Topic: 1975 CB 550 Cafe Project... Pics of my recent STEAL!!

[c_packer]

I noticed the bike had the original pipes. You can fetch some nice change on Ebay if they are solid. you can sell the brackets, connector tubes and pipes all seperatly. Nice lookin' project, I just reposted to mine a few mins ago Cary, NC Cafe.

[A Grove]

How do I check the compression?  Is that something a shop will do for me free of charge?

No brake drag, tire pressures in check... just lubed the chain... Tires are bridgestone spitfires.  front stock size, rear 120/90 (slightly larger)  Rear sprocket is a 37 I do believe (definitally stock..)

As for what RPM I shift at... well That was undetermined.  I JUST got done making the new tach mount.  Tomorrow morning I'll know better what it runs at 8000rpm. 

As I said before.. I have done nothing to the engine/carbs.  I have a set of pods sitting around that I'd like to try out, along with getting a new pipe made, etc. 


TT - Sorry for being so dumb, but I honestly havent a clue what peice on the motor is the cam cover, can anyone circle it, etc. in a picture?  Thanks so much

[Spikeybike]

the cam cover is top of the motor,  with it running , feel the the top of the motor .  specifically , there are 8 circles on the top of the motor , they have a 17mm bolt shape on top of them , these are the tappet covers, under these are the tappets, witch push the valves      if you feel the knocking your talking about on the tappet covers, follow the link TT gave,    in all honesty you should follow that link and set the tappets anyway , they need regular maintenance, and i'd be willing to bet they are off at least a little

hope that makes sense , i've had a few drinks already

[TwoTired]

How do I check the compression?  Is that something a shop will do for me free of charge?

You use a an engine compression tester.  Seems unlikely a shop would dispense free labor.

No brake drag, tire pressures in check... just lubed the chain... Tires are bridgestone spitfires.  front stock size, rear 120/90 (slightly larger) 

The oversize tire should lower your RPMs per mile.  Stock tire was a 3.75 making the rear wheel/tire diameter 25.5 Inches or 80 inches for one revolution.  The 120/90 is 4.25 inches tall, making the tire diameter 26.5 inches in diameter and one revolution travels 83.21 inches.  In theory, your bike should get better mileage than stock, however the engine has to work a bit harder to turn the larger, higher mass tire.

Rear sprocket is a 37 I do believe (definitally stock..)

If only we knew what your front sprocket tooth count was...

As I said before.. I have done nothing to the engine/carbs.  I have a set of pods sitting around that I'd like to try out, along with getting a new pipe made, etc. 

Ah, well, in my book, you do NOT get to complain about gas mileage until you've done the 3000 mile tuneup check list.

TT - Sorry for being so dumb, but I honestly havent a clue what peice on the motor is the cam cover, can anyone circle it, etc. in a picture?  Thanks so much

On page 24 of the Cb500/550 Honda shop manual is fig 57 which shows the "cylinder head cover" which is also called the cam cover by many.

Cheers,

[A Grove]

the cam cover is top of the motor,  with it running , feel the the top of the motor .  specifically , there are 8 circles on the top of the motor , they have a 17mm bolt shape on top of them , these are the tappet covers, under these are the tappets, witch push the valves      if you feel the knocking your talking about on the tappet covers, follow the link TT gave,    in all honesty you should follow that link and set the tappets anyway , they need regular maintenance, and i'd be willing to bet they are off at least a little

hope that makes sense , i've had a few drinks already

Awesome.. Thanks Spikey.

How do I check the compression?  Is that something a shop will do for me free of charge?

You use a an engine compression tester.  Seems unlikely a shop would dispense free labor.

No brake drag, tire pressures in check... just lubed the chain... Tires are bridgestone spitfires.  front stock size, rear 120/90 (slightly larger) 

The oversize tire should lower your RPMs per mile.  Stock tire was a 3.75 making the rear wheel/tire diameter 25.5 Inches or 80 inches for one revolution.  The 120/90 is 4.25 inches tall, making the tire diameter 26.5 inches in diameter and one revolution travels 83.21 inches.  In theory, your bike should get better mileage than stock, however the engine has to work a bit harder to turn the larger, higher mass tire.

Rear sprocket is a 37 I do believe (definitally stock..)

If only we knew what your front sprocket tooth count was...

As I said before.. I have done nothing to the engine/carbs.  I have a set of pods sitting around that I'd like to try out, along with getting a new pipe made, etc. 

Ah, well, in my book, you do NOT get to complain about gas mileage until you've done the 3000 mile tuneup check list.

TT - Sorry for being so dumb, but I honestly havent a clue what peice on the motor is the cam cover, can anyone circle it, etc. in a picture?  Thanks so much

On page 24 of the Cb500/550 Honda shop manual is fig 57 which shows the "cylinder head cover" which is also called the cam cover by many.

Cheers,

Understandable about not getting to complain about the mileage just yet... I still have a lot of work to do on the engine, etc. 

Thanks for the help

[c_packer]

Hey tell me how you can post those nice pictures, I was trying to post those Dyna instructoins for you, but the files were too large and I had to shrink them down a few times.

[c_packer]

Hope you can read this!!

[A Grove]

AWESOME!!! Thanks so much!!  And my pictures are hosted on photobucket and posted here.  Keeps resolution nice.


Work on the bike has gone SLOW.  Right now, I am working on finishing and painting the cowel and making a new muffler for the 4-1 header.  I also must cover the seat, and re-do the wiring to make it permanent.  From there, I'm going to run the bike till winter where I will do a bit of renovating.  Rebuilding the carbs, clean/paint wheels, jet for pods/muffler, new headlight mount, new clip-ons with more downward angle, and more... Definitally big plans for this bike...

[XN]

How do them shocks work mounted like that? Them lower mounts look like they would allow the lower end of the shock to move and touch the swingarm or is there a stop in there I don't see?

[A Grove]

The plates got bolted into place and tack welded with a mig.  then a few small beads to hold it nicely.

[sparty]

Guys,

A Grove just PM'ed me.  Looks like we share the same hometown.  I never knew that until today.  I guess we will be riding together sometime soon.  Something else that is interesting... I teach in his high school, but in a different building.  Small world man, small world.

Sparty

[A Grove]

I just got your PM.  REALLY small world!!  I am a senior this year, BTW.  And I would love to go on a ride sunday, but given a recent death in the family, I'll be making my way to Virginia for the weekend.  After that, supposing I can get the bike pieced back together of sorts (as you can see from the pictures, things aren't as pretty as your bike  )  I'd be down for the weekend after, perhaps?



I would update on the bike... but nothing has changed, really.  The cowel is still in the paintbooth, awaiting some more filler.  And the seat is still bare foam.. and ugly.  Hopefully it will be "done" soon enough!! (until winter  )

[sparty]

I just got your PM.  REALLY small world!!  I am a senior this year, BTW.  And I would love to go on a ride sunday, but given a recent death in the family, I'll be making my way to Virginia for the weekend.  After that, supposing I can get the bike pieced back together of sorts (as you can see from the pictures, things aren't as pretty as your bike  )  I'd be down for the weekend after, perhaps?



I would update on the bike... but nothing has changed, really.  The cowel is still in the paintbooth, awaiting some more filler.  And the seat is still bare foam.. and ugly.  Hopefully it will be "done" soon enough!! (until winter  )

Sorry to hear the bad news.  Have a safe trip to VA.  See you soon.

Sparty

[A Grove]

Well I 'did work' on my bike these past few weeks.  Got the pipe/headers blasted and painted flat black.  Took the baffle out of the mac and trimmed it/cut a tip.  I have a nice quality video clip of me riding to school thismorning that I shall try and post up in the next day or two.  The bike is running so so strong and sounds amazing!!

Here's a really crappy cell pic for the time being.  Going to get my vinyl put on the foam in a few days here.  Other than that, things are looking nice.  Got the brake caliper rebuilt, and have a new shifter seal.

On that topic... How does one access and replace the shifter seal?  What is the easiest way?  My dad says he has never seen one replaced "easily."  But he also knows nothing of this type of honda.  He's worked on tons of xr's from the 70's on.  But non of the CB's.  anyone have some help on that topic?

[CBGhia]

On the 550, remove the cover on the left side of the engine.  you will see the seal,  ise something to pry it out of there.  Mine came out easily with a pocket knife.  slide the new seal on and snug it up with a socket or something.  Done.

[Spikeybike]

On the 550, remove the cover on the left side of the engine.  you will see the seal,  ise something to pry it out of there.  Mine came out easily with a pocket knife.  slide the new seal on and snug it up with a socket or something.  Done.

+1  i did the same thing with a scribe   ...lookin good AG

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Looking good, AG!

[A Grove]

Thanks for the knowledge on the seal replacement.  Hopefully I can get that taken care-of asap, the thing is leaking horribly!

[A Grove]

OK. So i got the three screws off the left-side case to replace the shifter seal.. Removed the shift lever off the shift shaft.  But the case won't budge?  What am I missing?  Took off the chrome cover ontop the engine too.

[Spikeybike]

there are 4 screws brother

[A Grove]

DOH!!

I'm blind.. I swear. 

Well, removed the last screw   and "cracked" it open and "plod......"  Is all I hear.  Look down and there is a MASSIVE pile of oil on the floor!!




Well... Damn is all I could say.  That seems like a whole lotta oil for a small shifter seal to be leaking!! 



 ^^
What is this, btw?





Hopefully going to get new sprokets f & r tomorrow to hopefully go for a ride in the afternoon.  Calling for 50's in november, I'll take it!!

Also... How am I supposed to break the pins on these monster 520 chains?  I am a bicycle mechanic and have the tools, etc for a small bike chain... But how expensive are THESE chain tools?  And is there a cheap "at home" way to do it?

Thanks.

[TwoTired]

That's your oil pump. (That is apparently leaking).

Clean it.  Dry it. Spray with foot powder, and see where the oil seeps out when run the engine.

Cheers,

[BlindJoe]

....and before you install your new seal you should put tape around the shifter rod to avoid tearing the seal.

[A Grove]

Thats not quite what I wanted to hear...

Well, I'm off to get some carb cleaner to attack this mess and see if I can find where the leak is and get it fixed tomorrow.  

I'm also hoping my local shop(s) will have the sprokets I need as well.  These are litterally on their last leg.  And the chain is so bad the rollers are starting to all crack and go bye-bye... Not good I tell you.


KottleHead.. Can you elaborate a bit?  I'm slightly confused.

[BlindJoe]

sure, the tape should go around the knurled end of the rod and overlap slightly with the soild part, so when you slide the seal on it won't get caught on the sharp edges of the knurling, one layer of masking tape is what I use, hopefully that makes sense now.