Topic: PrestO-ChangO, can you turn a 500 into a 550?

[Kong]

Is there any difference between a 500 and a 550 other than the cylinders and pistons?  I guess my question is this, will a 550 cylinder bank fit on a 500 case and will the 550 pistons go on 500 rods; can a 500 be turned into a 550 by simply switching the cylinders and pistons?  I presume a 50cc increase in displacement is noticeable.  I've never driven either bike but I'd bet grandmaw's dawg to a dollar that I own one or the other within the month.

[alaureijs]

Yes.. From the workshop manual i have found that there are differences in the transmission, clutch, carburettors, air intake and exhaust. From what I read on these forums you cannot easily add 550 carbs to a 500 engine due to clearance or something like that.

As to swapping out the head and cylinders... interesting question...

[TwoTired]

I believe you can bore the 500 cylinders to get a 550.  There is some question about the lower engine case accepting the bigger sleeve ends as used on the CB550 without some machine work.
I don't think it is worth the swap just for more power, as 50cc is not that much 498cc > 544cc.

The 500 has a different clutch, clutch actuator, shift forks, drum, and primary ratio.  The lower end, Trans-wise, on a cb550 was improved for definite reasons.

There is a "605 Kit" for the 500/550 that includes bigger sleeves to be pressed into the cylinder block.  I have one, but haven't installed it yet.  I'm waiting to wear out a CB550 top end.

Cheers,

[Motoguy23]

I'm interested in this thread.  I want to get more power out of my bike but the clutch in the 500s were bad and slipped a lot but honda upgraded the 550 so if I could just take my cylinders and head and just put them on a 550 with a  better clutch and tranny that would be awesome.

[TwoTired]

Why do you want Cb500 cylinders on a CB550 bottom half?