Topic: 1977 CB550 K cafe racer build

[traveler]

Looks good.. I am afraid I will run into the same problem when I take of the sprocket cover. Glad you could get replacements..

.: Scott :.

If you need some help finding replacement parts, just let me know, I'll help you get what you need!

Hell, I have parts in my garage that no one wants, and this is NICE stuff!  I guess if it isn't 750 stuff, the desire-ability goes WAY down!  The 550 seat I have is absolutely MINT!


Did I mention I want a restored K0 CB750 seriously bad?

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Looks good.. I am afraid I will run into the same problem when I take of the sprocket cover. Glad you could get replacements..

.: Scott :.

If you need some help finding replacement parts, just let me know, I'll help you get what you need!

Hell, I have parts in my garage that no one wants, and this is NICE stuff!  I guess if it isn't 750 stuff, the desire-ability goes WAY down!  The 550 seat I have is absolutely MINT!


Did I mention I want a restored K0 CB750 seriously bad?

~Joe

Yea I believe you mentioned it once or twice.. In fact I may have seen it in the Inspiration thread...

Good to know, thanks Joe I will keep it in mind. If you could post a little howto and save me some searching that would be awesome.. I have to take the cover off soon so if mine needs replacing I will wait and see if you use the second one. I have a week off in April that I plan to work on the bike from first thing in the AM to the last thing I do so I hope to be on track soon..

ttys,
.: Scott :.

[The_Crippler]

Started by lubing my new throttle and clutch cables I bought from Motion Pro.  I used a kit, which came with the alumninum tool....worked about as well as can be expected.

I know this is going back a little ways, but I've been behind on my thread reading.  When you say "as well as can be expected," is that good or bad?  Generally people say that, I automatically assume that it didn't work very well - but I didn't see anything about you having to reapply.


Lookin' great.  Keep it up.

[traveler]

It means, at least in my experience, wear gloves, because you are going to get your hands oily, and have a rag handy to wipe the cable down on the outside.....it's just a messy job, and I'm glad it's over.  Hold them over a can unless you don't mind your floor looking like an oily disaster!

If you ride a bike year round, in all kinds of weather, it has to be done annually.  Since both of my bikes are fair weather toys, I may never have to do it again, unless they start to drag, then it's "chore time" again.

Only thing I hate more, is getting the controls back on correctly.  I seriously put that off until I have my patience all built back up.

~Joe

[traveler]

Got a little more work done on the rear wheel tonight....steel wool on the hub...the center ridges are shined, and ignored the deep pockets, as it helps set off the polished fins....I got the cush drive side about 90% done.







~Joe

[Zaipai]

Looking good.. Its very clean. Well worth a few tired fingers..

.: Scott :.

[Little_Horse]

looking good

[traveler]

Thanks.

Yeah my fingers and thumbs are thrashed...almost blistered!  And the rear wheel is only about 50% done!  

Going to have to sand a few of the spokes....they are too rusty for just steel wool, have to sand them with 100 grit, then 150, 220, and finally steel wool....all the spokes will be rubbed out with Nevr Dull and since it has an oil base, it will keep them from rusting back up.

Gotta save the money going out.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

I hear that, I on top of the normal grung also had layers and layers of silver paint to take off. I used a paint stripper, then a coarse wire wheel then a brass one then sandpaper 320, 600, 1000 and finally 1500 grit. It works. I have new spokes for my rear wheel, however for the front I will have to do like your doing or get new ones however I may wait till next year to get new spokes.. Not sure yet. Its all worth it in the end tho, cause when you look at the bike it will bother you if you did not do it. Plus it looks great in the sun light as your leaning into corners..

.: Scott :.

[Laminar]

You're much more determined than I. I just painted mine.

[The_Crippler]

Every day, I appreciate my mag wheels more and more...

[traveler]

laced wheels aren't that bad as long as you maintain them once in a while.

The problem comes in when you are trying to clean up 33 years of neglect.

Once they're back to where they are SUPPOSED to be, it's not much of an issue.

I think most of the 550's where basically abused and treated as a disposable bike...that is why they all seem to be ROUGH.  I thought mine was in good shape....looked good in pictures.....but still rough.....alot rougher than what I really wanted....but by the time I went and picked her up, it was already paid for and was mine.  when I picked it up, I said to myself  "uh oh....."

Ya gotta be careful buying a eBay/sight unseen motorcycle....it is too easy to make them photograph well.....this bike was touched up with spray paint to make her look fantastic.....in person, reality sets in...

I have slaved over this poor bike...jsut trying to get it where I wanted it when I bought it.....

Oh well...what's done is done...she is about 90% done.

~Joe

[dagersh]

Traveler,

Amazing work.  Everything looks great.  What was your design for the speed drilling on the rear hub?  Just felt right, or are you following a pattern?  Looking for tips on my build!

Gersh

[traveler]

THANKS!

I didn't have any template or anything.....I just drew out 9 holes and then drilled and countersunk them....then sanded it all out to blend it in.

Everybody that drills the hub always does ALOT of holes.....I wanted to be a tad unique, and just add a few.  It adds a bit of character, and a bit of cafe racer to it...yet doesn't look like everyone else's brake plate....kind of the same deal I went with on the front sprocket cover.

~Joe

[Zaipai]

It looks great, I know what you mean about ebay. From now on, I don't spend the cash till I see it in person. If they don't agree to it, I pass..

None the less its looking fantastic!

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

rear wheel is ready for install....the remaining wheel prep can be accomplished on the bike.

That cush drive retaining nut was essentially rusted on!  Had a guy at the dealer use his impact gun which he said was good for 1000 psi go after it, and it FINALLY came off!  He sandblasted the nut clean and pressure washed it, as well as cleaning out the hub/cush drive threads etc. for me, as I don't have the special tools to do that stuff. (He also did the work on the front hub).  Anyway, the "All Balls" fully sealed bearings are in, the retaining nut was re-installed with anti-seize on the threads, and I reassembled the brake plate, mounted the sprockets, and it is good to go!

Here are a few pics













~Joe

[Laminar]

No "Plate, Sprocket Side"?

[traveler]

I'm planning on not using the plate.  I have the plate in the garage, but would rather not use it.  My fully sealed bearings made it unnecessary to have a "dust cover".

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Joe, you sure cleaned that up real nice!! Want to do mine? 

Odd, my sprocket is not nearly as big as yours or Laminar's, I wonder if I have the wrong hub..hum...

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Scott....maybe you have a 750 rear wheel??

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Scott....maybe you have a 750 rear wheel??

~Joe

Very possibly.. It looks nothing like yours.. I will have to look into it.

.: Scott :.

[fastbroshi]

THANKS!

I didn't have any template or anything.....I just drew out 9 holes and then drilled and countersunk them....then sanded it all out to blend it in.

Everybody that drills the hub always does ALOT of holes.....I wanted to be a tad unique, and just add a few.  It adds a bit of character, and a bit of cafe racer to it...yet doesn't look like everyone else's brake plate....kind of the same deal I went with on the front sprocket cover.

~Joe

I like the lack of 26 million holes too, less is more.

[Laminar]

THANKS!

I didn't have any template or anything.....I just drew out 9 holes and then drilled and countersunk them....then sanded it all out to blend it in.

Everybody that drills the hub always does ALOT of holes.....I wanted to be a tad unique, and just add a few.  It adds a bit of character, and a bit of cafe racer to it...yet doesn't look like everyone else's brake plate....kind of the same deal I went with on the front sprocket cover.

~Joe

I like the lack of 26 million holes too, less is more.

Don't let Industrial Cafe see that.

[Ryan 550k]

THANKS!

I didn't have any template or anything.....I just drew out 9 holes and then drilled and countersunk them....then sanded it all out to blend it in.

Everybody that drills the hub always does ALOT of holes.....I wanted to be a tad unique, and just add a few.  It adds a bit of character, and a bit of cafe racer to it...yet doesn't look like everyone else's brake plate....kind of the same deal I went with on the front sprocket cover.

~Joe

I like the lack of 26 million holes too, less is more.

Don't let Industrial Cafe see that.

Exactly what I was thinkin 

[fastbroshi]

Thought I'd chime in before he added, "No dude you don't have enough!"