Topic: Cafe Tank Modification

[Hondaboy]

I just bought me a 74 CB550 and have plans to turn it into a Cafe Bike. I have searched but can not find anything on putting the knee dents in the original tank. I have seen pics of this, but have no idea how to do it. Does anyone know where I can find some information on this?

[Really?]

Check out some of spikeybike's threads.  He has done some that came out quite good.  A lot of work though, according to him.

[mcuozzo]

All you got to do is go to the search button above and type knee dents, you get a whole bunch o' threads.

I'll even give you one for free (this time)...

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=31144.0

And look up Spikeybike, and I know for a fact Johnny5 does some nice work also.

Good luck!!!

[Johnny5]

It's quite a lot of work. The easy part is using a rubber mallet and banging the basic shape of the dent. Dont go too far and risk stressing the metal as the metal is pretty thin, and old.

From there, have fun with the body filler. Sand. Body filler. Sand. Sand some more. See a sort of nice shape, no? Sand. Sand some more....and so on and so on.

It's not rocket science, just takes a lot of patience and sandpaper. One trick is too not over add too much hardener with your putty. You want to be able to work it for a little bit to get your shape.

And of course, I'll do the dents for you for $100. I live in Michigan and need all the side work I can get my hands on.

[Hondaboy]

Dont know if I know the search function of this site very well, but not much came up for me. Found some threads where all the pictures had been removed. Thanks for yalls help, I think I have the basic jest of it. I have a spare tank in the shed I can practice with. Again thanks

[Johnny5]

Yeah, the biggest thing I was surprised of was how fast you hammer the dents in. Just go slow, make them even and you'll be fine.