Topic: First Time owner/builder, barn find cb550

[that1cb550]

Hello Everyone, Im Wesley, from the California Bay Area, I was just re located up here for my job in retail logistics and found that I have to much idle time and needed to find a project for me to work on after work and on the weekends.

The story if the bike goes : I was trolling craigslist bored one evening and saw an add that a guy was selling  '77 and '76 cb550's that were in his buddy's barn the last 15 years.  I drove up and got both of them for $300 bucks!  Upon bringing them back home I found that only 1 of the engines turned over so that became the one i am going to build, while scavenging whatever i need from the other and intend to sell the parts bike to help finance my project.

 I am on a shoestring budget as I just got engaged and now have to find a way to pay for a wedding.  I have been lurking on this site for awhile and it seems that most projects tend to go the cafe route.  My dad raced flat track back in the 70's so the "brat tracker" look is more my speed.  My current plan as of now is to: sort out the wiring, and go through the top end on the engine, shave the unnecessary tabs and do-dads off of the frame, and leave the wheels, tank and fender rusty looking.  I dont know if the whole "rat rod" phenomenon is kosher in vintage bikes but I think it could work.

My questions to this group would be:

would leaving the wheels and other parts rusty looking present any structural issues

has the "rat brattracker" look ben done before and does it look good

what items on these bikes need to have attention paid to them.

I have just crappy cell pics now but hopefully ill get my camera to take some better ones.

Thank you in advance and for all of the past projects for my inspiration

Thanks!!

[that1cb550]

Here are the bikes

[that1cb550]

Second one

[greenjeans]

Not a CB, but close enough.  This, I think, is what you might call rat / brat style.   It is one of my favorite bikes that I've seen over the past few months.

I'd say that style is still strong.   It keeps the general lines of the original design of the bike.

[JoshuaJames]

I love that look!!! thats what my cb550F is going to look like.


is that steel box in the triangle under the seat for the electronics?battery?what?

also, where can i get one. I want one badly. lol

[that1cb550]

Well havent had much time to do much on the bike until today.  Continued the tear down, and with much effort spilled oil and cursing got the engine pulled out of the frame by myself.  As I was putting the trans oil pan back on i noticed that i had a crack starting near the oil pan bolt on the back left side of the pan and going up towards the lower rear engine mount.  So now I have everything out and am wondering if I have to go find a new case or if I can weld the crack up and not have to worry about it after that.  I have a 77 cb550, will that engine bolt into the 76 frame?? or should i just switch gears and go build the 77??

[Greggo]

Welcome to the greatest forum ever!  We like pictures around here, so be sure to take lots.

Have fun!

[Duanob]

Sounds like a great adventure! Yes you can use the 77 motor in the 76 frame. They should be the same motor different carbs and exhaust. Search the board on techniques for breaking loose a stuck motor. I would probably build the bike first before selling off any parts, you will never know when that extra certain bolt or rubber piece or oil filter housing will come in handy. Good luck!