Topic: 1977 CB550 K cafe racer build

[tweakin]

Nice Joe, wish you were closer so I could see this one in person, I bet it does rip.  I am also staying away from the temptation to put rearsets on my 750.  I want my 750 build to be more stock (except motor ) and like new with a cafe twist.  Thus way I know it will ride well and be semi comfortable also.

[traveler]

I like my bike cafe'd.......I just can't handle my long legs being bunched up like they are......I already have a buyer for my Raask rearsets, and so, the stockers will be going back on.  Even with the stockers, my legs will be tucked in.

Once I have the jetting dead on, and my new fork springs in, she will be a SERIOUS corner carver!  Even with the mushy front end, I am taking 35 MPH sweepers at 50-60 MPH and not even breaking a sweat.

~Joe

[traveler]

Springs arrived today......work will begin this weekend it appears.

rearsets sold FAST....going to clean up and restore the stock setup and install.

This bike is becoming a real honey.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Springs arrived today......work will begin this weekend it appears.

rearsets sold FAST....going to clean up and restore the stock setup and install.

This bike is becoming a real honey.

~Joe

Gratz Joe.. I bet she is going to handle like a dream!

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Sure hope so.....things are really starting to come together.

I'm now at the point of de-bugging it.

Time consuming, to say the least.  Once you get rid of the stock airbox, everything goes to hell.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Yea, it does. I can deal with the idle, however I have not quite got them sync'd yet. I did get some carb sync gauges so that should help. Bench syncing is good for those that really know this stuff.. I on the other hand need help.. I am just trying to find a happy medium. I will say, after getting caught in a really strong cross breeze, I sure wish it had more weight.. 2 miles of open fields with the wind blowing you sideways is not exactly fun..

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Yeah....as a general rule....bikes that weight under 500 Lbs. are not good for riding long distances or for highway use.  The extra weight is what keeps them stable.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Yea, that is what the GS1000 is going to be for.. That thing weighs a ton.. The main issue is I am in a town that is miles away from other towns so there is lots of open farm land just waiting to blow me off the road at the first chance.. However I will just deal with it the best I can. Luckily as the summer goes on the less wind there is, August is great for that usually no wind at all..  I saw that red 750 with the bags for Botm and I am pretty sure its gonna win as it should its a great looking bike.. I wish I could find some bags that looked good on mine as I could use the bike more if I had even a little storage.. Well I owe I owe so its off to work I go.. Enjoy your day!

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

I went ahead and did some work on the racer today.  Started by changing out the fork springs.



6 oz. or 3/4 cup of Pennzoil 10W30 per tube

 





The new spring is on top....old one on the bottom.

Although they look pretty close length wise, the stock ones were level with the top of the fork tube, whereas the Progressives stick up above the tubes one inch.  Progressive recommends no preloads for the 550's and preloads for the 750's.  Both use the same exact spring.





Next, I installed these:





Here are a few pics of them on the bike.  I also finished cleaning up my stock pegs and re-installed them














Lastly, I installed the 125 main jets, adjusted the float in the hopes of fixing the overflow problem.  Even after cleaning out the seat with a Q-Tip, cleaning off the rubber tip on the stopper and tweaking the float adjsutment, as well as ensuring the float still floated in water, she still overflows.  anyway, I went for a test spin when done.

First off, the springs are really sweet!  Work great, but MAY need a washer in each tube for a little preload later.  The jets were the wrong way to go.  Now it bogs a bit down low and feels "lazy" instead of "rearing to go" ......So I need to go back to the 115 mains, and figure out just how to raise the needles a notch and try that.

Anyhow, just a quick update.

~Joe

[traveler]

P.S.  When the bike is warm, I can kick her over with my hand....that is how easy she starts with the kicker!  Of course, like all SOHC's....she is cold blooded, so I use the electric start to get her going, but once warm, I just use the kicker.....that should save my starter!

~Joe

[FrankenFrankenstuff]

Tell me what you think. This is the first listing not using my Frankenbike.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230487098613

[Zaipai]

Nice work Joe.. Those just may get added to my wish list.. Odd, my manual said 5.6oz per shock.. I will have to go back and double check that.. Thanks for the documentation...

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Nice work Joe.. Those just may get added to my wish list.. Odd, my manual said 5.6oz per shock.. I will have to go back and double check that.. Thanks for the documentation...

.: Scott :.

Nope...you are right.  I added .4 to make it an even 3/4 cup, which is 6 oz.

I just REALLY want to get these carbs to work!

~Joe

[Zaipai]

I hear you.. I looked at the CR carbs cause they can tune them to your setup and they are just less of a problem, but new CR's are like $730 its not an option for me. So for now I like you are just going to have to play with them until they get dialed in.. Unless some fall into my lap on ebay.. but that is unlikely..

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

my carb issues have worn me completely down....

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=71558.msg803927

I am burned out.

I have always hated carbs......and have been hoping maybe I could learn to deal with them.....but right now I am just angry and feel zero desire to mess with it.


~Joe

[traveler]

Okay, I'm done moping about this.

Jack Daniels on the rocks and some 60's music, and I'm cheered back up!

I'm going to start rounding up some parts.

I'm going to go breakerless...DYNA S

then pull the carbs, and go through them again, reset all the adjsutments to match shoemaniii on here who has the exact setup....so, I'll be raising needles, adjusting air screws, etc.

Adjust the valves and cam chain

Basically go over everything.

And when I get burned out, take my breakerless, injected, and heavily modified Harley out, bang some gears and head "that way"

Oh....and the 550 will stay with me....at least for now!

~Joe

[traveler]

I just ordered some 105 mains from jetsareus.com

I will drop these in, and pull the needle up 4 notches from the top......shoemaniii on here did just that, and we have the same carbs (and set up, except he has stock 4-4 pipes).....so that, and a GOOD bench sync and float adjustment, and MAYBE we'll be golden!

What do you guys think about a flat black MAC 4-1???

~Joe

[Zaipai]

I just ordered some 105 mains from jetsareus.com

I will drop these in, and pull the needle up 4 notches from the top......shoemaniii on here did just that, and we have the same carbs (and set up, except he has stock 4-4 pipes).....so that, and a GOOD bench sync and float adjustment, and MAYBE we'll be golden!

What do you guys think about a flat black MAC 4-1???

~Joe

Sounds like a good plan, let me know if you want to use my carb sync guages.. I can ship them to you and when you are done just ship them back.. Easy peasy.. Enjoy the Jack man..

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

That is TRULY too nice, Scott...and I would be honored if you would let me borrow them.

Let me get everything set FIRST, then use them to ensure all is set, okay?

I didn't know you had a set!  I need to get one, I guess......did you build them yourself?

P.S.  PM me some pics of your GS...that sounds cool!

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Joe you are welcome to use them.. no problem.

Here is what I have..





I am told they work on the CB550's however I have as yet not used them, so all the parts are there in the box..

:: Edit::
I bought them from http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com under the tools section..
$89.95 However, why buy them when for like $10 (shipping back to me) you get to use them when you need them..

.: Scott :.

[Zaipai]

Sorry, just gonna post here from now on.. No I did not see that GS550.. I will this thread again, some how I missed it.

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

yeah, there's a guy in town selling a '78 GS550 for $500 that needs an alternator and a battery on Craigslist....

~Joe

[Zaipai]

yeah, there's a guy in town selling a '78 GS550 for $500 that needs an alternator and a battery on Craigslist....

~Joe

Yea, that could be hard to pass up.. It could keep you busy until a 750 comes along and you could turn a tidy profit to boot..

.: Scott :.

[fasturd]

I have a set of those dial guages as well as mercury sticks I go back and forth on which I prefer. Make sure you have all the jets and emulsion tubes clean SOHC fours are not really cold blooded if everything is spot on... Not that I can always get it right either. But when you do they light up well either cold or warm. I had tons of problems dealing with non stock airbox(s) and on my last 750 just went back to the stocker with a K & N and all my problems went away. For what ever reason these carbs like a clean stable air supply. You can get them to work and then a wierd cross wind would make it run funny. Air box solved that. But that is just my opinion. What rear shock are you using? I love how these CBs handle and enjoy even more the look on other riders faces when they think they have left you far behind only to discover you are tucked right up behind them! You bikes keeps getting better. I think the black 4 into one will look great. Though I would go with the MC again vs the mac if you can afford the price difference.

[traveler]

I have a set of those dial guages as well as mercury sticks I go back and forth on which I prefer. Make sure you have all the jets and emulsion tubes clean SOHC fours are not really cold blooded if everything is spot on... Not that I can always get it right either. But when you do they light up well either cold or warm. I had tons of problems dealing with non stock airbox(s) and on my last 750 just went back to the stocker with a K & N and all my problems went away. For what ever reason these carbs like a clean stable air supply. You can get them to work and then a wierd cross wind would make it run funny. Air box solved that. But that is just my opinion. What rear shock are you using? I love how these CBs handle and enjoy even more the look on other riders faces when they think they have left you far behind only to discover you are tucked right up behind them! You bikes keeps getting better. I think the black 4 into one will look great. Though I would go with the MC again vs the mac if you can afford the price difference.

using my airbox with a larger Air cleaner is ALWAYS an option!

MC exhaust???  do tell !!! (PLEASE???)

I just love this bike. (although she dosen't love me back...yet!)

(damn I want a CB750 now.... )

Oh...how I wish you guys could see how well she handles the Black Hills Corners!  She flat hauls ass around them....full throttle....no need to let up....just throw her in to them....unbelieveable...the damn carbs are holding her back!!


~Joe