Author Topic: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.  (Read 90346 times)

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Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #125 on: March 09, 2012, 03:29:32 PM »
Not much to update.. just fart'n around in the garage one afternoon with the GoPro camera.
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Offline EDU

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #126 on: March 09, 2012, 03:58:07 PM »
That looks super cool! 8) 8) I've been considering a new front end on my CB500F... I wonder if I could get away with using the 600RR forks like you did. Not sure if the frame on my bike is different but I sure hope it isn't! I even know of a guy selling an almost complete front end from 07/08 model which I'd LOVE to have on mine!

Thank you, Sir for the inspiration!

Offline Tews19

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #127 on: March 09, 2012, 07:35:19 PM »
Man, Olivia is coming to life there! Great pics by the way........... I still look at your bike and want to hack the hell out of mine but then I think to myself and know that I do not have any skills like you.... Keep the update coming!
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
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Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #128 on: March 10, 2012, 07:34:20 AM »
That looks super cool! 8) 8) I've been considering a new front end on my CB500F... I wonder if I could get away with using the 600RR forks like you did. Not sure if the frame on my bike is different but I sure hope it isn't! I even know of a guy selling an almost complete front end from 07/08 model which I'd LOVE to have on mine!

Thank you, Sir for the inspiration!


I'm not %100 sure... but I believe the K frames are the same as F frames. just google'd some pic's of the two frames.. to the photos, they appear to be the same.
The forks I have are from a 06 CBR600RR. I had to get my top triple clamp from some where else.. and when I was looking around. I found that my forks are from the 05-06 era. So, I`m not sure how much different or at all, the 07-08 forks are?
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Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #129 on: March 10, 2012, 07:50:24 AM »
Man, Olivia is coming to life there! Great pics by the way........... I still look at your bike and want to hack the hell out of mine but then I think to myself and know that I do not have any skills like you.... Keep the update coming!

LOL.. thank you Tews19. She's taking on a new shape more and more everyday..
Honestly, I didn't think I could do it either. But, I made myself tackle it.. one part at a time.. also made myself stop.. think about it, figure it out.. and not be affraid to start over it it wasn't up to my liking. My friends laughed at me and shook their heads when I was making my rear shock mounts.. I have redone them 4 times.. and still not happy. (I'll be doing attempt #5 soon. LOL) And the swing arm on it now is my third attempt.. and after I get my new off set rear spocket back from the machinist. I will have to redo that as well.. the swingarm needs to be 30mm wider to fit the off set.

Its all trial and error.. I get frustrated and what not from time to time.. but I can't beat my self up to much. And I if I do. I stop, and remind myself.. "how many 180 tires have you seen stuffed in a CB550?" HAHAHAHHAHA Kinda feel like StarTrek, :boldly going where no man has gone before.  HAHAHA.

Not to mention, this is what I consider my "first fabricated bike" I have had my hand in building some basic cafe's.. built a few Hot Rods, custom VW's and mini trucks.. but this is my first bike.
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Offline EDU

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #130 on: March 10, 2012, 03:51:28 PM »
That looks super cool! 8) 8) I've been considering a new front end on my CB500F... I wonder if I could get away with using the 600RR forks like you did. Not sure if the frame on my bike is different but I sure hope it isn't! I even know of a guy selling an almost complete front end from 07/08 model which I'd LOVE to have on mine!

Thank you, Sir for the inspiration!


I'm not %100 sure... but I believe the K frames are the same as F frames. just google'd some pic's of the two frames.. to the photos, they appear to be the same.
The forks I have are from a 06 CBR600RR. I had to get my top triple clamp from some where else.. and when I was looking around. I found that my forks are from the 05-06 era. So, I`m not sure how much different or at all, the 07-08 forks are?

Cool, thanks for that! I'll have a look and hopefully they're the same. Just wondering how you went with the wheel hub size/axle and alignment?

The forks (05/06 vs 07/08) are pretty much the same when it comes to dimensions, the internals are a bit different though. Ideally I'd find a nice 2010+ complete front end 'cause they come with monobloc calipers and those are AWESOME! Probably an overkill on the little CB but then again if I was to use logic and reason instead of my very subjective idea of what I want things to be like I'd be riding something else, right?!

Offline cwchan

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #131 on: March 25, 2012, 05:45:40 PM »
I just wanted to confirm a few numbers since we're planning the same swaps

CBR600RR:
Hub is 117mm from where the discs bolt on
This means that the total measurement is 143mm outside of disc to outside of other disc
bolt ring is 110mm as pictured

Do you have a measurement for how far the forks are apart where the axle is?  My caliper isn't long enough but i think its around 165mm

cb550K
Hub is 82mm where discs bolt on
bolt ring is 80mm
« Last Edit: March 25, 2012, 05:49:03 PM by cwchan »

Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #132 on: March 25, 2012, 06:36:46 PM »
cwchan;
I don't have those measuremts right now. But I'll be back out in the garage tomorrow night. I can try to ge those then..
but just thinking.. not sure my calipers are long enough either. but i'll check.
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Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #133 on: March 25, 2012, 06:42:36 PM »
looks like I haven't updated this thread in a bit.. so here's some pic's..

I fixed up the seat. gave it a few coats of spray bomb for now..
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Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #134 on: March 25, 2012, 06:44:52 PM »
this weekend. I made a frame for the electrics to mount to. then welded it between the frame rails. hanging under the seat. every thing nicely tucked away.
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Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #135 on: March 25, 2012, 06:48:13 PM »
had some nice aluminum sheet metal.. so made a nice under tail plate. this week I will bend up some more to made a box that will cover all the electrics hanging under the seat section.
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Offline Tews19

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #136 on: March 25, 2012, 07:10:53 PM »
Sweet! Updates, keep'em coming
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
1970 Honda CB750 survivor.

Offline kennydean2000

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #137 on: March 28, 2012, 09:09:59 AM »
Great work, you're making me feel bad for working (and not in the garage).  Can't wait to see how it comes out.
1974 CB750 Stocker, 1977 CB550F Cafe, 2000 Road King

Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #138 on: March 28, 2012, 09:16:17 AM »
Great work, you're making me feel bad for working (and not in the garage).  Can't wait to see how it comes out.


Well... Get your sh$t together man.. Quit working and get out in the garage.. Bahahahaha.
Dam day jobs keep getting in the way huh?

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Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #139 on: March 30, 2012, 04:56:13 AM »
last night I tried out my little home made sheet metal brake I made.. It worked out ok.
bent up some 16g aluminum sheet metal into a box to cover the electricals under the seat.
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Offline kennydean2000

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #140 on: March 30, 2012, 06:28:57 AM »
Looks good - not trying to run it under the bump huh?  Got mine fired up last night (first time in 5 years).  I think I'm going to mock up something to put the stuff under the seat bump - but I'm keeping an eye on this one too for ideas.  Keep it up!
1974 CB750 Stocker, 1977 CB550F Cafe, 2000 Road King

Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #141 on: March 30, 2012, 07:44:50 AM »
Looks good - not trying to run it under the bump huh?  Got mine fired up last night (first time in 5 years).  I think I'm going to mock up something to put the stuff under the seat bump - but I'm keeping an eye on this one too for ideas.  Keep it up!

Thanks man.
I have the battery under the hump. Fuse box, rectifier etc, is under the seat. Theres just not enough room under the hump for everything.
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Offline cb750kz

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #142 on: March 31, 2012, 06:39:26 AM »
I stumbled across your thread well researching a speedo drive solution for my project.  I am in the process of converting 1997 zx9r forks to fit my 1981 cb750k.  This project involves converting a cb750 sohc hub to accept the twin 320mm discs and I took a break today to find solution for my speedo.  The zx9r axle is 25mm but actually works very similar to the cb750 speedo in that the gear in the drive has two tabs 180* apart that mate with cutouts in the lip of the collar on the speedo plate/collar.  (I know hard to explain without picture...I will take some).  The trouble is that the cb750 sohc speedo plate/collar has a race that shrinks down the ID to 15mm (i think that is the axle OD on the cb750 sohc),,,but the upside is that the id of the collar without the race fits perfectly into the stock zx9r speedo drive.

So I used a drift and a BMFH to blow the race out.  then using a little file and some sand paper cleaned up the collar and mated it to the zx9r drive gear.  SO...the sohc speedo plate/collar fits the zx9r speedo drive with a little modification.  The zx9r speedo is 25mm and fits the zx9r axle.  So by my calculations all that is left is securing the sohc speedo plate/cover to the hub (maybe milling pockets into the discs) so that it can drive the speedo...another plus....the bearing retaining ring for the sohc will accept a 25mm axle.

Still pretty rough plan but I thought it might be something to consider and help get you on your way.

Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #143 on: March 31, 2012, 11:19:58 AM »
Wow!! Thanks man!!

I haven't done a lot of research on making my stock speedo work. Guess i just asumed i would have to go with a magnetic pick up speedo.

But now i'm curious... Lol
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Offline Tews19

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #144 on: March 31, 2012, 12:45:22 PM »
That is the first mock up of electrical that way. Looks good. The way you have it make it look much easier than hacking the electricals to move them all under the seat. Plus you get the openness with it still.
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
1970 Honda CB750 survivor.

Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #145 on: April 05, 2012, 05:33:22 AM »
Front end is off to the machinist.
He's going to make a new axle to fit the CB550 hub to the CBR600RR forks.
Machine some adapter plates to fit the 600's disc brakes the the 550 hub. And fit spacers to aline it all up.

Should see these back in a few days.
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Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #146 on: April 05, 2012, 05:39:11 AM »
While the front end is out.

I took some time to fiddle with the tail/brake light. Made a nice little bracket out of aluminum. Think it turned out ok.
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Offline MAX1MVS

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #147 on: April 05, 2012, 11:21:07 AM »
I've got to say, this bike is looking badass!!  I love the way she's looking...keep up the awesome work dude!

Offline RustyOlive

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #148 on: April 05, 2012, 12:07:40 PM »
I've got to say, this bike is looking badass!!  I love the way she's looking...keep up the awesome work dude!


Thanks man!! Like you like as well. :-)
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Offline MAX1MVS

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Re: Olivia's Face lift. 78 CB550 build.
« Reply #149 on: April 16, 2012, 02:13:56 PM »
I was looking at the pics you've posted and had a question...on reply #139 it looks like your brake pedal will interfere with the exhaust.  Is this a figment of my imagination or what?