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.

[Stev-o]

Got about a quarter mile down the road today (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

Don't beat yourself up, I've done it too!

If that's the worst thing you do, you are doing good!

[j squared]

Time for a little update I think:

- Carb overflow problem quit for a week or so and has now resurfaced in the #1 carb.  Must have skipped #2 and gone straight for the finish line Thinking it will work itself out like the last ones, am yet to install some fuel filters to see if it is sediment in the gas or a stuck float.

- Bikes running pretty well except for some minor annoyances. 

First, I feel like I am having to adjust my main idle screw (the big one on the right side) way too often.  After first starting out in the morning I adjust it a few times until it idles nicely when I come to a stop.  After the bike warms up completely I turn it down as it starts idling a bit higher than when it was cold (normal I think).  From that point on, though, I have to make little micro adjustments to keep it steady.  If I leave it alone it will idle up to 2000 or so sometimes, then a bit later start idling too low and want to die.  To keep it at the sweet spot I am having to adjust it every so often based on what was happening the last time I stopped.

Next, there is a little bit of a dead spot in the throttle response at about 25% throttle.  When I am cruising along at around 1/4 throttle and give it gas it stumbles for a second then goes.  Only happens sometimes, but when it does it happens pretty steadily for 10-15 minutes then goes away.  Im guessing the slow jets are a bit off, but I don't know if they are too rich or too lean, need to do a plug chop I guess.  It only happens if I go from cruising to fully open, doesnt happen if I slowly roll on the throttle from a stop all the way to redline.

- Clutch slips a bit if I downshift and give it some revs.  When it does this I back it off and get going again and it catches.  Need to take a look at the cable and see if I have it too tight.

- Front forks are leaking.  Yay.


Aside from this stuff its quite a nice little cycle.  Handling really nicely too, inspiring confidence in my newb skills thats for sure.  I scraped a peg on the way to work today, first time since starting out riding a week ago

[RobHimself]

Keep up the good work, I am in a similar situation myself so its good to see you making it happen. Oh and nice volks on that turbo rx7! I like you other project too

[j squared]

Thanks man! Been riding a lot lately after pulling the #1 bowl and cleaning it out, no more overfilled float! Also readjusted the clutch and havent noticed any more slipping. Took it over 100 today for the first time and it felt awesome, seemed to have plenty more left in it so Im not sure where the 102mph top speed came from haha.

[Greggo]

Thanks man! Been riding a lot lately after pulling the #1 bowl and cleaning it out, no more overfilled float! Also readjusted the clutch and havent noticed any more slipping. Took it over 100 today for the first time and it felt awesome, seemed to have plenty more left in it so Im not sure where the 102mph top speed came from haha.

If you have the stock speedo, there's a general consensus that they're off by about 10% 

[j squared]

That would make sense, although I was at a marked 95mph at the top of fourth, figure at least 15 more out of an entire gear huh? If I get a wild hair up my ass Ill go look for a speed trap around my house tomorrow and see how off it is.

[Stev-o]

Your indicated 102 MPH = 93 actual.  Sorry!