Author Topic: documenting 550 rebuild if you are interested (Read 9305 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.

captaincrash80 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 04, 2009, 09:45:07 PM »

Lookin good man, gonna be sweet when it's done.

egar · « **Reply #26 on:** September 27, 2009, 01:18:33 PM »

I have been off this site for a few months due to personal issues, but I am selling this bike for $1,000 if anyone is interested. For more information, check the for sale forum or go to craigslist/florida/space coast and see my ad posted under todays date for a 1977 cb550k.

egar · « **Reply #27 on:** November 13, 2009, 05:55:45 PM »

I decided to keep the 550 and brought it to a legendary local old Honda specialist in Melbourne, FL. I had to stop the build due to relationship issues. Now my bride wants to learn to ride, so I brought it to Lucien of AL and L motorcycle and after a couple weeks he called to tell me why I couldn't get the cables to work. The carbs are from a 1980 cb650! I knew from the start that they didn't look quite right. He said he may have an old set of carbs that will fit and is going to see what he can do. I am excited since I bought this bike in shambles in Sept. 08 and got so close to getting her on the road. I am also going to be taking apart the KO that I bought in January. I am doing a restoration to original on that one since it is a KO and will go with the original candy gold paint job. Once Lucien figures things out and the bike is running, I will sink some money into it and get new shocks and tires. Will keep ya'll posted when I get the bike back home..

egar · « **Reply #28 on:** January 02, 2010, 02:47:03 PM »

I got the 550 back from the shop and spent close to $900. I feel liike I really cheated by bringing the bike to a shop, but I never would have figured out that the bike had the wrong carbs on it, etc. Lucien at AL and L rebuilt the whole front brake, found a set of 77 550 carbs and rebuilt them, installed slick chrome pods, adjusted the timing chain and points, installed a brand new choke among other things.
I got the bike home on Dec. 30, flushed the tank and after some battery charging got the bike running. Only took 15 months to get there - minus eight months of being separated and living out of my bike while my wife went through a midlife crisis.
Will post pix this weekend.

traveler · « **Reply #29 on:** January 02, 2010, 05:06:58 PM »

pics?

egar · « **Reply #30 on:** January 10, 2010, 06:47:39 PM »

I got the bike running and took it around the block. First ride ever. But now I fear I didn't clean the tank well enough because two cylinders (3 and 4) don't appear to be firing. Pipes are only warm to the touch while 1 and 2 are scalding hot like they should be.
When it was at the shop, the Lucien the guru fired it up for me but was using an auxilliary tank and the bike ran nice and idled nicely. He warned me to clean the tank. I used seafoam. But with the two cylinders out and the float bowls pissing gas, could it be that maybe the jets got clogged by a not so clean tank?

I will post pix soon. The bike reeked of gas and I stuck her outside under a tarp. Then we got a historic cold front here in Florida that has been here all week. Too cold to work on it but it is giving me time to figure out what to do next.

Also, thanks to the threads here, I got the cat eye taillight hooked up and am waiting for my new petcock. Paid $50 on Ebay. Egads.

Any suggestions?

traveler · « **Reply #31 on:** January 10, 2010, 10:23:34 PM »

"...relationship issues".

Poor fella...I cast that aside YEARS ago.

~Joe

egar · « **Reply #32 on:** January 18, 2010, 10:06:10 AM »

As promised, photos of the bike. I spent the past two days trying to figure out why two carbs aren't getting gas. You will see my post on the bikes discussion page. Frustrated as hell. ONly running on two cylinders after spending too much money at a mechanic's shop. Whine.....

egar · « **Reply #33 on:** January 24, 2010, 11:50:45 AM »

egar · « **Reply #34 on:** January 24, 2010, 11:51:57 AM »

Got 3 and 4 firing and the bike now runs as smooth as a pocketful of jello. I have forgotten how much I love the sound of these bikes....

egar · « **Reply #35 on:** January 26, 2010, 05:22:05 PM »

Part of the deal with getting this bike put together and on the road was that my wife wanted to learn to ride. Behold! Tonight she took her first spin ever on a motorcycle. What a quick study she is!

scooter1 · « **Reply #36 on:** January 26, 2010, 09:29:16 PM »

Nice bike!!!! Good for her!!!

Ecosse · « **Reply #37 on:** January 26, 2010, 11:36:25 PM »

nice work! and kudos to the mrs. for taking an interest in riding.

egar · « **Reply #38 on:** January 27, 2010, 06:32:35 PM »

Now she's psyched for me to restore the KO so we can ride to events together, or just tool along the coast. I love the sound of the bike. Got it tagged today. Finally.....

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Author Topic: documenting 550 rebuild if you are interested (Read 9305 times)

traveler

traveler