Topic: 1975 CB550 Super Sport project ***Headlight update 7-18***

[brett_bike]

As she rolled off my truck

Thing to order before I get started...

Carb rebuild kit
MC and caliper rebuild kit
SS brake lines
fork seals
spark plugs
POR-15 for the tank
some sort of exhaust (or muffler for 550 Super Sport)

Any suggestions on cleaning up rusted chrome?  This is gonna take a while.

Not quite finished with the '73 CB500 yet and this one shows up.

Cool.

[Zaipai]

Nice, gratz.. I use Naval Jelly but you have to be careful as it could cause some chrome to turn black. Others here use 0000 Steel Wool..
Here is a site that sells Chrome cleaner...
http://gordsaluminumpolish.com/


$45.95
I never used it, but it looks good.. Just some options..

.: Scott :.

[brett_bike]

This build thread has just been renamed.  I am looking for suggestions on how to build up this little gem, also looking for a few parts.  I am in need of side covers and muffler/exhaust among other things or a point in the right direction. 

Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.

[brett_bike]

Okay, so this morning I opened up the carb see what I'm in for.  Take a look at the pics to see what I found.  Trashed.  Main jets held in by what I think is JB weld and completely corroded, and are in rough shape by the PO prying at them with a pliers.  The The only good carb is the ONE single bowl I pulled off to inspect it when I bought it.  Figures.  Way to be thorough.

I do have another bank of carb bodies that I will try to use, but the problem is they are not the same number.  The carbs off the '75 CB550 super sport are 069A, and the spare carb bodies I have is 627B.  I think the bodies are the same, just the jets are different. 

Can anyone confirm?

[Zaipai]

I believe you are correct, I believe those spare carbs should work just fine. After getting it up and running you may need to rejet them however I would bet that would not be the case.. Ouch those have to be the worst looking carbs I have seen so far..

.: Scott :.

[brett_bike]

It was painful to open them and see that and how these machines could be so neglected.  It hurts me.

Thanks Zaipai.  Time to get cleaning.

[brett_bike]

This morning I used all the jets and "guts from the original carbs and swapped them to the other carb body.  All except the emulsion tubes, I have not been able to get them free from the corroded towers.  Has anyone else had this issue?  How did you break them loose?

[traveler]

550's have tough lives.  They never got the love of the 750's......treated as disposable bikes.

~Joe

[brett_bike]

Still haven't figured out how to get the emulsion tubes out.  Maybe I can freeze them. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Stev-o]

I have a Mac muffler [just the muffler, not header]for sale, PM me if you are interested. It is in great cond.
Also have a "custom" seat cover for you...

-Steve

[TwoTired]

Still haven't figured out how to get the emulsion tubes out.  Maybe I can freeze them. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

They need to be driven out from the slide needle end.  Trouble is, the part you drive on is also the needle jet.  So, you need a ram that will deform before the brass emulsion tube will while driving it out.

If you still have difficulty, you could also pour some white vinegar into the emulsion tube cavity to etch away the corrosion holding the emulsion tube in.  It's slightly acidic, so you don't want to renew the acid too many times, or the brass will get altered as well.  Should withstand soaking for an hour or so, though.

Cheers,

[fastbroshi]

  The vinegar definitely works. I have some really gnarly carbs and thought I'd see what I could do.  I was worried about the acidity too so I watered it down, 1:1 water-vinegar in a tupperware container, left it overnight.  
 
Here's how one started:


After:


Refreshed for about 4 more hours, note the pitting on the main tower:


   The emulsion tube can be driven out from the top pretty easily.  Just take an 1/8 inch punch and stick it down in there until it stops.   There's a small step a little way down in the tube, so you won't be hitting the tube on the top.  A few small taps should tell you if it's going to move or not.  After all this corrosion on this carb and two others in very similar condition, they came right out.

  I realize none of this really helps you out in light of your epoxied-in jets, but I just thought I'd throw the info out there in case anyone else has coked up carbs.

[Hasenkopf]

sci sells those tubes btw...

[Old75_ratafe]

Believe it or not I've found simple green and a dish washing brush work really well on chrome for some reason.

[traveler]

my .02

replace the carbs....those are toast.

~Joe

[brett_bike]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.  I soaked them in a cocktail of vinegar and warm water and that was the help it needed.  Now I am putting the final touches (cleaning) on the carbs, then I can slap it together to see if she'll start. 

[Old75_ratafe]

I wish you all the luck but I gotta say those are the worst carbs I've ever seen.

[brett_bike]

It least I have the pleasure of having the worst carbs a few of you have seen.  Maybe that should be a new thread called "Let's see those disastrous carbs".

Anyway, I rebuilt them with "new" carb bodies I found at my local salvage yard, so things are moving in the right direction.  I'll post pics later today.

[brett_bike]

So I ordered new jets for the carbs and cleaned everything, got a bit bored with them actually.  So I moved on to a little cleaning, here is what 0000 steel wool and a little elbow grease can do. 

Before and after pics.

Notice you can see my handsome face in the reflection of the chain guard.

[Zaipai]

Did you use anything other then the steel wool? Turned out very well!!

.: Scott :.

[brett_bike]

I used a few different methods.  The old Diet Coke trick with aluminum foil took off the heavier rust, then Simple Green with the 0000 steel wool.  Lastly I used a bike polish (I'm a bike mechanic) called Bike Lust to shine-er-up.  Who says you can't polish a turd?

[brett_bike]

Got a few more things done on the SS today, since my carb parts have not arrived yet I just did some cleaning.

Washed some of what seemed like at least 20 years of grime from her.

Cleaned up more of the chrome and pipes.

Removed the fairing and sissy bar/trunk.

Kind of starting to look like a motorcycle now.

This won't be the prettiest bike here, it will be a daily rider if she runs.

[Old75_ratafe]

I used a few different methods.  The old Diet Coke trick with aluminum foil took off the heavier rust, then Simple Green with the 0000 steel wool.  Lastly I used a bike polish (I'm a bike mechanic) called Bike Lust to shine-er-up.  Who says you can't polish a turd?

Yep simple green and steel wool is awesome for rust I used it to clean my 18 year stored outside the 750 up.

[Stev-o]

Your pipes look great!

[Zaipai]

Agreed, she is cleaning up nicely. Pipes seemed to turn out really nice!

.: Scott :.