Topic: My 1977 550F

[btripp]

Hi all!

  This is my second post, but my first big one. 

  I've been reading posts here for a while and getting info about my bike and how to do work on it, but I thought you guys might like to hear about it!

  I'm the proud owner of a 1977 CB550F.  I bought it about a year ago from a guy in Maryland who had let it sit for God knows how long.  The poor thing had rust everywhere!  The gas tank was nearly eaten open and it had the ugliest fairing I've ever seen.  The guy told me he had done a lot of work on it in his youth (he was the second owner, got it with about 3,000 miles on it, now it has about 30K).  How he could just let it set out back and rust after all that, I've no idea, but he did.  I brought her home and have done a lot of work on it since.

  I removed the fairing.  It was enormous and in not so great condition.  It had a hole in the fiberglass that had been badly repaired.  (I've still got it if anyone wants it near Richmond VA.)  I also got and installed a new tank.  It's blue to match the side covers.  The old one was white and had been repainted.  Of course, it was mostly rust colored by the time I got it.  I also replaced most of the cables and rewired the lights and stuff.  I had to get a new headlight and install that too.  I've also replaced the battery, oil etc.  I'm sure I'm forgetting things.

  Of course by now your wondering about the other things I'd need to do to a bike like this that I haven't mentioned yet.  I haven't done them.  I'm working on the carbs right now, with the assistance of this site and a buddy around the corner.  They are very badly rusted, so I'm not sure how that's going to go.  Any suggestions?  I'll try to get some pics. 

  I still need to unlock the front brake, get new front turn signals, new tires, probably brake pads, oh yeah, and one of the exhaust pipes coming from the engine and going into that 4-1 thing had rusted completely through and fell apart in my hand.  Fortunately, I know a good salvage place so I'm confident I can find one when the time comes.

  I haven't had much chance to work on it for a while, between my job and these awful Richmond summers, but now that the nuclear mosquitoes are mostly dead I can go outside again!  So I'm hopping that I can get her running in short order.  All the electronics seem ok, after fixing the wiring, and the starter turns her over so I don't think I'll have too much trouble once I get the carbs ready and replace the exhaust pipe.

  I'll get some pictures and I'm sure I'll be back with questions, but I wanted to tell you guys thanks.  Thanks for a great site that has helped me so far and provided a lot of enjoyment!

  Looking forward to it!

  -Ben

 

[Killer Canary]

Bring her back to life and we'll all be happy!
Remember to savor the first start-up adequately.
The collector might not be so easy to find, though, but there are other routes.
Good luck and enjoy every minute!
     

[dusterdude]

tripp,im in petersburg if you want some help with your bike.

[Kelvin8]

www.siriusconinc.com

You'll need this website for carburator parts.

Kelvin

[Joe Danger]

Hey man, I ride a 77 CB550K in Northern VA, but I'm probably moving to Richmond next fall.  When she's up and running and beautiful, maybe we can go for a ride.

Do you still have that fairing?  I'd like to take a look at it, and maybe customize it a little.

[btripp]

Thanks for all the advice and support guys!  I take a look at that fairing tomorrow.  I can't remember what the brand or anything is off the top of my head.  I'd love to go riding!  More soon...

[Kelvin8]

The front brake on my -78 550K was frozen when I got it. Blew the pistons out with compressed air and polished the cylinder with a dremel tool (a must). Also had to clean out the hose and clear the gunk out of the Master Cylinder. All works fine now.

Kelvin

[Darrell]

The front brake on my -78 550K was frozen when I got it. Blew the pistons out with compressed air and polished the cylinder with a dremel tool (a must). Also had to clean out the hose and clear the gunk out of the Master Cylinder. All works fine now.

Kelvin

Same here. All three calipers on my '78 750F2 were siezed up. Took the caliper off, pumped out the piston with the master cylinder, then stuck them back in after a good scrubbing. Haven't had a problem since. Good luck!

[btripp]

Sorry for taking so long to reply.  Things got really busy here this weekend, and not with the bike!

   

Thanks for the advice on the front brake.  It doesn't sound like it'll be too bad. 

  Joe, I've still got to check that fairing.  I've still got it in the shed.  It's not in the best condition.  The PO had the fiberglass repaired on the inside top, just below the windshield.  It could probably be fixed by someone who knew what they were doing.  Briefly, it's big and white with a plexi windshield.  It comes down over the entire front of the bike, and replaces the headlight and front turn signals.  The best thing about it is that it has (had?) a cigarette lighter!  I don't even smoke, but I think that's cool.  I still need to remove the mounting hardware from the bike, but it was rusted and I didn't want to fool with it at the time.  The entire contraption is yours if you want it.  I'll check the name and make sure I've still got the umbilical, and see if I can get a pic. 

  I checked the link for the carb rebuild kits, but it seems they are sold out for my year.  Can anyone confirm that?  I'm a little afraid I might have looked at the wrong thing.  If they are, do you have another source you’d recommend?

  Also on carbs:  The spring located on the top of the carbs (I think it's part of the throttle) seems too tight to me.  There isn't enough play in the throttle and the force required to open and close it seems greater than it should be.  I think it might be this way because it's really, really rusty.  Any of you guys have an idea about how hard it is to twist the grip?  (I also need new grips since the old foam ones are history.  They slip and this might be part of the problem, but I'm sure it's still too much...)  Can or should I replace this spring?

  Thanks everybody!

  -Ben

[btripp]

Guys,

  Joe I've got a few pictures of that fairing.  It's yours if you want it.. 

  Here are pics of my bike.  She's a little rusty and dirty but we're working on it. 

  I wanted you all to see the rust on the carbs.  Do you think this is a problem?  If so, is there anything I can do to get it off?  I'd rather not replace parts, though I do have another set of carbs from a different bike ('77 550K).  I also have some assorted replacement parts for some of the rusted parts. 

  Obviously, this bike still needs a lot of work before we're tooling down the road, but I don't think it will be too bad.

  Hope you guys like the pics.  I dripped WD-40 on the clutch case and it was generally a little wet after all the rain we've had.  (I did have it covered!)  Let me know if you see anything interesting!

  -Ben

[dusterdude]

ben,what salvage place you talking about.damn if i can find one around here anywhere

[btripp]

  Mark,

  It's down on Broad Rock as I recall.  I forget the name.  You go down Belt Blvd in Southside to about the VA hospital and then turn Left (East).  It's down there on the right.  I'll check and make sure and get back with you. 

  If you're up here I'd be happy to show you if you want.

  -Ben

[btripp]

I should also note that all my lights and signals, dodads work just fine on this bike.  The starter works fine and we've got spark, so hopefully once I've got the carbs going....

Oh, I had to replace the petcock.  The old one was hopelessly rusted.  The new one goes on just fine, but it doesn't face the right way.  I was going to just make the fuel line a little longer, but I thought I'd ask if there's a kind of tape like you'd use to keep a shower head from leaking, but that would hold up against gasoline.  That's obtuse.  I mean, is there something I can put around it to make it seal nice and tight even if it's about a half turn out from stopping?

[btripp]

I think she's afraid of the camera.  That's the best dog.  She wouldn't hurt a fly.  Maybe a cat, but not a fly.  She's just a lazy hound dog.

[btripp]

Ahhhhhhh........That's a good idea!

[TwoTired]

Oh, I had to replace the petcock.  The old one was hopelessly rusted.  The new one goes on just fine, but it doesn't face the right way.  I was going to just make the fuel line a little longer, but I thought I'd ask if there's a kind of tape like you'd use to keep a shower head from leaking, but that would hold up against gasoline.  That's obtuse.  I mean, is there something I can put around it to make it seal nice and tight even if it's about a half turn out from stopping?

Assuming you replaced the petcock with the stock type...
The nut that holds it together is double threaded, half left and half right hand threads.  If you put it in position and start both threads at the same time, you can have the petcock tighten in any orientation you wish.