CYLINDER_HEAD_COVER/1b5eb75a-fa9f-4eb5-8319-cdf6328d9897/a4f97109-863d-4b0b-93b7-b76ae935a996/y

https://www.southsoundhonda.com/--xpartsstream#/Honda_Powersports/CB550FA_(77)_SUPER_SPORT_550_FOUR%2c_JPN%2c_VIN%23_CB550F-2100001_TO_CB550F-2114871/AIR_CLEANER/1b5eb75a-fa9f-4eb5-8319-cdf6328d9897/794a7f21-e491-4be9-ac53-3da8167f69ac/y

But to answer your question, I think it is like a PCV, but uses the air filter as the filtration device.  I'm not sure where that hose attaches from the breather cover.  Maybe ask this question in the regular SOHC forum, more views there.

I think the hose from the valve cover breather goes to to the small connection on the bottom of the air box, that's where mine goes on a '76 550K model.

[UFOwasaband]

Thank you @denward17.  I'll just leave that hose as is.  Not going to mod the bike.

Headlight housing, trim ring, and harness coming in the mail.

Dang if those headlight ears are not rare as hens teeth!  HA!

[UFOwasaband]

Set the points and static timing.  Gapped the plugs.

Now, gas tank clean out with vinegar.  It's not too bad, but want to be sure it's good.

[UFOwasaband]

Bike did not come with a tool kit.  Found one on eBay, although from another bike, the tools are identical.   Honda still sells the individual tools, which is good.

[Don R]

Some cleaning vinegar will strengthen the % of acid and then leave it in the sun, slight heat helps.

[UFOwasaband]

It's just bogus when someone with the GI Joe Kung Fu grip tightens the bolts down for the dynamic timing that they cannot be loosened.  Why be so burly?

[UFOwasaband]

Welp.  I ended up cutting a slot and getting the 2 stubborn ones out and replaced that way.  Dremel action.

[Stev-o]

It's just bogus when someone with the GI Joe Kung Fu grip tightens the bolts down for the dynamic timing that they cannot be loosened.  Why be so burly?

They may not have been touched for 10+ years?  Do you have an impact driver?

[UFOwasaband]

Tire change and interior rim clean up.