Topic: '76 CB550 (no name, as of yet, but taking suggestions)

[Mach-5(50)]

hello all,
  so i have been lurking for a month or two, and admiring everyone work. for months i sought, and finally found, a 76 cb55o on Craig's list, here in southern Oregon. i don't think i did too bad for $100. sure i have seen guys pick them up for less, but it was my time and place, plus there was supposed to be someone else coming to look at the bike, but alas, they didn't show, and i had committed to $100.
  the details.....it came home not running, but with most circuits functional, a starter motor that turns over strong, and a motor that is not ceased (thankfully), though i haven't done a compression test yet. obviously the paint is in sad shape. no side covers or much of a seat cover, and years or greasy, neglected dirt. also, both caliper and master cylinder leak and need a rebuild.  all in all, i am pretty proud. this is the first bike i have owned, and i really wanted a winter project.
  here are my ideas. i defiantly want a cafe racer. that's why i bought a cb in the first place.  aside from the mechanical necessities, i want to shorten the rear fender, strip the tank and refinish with truck bed liner. i will definitely run without an air box, so k&n's or similar air filters.  i will most likely replace the rear shocks with works shocks, when i can. maybe a second rotor and caliper up front, or even a 750 swing arm for rear disc. but in the mean time, i want to get it running and riding, for a reasonable amount. i plan on doing as much as i can on my own, or with the help of friends. aside form tuning the carbs i don't anticipate much i won't be able to do, but i am excited to find out what i can't, and will need to learn. plus my wife is the service manager at a ktm, polaris, victory dealership, so parts and mechanics aren't a problem.
  i will post a few photos at a time so i can get input and advice on different aspects of the project...carbs, tank and fender, brakes, wiring etc., rather than throwing up 10 photos at once. 
  thank you to everyone who has posted on the site and provided their practical experience, photos and criticism.  i am very excited to have input as i go through this process, and motivation to complete what i start. its early winter here, but spring is just around the corner.....

take care,
  ryan

[FunJimmy]

Nice score, and welcome to the asylum.

FJ

[fergie]

good score mach 5. I have a 78 550k ,they are great bikes. take lots of photo's of the parts /areas that you are about to disassemble/work on. work on one part at a time. label everything. also only make one mod at a time get it working properly then move on to another mod. good luck, cheers, Fergie.

[fergie]

how about project c note?

[SUELZER]

I 2nd FunJimmy's "SCORE" comment. i think you got a sweet ride for a good price.

Might i suggest "RACER X" as your project build name?!? 
I feel it's quite fitting for all areas you're planning on touching upon.

My 76 550F is my winter project as well, but to be realistic i believe it will span much longer than just the winter

Can't wait to bust into mine, and i know you're probably itchin to do the same.

good luck, have fun...take photos!

~Christian

[Mach-5(50)]

does anyone have any experience with this type of muffler? is it reasonable to use the stock pipes, or is it more benneficial to buy a complete system. also, does it seem pricey to anyone?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-CB500-CB550-K-Exhaust-Flare-Mufflers-70-76_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742Q2em153Q2el1262QQcategoryZ35596QQihZ006QQitemZ160296508528

and, if anyone has links to great articles on exhaust set ups for the 550's that would be great, especially if they have specifics, and statistics.

thanks,
 ryan

[gene03079]

Nice start. The 550's are a blast to ride. If the exhaust is in good shape you will score some cash selling it.

[Mach-5(50)]

i can post up some pix. personally, i don't like the 4-4 setup, but if don't end up saving the head pipes, i am all about the cash.

ryan

[Mach-5(50)]

so here are the next set of pix.

this is the first time i have ever attempted any type of metal work, if thats even what you want to call it. so with my newly acquired 4.5" grinder and some cut off wheels, i decided to butcher up my rear fender last night. well, i shortened it, and in spite of the fact that it didn't take the form i had envisioned, what i ended up with i think will work well. it was one of the situations where you take a little off this side, then you have to take a little more, than you have to take a little off the other side....and so it gets shorter. but i figure, it is just metal, it won't hurt anything, and if i totally fubar it, i can get another one to butcher up. just go for it right.

you can see what i was going for originally with the tape lines. i wanted to create a straight line from the side mounting support to the rear of the fender, giving it an elongated line. that obviously didn't happen. so it ended up short, but i actually think i like this better. it still would have been too long, i think, if my original plan had worked out. it was important to preserve the fender, since i am going to use the stock seat pan, modify the foam and recover, so i think a fender looks better. plus, it is oregon, and i don't plan of being a strictly fair weather rider. its a mile to work, i can suck it up.

later,

ryan

[Mach-5(50)]

so here are the carb pix. the good, the bad and the ugly, as they say. mind you this is the first carb (or set of carbs) i have ever taken apart. aside from my very first car, i haven't owned anything with a carb. even my '72 bmw 2002 has mechanical fuel injection. what i am getting at is that i know what i found inside is not good. but if you see anything that i should know, please, point it out. i have been giving them a thorough bath, and as soon as i get the rest of the kits i will begin reassembly. i will post "after cleaning" pix when i get back from portland this weekend.

again, thanks to all, and keep the input coming, please.

later,

[Mach-5(50)]

here are a few more.

[Mach-5(50)]

and the best for last...

[FunJimmy]

Good on ya for giving it a go.
Cutting fenders is a tricky feat and the perfect cut depends on who you are and what you want.
 sIf it’s not right, fenders can be found for a song on feebay.

FJ

[Mach-5(50)]

so now that i have a little more time on my hands (i was laid off from NAPA), i have plenty of time to work on the bike, and do house work. i am going to start getting the carbs back together and put back on the bike, but wanted to ask first if it usually necessary to replace the inake to head o-rings? they don't look cracked or deteriorated, but the are compressed from the years. is it better to be safe than sorry, or is it even common for them to leak. what about some sort of rtv silicone?

also, is there any good (and easy) way to clean up the intake runners internally, i.e smoothed. they are clean, but appear to be cast, so they are far from smooth. should i even worry about it? they are slightly angled to so i was wondering if it is even possible to hone them, with a ball hone for instance, or emery cloth.

thanks for any advice. there will be pictures coming later today, as i have been working on the tank and seat.

later,

ryan

[Mach-5(50)]

so here are the pictures i promised. we'll start with the tank....

one of the first thing i did was strip the tank. i used Mar-Hyde aircraft stripper. this stuff is intense! and works amazingly well. i think one would have to go to vegas to find a better stripper. this gets a big thumbs up from me. from there i scuffed with rough emery cloth before using duplicolor self etching primer. the plan to use duplicolor truck bed liner was foiled. i either lost the spray nozel when i opened the can, or it wasn't included. so painted the bottom with martin senour chassis black in a rattle can, #7243. i don't paint, so take it for what you will, but i really like the chassis black. it laid down nice, covered well and came out great (in my opinion). i was pretty proud of myself.

[Mach-5(50)]

and the seat. this part worked out surprisingly well too. i had one of those epiphany moments as i was looking at Carpy's duck tail seat on his web site. i realized the look would work for my goals of keeping it a two seater. whats more, i realized the old seat cover was already exposing the lines i needed. so i traced along the front and sides of the original "bead" line. and over the top at the rear of the seat strap. from there i stripped the rest of the cover off and went to town. of course everyone recommends and electric knife, which i don;t have, and was too impatient to look through all of the second hand stores in town. but i do have an angle grinder and a bread knife. the break knife i have was largely ineffective for detail, but worked well for getting the big chunks. the angle grinder a a gravel grit wheel took care of the rest. it really took a while to get it right, as it is easy to take WAY too much if you have a lapse in concentration. oh, and it makes one hell of a mess! maybe you would realize that, but i get in a hurry and forget about those things. it isn't perfectly smooth, but my  a$$ won't mind. i will build up the back portion a few inches. on some sites i saw foam being used that looked like carpet pad. has anyone tried this? and then of course i will figure out how to cover it. a friend has already offered up a piece of black nagahide. when it comes down to detail time there will be plenty more photos.

[Mach-5(50)]

i pulled the lowering blocks today. partially to see if i could, and also to see how it changed the stance.
 i used the red bolt head at the rear fender mount as reference. i also propped up the kick stand so the bike was "fairly" level. keep in mind this is highly unscientific, and mostly for my own reference, but maybe it will help someone else out in the future.
 when i started the bolt head was 25' 5/8" off the ground. when they were removed and put back to the stock mounts it was at 27' 1/4". 
  so what does this all mean? nothing i guess. i do think i like it better without the blocks.

i guess i should have had a beginning shot with the seat on, since the final shot has it on, but i am not putting those things back on. like i said, this was highly unscientific.

[Hush]

Ah I see how the lowering blocks work now, cheers for that...it might just work for me on my bike.

[TE 450 Pilot]

I'm enjoying your project journey.

Thanks

[500chop]

How about "hundred dollar baby"?

[Mach-5(50)]

How about "hundred dollar baby"?

i think we have a winner. i dig it.

thank you guys for the comments.

later,

ryan

[mrbreeze]

With a stock "benchseat" and stock length shocks...the bike has a high rider stance. I have a custom made Corbin seat that is cut down like yours.I also have shorty shocks.I don't know about lowering blocks but I don't like the angle they put the shocks at.
It all boils down to what kind of riding you do or what kind of look you are going for (form vs. function.....best to acheive both).

[500chop]

Anytime! Cant wait to see it finished.