Topic: 74 CB550 Cafe Project - Finally Running

[LMAERO_396]

After some new plugs, fresh oil, oil filter, & wire check, she roared to life.  Still needs a quite a bit of work to make road worthy but she runs like a scalded dog!

[bwaller]

Good job.

[flatblack]

Outstanding! 

[LMAERO_396]

Well, I put some odd stright pipes that were with the stuff I got with the parts bike and it smooth it out alot.  Took it out for a good 50mph run on a small road and reved it up a bit.  Sounds really good now and little or no smoke coming from the exhaust.  Going to get the headlight, turn signals and tail lights going this weekend, hopefully 

[cben750f0]

keep us posted mate, nothing like getting the ol girls up and goin.... great feeling...

peace

[LMAERO_396]

All lighting is now working but got one question.  Is a high flash rate standard for this type or am I in need of a new relay?  It's at least double than that of a vehicle.  I have also started rust busting the tank, hope it's done by tomorrow.

[flatblack]

All lighting is now working but got one question.  Is a high flash rate standard for this type or am I in need of a new relay?  It's at least double than that of a vehicle.  I have also started rust busting the tank, hope it's done by tomorrow.

Kinda hard to tell from here what a "high flash rate" is, but double that of a vehicle is high.  Me?  I'd worry about other stuff and be thankful the signals work at all.

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[Somemonkey]

That's awesome man!

[LMAERO_396]

Fixed the high flash rate by replacing the old stock relay with a new generic 12v type.  I still need to change the brake fluid, brake pads and replace the fork seals with the new ones but I have one bigger issue.  @ 2000 rpm and below one carb seems to be blowing back some fuel, just a pop and mist.  I know there is a technical term for this but it eludes me currently.  Any suggestions?  The carbs have been disassembled and cleaned and this problem doesn't happen above 2000 rpms 

[LMAERO_396]

a recent pic

[LMAERO_396]

I figured out the "blow back" problem to the only obvious thing I could think of...Cylinder not Firing and sure enough the plug wire had back out a bit.  I discovered it by pushing on it while it idled and it stopped    Easy fix for that one.  The other thing I have is possibly putting different forks on.  I have a set that came with my parts bike which included different rims & dual front disc brakes.  I just have no idea what bike they're from.  Kawasaki I think just not sure what type.

 



Here are some recent pics of the project.  The goal is to make the current bike legal and safe and get it registered then make a old school racer.



Put on some clear fuel line to monitor the fuel quality along with a fuel filter.



Temporary wiring fix


Temp Right Hand control fix

[LMAERO_396]

No One? 

[TwoTired]

Your air filter is missing.

[LMAERO_396]

well, it's been a while since an update.  Got some pod filters for the carb and crankcase.  I'm doing a fork swap with the forks which I discovered was from an 84 ZX750/900.  Got some new tires on the way and working on a custom exhaust.  Gonna make a 4-2 system with universal 16" tapered pipes I got from MikesXS.






The mufflers will angle up slightly on each side.

[flat_black_forever]

Are you going to fix that tank, or replace it?

[jrtruckn]

I can't tell for sure from the pictures you have posted but it looks like your fuel lines are running out the wrong direction from the carburetors. If I'm correct there should be two holes on the "plate set" (not sure that is the correct name for it) that the carburetors all connect to. They should be located between carburetors 1 & 2 and 3 & 4. Fuel lines run forward (toward front of bike) through those holes then up towards top of engine and then up to the fuel tank. It didn't make much sense to me to have the fuel lines running on top of the engine but that is the way my 74 CB550 came when I got it. If they work for you the way they are now I would just leave them but the above route does seem to hide them a little better.

[LMAERO_396]

Are you going to fix that tank, or replace it?

yeah, got another tank in good shape just getting the rust out of it has taken some work.

[LMAERO_396]

I can't tell for sure from the pictures you have posted but it looks like your fuel lines are running out the wrong direction from the carburetors. If I'm correct there should be two holes on the "plate set" (not sure that is the correct name for it) that the carburetors all connect to. They should be located between carburetors 1 & 2 and 3 & 4. Fuel lines run forward (toward front of bike) through those holes then up towards top of engine and then up to the fuel tank. It didn't make much sense to me to have the fuel lines running on top of the engine but that is the way my 74 CB550 came when I got it. If they work for you the way they are now I would just leave them but the above route does seem to hide them a little better.

I re-routed the lines because the old ones were cracked and all I had was some clear line that had an o.d that was too big to route back the same way.