Topic: 1978 - CB550k ...

[Wizzer]

Will be starting the project in the near future ...
I just picked it uptoday, but have been reading through the forum for the last week or so ..

[cleveland]

Nice!  What direction are you going with it?  Stock, cafe, chopper, etc.?

BTW, welcome to the forum. 

[Wizzer]

Nice!  What direction are you going with it?  Stock, cafe, chopper, etc.?

BTW, welcome to the forum. 

Thinking stock ....at least for now ..

I may have a line on another, for a parts bike .. that could end up as a cafe bike though ..

[75cb550 (kyle)]

nice. keep us posted. we like lots of pics

[Wizzer]

nice. keep us posted. we like lots of pics

Cleaned most of the gunk off ...

Almost all the rubbers look perished, chrome on front forks has a few small rust spots, that will be in the seal area.
Mufflers are completely shot.
One spark plug was a little rusty when removed. Inlet valve was open. Engine wont turn over ( Siezed !!)


Right now, I have ATF sitting in cylinders...... hopefully this will free up engine.

This looks like its going to be an expensive project ... !!

[Wizzer]

Life time warrenty on the Hammer punch bits from crappy tire .......


Getting the engine unsiezed... TAP TAP TAP

[FunJimmy]

Welcome aboard Wizzer.
Where in Canada are you wrenching on your scoot?

Keep it up.

Cheers
FJ

[Wizzer]

Welcome aboard Wizzer.
Where in Canada are you wrenching on your scoot?

Keep it up.

Cheers
FJ

Just north of Toronto ...


Quick question, if anyone wants to jump in ...

Before I strip the engine down, whats the best way to see if the rings are stuck to the piston ( and not sealing properly )

Engine only has 25xxxkm`s on it, but i want to at least replace the valve guide seals.

( Bike was running last year, but pistons were stuck in the cylinders when I took ownership )

[Wizzer]

I was hoping to check the compression over the weekend, seems my adapter is the wrong size ..

I figure i`ll try and make something at work tomorrow ...

I managed to free the engine, with little or no real effort, would you guys even other ripping the engine apart if the compression reads good ??

[75cb550 (kyle)]

if compression is good, i would adjust the valves, change oil and ride it...

[cleveland]

if compression is good, i would adjust the valves, change oil and ride it...

I'd second that.  If you need parts, check on the forum here before you go spending a fortune on ebay.  I am sure there are enough of us pack rats to cover most of the stuff you will need.

[Wizzer]

Thanks guys ...

It`ll be a few months before I`m ready to ride her ..

I need to do enough work to at least get her passed a safety check, before I can get a licence plate on her ..

New Mufflers for sure ( 4x4`s are shot ), new seat cover, brakes.

I rubbed a few spots with Solvent Autosol ... comes up nice and shiney ..

The rubber boots between the air box and carbs are rotted out ( as are the dust caps on the front forks ). Most places seem to want to sell me a complete are box, anyone have some around they are not using for a few $$

[Wizzer]

Well, got a nice supprise ...

Took a good look at the bottom of the seat, not too much rust, thankfully .. But the owners manual was still in the Flap.

Were are we ...

P.O, or a friend of theirs, is closer to an Ape than a mechanic .... Every movable part on the Carb is bent, had to spend an hour putting everything back in shape ..

Carbs were supprisingly clean, very little dirt at all. One of the cables was seized though .. ( somthing else to add to my ordering list .. )

[Wizzer]

I`m not working on this as hard as i should be doing.

I have a gasket set on order, the head needs to come off ..

Compression is not as I would like, I suspect the valves are the issue ..

I am going to need a new boot or two, for the air box too the carbs.