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Author Topic: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration - DONE!!!  (Read 11860 times)

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Offline Tews19

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #25 on: June 13, 2013, 03:09:31 AM »
That is some great work!
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1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
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Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #26 on: June 13, 2013, 08:40:35 AM »
Just adjust the resolution of your cell phone camera so it produces pictures that don't exceed the limits of the forum.
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"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you never know if they're true" - Abraham Lincoln

Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200

Offline reddyvv

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #27 on: June 13, 2013, 07:02:17 PM »
Thanks for the tip! Sometimes common sense eludes me  ::)
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Offline reddyvv

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #28 on: June 13, 2013, 07:11:09 PM »
As a test here is how she looks after I started to disassemble the front end to redo the forks and replace my starter button.

Hint: Upload the pic first or it wipes out whatever you just typed in.
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Offline reddyvv

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #29 on: July 29, 2013, 08:34:51 PM »
Well, I haven't had an opportunity to update this thread but after a complete teardown, repair, polish, paint, of the frame, suspension, brakes, engine, (the whole darn bike :) ) etc. I am now on the final stretch of my project. Here are a few pics and I'll do a wrap up with more pics of all the work I did in a later post.
« Last Edit: July 29, 2013, 08:38:31 PM by reddyvv »
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Offline reddyvv

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #30 on: July 29, 2013, 08:35:27 PM »
One more
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Offline reddyvv

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #31 on: August 04, 2013, 09:11:26 PM »
I got it assembled and fired up on the first try. Mechanically the engine is running just beautifully, no noise from anywhere, super quiet. However as it warmed up it started running erratically. After chasing the idle adjustment around for a little while, at first I thought it was a fuel problem or sticky slides but soon figured out after listening a bit that it wasn't firing consistently. Turns out that two of the plug caps are shot  - around 120k and 180K resistance. The other two are perfect at around 9.3k and 9.7k

Now I am on hold till I get a shipment of two new plug caps  >:(  But it was a great feeling to hear this bike start up again after 30 odd years and a lot of work!!
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Offline reddyvv

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #32 on: August 09, 2013, 08:49:11 PM »
I have to wait until Thursday to get the new plug caps  :'( After spending so much time on this project it sucks to have to wait almost two weeks right at the end for just a couple of parts. At least I managed to get the original 10K caps.
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Offline reddyvv

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #33 on: August 15, 2013, 09:32:01 PM »
I am so pissed off that I paid almost 4x more than the regular NGK caps, expecting to get the original Honda 10K caps. However it seems that Honda got sloppy at some point and just changed from 10K to 5K without changing to a "superceded" part number as is common practice.

Since I only ordered two caps (due to the 4X price) I now have two mismatched pairs and had to order another two plain old 5K NGK's.  >:(

Here is a pic of it almost ready to roll - except for those damn plug caps, a carb sync and voltage regulator check.
« Last Edit: August 15, 2013, 09:42:29 PM by reddyvv »
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Offline KennyRedman

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #34 on: August 16, 2013, 03:54:47 AM »
Looking great man- almost there!
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Offline free85

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #35 on: August 16, 2013, 06:18:54 AM »
Sometimes I think these projects are a cosmic lesson in patience.
It looks outstanding though.
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Offline KennyRedman

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #36 on: August 16, 2013, 08:15:39 AM »
Quote from: free85 on August 16, 2013, 06:18:54 AM
Sometimes I think these projects are a cosmic lesson in patience.
It looks outstanding though.

That's the truth!
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Offline reddyvv

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #37 on: October 23, 2013, 02:36:52 PM »
My project has been done for some time now and I am really pleased with the results. Most of all it is so gratifying to rescue a once-lovely bike that was badly rusted, seized and neglected for 30+ years.

The goal was to get it to decent looking original running condition and I am pleased to say that except for the MAC exhaust the bike is 100% original and complete down to the smallest parts. Like the air filter spring that I had to get from the UK and the air filter cover that I managed to get manufactured. OEM Honda parts used for the majority of the restoration where possible, down to nuts & bolts. I've already done over 1100 miles on it and it runs like a dream!!

A big Thank You to everyone on the site whose comments & suggestions, both past & present, were a huge help throughout the process. Here is a list of all the work I did and a few pics.

Frame & Tank
•   Touch up frame and swingarm
•   Paint battery tray
•   Clean and reassemble steering head
•   De-rust tank & replace tank cap seal
•   New strainer set
•   Replace tank chrome trim
•   Replace seat lock rubber bushes
•   New keys
•   New mirrors
•   New MAC exhaust
Brakes
•   Rebuild & paint front caliper
•   New piston
•   Rebuild master cylinder
•   Unfreeze and service rear brake
Suspension & Tires
•   Polish fork legs
•   Replace fork seals & fresh oil
•   Dismantle and derust rear shocks
•   New Bridgestone Battlax tires
Electrical
•   Repair ignition switch
•   Replace & repair starter button
•   Adjust voltage regulator to spec
Engine
•   Free up stuck pistons
•   Soda blast & paint engine
•   New piston rings & gudgeon pins
•   Hone bores & Lap valves
•   Top end gasket set
•   Rocker arm shafts O-ring “fix”
•   Unfreeze and clean up clutch
•   Polish all side covers
•   New points cover
•   New air filter, retaining spring & triangle cover
•   Obtain used tool tray
•   New tool kit
Carbs
•   Soda blast & rebuild carbs
•   New carb/filter rubber boots
•   Replace linkage alignment springs
•   Replace main jet holder springs
« Last Edit: October 23, 2013, 03:16:32 PM by reddyvv »
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Offline reddyvv

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration
« Reply #38 on: October 23, 2013, 02:39:39 PM »
A few more
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Offline iron_worker

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration - DONE!!!
« Reply #39 on: October 23, 2013, 02:53:02 PM »
It looks great. You did an outstanding job on that engine.

IW
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Offline reddyvv

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration - DONE!!!
« Reply #40 on: April 17, 2017, 07:05:09 PM »
First ride of 2017!!

Four years later and I'm enjoying her as much as the first day. Some of the shine of that new look restoration is fading but still running like a top!! My summer favorite ride.

If you are just starting out on your restoration or feeling disillusioned - keep at it, it's worth the effort.

Happy Rides!
« Last Edit: April 17, 2017, 07:18:35 PM by reddyvv »
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration - DONE!!!
« Reply #41 on: April 17, 2017, 07:29:48 PM »
Great looking 550!
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
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"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

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Offline PetesPonies

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration - DONE!!!
« Reply #42 on: April 18, 2017, 08:15:46 AM »
Still looks great to me. 4 years shows everything was done well.
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Offline Tews19

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration - DONE!!!
« Reply #43 on: April 19, 2017, 02:39:36 AM »
BOTM nomination?
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1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
1970 Honda CB750 survivor.

Offline marccrabtreee

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Re: 1975 CB550 K1 restoration - DONE!!!
« Reply #44 on: April 23, 2018, 12:52:37 PM »
Awesome read.
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