Topic: My 76 CB 550 Four Project (Bobber)

[Headshok88]

Well here is what I have done so far:

Day one, just got the bike home.  Some work to make a bobber had already started before I got the bike.
Solid struts, Z-bars, Sportster tank.

Here is how it looked:




Next I wanted to do a true hard tail instead of the struts.  I cut off the rest of the rear frame section and started mocking it up.








I mounted all the wiring into a sealed box that I can hide under the seat.

I didn't care for the high Z-bars.  I like a lower look.  I lowered the rear about 2" so I dropped the front 1.5" and made a set of clip-ons.







I finished with the seat mount and fender mount.  Everything is tacked up and ready for some finish welding.







I am focusing on getting the bike ridable for the summer then this fall starting on a complete tear-down, clean-up and rebuild.

[75cb550 (kyle)]

i'm a fan....

[75cb550 (kyle)]

what are you doing with the kill switch? is that just a throttle cable issue?

[Headshok88]

Yeah, the cables needed to be run higher to avoid the headlight.  The starter button is broken anyway, I added a hidden push button start.

[75cb550 (kyle)]

kool... bike looks killer...
and welcome to the forum

[Headshok88]

Thanks.

More to come over the next few weeks and months.

[Headshok88]

I am messing around with some options for the air filters.

What do you guys think?

[75cb550 (kyle)]

that could work... depends on where you sit on that beast. i think my knees would be covering that up.

[Headshok88]

My knees are right next to it.  It shouldn't cut off any air flow.

[Flying J]

I was worried when i saw the first pics but your bike turned out great. I like it!

[Headshok88]

I was worried when i saw the first pics but your bike turned out great. I like it!

Thanks, still a lot to do!

[captaincrash80]

I like where this is headed. I'll be keeping my eye on it.

[njcafe84]

Looks great. I like it a lot. What mirrors are those? I might want to order a set

[captaincrash80]

How are you clamping down your clipons?

[Headshok88]

How are you clamping down your clipons?

I am using 4 M8 set screws per clip-on.

[Headshok88]

Did a little more work last night, not a lot tho.

Got the polishing wheel out and cleaned up some of the aluminum parts on the engine.

Tappet covers, carb cap & side cap.  You can really see the before and after on the tappet covers.





Also fitted the air filters after painting the PVC i used for the intake tubes.

[Headshok88]

Looks great. I like it a lot. What mirrors are those? I might want to order a set

I'm really not sure what mirrors they are.  They can with the bike when I got it.  I will see if I can find out tho.

[75cb550 (kyle)]

looks good... cleaner than mine

[Headshok88]

I'm debating what to do about the spokes.  They are pretty rusty.  I either want to get the whole wheel powder coated or replace all the spokes with new ones.  It would be easier to get the wheels coated (maybe a satin black).

[Headshok88]

By the way.  I have a pile of stock parts that came off of this bike if anyone needs something let me know.  I will be sorting thu it and posting it for sale here and on Ebay sometime.

Seat
Tank
Fenders
Tail light
Side covers
Turn signals
Mirrors
Chain guard
Grab bar
Luggage rack

[Headshok88]

Not much new to report.  Took the weekemd off for some R&R.

I will get the final welding done this weekend and should have this thing on the road next week.

[Headshok88]

Looks great. I like it a lot. What mirrors are those? I might want to order a set

I found the mirrors here:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/billet-look-mirrors/p2002207.jcwx

[Headshok88]

OK.  I pretty much have the bike all together.

Welding!



Painting the rear end and wiring up all the lights.





All back together.





I have one thing left to do.  Tune the engine.  I have high flow air filters and 4 single straight pipes.  The carbs have not been jetted and the engine is running very lean.  Does any one have any suggestions on how to jet the carbs?  Could I just restrict the intake or would I need to baffle the exhaust too?

[captaincrash80]

Love the way it's looking man 

[Flying J]

Re- jet is what you need to do. What are you running right now? My guess is take your jet size and add 15-20. Just what i would do. but im sure sombody with a little more experience might chime in.

[75cb550 (kyle)]

looking good man... always liked that tail light.

[Headshok88]

Well on to the engine tuning.  I just ordered a set of jets and will be installing them this weekend.  This should be the last thing I do before I get it on the road for the summer.  With the pod air filters and the straight pipes I am going to try a #115 jet first.  I don't know a lot about tuning these engines so I ordered a 16 pack of jets (#110, #115, #120 & #130).

[75cb550 (kyle)]

let us know what you end up with

[esw07]

Hey looking real nice, especially polishing up the cylinder head cover.

Just wondering one thing, Where did you track down a 16 pack of jets for the stock Keihin's? I've been doing some digging and I have a '76 550 that I'm building into a cafe but could only find the main jets sold individually.

[Headshok88]

Hey looking real nice, especially polishing up the cylinder head cover.

Just wondering one thing, Where did you track down a 16 pack of jets for the stock Keihin's? I've been doing some digging and I have a '76 550 that I'm building into a cafe but could only find the main jets sold individually.

http://www.siriusconinc.com/pro-detail.php?pid=&product_id=177

[Headshok88]

I pulled the carbs off last night to get them ready for the new jets.  They look brand new inside!

I am still waiting for the jets, they shipped Monday so I should be getting them any day now.

One question:  The emulsion tubes just fell out after the stock jets were pulled out.  Do they go back in any particular way? do the cross drilled holes have to point in any certain direction?

[Headshok88]

Well I got the jets installed, put everthing back on the bike and it still isn't running right.  I think I need to go back and recheck the float levels.

I replaced the 98 mains with 115 jets.  The mid has a bog and it pops when I let off the throttle.  I think I need to richen up the mid-range.  Would I need to get different primary jets?

I am new to tuning these carbs so any input from the more experienced guys will help.

[Headshok88]

Here are some pics. I just took over the weekend.

[75cb550 (kyle)]

looking good

[Zaipai]

Nice ride, I really like what you have done to it. Nice work on the frame. I wish I new more about the carb thing, I do know that bogging in the mid range is a typical problem with the 550's. You can check the main page, then click on the 550 link and look at Hondamans tips for clearing that up. Maybe there is some thing there to help.

.: Scott :.

[JAG]

Nothing against your build, I love the look of it.

But why is it every bobber I see the tank doesn't sit flush with the neck of the frame? There is always around a 2" gap just hanging out there.. Is this due to the handle bar location??

As far as the tuning goes, I went 20 in my main jet to richen up the mixture in my 750K, before I could see better mid-high range. It still doesn't like tooling around town at 3500 rpms, but I dont stay in town long!

The hardest thing to get right on these engines, once the pods and exhaust have been changed is the idling and lean/rich mixtures. You may have to alter the needle settings as well as the increase in main jet size..

Do some searches on the forum, youll def find your answers.
good luck with it.

[75cb550 (kyle)]

i know my tank mounts with a tab on the front. i actually cut it down a little so it could mount farther forward on the frame.

[Headshok88]

Nothing against your build, I love the look of it.

But why is it every bobber I see the tank doesn't sit flush with the neck of the frame? There is always around a 2" gap just hanging out there.. Is this due to the handle bar location??

As far as the tuning goes, I went 20 in my main jet to richen up the mixture in my 750K, before I could see better mid-high range. It still doesn't like tooling around town at 3500 rpms, but I dont stay in town long!

The hardest thing to get right on these engines, once the pods and exhaust have been changed is the idling and lean/rich mixtures. You may have to alter the needle settings as well as the increase in main jet size..

Do some searches on the forum, youll def find your answers.
good luck with it.

Mainly it is for clearance with the drag bars.

[oldschool]

Dam Headshock nice build mate. great lines an a honey as shape you must be stoked. awsome mate.