Author Topic: documenting 550 rebuild if you are interested (Read 9304 times)

egar · « **on:** December 01, 2008, 03:42:02 PM »

http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr218/egar_photo/

I have been documenting the rebuild of my 77 550 so that I can remember where all the parts go, etc.
This weekend a friend offered to sandblast my frame and swingarm (and tank), and then primed it with some kind of tough epoxy white that they use in industrial jobs (his company paints bridges, water plants, etc.) so I think I have a tough base. I may just cheap out and get the Eastwood extreme chassis paint so that I can start putting the rest of it back together. Dying to ride as the weather is perfect here in Fla.....

Artfrombama · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2008, 04:30:09 PM »

Quote from: egar on December 01, 2008, 03:42:02 PM

I may just cheap out and get the Eastwood extreme chassis paint so that I can start putting the rest of it back together. Dying to ride as the weather is perfect here in Fla.....

Attention to detail, nice!
Scuff the primer with #600 (or finer) before you topcoat.

egar · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2008, 05:04:15 PM »

Thanks for the advice, Art. I'll take all the tips I can. The last 550 I did wasn't a frame up job because it was in much better shape. This thing was awful looking. You can see my last bike in the gallery. It's the black one in the driveway and I think it said Florida 550 as a title. I ride an ST1300 as my touring bike but really missed the CB, which will be great for bombing around town. The ST's V4 is an amazing engine, powerful and quiet as a Mercedes. Took it on a six state tour this summer, covering 2150 miles....

jeepurz · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2008, 05:53:55 PM »

dang Id like to have that sand blaster ~! Im doing one too 1st mulit ive done. itll be fun. keep us updated.

egar · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2008, 01:51:08 PM »

Last night I got the neck races pounded out, but not without smashing my my hand in the process. Decided it was time to call it a night. I will add pictures to the photobucket site as soon as I make progress (paint frame, add tapered bearings, fork seals). Will be finishing the enging cleaning so I can paint that next. Side case covers are polishing up very nice compared to what they looked like. I can see myself in them.

A Grove · « **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2008, 01:58:36 PM »

Hey, great looking project. Just aheads up, a mod/admin will probly move this to the "project" section of the boards. That area is dedicated to people and their builds.

egar · « **Reply #6 on:** December 05, 2008, 05:48:29 AM »

Oops. I didn't know we had that now. I haven't been on the site in two years, when I sold my last CB

egar · « **Reply #7 on:** December 20, 2008, 01:54:28 PM »

I finished painting the frame this week. I used the rattlecan of Eastwood extreme chassis black in satin instead of gloss. I think it doesn't attract too much attention to itself in satin. I sprayed a layer of paint each day at lunch time on my break (I live close to work) until I was happy. Then I hit it with clear satin. It's not perfect and I would love to have powdercoated but times are tight. Heck, I was lucky my wife let me spend the $500 to buy the bike in Sept.
I have also painted the motor. VHT aluminum and gloss high temp black around the fins on the midsection of the bike. I would like to put the motor in the frame tomorrow, but I have Christmas to New Year's Day off so I should have plenty of time to make progress. I have my tapered bearings and the neck pieces are painted and ready to go. Also have to replace the fork seals and polish the forks --nervous about that after reading threads on how to do it.

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hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #8 on:** December 20, 2008, 02:11:15 PM »

I'm diggin the black and silver on the motor.

Artfrombama · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2008, 03:11:36 PM »

Quote from: hoodellyhoo on December 20, 2008, 02:11:15 PM

I'm diggin the black and silver on the motor.

x2

jeepurz · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2008, 05:12:59 PM »

I used vht on last bike, that looks great , nice working stuff to, whered you get the tap bearings?

egar · « **Reply #11 on:** December 20, 2008, 08:42:43 PM »

I ordered them at Z1, along with the drag bars and fork seals. An early Christmas present to myself. I've seen tapered bearings cheaper on Ebay, but I've been reading on this site that some of them aren't so great. I've read nothing but good reviews about the Z1 bearings, All Ballz is the brand. Hope to install them tomorrow after I get my holiday shopping done for the wife. She's happy when she knows I'm spending money on her instead of working in the garage. That way, I can sneak off to the garage afterwards....

egar · « **Reply #12 on:** December 31, 2008, 12:09:44 PM »

So my wife splurged an got me a whole garage's worth of tool chests and work benches. I took the week off and overhauled the garage. You can find any tool you need without rummaging through junk. I threw away old rusty tool boxes and tools. When you open a drawer, the tools are laid out like surgeon's tools. It is to die for.
Well, I got the engine in the frame and am now working on the forks. I think Z1 sent me the wrong forks seals and I have posted a question in the tech section and emailed Z1. But the forks came apart easily, after worrying about it for weeks. Once I figure out the seal issue, I should have them back on. Also plan to put the swingarm back on, maybe today.
Went for my first skydive on Friday. It was amazing!
You can see all the pictures on my photobucket site mentioned earlier on this thread....

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Ed

jeepurz · « **Reply #13 on:** December 31, 2008, 04:44:22 PM »

Quote from: egar on December 20, 2008, 08:42:43 PM

I ordered them at Z1, along with the drag bars and fork seals. An early Christmas present to myself. I've seen tapered bearings cheaper on Ebay, but I've been reading on this site that some of them aren't so great. I've read nothing but good reviews about the Z1 bearings, All Ballz is the brand. Hope to install them tomorrow after I get my holiday shopping done for the wife. She's happy when she knows I'm spending money on her instead of working in the garage. That way, I can sneak off to the garage afterwards....

thanks for the info on z1 , thats bookmarked, what tank is that your using??

Spikeybike · « **Reply #14 on:** December 31, 2008, 06:29:30 PM »

FYI when you post using photobucket you wanna use the IMG code instead of the IMG thumb, then your posts wont be all broken up like that

projects looking great

egar · « **Reply #15 on:** January 01, 2009, 10:42:48 AM »

Jeepurz,

The tank is one of three I had kicking around. I am making my own knee dents. I used a rubber mallet and pounded it to the shape of a paper stencil I created. The white paint is simply a heavy duty primer that we had lying around when we sandblasted everything. You see all that on the photobucket site I mention earlier.

Spikey,

thanks for the tip. I am a computer idiot.

egar · « **Reply #16 on:** January 05, 2009, 10:41:47 AM »

Spent all weekend on the forks. Replaced the old seals with new - not an easy task on the first one, but I knew what I was doing on the second, thanks to tips from the fine readers of this site. Polished the hell out of the aluminum with a 3m sanding sponge and wrapped up with metal polish. Got the drag bars on and the side cover on the shift side. working on the front fender now. one of the fender braces is bent badly and I'm having trouble straightening it out. I decided I like the fender look. Makes it more vintage.

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Spikeybike · « **Reply #17 on:** January 05, 2009, 10:45:26 AM »

IMG code , not the thumb

bikes lookin great , what color are you gonna go with

egar · « **Reply #18 on:** January 06, 2009, 06:57:33 AM »

Img code, IMG code...have to remember how to post pictures correctly! - Note to self

spikey,

My last 550 tank I had painted gloss black and loved it. But I am really thinking about using a rattlecan of that black hammered metal paint I've been reading about on the site. I have two more tanks, so I can always have one properly painted. I'm trying to keep the project fun and cheap. Which is why I sandblasted and painted the frame myself instead of going powdercoat. I'm on a really limited budget.

Spikeybike · « **Reply #19 on:** January 06, 2009, 07:42:51 AM »

you can do great paint work with a rattle can , some people will knock it but i think if you prep right and go through all the sanding stages. a rattle can paint job can look just as good as any other . (and far cheaper)

i think a hammered metal tank would be cool , you dont have to sand as much , the thing with the hammered finish is the temperature has to be right for the paint to cure with right look , too cold and will be uneven (hammered in some spots, smooth in others)

egar · « **Reply #20 on:** January 06, 2009, 03:28:01 PM »

Spikey,

that is good to know and it is good news as I live in Fla and the temps have been in the upper 70s and probably warmer if I paint in the sun!

Spikeybike · « **Reply #21 on:** January 06, 2009, 03:32:33 PM »

guess i shoulda looked where you were at before saying that

egar · « **Reply #22 on:** January 20, 2009, 03:36:26 PM »

It's been a while since I've posted because my camera died. I used a work camera. I've been busy on the bike and have gotten a lot done:

New forks seals finished.
Forks polished.
Front fender straightened and cleaned up
clutch cover back on (made my own gasket)
swingarm back on
chain on
footpegs, rear brake pedal and mechanics back on
rear hub polished up somewhat (could use a bit more polishing)
Wiring harness reinstalled, but the wires all need to be linked back up
wheel put back on

Next up:
pipes back on (painted with BBQ heat paint - flat black)
Carbs are cleaned, exterior polished up a tad and just need to be put back together and bolted on

Meanwhile, I bought the cb750 KO that some of you have been reading about under the tech thread. I'm a busy boy these days....

egar · « **Reply #23 on:** January 26, 2009, 04:00:17 PM »

Did a lot of part painting this weekend with Rustoleum hammered dark bronze and got the pipes on. I used BBQ heat paint and they look OK! I hacked the fork ears so I can use smaller blinkers on the front. Also used hammered paint on the gauges.
Something is wrong with the clutch so I have to drain out all that new oil and remove the clutch cover. Still need pods, new plugs, some new cables and rebuild/replace front brake line. The front caliper bleeder and steel line are rusted and wont come out....

egar · « **Reply #24 on:** February 04, 2009, 05:24:11 PM »

Check out the new blinkers and fork ears/bucket installed. My uni pods are being

shipped to me and so is the cat eye taillight I bought on Egay last night.

News:

Author Topic: documenting 550 rebuild if you are interested (Read 9304 times)