Topic: 1977 CB550 K cafe racer build

[Zaipai]

I want to chop my rear fender, its much too long stock.. Any idea's on the best way to go about that? I was just going to cut it however that will leave a sharp edge that will look like it was hacked and not finished.. I probably want to shorten the front fender as well, so same problem there.

[traveler]

tape the edge where you will make the cut...gently file the edge and seal with clear touch up paint.

~Joe

[traveler]

Grips?  on Ebay from "speedmotoco"....problem is, I now read on here that the guy that runs it, isn't too keen on shipping stuff out fast.....that really "bugs me".  If I buy something from you, and you have been paid, get off your fat a$$, and do your job! (end of rant! )

I'll go take a look at the front tire tomorrow.  The guy I bought the bike from put new tires on it.  I think they are real cheap tires.  Work fine for cruising, but if you tried doing hard cornering with them...you'd be in TROUBLE!

No, I didn't see the article....I wonder if I can see it online?

Appreciate the kind words.  I like this bike!  Always wanted a 750, but got this becasue I got it for half of what a comparable 750 would cost...then realized that this bike has a shared oiling system with the transmission...i.e. no oil tank/bag.  That is nice when you are trying to clean up everything, as it's more compact.

~Joe

Insert foot in mouth....day after I write this...my grips show up!

My sincere apologies to the folks at SPEEDMOTOCO.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Grips?  on Ebay from "speedmotoco"....problem is, I now read on here that the guy that runs it, isn't too keen on shipping stuff out fast.....that really "bugs me".  If I buy something from you, and you have been paid, get off your fat a$$, and do your job! (end of rant! )

I'll go take a look at the front tire tomorrow.  The guy I bought the bike from put new tires on it.  I think they are real cheap tires.  Work fine for cruising, but if you tried doing hard cornering with them...you'd be in TROUBLE!

No, I didn't see the article....I wonder if I can see it online?

Appreciate the kind words.  I like this bike!  Always wanted a 750, but got this becasue I got it for half of what a comparable 750 would cost...then realized that this bike has a shared oiling system with the transmission...i.e. no oil tank/bag.  That is nice when you are trying to clean up everything, as it's more compact.

~Joe

Insert foot in mouth....day after I write this...my grips show up!

My sincere apologies to the folks at SPEEDMOTOCO.

~Joe

Well we have all had purchases on ebay we wish we could take back. I don't think you can be held accountable for that statement. There is a bad vendor post here some place that you can look at before buying ebay, on line stores etc.. I look at it before I but just in case. Bottom line is you just never know..

sleep well Joe, I am off to sleep my self..

.: Scott :.

[johnsy]

Great build post, im just getting a chance to really look through member post on the site. Looking forward to your later progress,
Cheers,
B

[Queeg]

just ran by your thread and also had made an intake filter.

its a littlee raw but worked great. found the filter in the bargin bin for 10 bucks1

[traveler]

How did it work for ya?

~Joe

[traveler]

Okay...back to work again today..

Got the "triangle" area finished:







As I mentioned, this was alot of work!  I sanded the area down and masked off and sprayed with the Black engine paint with ceramic additive, that I have been using throughout.  As I have mentioned, it's from Duplicolor, and isn't too bad (for paint).  You just have to give it TIME to cure.



I fitted my tailight/license plate bracket up:



And got 90% of the front all knocked out.  Just have wiring to clean up and some other little tidbits.









Picked up a replacement headlight at WalMart today.  Sylvania...$12.97



Oh...my brass clutch cable adjuster arrived as well.  I only need one, but they sent two!  I wonder who might need one?  Scott??



Lastly, I ran across this in WalMart.  Krylon paint made for painting plastic.  I had to try it!



My kill switch refurbishment









Well, that was a day's worth of work.

~Joe

[traveler]

P.S.  It was 19 degrees out! 

~Joe

[Zaipai]

P.S.  It was 19 degrees out! 

~Joe

Wow impressive.. I am amazed that the paint stuck to the frame, you did a great job on that frame.. The front is looking awesome.. As for the adjuster, thanks but I have a new one that I will reuse.. So you got me motivated to take apart my controls and paint them up and give the kill switch a nice coat of gold paint (to go with the theme) however as it turns out I found out why my start button and other switched did not work. The wires are all fused together. Turns out the brass parts broke and shorted out the wiring.. So the hunt starts. Well its ok actually since I was thinking of getting some controls that are just a bit newer, this just speeds that up.

Keep it going Joe!! Nice work. (8 degrees here today for a high)...

.:Scott:.

[traveler]

Hehe...well, the paint sure didn't "like" it...but it went on. 

I'm going to have to powder the frame down the road at some point...but this keeps things clean and neat while I am compelting Phase I of the project.  Phase II is disassembly and powder/polish up to top notch status.

I was going to build a HUGE motor...but have decided to just go with a ported 550 head and 650 cam....I'm going to drop the front sprocket 2 teeth to help with acceleration, and maybe go to a Barnett Kevlar clutch to make acceleration crisp.  The light weight will definitely help!

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Sounds like a good plan, however you might want to check out the two posts below.. I think they will confirm what your thinking is..

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=56662.msg611560#msg611560

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=7087.msg64099#lastPost

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Thanks.

The HondaMan article on the 550 in the main website suggests raising the rear sprocket 4 teeth (from stock 37 teeth to 41), as it's easier on the clutch, as the stock clutch is weak.

I'll probably upgrade the clutch and either use a larger rear sprocket, or a smaller front sprocket.  According to the posts you attached for me, small sprockets are tough on chains...so a larger rear sprocket will achieve the acceleration I want, and increase the longevity of the chain!

Good stuff to learn!

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Thanks.

The HondaMan article on the 550 in the main website suggests raising the rear sprocket 4 teeth (from stock 37 teeth to 41), as it's easier on the clutch, as the stock clutch is weak.

I'll probably upgrade the clutch and either use a larger rear sprocket, or a smaller front sprocket.  According to the posts you attached for me, small sprockets are tough on chains...so a larger rear sprocket will achieve the acceleration I want, and increase the longevity of the chain!

Good stuff to learn!

~Joe

Thats what I like about this site.. Info like that is just priceless. It's great not learning stuff the hard way all the time..

[traveler]

PFFT !!!!!

You are not kidding!

~Joe

[Flying J]

These guys make sprockets for any amount of teeth you want and have all kinds of custom options.
http://www.sprocketspecialists.com/

[traveler]

Thanks!

I was wondering where to go for a custom tooth sprocket.

~Joe

[underachiever]

The Hondaman article only refers to raising the rear sprocket gearing 4 teeth. It doesn't specify a starting point. That means it could also be raising from 34 to 38 teeth as found on 500's and early 550's. Makes me think the easy to find (and cheap) factory size 37 for the later 550's will be ok if this is the case.

I don't know the answer here and have searched plenty to find it myself.
Tony

[traveler]

Well, the easy way, I guess, is to just ride it as is, and make adjsutments as needed.

~Joe

[SHELLFISH]

Joe, All looks like it's coming along well!

Just curious to know if you have taken a look at your front tire make and model yet?
                                                      Thanks,   Jim

[traveler]

Hehe...Im sorry man...I forgot.  I'll look tomorrow.

~Joe

[traveler]

Progress for the day...

The area under the carbs...the case area holding the transmission ...well, the factory paint was peeling, and really looked bad.  I decided that the area needed to be cleaned up.

So the use of 80 grit sandpaper and susequent cleaning with brake cleaner, got it looking much better.







When I bought the bike, only one carb had the overflow fuel line.  So, I got that all taken care of...good thing I did, as it had been dripping on the case...which is probably why the paint was "rotten"..anyway, here is a pic or two:






Now that the area was cleaned up...it was time to put the airbox back in.  What a pain in the butt!  I'd love to have the designer show me how this is supposed to go on easy.  Nevertheless, it's in!  The rip I had in one rubber I superglued a week or so ago, and it held!  To help get a good seal, I used some 1 5/16" worm drive clamps where the rubbers fit onto the PD carbs.  I will be installing a longer bolt at the rear of the airbox to help hold it up.







Oh...I also installed the throttle controls....all I need now is my throttle cable, which is in the mail!







DAMN cold today.  3 hours was all I could handle, even all bundled up.

P.S.  Yes, I need to get a new aircleaner, the crushed one isn't cuttin' it!

~Joe

[Ryan 550k]

If your willing to take ANOTHER picture, I'd love to see the back side of that license plate/brake light set up.  I think I have the same Lucas style brake light set up and have thought about setting it up to the side as well.  I'd like to see how you set it up for reference.

Oh also, where did you pick up your mirrors?  Pretty nice dude.


 

[Zaipai]

Dang Joe, Its looking very nice. I can't believe how much you get done in this cold weather. Those bolts will be in the mail Monday.. I missed the Postoffice Saturday turns out it closes at 11a and I did not even get up till 10am. 

Nice work man..

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

If your willing to take ANOTHER picture, I'd love to see the back side of that license plate/brake light set up.  I think I have the same Lucas style brake light set up and have thought about setting it up to the side as well.  I'd like to see how you set it up for reference.

Oh also, where did you pick up your mirrors?  Pretty nice dude.


 

You can see in this picture, that the bracket makes a 90 degree bend off the back of the light.  I simply bolted it on to the point where my muffler is supported.

I got the mirrors on eBay.  They are made by EMGO.

Thanks for the kind words.

~Joe