« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: My son bought a 78 CB 550  (Read 4595 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline 5youngs

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
My son bought a 78 CB 550
« on: May 02, 2005, 05:31:21 PM »
This is my first post. My son bought a 78 CB 550k from our neighbor. It has been in his garage since 85. We are going to tear it all down and hopefully bring it back to stock. We have already taken off the crash bar and rack. It only has 8 thousand and some miles on it. Here are a few pictures.
« Last Edit: June 25, 2007, 04:24:23 AM by Glenn Stauffer »
Logged

MetalHead550

  • Guest
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #1 on: May 02, 2005, 05:48:17 PM »
Cool, how much did he pay for it?  I never could understand why so many people park perfectly good bikes and just let em rot.  But then that usually means guys like us get em for cheap.  I assume your son will be the one riding it.  First bike?  550s are perfect beginners bikes!  Great handling and docile at low rpms but still peppy enough to be lots of fun when you get confident on it!  Welcome.
« Last Edit: May 02, 2005, 05:51:40 PM by MetalHead550 »
Logged

Offline 5youngs

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #2 on: May 02, 2005, 05:50:48 PM »
He paid $500 for it. Our neighbor just didn't ride any longer. It needs a few pipes to be like new. We are looking forward to doing this!!
Logged

MetalHead550

  • Guest
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #3 on: May 02, 2005, 05:57:44 PM »
Yeah itll be fun!  Looks like itll clean up pretty good.  The pipes are shot huh?  The 3 and 4 exhuast looked pretty solid but those 4 into 4s are known for rotting from the inside out.  You wont find original exhaust for that bike in good shape, unless you wanna to pay 4-$500 bucks!
Logged

Offline 5youngs

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #4 on: May 02, 2005, 06:31:25 PM »
At least 2 pipes are rotted on the bottom all the way through. WE are not sure at this point what to do about the pipes. Time will tell. Are your pipes stock on the 550?
Logged

Offline cben750f0

  • nothin draws attention like a classic bike!!
  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,612
  • '75 CB750F0 Gladstone NQLD OZ
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #5 on: May 02, 2005, 06:43:34 PM »
good luvk with the rebuild, and keep us up to date...peace
Logged
you are never to old, to act like a kid... be safe
funny thing,chasing someone down hill on a bike 30 years older than theirs..
he said \\\\\\\'it was like watching a 250kg unguided weapon getting stuck up you bum\\\\\\\ http://www.bikepics.com/members/trixtrem/

Offline 5youngs

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #6 on: May 02, 2005, 06:56:00 PM »
Thanks, we are going to take photos through the whole process. We did an 86 Fourtrax 250R and it came out nice.
Logged

MetalHead550

  • Guest
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #7 on: May 03, 2005, 07:00:40 AM »
Yeah those are stock pipes.  I bought it from a collection and it had just 10k on it but I put 7k on it in the last year so their time is limited :'(
Logged

Offline Harry

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 387
    • CB500F
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #8 on: May 03, 2005, 08:44:57 AM »
Quote from: MetalHead550 on May 03, 2005, 07:00:40 AM
Yeah those are stock pipes.  I bought it from a collection and it had just 10k on it but I put 7k on it in the last year so their time is limited :'(

Limited? why? Look in the FAQs for tips on exhaust care, which include coating the inside of the pipes with oil before use, drilling drain holes, using 0,5% 2T oil in your gas, riding minimum 10 miles at a time, put oily rags into the pipe ends after every use...the list goes on. Well cared for pipes should last a lifetime!
Logged
Harry Teicher, member #3,  Denmark....no, NOT the capital of Sweden.

Offline 5youngs

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #9 on: May 03, 2005, 09:48:22 AM »
Do you know of any links where I can find pipes for the bike?
Logged

Offline SteveD CB500F

  • Global Moderator
  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,561
  • Ride on the Steel Breeze...
    • TVAM
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #10 on: May 03, 2005, 10:33:33 AM »
Lot's of sources in the FAQs
Logged
SOHC4 Member #2393
1971 CB500K0 (US Model)
All modern bikes now gone...

MetalHead550

  • Guest
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #11 on: May 03, 2005, 11:57:12 AM »
Well Harry as Ive said the bike was in a collection and was barely ridden and I thought the pipes were very solid but after I started riding it alot a couple holes quickly appeared.  They of course must have rotted a bit from the inside but were still solid on the outside so my riding the hell out of it caused those weak spots to go all the way through.  The pipes are still in pretty good shape but of course a bit louder due to a couple small holes. There are drain holes in them and I shoot them with wd40 from time to time but Ill read up some more cuz I sure dont want them getting any worse.  Is there an effective way to seal up the holes?
Logged

Offline Harry

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 387
    • CB500F
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #12 on: May 03, 2005, 01:34:33 PM »
These pipes do tend to rot from the inside, condensation kills them unless you actively combat condensation. If your pipes are b*ggered a bit of welding will keep them going for a bit longer but they are essentially through and will have to be replaced sooner rather than later!
Logged
Harry Teicher, member #3,  Denmark....no, NOT the capital of Sweden.

MetalHead550

  • Guest
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #13 on: May 03, 2005, 02:17:42 PM »
The holes are at the end near the rubber connector but I did notice that I had to rich my carbs a bit lately.  I,m at about 1 1/4 turns out with the mixture screws.  Runs flawlessly but how bad do muffs have to be to really effect performance?
Logged

Offline 5youngs

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #14 on: May 04, 2005, 09:17:40 AM »
Quote from: SteveD CB500F on May 03, 2005, 10:33:33 AM
Lot's of sources in the FAQs

Thanks. I will check them out!
Logged

smithrelo

  • Guest
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #15 on: May 06, 2005, 08:19:22 PM »
Pretty Bike!  My 74 550 4 pipes have same problem.  I'm working on getting some used, but can buy new ones from local bike shop (have to be ordered) for $287.00 per pipe!  (more than I paid for bike!!)

So I'm looking into used that can be re-chromed, but so far no luck!

Linda
Logged

Offline 5youngs

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #16 on: May 06, 2005, 09:23:15 PM »
We are not sure what we are going to do. After checking around,  original pipes are pretty expensive. We might grind, patch and re-chrome. Here are a few more pictures.
« Last Edit: June 25, 2007, 04:33:47 AM by Glenn Stauffer »
Logged

Offline 5youngs

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #17 on: May 24, 2005, 05:59:05 PM »
Here are some more photos of the tear down.
« Last Edit: June 25, 2007, 04:39:13 AM by Glenn Stauffer »
Logged

mrbones

  • Guest
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #18 on: May 24, 2005, 06:19:42 PM »
Nice quads! I can really appreciate a rebuilt 250R! On my 550, 3 out of 4 of my pipes were shot when I rebuilt mine 2 years ago. I found 3 decent ones on ebay for $50 each. I think they are more scarce now a days.

If you want to sell that luggage rack, let me know!!
Logged

Offline Tim.

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,945
  • www.DOTHETON.com
    • DO THE TON
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #19 on: May 24, 2005, 09:32:38 PM »
While it looks like you are well equipped both materially and mentally to do the job, if you haven't already, the Service manual for the bike is available on this site.  It's a very high quality large PDF download.

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=973.0
Logged
Roule comme dans les années 70...   Roll as in the Seventies...

Offline 5youngs

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #20 on: May 25, 2005, 08:09:21 AM »
Quote from: mrbones on May 24, 2005, 06:19:42 PM
Nice quads! I can really appreciate a rebuilt 250R! On my 550, 3 out of 4 of my pipes were shot when I rebuilt mine 2 years ago. I found 3 decent ones on ebay for $50 each. I think they are more scarce now a days.

If you want to sell that luggage rack, let me know!!

We sold the rack and crash bars on e-bay. We looking for pipes still. We bought the 86 250R from the second owner and the motor had never been apart and was in excellent condition. We took it all apart and put the original parts (handgrips, headlight, tailight, rims, etc) in a box and put these parts on as he raced it a few times in local harescrambles. We did check the piston and ended boring it .010 over and put a Niks piston in it and bought an Sparks MX pipe for it. It runs real nice.

On the 550, we bought NOS throttle and choke cables for it and had to have some keys cut for it. We will have to get a seal around the shift shaft it looks like, but were are getting ready to sand the frame and re-paint it. We also need 1 air boot connector to the airbox, but the bike is real solid.
« Last Edit: May 25, 2005, 08:13:26 AM by 5youngs »
Logged

Offline 5youngs

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #21 on: May 25, 2005, 08:12:34 AM »
Quote from: tintin on May 24, 2005, 09:32:38 PM
While it looks like you are well equipped both materially and mentally to do the job, if you haven't already, the Service manual for the bike is available on this site.  It's a very high quality large PDF download.

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=973.0

Yes, I did download and print it off and made a 3 ring binder for it. Yikes, almost 200 pages!! Thanks so much. This is a nice site.
Logged

Offline Chris Liston

  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 942
    • http://christopherliston.com
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #22 on: May 25, 2005, 02:31:28 PM »
Great progress your making.  I plan on doing exactly the same thing once I get some space.  Since my 550 was in already great running condition even after sitting for 13 years in a garage (had it running in 1hr) I just focused on cosmetics but now am starting to focus on mechanics of it. 

Keep the pics coming.
Logged
2008 Triumph Speed Triple Black and NASTY
1976 CB550F Cafe in progress
http://christopherliston.com
http://gallery.sohc4.net/main.php?g2_itemId=2402

Offline 5youngs

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #23 on: July 19, 2005, 08:50:24 PM »
It is starting to go back together now! We are still looking for pipes.
« Last Edit: June 25, 2007, 04:45:28 AM by Glenn Stauffer »
Logged

Saltwatersports

  • Guest
Re: My son bought a 78 CB 550
« Reply #24 on: February 22, 2010, 08:12:27 AM »
I bought a cb550 F about 5 weeks ago. The pipe was non original and not great looking. I have since found out that this single pipe (4-1) is extremely rare and difficult to find. I consulted with some SOHC4 members and scoured the planet. Finally came across a new guy with a small shop and lots of bikes kept indoors

Try Maks Bikes

mak@maksbikes.com

he is not high tech yet but loves and knows his bikes and is a great guy

Chris
Naples, Fl
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »