Author Topic: My non-chop 550 project (new pics of paint) (Read 7797 times)

Cvillechopper · « **on:** June 22, 2007, 12:26:36 AM »

I finally got the 550 rebuild underway a couple months ago (before my friend's 750 overhaul) and have dug in deep over the last couple weeks. Put a 555 kit into freshly bored jugs, all fresh seals, gaskets, etc. She will be getting the Hondaman special treatment for the ignition in the coming weeks as available and hopefully a solid state rec/reg before long. Much of the old chrome is getting painted a "Dark Shadow Grey" and the rear fender if "Gunmetal Grey". Haven't decided about the tank and side panels yet. They'll match the rear fender if I do paint, but I like the green so much I may keep it once I see how she looks together. Considering my previous attempts at a restore I think this is coming along nicely. Any suggestions before I start working on the wiring?

James

Before I bought it.

Roller before I started the restore

Another angle

Frame 1

Coming together

More progress

Looking better...

Tons more work to do but damn I'm getting anxious for the first ride!

xtalon · « **Reply #1 on:** June 22, 2007, 07:08:10 AM »

Looking good! What did you paint your frame with?

--xTalon

jalfonso · « **Reply #2 on:** June 22, 2007, 07:22:06 AM »

James,

The bike is looking really nice so far. I like the gun metal grey.....good choice. I'm also curious as to what you used on the frame. I've heard of the 605 kits, how much of an overbore is the 555. Hope that question doesn't sound too dumb but I'm still pretty green! I have a 550 and I've been considering a 1mm overbore, when I get around to working on the engine.

Keep up the good work.

John

Cvillechopper · « **Reply #3 on:** June 22, 2007, 07:40:58 AM »

I used the Dupli-color universal flat black acryllic laquer with clear coat over. Kept it from having the shine that a gloss base would have given it.

I bought the kit off e-bay. It's a 500 overbore kit to 555. Only a small bore on the 550 sleeves ( I think it was .5mm but I paid a professional to do it so I'm not sure) so you don't loose much wall thickness. Not trying to race her, just wanted it to be fresh.

I'm hoping to have her on the road in the next few weeks but you know how that goes....

dusterdude · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2007, 11:30:56 AM »

james,good job man,keep the green,that color is so cool.

cben750f0 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 22, 2007, 01:26:45 PM »

wot color did you paint the motor, it looks bloody sweet, and the alloy highlight of the starter, and other stull really sets it off... lookin real great M8..

and of course... MORE PICS!!!!

peace

Cvillechopper · « **Reply #6 on:** June 22, 2007, 06:30:48 PM »

Thanks guys. I'm loving how this is coming together. I used the Duplicolor High-temp (1300 degree) paint, flat black. Everything got soaked in the parts washer, soap & water, scoured with a scuff pad, and hit with at least 4 coats. Not very durable yet but that changes once you fire her up a few times.

Here's some pics with the rest of the engine in and clutch connected and adjusted.

cben750f0 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 22, 2007, 07:14:31 PM »

man thats bloody awesome!!!!!... this is a build i will be watchin quite abit.... very nice indeed M8..

peace

Cvillechopper · « **Reply #8 on:** June 23, 2007, 04:43:09 AM »

Thanks so much. The fiance is diggin it, but from a completely different perspective. She wasn't a fan of the bike pre build. I guess the slight smell of smoke (rings were bad and # 3&4 had busted top rings), the fact that the clutch cable was rubbed half through making it very unpredictable, and maybe the rusted look had something to do with it. Now she's excited to go for a ride as soon as I have her ready for the road. Of course, we did just buy this last night:

We wanted something I can use to commute so I don't wear out the restore TOO quickly. Had to sell the chopper to make room in the garage so it's bitter sweet (more sweet than bitter). I have to say, the 800 twin with injection is NICE! It'll never get even close to the 550 in the twisties though.

xtalon · « **Reply #9 on:** June 23, 2007, 07:12:56 AM »

Quote from: cben750f1 on June 22, 2007, 07:14:31 PM

man thats bloody awesome!!!!!... this is a build i will be watchin quite abit.... very nice indeed M8..

peace

+1.

I must admit, I wasn't too sure about the dark shadow grey and the gunmetal grey, but that looks... as Cben so eloquently put it... 'bloody awesome'!

--xTalon

cben750f0 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 23, 2007, 04:11:57 PM »

LOL wot can i say M8... i'm from OZ...

... feul injection is a lovely thing..... hit the key.. and away we go... no choke, no messin with the throttle, i miss fuel injection... my xjr is carbed...

lookin forward to more pics..

peace

Cvillechopper · « **Reply #11 on:** July 02, 2007, 07:32:53 AM »

So, I'm starting on the carbs (the last thing in any of my projects) and will be able to post some more pics in the next week or so. Wanting to move the bike closer to the bench for some electrical routing (better light) i roll it off the center stand and WHACK! it hits the bottom of the swingarm and rests on the chain. It never did this before and I don't know what I could have missed in re-assembly. Anyone have a pic of the centerstand stopper for a 73 500?
Thanks
James

Cvillechopper · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2007, 05:32:00 PM »

Just got the carbs in today. Still haven't figured out the centerstand issue but that'll be something to do this week.

I love the blacked out look

jnel500 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2007, 08:04:37 PM »

cville-
nice ride.
I could be wrong b/c my '72 500 is disassembled as I build a new frame for my bobber, but I think the centerstand rests against the underside of the lower leftside muffler. Don't quote me on that, but I know when I first mocked my bike up with my shorty pipes the centerstand did the same thing and the only thing I did was remove my original pipes for the shorter ones.

My 500 will not be completed until next summer, but hopefully my 450 will have new rubber on it and ready to go in the next few weeks. Hopefully ready for your next ride here in Virginia.

Peace and grease

caferacer550 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 09, 2007, 03:31:37 AM »

Flat black carbs - nice touch.

Rsnip988 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 13, 2007, 11:09:41 AM »

Stupid question

but are the light blue/grey lines the gaskets between the covers and the engine or what?

can you bake the whole engine to "cure" the high temp paint or would that ruin some parts?

i love the look of it though

Cvillechopper · « **Reply #16 on:** July 13, 2007, 11:19:02 AM »

Yeh, the color is the OEM gaskets. If you were to put the engine in the oven, besides the smell, you'd most likely mess up some seals and o-rings pretty badly, not to mention how bad the smell of the oil that's still lining the inside of your cases would smell as you crusted it to the inside. Maybe it can be done, but I'm not risking having the missus come home to me pulling an engine out of the oven and the house fumugated

I'd be the next thing going into the oven.

I have baked parts as individual pieces prior to my current living arrangement but you do need to rip the engine all the way down, clean it inside and out, and remove all rubber bits.

On another note, I just got the bucket wired, headlight, gauges, cables, and airbox installed, points set and timed statically, and the kickstarter back on. Still have to set the valves, get the front brake MC and union painted and installed, and get the Hondaman ignition set-up in the mail and install it before I can start her up. I'm just itching to hear her run soon. I'm going to try and get some more pics tonight of the progress.

Rsnip988 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 13, 2007, 11:21:43 AM »

thats what i thought would happen, melting tidbits and all

I know some people with a really big kiln so i wouldnt use my own oven, it wouldnt fit anyway

thanks for the answers

cben750f0 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 13, 2007, 03:41:57 PM »

looking great... just lettin you know that usually the centre stand stops on the muffler, there should be a stop on them somewhere.

MORE PICS...

peace

Cvillechopper · « **Reply #19 on:** July 15, 2007, 02:28:11 PM »

OK, so here's the updates. I've got the bucket wired, gauges on, taillight on, and a few other little bits ready to go. Getting closer...

So close I can taste it, yet so far away...

Cvillechopper · « **Reply #20 on:** July 18, 2007, 07:49:49 PM »

I've got all the wiring done, pipes are on, and turned her over for the first time. No gas yet but wanted to make sure everything turned smoothly before I threw some spark at her. Tomorrow we get to see if she fires up...

I'm still trying to decide if I keep the green or go with the gunmetal / black pinstripes. Hmm........

seaweb11 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 18, 2007, 11:37:53 PM »

Nice build. Enjoy the 1st run

cben750f0 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 19, 2007, 11:45:02 AM »

it almost seems a pity to have to put the wiring back in... looks soo cool with out it there... man this is a sweet lookin bike.... cant wait to see it finished... and that first time it runs will be great for ya....

keep us posted..

peace

Cvillechopper · « **Reply #23 on:** July 20, 2007, 04:05:36 AM »

Get home last night from work, roll the girl outside, get some gas in the tank, turn the key, WTF. Turns over, and over, and over...
Pull a plug and sure enough, no spark. Double check the wiring in the bucket, the HondaMan ignition, the fuse, etc. After about 45 minutes making sure everything was correct I go grab my spare set of coils (glad I haven't sold them) and hook one up, spark. Get the coils on and she fires right up. I've got the first carb synch done but it started to rain so I haven't been able to take her out yet. This evening for sure. I've going to hold off on paint until I can find someone to do it right, not shaker cans, and keep the green / black set up. Here's how she looks with the current paint.

I did notice one strange thing that I've never read about on here. I know it's probably a strange issue with the float but the #2 carb pisses fuel from the overflow tube intermittently when not running and petcock open. There's nothing for a while (about 3 minutes) then a fuel dump, then nothing, repeat. Surge and subside. I've had stuck floats that just drip all the time, but nothing like this. Any ideas?

Rsnip988 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 20, 2007, 06:18:02 AM »

There was mention of this in the carb FAQ, i had one that did that but it was because i hadnt calibrated the float height yet, sice doing so it stopped leaking

what the FAQ said is in the last post

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=5410.0

Submitted by Aaron J Williams:

Superior and when he got back he told me that 1&4 carbs were dripping fuel. Since I had replaced sunk floats on 1&4 I suspected that the used floats I put in were sunk also or the float level was a little too high. I checked the floats and level but both were spot-on. I lowered the levels to see if I could stop the problem but the dripping continued. This morning I decided to put 2 different used floats in and see what would happen but when I removed the float bowls they were almost empty. A closer inspection revealed this:

There were vertical cracks up the side of both float bowl overflow tubes! I took some bowls off of parts carbs and one of them was cracked too. After replacing the bowls with good ones the bike no longer drips. So if you can't stop your bike from dripping no matter what you do, look for cracked tubes.

Some suggestions as to fixing this without replacing the bowl:

Solder
JB Weld

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Author Topic: My non-chop 550 project (new pics of paint) (Read 7797 times)

jnel500

caferacer550