Topic: Noobs 1974 CB550 Rebuild

[psniff]

Picked up a 1974 CB550 a month ago and just started tearing into it so I figured Id document my progress, any tips or advice is welcome as this is my first projects on one of these bikes

The plan is to turn it into a mild cafe racer with 4 into 1 exhaust, clubman bars, and rear sets

So far I have
-Sent the head out to mrieck for clean up and porting
-Stripped the bike down to bare frame
-Cleaned and rebuilt carbs

Rough list of what I need to do...
-Replace steering stem bearings
-Replace spokes
-Powdercoat frame and rims
-Replace wheel bearings
-rebuild the top end with new pistons and rings
-Re-cover seat
-Rebuild master cylinder
-Reassemble
Also Ive been acquiring parts and so far ive gotten
-new wiring harness
-new voltage regulator
-progressive shocks
-seat cover
-sprockets
-chain
-All new cables
-igninition
-gasket set
-gauges

I still need to get
-4 into 1 exhaust(if anyone knows of a kerker exhaust for sale let me know!)
-mirrors and blinkers and tailight
-650 camshaft
-pistons and rings
-Master cylinder rebuild kit
Heres a pic of when I first picked the bike up(plan is to paint the tank and side fairing silver)

And now( will be sandblasting and powdercoating)

Carbs cleaned up

Nice clean carb

Engine torn down

Pile O' parts


EDIT: Bike is sold

[deck99]

Psniff,
Great job documenting with photos.  Very inspiring for guys like me.  I just picked up a '73 500/4 that I am starting to rebuild.  Seems like most of the parts you are aquiring are new.  Should be a "like new" bike when you are done.

Look forward to your continuing progress.

deck

[psniff]

just got my dyna s ignition and coils in today as well as a cb650 camshaft. Im sending out the frame for powdercoating this week. Rebuild should start fairly soon

[psniff]

anybody know if this kit will work on my bike...it says its for a 1975-76 cb500
http://www.fastfromthepast.com/servlet/the-392/Rearsets-Folding-Knurled-Footpegs/Detail

[psniff]

a couple updates:
got my frame back from getting sandblasted and powdercoated

disassembled my front forks...theres was a combination of water and oil in them. yuck



Gave the forks lowers and internals a simple green bath

Re-covered my seat
before:

after


Also, I dont know if anyones done this but instead of using the old chrome trim on the bottom of the seat like the instructions called for, I used chrome door edge guard and it came out a pretty nice

[psniff]

some more updates

rebuilt my front forks, decided to paint the fork lowers instead of polishing, I think they came out pretty well


Also disassembled my rims and sent them out to be powdercoated black

Rebuilt my swing arm and assembled my progressive shocks, then installed them

and just a little motivational shot

[KB02]

Lookin' good so far. Keep us up to date!

[RM81]

I think the lowers look good painted.  Without the pictures I wouldn't have guessing it would look that good.

[psniff]

thanks guys, I also just ordered up some avon roadriders and some vortex clip ons. I cant wait to get this thing done

[psniff]

soo today I was resembling my engine, and realized that my cb650 that i bought off ebay is from a dohc 650 not a sohc. ugh i feel so stupid and to make it better my original cam is completely toast sooo if anyone out there has a cb650 cam from a sohc bike let me know, I will gladly take it off your hands

[Flying J]

i dont  have a 650 cam but i do have a 550 you can have.

[Beans]

I just picked up a 74 550 to and was wondering by putting a cb650 cam in the bike will it give it more performance?  why u putting a cb650 cam in it instead of a 550 cam?  just learning these bikes is why I asked.

[psniff]

i dont  have a 650 cam but i do have a 550 you can have.

thanks a lot for the offer but I just got a cam off ebay

a few updates:
got a kerker exhaust system off ebay

got my rims back from powdercoating

got a new rectifier and sub wiring harness


picture of the motor put back together waiting for camshaft

[psniff]

so I just got my vortex clip ons in, what everyone doing about wiring for clip ons? Im kinda hesitant to drill into them....

[Laminar]

You can run the wires outside of the bars, plenty of people do that with clubmans. Just file a half-moon shape in each of the controls so that the wires can escape when the control is flush with the bars. You might also have to pull out the locating tab.

[psniff]

some progress...engine is painted and back in, steering is put back together with all balls tapered bearings, and I started working on rewiring the bike.



also laced up rims

[psniff]

sooo im trying to get the old baffle out of my kerker exhaust and the &%$*#@ wont budge anybody got an  tips or secrets to getting old baffle out?

[psniff]

edit: got the baffle out, I just used a 30" long extension with a socket on it and banged the hell out of it

[Ecosse]

edit: got the baffle out, I just used a 30" long extension with a socket on it and banged the hell out of it

personally, i've found a few well chosen curse words often loosens an uncooperative part.

looks like you're making good progress though. 

[psniff]

personally, i've found a few well chosen curse words often loosens an uncooperative part.

aint that the truth

anyway some progress...got the vortex clip ons mounted, tarozzi rearsets mounted, forks are on, carb are on, and some other stuff I cant think of right now
(sorry for the crappy pic)

[psniff]

got some stuff done today

[Laminar]

Looks great so far. Bet it feels good to roll it around.

[Ecosse]

that thing's looking like a bike. 

[Laminar]

Have any closeups of the rearsets and how they're mounted?

[bikebitzofvt]

Is the front brake on the right side on purpose?
Looks really great, betcha can't wait to ride!
Progress is really impressive - you're getting there in a hurry!
Are you sure you're a "noob"!?!