Topic: My CB550 hobby

[j squared]

I picked this bike up about a year ago and have been wrenching on it when I feel the urge, its my first ever cycle and I feel like I picked a winner  Working on this old thing has been awesome, very humbling at times but really rewarding.  Plans for the coming months are paint and work on the seat/tail section, then a front end rebuild (forks, brake, steering).  Big day today, this is actually the first time it has seen daylight since I got it   Too many hobbies haha.










I bought it last Fall like this:

[Greggo]

Nice place to start.  What year?  How's she run?

[j squared]

Its a '74, havent ridden it yet if you cant believe it, dont have my permit yet   Havent even started it in about a year actually, should have it running this weekend though and will tool around the 'hood a bit Im sure.

[Ichiban 4]

That seat/tail section..is one of the best looking/styled I've seen for these old bikes.  Yeah..maybe it's a matter of personal taste..but somehow it just looks more balanced for the scale of the bike.

To me..so many of the aftermarket and/or custom cafe seats look too bulky/out of place.  Just wanted to relate that..suggest that you keep the seat in it's present size..configuration..(after adding some upholstery..of course).

Cheers,

Ichi

[j squared]

Thanks man! I think I will end up really liking the tail piece once I have it all put together, I cut it down from a stock CB700S tail, wanted something a little newer that had an undermounted tail light and it totally fit the part   Glad I stayed away from the bubble seat you see everywhere.


Totally different style, surprised it worked so well haha

[Stev-o]

Nice. Getting rid of the bars and seat went a long way. Gettin' some paint on there will do wonders.

Good Luck

[j squared]

Thanks man.  I rode it to the gas station and back to get some fresh gas in it, noticed a pretty large fuel leak from both sides of the crabs and small oil leak at the shifter seal.  Still, it was awesome riding it for the first time, good stuff


Re-bled the front brake after the ride (it wasnt biting as much as I thought it should) and got some more air out, about time for new pads I think too.  Also put some grips on yesterday and started wiring for the tail light.

[Stev-o]

If you're rebuilding the brake system, put a stainless braided brake line on there too, it will help.

[j squared]

If you're rebuilding the brake system, put a stainless braided brake line on there too, it will help.

I thought about getting one, will probably get one later one once I rebuild it for sure.  For now I went to a salvage yard and picked up a newish one that I thought would work and it did

From what I understand talking to Shaun the steel braided lines do NOT twist or bend so I am going to have to get the clocking of the fittings exactly right before I send him the specs, something I havent really looked into.  The rubber ones are easy to install and not worry about.


On a side note I found out I installed my front wheel wrong, didnt pay attention to to which side was marked as the front on the clamps that hold it one.  Going to redo that today, and look into the fuel leak some more.

[j squared]

Mounted the tail and wired in the tail light tonight, just need to add some seat padding and this thing is road worthy!!

Going for my permit test tomorrow, wish me luck

[Stev-o]

Good Luck! [it will be a breeze...]

[bwaller]

Hopefully by the time you read this you'll have permit in hand. 

You've got good taste in tail.       We're not that far off.

[jesus freek]

looking good so far, I agree, the seat style really compliments the lines of the 550. What kind of exhaust is that, and is it baffled

[j squared]

Thanks guys. Permit test was a breeze, in and out of the DMV in an hour.  I think the lady thought I was one of those types that just keeps renewing their permit instead of getting a license, got a perfect score on the test in like 5 minutes and she raised an eyebrow haha.

Had a bit of a mishap last night though, was painting everything good ol' spraybomb satin black and the tank decided it was too cliche and commited suicide.  Slid right off the drying rack, dented it in 3-4 places and leaked gas all over the new paint, which of course was not very conducive to a nice, even finish.  

Going to respray it tonight and start shopping for a new tank I guess. Looking for a CB550F tank in orange if anyone has one laying around


Oh and the exhaust, not sure what it is, came with the bike from the PO.  I think it might be an older Mac 4-2, possibly cut down a bit shorter which would explain the lack of baffles.  But it is definitely loud as #$%*, have a few universal baffles on the way.

Hopefully by the time you read this you'll have permit in hand.  

You've got good taste in tail.       We're not that far off.

Oh snap is that a retrofit??  Looks amazing, never would have guessed.

[Stev-o]

Here's a tank, it says K, but looks like an F:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-Honda-CB550K-Fuel-Gas-Tank-CB-550K-78-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2eafab9153QQitemZ200515752275QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[bwaller]

The 77/78K's used that style tank.

[j squared]

Finished up the seat tonight, pretty stoked with it overall although it could be better I guess. Going to take to work tomorrow for my first officially kinda legal ride  Going to try to get a tag tomorrow too, should prove interesting.

[j squared]

Aaaaaaand it ran awesome   A little sluggish at WOT, not sure if I was just in too high a gear for the speed or the main jet is off, but otherwise it was buttah.

[j squared]

Yay I got a tag!! Didnt even have to have the VIN checked either, the PO had it in his name last so my bill of sale was I needed.

But, the #3 float bowl is draining like a biatch (#4 was and is fine now, I guess its moving left haha). Gotta get some fuel filters on here stat, thinking I got rusty dusty all up in my steez. Tried tapping on it like some have said but no dice.  At least I am pretty good at pulling the carbs, got it down to a science

[Kframe]

Hey nice work so far!

You're gonna love those Roadriders tires (that is what they are, right?). 
Excellent in the the paved twisties, and not too bad on gravel and dirt either!



 
-K

[Stev-o]

Great news on the tags!  Now you just gotta get those carbs sorted [me too]

[j squared]

Thanks guys, yep they are RoadRiders, seem great so far.

[j squared]

Been riding it to work everyday so far this week.  Made a craptastic little tlicense plate bracket last night to at least get my tag on the bike, but it really didnt turn out so bad   I'll post some pics later on maybe.

Got about a quarter mile down the road today and it sounded like it was running on two cylinders, would die if I wasnt on the gas and wouldnt rev up above 4k about.  Sat on the side of the road for a few minutes looking at it (thinking "Why would it have started so nice at the house, and now be so jacked?").  Then I realized I still had the choke up.  Doh

But a buddy of mine stopped to see what was up and we got to chat for a bit. Good enough excuse to feel like a moron haha.

[Greggo]

Rode with the choke on??  Check your plugs for carbon build up, and remember to turn it off next time.

[j squared]

Rode with the choke on??  Check your plugs for carbon build up, and remember to turn it off next time.

Yeah, that would be smart huh?

Oh and on a side note my carb overflow issue "fixed" itself.