Topic: 1977 CB550 K cafe racer build

[sangyo soichiro]

I haven't looked in this thread for a while.  Wow!  Looks really good.   

[fasturd]

Looks great, that tank and soon to be wheels is/are worth every penny. All these bikes are the same until owners like you get their personal style into them. Can't wait for the video!

[HedNut]

Oh man! Thats one spectacular looking bike! Love the Tank/seat shiney alloy style! CooL!

[traveler]

Thanks.

I don't have a video camera, so I'll have to find someone who does, and figure out how to load it on YouTube, and then link it here!

Wheels are here, I will start sanding them up this weekend, along with pulling the carbs for a cleaning.

~Joe

[traveler]

Oh man! Thats one spectacular looking bike! Love the Tank/seat shiney alloy style! CooL!

Appreciate the kind words....I was sure you had seen my hunk of junk here!

I just hope it turns out okay in the end.

~Joe

[CaféElite]

Like most others have said you have done a really good job on this build. You have done a few things that I have planned for one of my 550s so its good to see the ideas pan out. Im also planning on going with mags so im excited to see pics of your setup. While im not a huge fan of your bump seat (bump is a bit large for me) I think your tank is amazing. I was a little disappointed at the cost when I looked at the builders page but its his right to decide the cost of his work. If it was around 500 I would be game though.

Good job on keeping this thread updated, its content like this that keeps this forum top notch.

[traveler]

Today, I sanded up my Lester mags and painted the centers.  Took about 6 hours, and yes my fingers are sore!  The lip will need to be polished out with some steel wool, but I will wait until the new bearings I bought and new tires (the ones on my laced wheels right now) are installed.  Also, I want to give the engine enamel time to really harden up. (I used Duplicolor engine enamel "Aluminum" color.)

Are are a few pics.  You will notice that these wheels are SANDCAST, and they do have welding flash and other marks showing how they were assembled.  In short, they didn't clean them up much before they painted them at the Lester factory.

Ignore the overspray on the tires...they are the old tires, and are going to the trash.




















Here are my All Balls bearings which showed up today

]

Next project.....finish my removal tool, clean up the cush drive and get it ready to go into service.



~Joe

[killereef]

Please keep us up to date with your progress.  I also have a 550 that I am trying to cafe.

[Zaipai]

Man that is going to be one sweet ride, those rims are spectacular..

Can't wait to see em on.. You are one lucky SoB..

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Thanks, Scott.

I am lucky....very blessed actually.

I'm going to rig up some 2X4's so that I can tie wrap them to the bottom of the frame.  This will allow me to put the bike on the lift WITHOUT taking the exhaust off!

I got the stock airbox off yesterday.....now the carbs come off!

I can almsot see the end coming.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

You know that's a good idea, I don't have a bike lift, however I do have a hydrolic jack, perhaps I can rig some thing up.. Can't wait to see her all done..

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Pulled the carbs today.  Here is a shot of how things look in there will the carbs off





The carbs look pretty clean already











Used some carb cleaner and canned air.  This air gets COLD because of the Psi defferential between outside temp. and the air inside the can!



I used a strand of copper wire from some stranded #12 wire I had to ensure all holes were unclogged



Here the carbs are ready for re-assembly.  I sprayed carb cleaner through the fuel entry and let it run out the bottom of the carbs, then used air behind it.



Here they are re-installed



Still dosen't want to run.  I have fuel, but I don't think I have enough, as when I turn the fuel on, entire clear fuel line isn't fuel, you can see air in it.

So, I'll get some fuel and top off the tank, and try again.

By the way, the jets are 42 and 90.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Well given you have a new petcock and you don't have an inline filter between the carbs and the tank I have to believe that its float level, or a kinked line.. However I am known for being wrong so...

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

The filter is part of the petcock.  Very fine mesh filter.

I'll just have to play around with it a bit.

The silver paint on my wheel, came out in a rough primer feeling aluminum.....opposite of shiny and smooth.  It gave it a dull, rough aluminum texture and feel.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

The filter is part of the petcock.  Very fine mesh filter.

I'll just have to play around with it a bit.

The silver paint on my wheel, came out in a rough primer feeling aluminum.....opposite of shiny and smooth.  It gave it a dull, rough aluminum texture and feel.

~Joe

Not what you wanted, or just different from what you expected?

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

unexpected.

I wanted the color.  I was expecting a smooth matte finish.

I'm fine with it.  Time to move forward.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

That's cool, as long as you like it.. I am learning I don't have to love things, just like them so I can move forward.. There is always next year! 

.: Scott :.

[Industrial Cafe]

If you're uncomfortable with the color, you can get them powder coated silver for a reasonable price.
here it's $25 a wheel, but stuff is cheap out here.

they also do a chrome powder coat that looks like polished aluminum.
EXAMPLES:

[fasturd]

The lesters are going to leek pretty tough on your build. I have to get back in the garage and get some of  my mags ready to go!!!

You will often see bubbles on these bikes comming from the petcock. I deal with it by using black hose...lol.

Just make sure your emulsion tubes are all clean and don't be suprised if you have to do a quick second cleaning. Sometimes things get loose but not all the way out while cleaning and a quick re-clean solves the problem.

Can't wait to see those mags in action.

Bill

[The_Crippler]

I'm going to rig up some 2X4's so that I can tie wrap them to the bottom of the frame.  This will allow me to put the bike on the lift WITHOUT taking the exhaust off!

I have a couple of scrapes of 4x4 I had left-over from another project that I use.  I actually strap then to the lift itself, rather than the bike. (One of these, for anyone who doesn't own a lift.  Can't say enough awesome about this one for the price.)

[Zaipai]

I'm going to rig up some 2X4's so that I can tie wrap them to the bottom of the frame.  This will allow me to put the bike on the lift WITHOUT taking the exhaust off!

I have a couple of scrapes of 4x4 I had left-over from another project that I use.  I actually strap then to the lift itself, rather than the bike. (One of these, for anyone who doesn't own a lift.  Can't say enough awesome about this one for the price.)

Crap its only $79, I am going to have to get one..

I agree those Lesters are going to look awesome.. That is if I can trust the images in my head!


.: Scott :.

[The_Crippler]

Crap its only $79, I am going to have to get one..

I know that Harbor Freight sometimes has suspect quality, but honestly, if my lift broke today, I'd consider it money well spent and probably buy another of the same.  It has been a lot of help.

I agree those Lesters are going to look awesome.. That is if I can trust the images in my head!

Agreed.

[fasturd]

Dude, 24 pages 15,000 looks, Wow!

[traveler]

Is that good....or bad?

~Joe

[traveler]

Look what came in the mail today!



4 filters, 35mm in length, bought them from c2c online.

~Joe