Topic: The 550 is ready for some shakedown runs

[fastbroshi]

   So my bike is back together for the third time.  I feel like I know every nut and bolt on this bike, save for the cases.  I've had so much downtime waiting for parts.  As the title says it's ready now and I started it for the first time in a while today, 6 month old gas and all. 
   It gave me a hard time kickstarting it, as my starter solenoid is bad, so I just shorted the poles for about 5 seconds, gave her some throttle and she coughed to life.  It was popping just a bit, but ran quite smoothly after changing the IMS.  After letting it warm for a bit and fiddling with the idle, I put my helmet on and went around the block 3 times, about .75-1 mile diameter.  Man this thing pulls good!  But then again, I don't have anything to reference as this is my first bike.  Only problem is, I'm having a hard time getting into neutral from a stop.  More clutch adjustment is needed I suppose.
   I can report the change to the braided lines helps quite a bit, but I don't want to really put the brakes to the test until I can get my new pads in there.
   While I had everything apart I polished up the primary, alternator, and clutch covers.  They came out real nice.  I sanded them in progressively lighter grades of paper going up to 1200, then polished them a bit by hand, then waxed them down.  They've got a somewhat stock looking satin sheen.  I couldn't be happier.
   On to the MSF.  Video below of it idling in the driveway.

http://s412.photobucket.com/albums/pp204/fastbroshi/?action=view&current=IM000235.flv
   

[seaweb11]

Looks and sounds Great!

............don't slide off the back of that shiny seat

[kghost]

Way to go...Congrats. 

Coming to the Harvest Classic now? 

[fastbroshi]

Looks and sounds Great!

............don't slide off the back of that shiny seat

Tell me about it, it's the next thing I'll change.

When and where's the Harvest Classic?

[fastbroshi]

   So I changed out the clutch cable today.  I knew it had to be bad as I just couldn't get the right amount of play in the lever no matter how I adjusted the lever or down at the clutch.  So I get a new Motion Pro cable in the mail and lay it down next to my old one.  The fittings looked correct, but the new one was a good 3" shorter than the old one!!  After a litting grinding on the stud on the clutch end of the cable, it fit in the clutch arm okay.  The amount of effort I have to put into disengaging the clutch now is like night and day, much less now.
  Went out for a ride after struggling for a bit to get her started (still need to sync the carbs),  everything went pretty well.  Killed it at a stop sign a couple times, but other than that everything was great.  I found it difficult to find neutral.  These things really come alive after 4k revs.   
  I thought I had adjusted the cam chain slack okay last time, but the motor was still to clackety.  So I tried again, and I know I did it right because I saw the adjuster's stud move 90 degrees.  Tightened that down and she purrs like a kitten now, missing exhaust baffle notwithstanding.
 

[Hush]

Are those standard CB400f pipes or some aftermarket 4 into 1 pipes Fastbro?

[fastbroshi]

   They're the stock 550F pipes, the set that most likely came w/ the motor, not sure about the frame though.  Given the haphazard the way the serial # is stamped into the frame neck, I'm not sure it's an original F.  They're really nice, with a light rust haze on the motor side where they connect to the head, and the 4 pipe has been tweaked to the outside about an inch.  Other than that and a missing baffle, they're great.
   I've had to unscrew the ims a bit to compensate for that and the uni air filter.  I think going up a jet size will fix it though.
   I think the 400 and 550F headers have to be some of the prettiest made.  Just look at the upcoming (I hope) CB1100F, they took the hint. 

http://jalopnik.com/photogallery/CB1100FTokyo07/1000035010?viewSize=thumb1280x1280

[kghost]

Looks and sounds Great!

............don't slide off the back of that shiny seat

Tell me about it, it's the next thing I'll change.

When and where's the Harvest Classic?

Luckenback Texas...Oct 24 - 25

http://www.harvestclassic.org/