Topic: Flying J CB550 Cafe Racer Magazine.

[Flying J]

I dont think its parkerized. It looks the same as the hi performance coating ( Flora-Polymer ) that i had cycle-x put i on my rockers.
http://cyclexchange.net/Engine%20Parts%20Coating.htm

[LesterPiglet]

It still has a few pin holes here and there but im sure it wont leak. Im not that great at welding aluminum yet.
Also according to BWALLER i need to make a plug for the case like this. Im a little scared to weld on the case.

What is the purpose of this inner plug? If it isn't welded completely what is it doing?

[bwaller]

I believe that is a picture of my case so here's my reasoning. This is my race engine, no kick start shaft. The shaft certainly isn't tight in the case originally either so just plugging the gaping hole was my concern. I use external oil lines to the top end too, which has also has been thought to be completely unecessary. When you build your next engine without this shaft, don't plug the hole I could care less.

[LesterPiglet]

Wow, I'm interested in knowledge not rants.

[bwaller]

It still has a few pin holes here and there but im sure it wont leak. Im not that great at welding aluminum yet.
Also according to BWALLER i need to make a plug for the case like this. Im a little scared to weld on the case.

What is the purpose of this inner plug? If it isn't welded completely what is it doing?

Yea well maybe I'm guilty of misreading. There's been some stuff of late & every once in a while it raises my Ire! I'm not a prick so..... peace! Hopefully you got the answer.

Sorry ffj back to your build.

[Flying J]

No worries, 
Lester, I can vouch for bwaller. He is a good guy and has been very helpfull. As for the plug.
That hole usually has the kicker shaft in it. On the other side of the hole is the clutch, which has oil in it. There are other openings that allow the oil to move in and out of the clutch housing so sealing it completely is not necessary. I dont know enough to say that the plug is not unnecessary. Also its not a very hard modification to make while you have the case apart. So rather then try and find out if it maters i just welded one in there at the advice of bwaller.

[Flying J]

Nothing special just an update. The new set of cylinders are bored. I checked the piston deck height and they were all below .015 or so. Cylinders went back in today to take off .010. Then it will be on to checking valve clearances i guess.

[Flying J]

OK, so the cylinders are decked. Pistons measured in the range of level to .004 below. Im happy with that. The machinist (my new one) said that when he set the cylinders in the mill and cranked it down he found that the cylinders flex a little bit. This explains a lot of the issues I had with the previous set of cylinders. To keep it level he said he had to back off a hair and it was fine. So i may have the old cylinders for the 750 pistons decked again and run them on a different motor.

So now I need to assemble the top end to check for valve clearance issues. I also picked up a NOS cam chain slipper tensioner. Mine was cracked. They are not cheap.


Im also working on a CB175. This one may get finished first because its a much simpler bike to work on.

36106

[fastbroshi]

Were the cylinders bored before inserting into their block?

[Flying J]

Bored and then decked.

[fastbroshi]

I'm clueless on this subject.  Why aren't they left in the block before boring? 

[Flying J]

OH i think i see what your asking. The actual sleeves are not removed from the jugs they are bored 1 at a time as a whole unit.

[Flying J]

Trying to Degree in my cam but i feel like im missing some info on the card. 


38107

[Syscrush]

I don't see the problem, shouldn't be too hard to set it up so the intake opens before TDC and closes after BDC.

[Flying J]

I kinda pisses me of that they would send you a blank timing card. I guess they just expect people to slap it in there and not worry about it. Im going to talk to Web cam and dyno man and try and sort this out. And for those of you who dont know what info is missing here is a timing card for  a 750.

[Syscrush]

I kinda pisses me of that they would send you a blank timing card.

Yeah, it's f'n absurd.

[MOtub]

Sorry to interrupt your thread, but I'm stoked to see your CB175 project. I want one.

OK, back to the subject. Nice work.

[Flying J]

No worries  . Glad you like the 175 here is the current state.
Need to organize the wiring next. Its hard to get anything done as it is currently 102° and supposed to get up to 111° today. I have a swamp cooler in the garage but it doesnt help much at these temps. I am also waiting on parts for the XT350 i picked up a few weeks ago. Should be a fun bike. I also picked up another CB550.
So MOtub your not interrupting my thread. All these extra motorcycles i keep buying are what is interrupting my thread!


On a good note, despite the temp I got my cam dialed in and it looks like I will have plenty of clearance between the piston and valves. Next I think is to tear it down and install the real gaskets.
38199

[Flying J]

Took the motor back apart to paint the cylinder. Started looking for my new head and cylinder gasket. I can not find them. I had them inside for safe keeping but this build has taken so long I dont know where they are. I know where i last saw them but i dont live alone so things get moved and thrown away.  Ill look around a little more but i have a feeling im gong to have to buy new head and base gasket. F

39080

Im going to try and get the Cafe bike on the lift this next week to do a little more on the frame. I need to get this bike going.

[maduncle]

Ha, I know how it feels when you can't find those parts you put in a clever place so you would never forget where they are!

I like the little CB, are they stock pipes, or BCR pipes or other? That style would look on my CB450.

[FunJimmy]

I kinda pisses me of that they would send you a blank timing card. I guess they just expect people to slap it in there and not worry about it. Im going to talk to Web cam and dyno man and try and sort this out. And for those of you who dont know what info is missing here is a timing card for  a 750.

How did the cam degreeing turn out?

[Flying J]

I just got the cam "square" and called it good. I'm going to look for the gaskets in one other  place for the gaskets on Friday and then I'm going to order new gaskets.

[Flying J]

Well I never found the gaskets. Im sure they will show up someday but until then i ordered a new set from dynoman and also a full gasket kit off ebay. I pushed the 175 off to the side and pulled the 550 onto the lift for the first time ever. Time to get to work. I started by building a new electrical tray. Since i decided to go with the dyna2000 i need to start over. Im not done with it but the battery is mounted inside, the dyna bolts to the back there and the reg/rec bolts on top. Starter solenoid is on the side. I still need to weld a tab for the blinker relay then drill holes for the wires and breaker switch. Also on the list is to mount the blinkers and speedometer.

39421

[Flying J]

I think this is how im going to do my blinkers. Its a piece of tube that has nuts welded on each end. Then you use the blinkers nut as a sort of jam nut to keep the blinker in place. Ill weld the tube to the fairing brace but for now its just zip tied until i decide for sure. I tried taking some picture with my phone but they are pretty bad. Ill post them any way. The blinkers are level but i dont thin the fairing is symmetrical from one side to the other. One blinker is closer to the fairing then the other. From the front they look fine. You can only tell if you look at one side and then go look at the other.




39462

[Tintop]

Fairing does look like it might be slightly off centre.  Should be an easy fix to just tweek the mount to centre it.  Do like your solution for the blinker mounting.