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Author Topic: CB550 project  (Read 8919 times)

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Offline Elkie

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CB550 project
« on: March 28, 2010, 08:41:41 pm »
Well figured I'd finally start a project thread. Picked up this 550 august last year, didn't run. Took me a few weeks to get it running, carb cleaning and a few electrical issues. Rode it till November, then started the tear down. Tore the engine down to check everything was good. Never really took a lot of pics of everything done, some starting pics, and where I'm at now.

First brought it home.


Freshly painted frame.

Reassembly with 550F tank


The engine


Debating on a final color for the tank and side covers. Thinking either Black or like a San Marino Blue. What ya think?
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Offline Elkie

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #1 on: April 11, 2010, 07:53:52 am »
My project didn't seem to spark much interest, but still thought I'd share. Finished up the painting. Need to buff out some orange peel, but overall I think it looks good.

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Offline kap384@telus.net

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #2 on: April 11, 2010, 04:32:47 pm »
Interesting colour.  Are you going to augment with any striping or 2nd colour?  Just curious. 
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1965 Honda CB450K0
1972 Honda CT70K1
1975 Honda MR50
1975 Honda CB400F Supersport
1977 Honda CB750F2 Supersport
1978 Honda XL100
1979 Honda CBX Supersport
1982 Honda VF750S Sabre - Adventure Bike modified
1983 Honda CX650T
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Offline Ricky_Racer

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #3 on: April 11, 2010, 05:12:24 pm »

I like the graphite gray frame. I was wondering how well that color would work. I like black frames but I'm really getting bored with them. Keep on truckin'; you're doing fine. RR

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Koshin

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2010, 07:52:24 pm »
I see you have a Kouki.  Anything interesting going on with that thing?  Swap?  Im a Nissan enthusiest and own a legit S13 K's car and a Y32 Gloria.  I noticed it in the picture.  Sorry to be off topic
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Offline Elkie

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2010, 10:45:56 pm »
Quote from: kap384 on April 11, 2010, 04:32:47 pm
Interesting colour.  Are you going to augment with any striping or 2nd colour?  Just curious. 

At this point no, this was my first time painting with anything other than a rattle can, so I tried to keep it simple. I will clean up the emblems and reattach, and paint the lid a flat black. Waiting to see how it turns out with the black motor. I originally was thinking black everything with the gray frame, but just wasn't appealing to me when I went to buy the paint. The frame I used duplicolor wheel paint. Swing arm and frame combined was about two cans, and aircraft stripper for getting the old paint off so total $30. Thought it was worth a shot.

The kouki I've had about 8 years now, always intending to do a rb swap. But putting myself through college I never had the money to undertake a project like that, or the downtime to do it on my only dd. I see a possible turbo ka in the near future, but after I finish my project I've promised to get started on my dad's project a 73 240z. It was a barn find, been in storage for 20 some years. In great shape, but in rough shape if you know what I mean. I favor the dimes myself, but find it difficult to locate anything worth buying off the west coast. My one experience with shippers has convinced me to never do it again. Do you compete in any autox or drift events?
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Koshin

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2010, 10:56:00 pm »
I do a lot of track days and some drift stuff with my K car.  Just do an SR swap bro. So much cheaper, direct bolt.  But Im not gonna start an SR vs. The World debate on a bike forum.  Your old man's Z car sounds like a find.  Good luck buddy
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Offline jamesb

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2010, 09:33:57 pm »
good looking bike nice paint job it turned out good for your first time painting. the grey frame looks good. i'll send the airbox cover with my son tomorrow night and give you his address where he works then you can pick it up tuesday.
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Offline Elkie

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2010, 09:41:42 pm »
Thanks James, no idea why I don't contact you first when I need those lil bits and pieces. After deciding to use the f tank, it completely escaped my mind that I didn't have a seat to go with it. I went to mount my old seat, and was like crap. Now that's about all I need. Thanks to 75cb550 for getting the tank door for the f tank I was missing.
« Last Edit: April 18, 2010, 09:45:58 pm by Elkie »
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Offline 75cb550 (kyle)

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #9 on: April 18, 2010, 09:52:02 pm »
Quote from: Elkie on April 18, 2010, 09:41:42 pm
Thanks James, no idea why I don't contact you first when I need those lil bits and pieces. After deciding to use the f tank, it completely escaped my mind that I didn't have a seat to go with it. I went to mount my old seat, and was like crap. Now that's about all I need. Thanks to 75cb550 for getting the tank door for the f tank I was missing.
no prob... that paint looks good. im looking forward to making the change from rattle can stuff. it gets expensive.. love the frame color too. some of the different colors you see frames in take away, but the graphite makes the rest pop IMO
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Offline Elkie

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #10 on: April 18, 2010, 10:04:51 pm »
Graphite gray is one of those colors you can't dislike. For my next project the 76' I was thinking bronze. Everything else blacked out. We'll see I have a lot planned for it.
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Offline 75cb550 (kyle)

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #11 on: April 18, 2010, 10:08:47 pm »
Quote from: Elkie on April 18, 2010, 10:04:51 pm
Graphite gray is one of those colors you can't dislike. For my next project the 76' I was thinking bronze. Everything else blacked out. We'll see I have a lot planned for it.
i like that idea. but i have a bias there. ive gonna through several cans of the rustoleum anodized bronze on mine.
alright im really going to bed this time...
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Offline Elkie

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2010, 04:39:47 pm »
Lil update got the tank door stripped and painted, and emblems cleaned up.

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Offline 75cb550 (kyle)

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #13 on: April 20, 2010, 07:42:22 pm »
lookin good. i was gonna hit you up actually and see if it made it there..
i like the black with the green
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Offline Elkie

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #14 on: April 22, 2010, 05:26:43 pm »
Bit of a rainy day, so couldn't get any good pics, but the engines in.
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Offline 75cb550 (kyle)

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #15 on: April 22, 2010, 06:43:02 pm »
that green looks great with the frame... i like the black on the engine. its just enough black but not too much black...

looking good
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Offline HedNut

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #16 on: April 22, 2010, 07:23:58 pm »
Looks Great! Love the color...matches the gauges awesome....nice!
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Offline Elkie

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #17 on: April 22, 2010, 08:16:09 pm »
Thanks for the pics Kyle. I was a little worried the black on the engine wouldn't work overall, but I think it worked out alright. Thanks Hednut, always glad to see someone else likes where its going. Hoping to start it tomorrow, might have to use my old tank and seat until I can find a replacement. Thinking of getting one from one of those asain companies on ebay. Also excited to see what kind of difference the 650 cam makes.
« Last Edit: April 22, 2010, 08:18:14 pm by Elkie »
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Offline 75cb550 (kyle)

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #18 on: April 22, 2010, 09:27:09 pm »
let me know how that cam works... i will probably pull mine out of the frame this winter and fix some leaks and rebuild. be my first bike engine... shouldnt be much diff than cars though...

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Offline Elkie

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #19 on: April 23, 2010, 07:58:51 pm »
Got everything put together, threw on the old tank and seat, and took her for a spin. Went down on a sandy patch, luckily not too fast, bent my foot brake pedal, scraped the turn signals and the points cover. Thank god I put the crappy points cover on. I need to figure out a way to mount the smaller signals I got off ebay.

Engine rebuild isn't hard, just follow the manuals instructions. The cost ends up being more then you expect. Rings, seals, gaskets it all adds up.
« Last Edit: April 23, 2010, 08:27:49 pm by Elkie »
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Offline 75cb550 (kyle)

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #20 on: April 23, 2010, 08:53:11 pm »
i figured. my next big money item is going to be a tire at a time...

you talkin' about the front or rear turn sig's?
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Offline Elkie

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #21 on: April 23, 2010, 09:25:53 pm »
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Offline 75cb550 (kyle)

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #22 on: April 23, 2010, 09:32:16 pm »
those are pretty cool.
if youre trying to go front, ive seen where someone drilled into their fork ears...

so you got all 4 for $7?
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Offline Elkie

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #23 on: April 23, 2010, 09:40:52 pm »
I think I paid $11. Waited 3 weeks to get them. There about half an inch short of being able to mount in the stock locations. Was a little aggravating after waiting so long to get them, and then they didn't really work without modification. I'll figure something out though.
On a side note though she was running great. Gonna replace oil and filter and redo all maintenance items. The 650 cam does seem to have made a difference, just seems a bit more powerful. Could be the fact I haven't ridden it in 6 months as well. Feels good to ride again.
« Last Edit: April 23, 2010, 09:48:36 pm by Elkie »
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Offline 75cb550 (kyle)

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Re: CB550 project
« Reply #24 on: April 23, 2010, 09:54:53 pm »
i hear ya...
i got my fork seals today... gonna try and get them put on tomorrow. then i can put on the front brakes and newly painted fron fender. after that, im on the road.... cant wait... i have half a mind to try and go out there and start tonight...

hope the turn signals work out... do take some pics... trying to think of something to do for my fronts
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