Author Topic: 1977 CB550 K cafe racer build (Read 235954 times)

Zaipai · « **Reply #150 on:** February 04, 2010, 05:28:59 AM »

You are correct every bit helps! Nice work btw looks very clean. Careful it may lead you to painting the rest of the frame!

The_Crippler · « **Reply #151 on:** February 04, 2010, 08:08:38 AM »

I went to check out Jireh Cycles (as I like your license plate frame) and, sweet googly-moogly that's a terrible site. I think you get extra points on your build for being able to find a license plate frame on there.

traveler · « **Reply #152 on:** February 04, 2010, 11:38:44 AM »

Quote from: Zaipai on February 04, 2010, 05:28:59 AM

You are correct every bit helps! Nice work btw looks very clean. Careful it may lead you to painting the rest of the frame!

The frame is already more than halfway painted!

P.S. I just mailed off a front rotor to Anubis Cycle for drilling.

~Joe

Zaipai · « **Reply #153 on:** February 04, 2010, 07:55:20 PM »

Cool Joe, now don't forget pic's as soon as you take it out of the box when you get it back..

.: Scott :.

traveler · « **Reply #154 on:** February 04, 2010, 08:29:54 PM »

Oh yeah...will do.

~Joe

traveler · « **Reply #155 on:** February 04, 2010, 08:33:56 PM »

I ordered some new sealed wheel bearings for the front and rear wheels from "all balls".

I'm going to install, clean up what I have, and move forward.

Now...about some rearsets.......

~Joe

traveler · « **Reply #156 on:** February 05, 2010, 10:22:30 AM »

Done deal.

Ordered some RAASK reasets today.

~Joe

Zaipai · « **Reply #157 on:** February 05, 2010, 04:48:46 PM »

Wow you are moving right along.. sweet!

traveler · « **Reply #158 on:** February 05, 2010, 05:33:52 PM »

Thanks, Scott. I am going to make the reamining "big" money purchases, and then do the rest myself. Got to keep it somewhat cost efficient. $:-\$

Anyhow, Sean sent me some updates. In his words he "will be jealous when he sends it out to me". $:-\$

Anyhow, here are 2 pics.

I wonder if the tins are going to be overkill on the bike. The bike is being done pretty "budget"...but these tins are really "top flight".

~Joe

Little_Horse · « **Reply #159 on:** February 05, 2010, 06:39:45 PM »

oooh very shiny!

coheed · « **Reply #160 on:** February 05, 2010, 06:53:10 PM »

Do you have any detailed pics of how you ran the wires for the hand controls on your clubmans? I just got mine today and it doesnt have the holes to run the wires inside the bars. Thanks in advance.

I love your build man. Its given me alot of inspiration to get my 550 done.

slapi01 · « **Reply #161 on:** February 05, 2010, 06:54:05 PM »

i can't wait to see sean's tins on your bike. he does some fantasic work and should finish off you nice build perfect. where do you plan on mounting your rearsets? oh and license plate

traveler · « **Reply #162 on:** February 05, 2010, 10:26:38 PM »

Thanks again.

The wires for my hand controls are run outside of the bars, underneath, and straight to the headlight bucket.

The RAASK rearsets bolt on to existing holes. Here is a pic from Omar's website showing them.

The license plate is mounted on the right side as you sit on the bike, at the rear exhaust mount...if you look at the pics I have put on here, you will see it.

~joe

traveler · « **Reply #163 on:** February 06, 2010, 10:14:19 AM »

opinions?

Zaipai · « **Reply #164 on:** February 06, 2010, 12:24:46 PM »

Those sure look like good rearsets.. Never used rearsets so I have no experience with them however those look better then some I have seen.

traveler · « **Reply #165 on:** February 06, 2010, 12:31:36 PM »

Me neither......but seems to be the "cafe" thing to do, so I decided to just "do it" and quit thinking it over all the time.

They are VERY expensive though, Scott.

Like I said, I'm making all the purchases I need, then I'm puttin the brakes on spending, and doing everything else myself.

If you don't do that you end up going crazy with the $$$$, and WAY overspend. $:-\$

~Joe

Zaipai · « **Reply #166 on:** February 06, 2010, 12:34:29 PM »

Yea the only thing keeping me from over spending is the fear of sleeping on the couch the rest of my life or worst!

I love rearsets and would use them if it were not for the bum back I have. I rode a bike not too long ago with them and after an hour I was
feeling it on my back, so maybe when my back is healthy I will put some on.

.: Scott :.

traveler · « **Reply #167 on:** February 06, 2010, 04:26:33 PM »

I had a couple of hours to spare today, so I started working on the motor a bit more. I have been using 80 grit sandpaper on the motor to remove the old paint, and today, I decided to try stepping the sanded areas from 80 grit to 150 grit, and then 220 grit. This takes the scratches out and makes any scratches finer and finer. I then quickly rubbed on these areas with some wadding polish (Nevr Dull). Here is a quick start. I also went over the fins and top of head. Of course, this is just a start. I will be doing the whole motor this way.

before I started

afterward

here is some of the head and cyl. on one side

Once the entire motor has been sanded down with 220 grit, I will be then go over it with a green scrubbing pad and WD-40. This brings the whole area up to a shiny, yet finely brushed texture.

~Joe

Zaipai · « **Reply #168 on:** February 07, 2010, 11:11:28 AM »

Very nice Joe.. Just keep taking your time on the motor, it will be very happy when you are done...

traveler · « **Reply #169 on:** February 07, 2010, 12:50:44 PM »

More progress on the engine today. Worked on the case and followed the head and cylinders around the corner to the front a bit. I also started on the valve cover.

Here are a few pics.

Coarse steel wool (#3) and a screwdriver helps in the corners. I also found that for some reason brake cleaner and an old toothbrush, is softening up the paint.

Granted the surface looks scratched....but this will be smoothed out with finer and finer grades of sandpaper, and then buffed with a green scotch pad and WD-40.

~Joe

Zaipai · « **Reply #170 on:** February 07, 2010, 02:39:41 PM »

Yea, boy that looks good. I believe I will use your idea's there to clean up mine.. Also I am looking at a bolt kit for my bike to replace the philips screws with hex head screws, Its easer to deal with and I think it looks better. You may want to go that route also, they can be had pretty cheaply.

Here is one example, tho I would probably pass on these in favour of chrome ones.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360230480100

traveler · « **Reply #171 on:** February 07, 2010, 04:06:27 PM »

Thanks.

I've seen these on eBay before, and have been thinking about them....I like the stainless over the chrome steel....chrome steel....you can get some rust in the allen wrench slot...no biggie, just have to wipe them with WD-40 and buff back to a shine.

~Joe

blanc · « **Reply #172 on:** February 08, 2010, 01:44:06 AM »

Fab build, watching with interest.

Love the tank wat is it costing fo tank and seat? Guess I may have to speak to your fabricator.

traveler · « **Reply #173 on:** February 08, 2010, 04:13:55 AM »

www.roccitycafe.com

Sean is his name.

Thanks for the kind words.

~Joe

kennydean2000 · « **Reply #174 on:** February 08, 2010, 06:50:57 AM »

Great thread - impressed by the speed of the build. I bought a '77 CB550 Saturday that the previous owner started to make into a cafe and quit. Wondering if you could do it over again you'd pull the motor first?

All the work cleaning the engine and modifying the frame would've been easier... but you'd have more re-assembly to do too.

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Author Topic: 1977 CB550 K cafe racer build (Read 235954 times)

traveler

traveler

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coheed

slapi01

traveler

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blanc

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