Author Topic: New to SOHC AND have a basketcase (Read 4517 times)

78 Basketcase · « **on:** February 07, 2011, 10:19:40 PM »

I just picked up a 78 CB550. Frame and body were complete and assembled, the motor was in 3 different boxes. The previous owner (motorcycle shop/ salvage yard) says he sold it to a friend complete and running. His friend tore into it planning to rebuild the top end but never finished. His friend then sold it back to him who in turn sold it to me. Now I'm the proud owner of a disassembled 1978 CB550K. The bottom half is together.The pistons, cylinder, etc are whats in the boxes. There's no telling how long the bike has sat. I'm by no means a mechanic but consider myself tecnhnically savvy. I've been reading through some of the post in this forum and I've ordered a clymers manual. I was planning on finishing the top end build, assembling the engine and hoping it'll start(I'm sure I'm missing some steps but I'll learn that as I go) My wifes uncle and grandfather rebuild a little bit of everything so I can get their assistance when needed, but you guys are the pros on these bikes so your opinions and tips will greatly be appreciated. My plan is to work on the motor and get it going first before I even consider the cosmetic work. I'll post pics of what I got once I read the FAQ's on that. Am I headed in the right direction? Any tips, remarks, or questions?

Roach · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2011, 10:27:05 PM »

welcome to the club i was in the same boat when i got my 78 550 welcome aboard

MoMo · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2011, 12:38:51 AM »

Welcome, that is a tall order rebuilding a motor that another took apart. It is easier with the motor out of the frame but the top end can be done with motor in frame. Best of luck with your build and make sure to post photos...Larry

Mark M · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2011, 03:04:02 AM »

If it were me I would open up the bottom end before rebuilding.
You don't know why it was stripped and you have no way of knowing whats been dropped inside since it has been open to the world.

Tom in Newcastle......Ontario · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2011, 05:54:01 AM »

Welcome to another 78 550.....post up your location ,never know who is near that may be able to help

Grab a manual from here......... http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=17788.0;topicseen

78 Basketcase · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2011, 08:44:26 AM »

Quote from: Mark M on February 08, 2011, 03:04:02 AM

If it were me I would open up the bottom end before rebuilding.
You don't know why it was stripped and you have no way of knowing whats been dropped inside since it has been open to the world.

I figured I'd need to open up the bottom end. I was hoping someone would tell me I could just flush it out somehow but I figured it would be best just to open it up. I have a gasket set for the top but nothing for the bottom. I'm assuming I can open this up without touching the transmission. Once I get home I'll download a manual and check it out. I'll try to get some pics up of what I got too.

Thanks for the welcome. Last forum I posted to all I got was negative replies and guys telling me how stupid and hopeless my project was.

Mark M · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2011, 09:50:16 AM »

Don't listen to that other forum, they sound like a bunch of Trolls

Kong · « **Reply #7 on:** February 08, 2011, 10:26:49 AM »

If you had bought the bike all in one piece it would have made no difference at all. What the PO did was save you the trouble of disassembling the thing yourself and then having to find your own baskets to put the stuff in. One way or another that bike was destined to spend part of its live in baskets. The problem is not generally with the fact the the Previous Owner put most of the parts of the bike in baskets, its when some of the parts don't find their way into the baskets that you run into problems.

78 Basketcase · « **Reply #8 on:** February 08, 2011, 12:02:12 PM »

Quote from: Kong on February 08, 2011, 10:26:49 AM

If you had bought the bike all in one piece it would have made no difference at all. What the PO did was save you the trouble of disassembling the thing yourself and then having to find your own baskets to put the stuff in. One way or another that bike was destined to spend part of its live in baskets. The problem is not generally with the fact the the Previous Owner put most of the parts of the bike in baskets, its when some of the parts don't find their way into the baskets that you run into problems.

I think these things are finding me. I just game across a guy selling another basket case. He has a 550 parts bike for cheap that I was interested in. Then he told me he had a cb650 completely disassembled that needed rebuilding. He said he'd throw it all in for a cheap price if I came and got it today. I can't pass it up. The 650 is more than I can handle but for the price i gotta take em both.

fmctm1sw · « **Reply #9 on:** February 08, 2011, 12:09:15 PM »

Quote from: 78 Basketcase on February 08, 2011, 08:44:26 AM

Quote from: Mark M on February 08, 2011, 03:04:02 AM
If it were me I would open up the bottom end before rebuilding.
You don't know why it was stripped and you have no way of knowing whats been dropped inside since it has been open to the world.

I figured I'd need to open up the bottom end. I was hoping someone would tell me I could just flush it out somehow but I figured it would be best just to open it up. I have a gasket set for the top but nothing for the bottom. I'm assuming I can open this up without touching the transmission. Once I get home I'll download a manual and check it out. I'll try to get some pics up of what I got too.

Thanks for the welcome. Last forum I posted to all I got was negative replies and guys telling me how stupid and hopeless my project was.

+1. I had a CB175 that I sunk a lot of work into after the PO uttered those magical words, "it ran when parked." I took off down the road and never got into 3rd gear... Had to take the whole engine back out and conpletely dissassemble it. Transmisison hosed. Nothing is impossible here, I've taken parts bikes and made runners out of them. As a matter of fact, I've haven't had a bike that ran when I acquired it since the '80s. It's just a matter of how many parts you're going to have to source from here and eBay and the like... In addition to the manual, you can look through the build threads to get an idea on disassembly. I have a '75 550 I'm working on right now too that has a lot of photos...

78 Basketcase · « **Reply #10 on:** February 08, 2011, 01:18:38 PM »

Are the motors and parts for a cb55k all interchangeable. The reason I'm getting ready to buy a 75 550 for parts on my 78. Just wanna be sure before I buy it.

Mark M · « **Reply #11 on:** February 08, 2011, 02:27:30 PM »

A few years ago I picked up about 8 bikes, all in parts bins ( a collection of parts bikes
that had all been bought by the PO to help restore a single bike, mostly 750K but also some 750F)
The boxes filled my van to the roof.
I managed to identify enough good parts to build 5 bikes - it kept me busy for a long time

MoMo · « **Reply #12 on:** February 08, 2011, 02:48:39 PM »

Quote from: Mark M on February 08, 2011, 02:27:30 PM

A few years ago I picked up about 8 bikes, all in parts bins ( a collection of parts bikes
that had all been bought by the PO to help restore a single bike, mostly 750K but also some 750F)
The boxes filled my van to the roof.
I managed to identify enough good parts to build 5 bikes - it kept me busy for a long time

At your age you had more than enough time to build 5 bikes

...Larry

Mark M · « **Reply #13 on:** February 08, 2011, 03:50:05 PM »

Larry,
You would be surprised.
My day job is taking Italian bikes appart, but I do also manage to build a few things each year.
The little collection in my workshop at the moment makes most visitors jaws drop.

dave500 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 08, 2011, 03:53:12 PM »

delete the other forum account and stay here.

MoMo · « **Reply #15 on:** February 08, 2011, 03:59:56 PM »

Quote from: Mark M on February 08, 2011, 03:50:05 PM

Larry,
You would be surprised.
My day job is taking Italian bikes appart, but I do also manage to build a few things each year.
The little collection in my workshop at the moment makes most visitors jaws drop.

I mean you've had 109 years you should have built dozens of bikes by now..Sorry for the thread hijack...Larry

Mark M · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2011, 04:03:40 PM »

fmctm1sw · « **Reply #17 on:** February 08, 2011, 05:22:53 PM »

Quote from: photolar on February 08, 2011, 03:59:56 PM

Quote from: Mark M on February 08, 2011, 03:50:05 PM
Larry,
You would be surprised.
My day job is taking Italian bikes appart, but I do also manage to build a few things each year.
The little collection in my workshop at the moment makes most visitors jaws drop.

I mean you've had 109 years you should have built dozens of bikes by now..Sorry for the thread hijack...Larry

I'm a little slow on the draw but I knew right where you were going with that ...

78 Basketcase · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2011, 07:08:43 PM »

I was gonna add some pics but I'm guessing I'm better off starting a new thread for that and you guys can hijack this one. LOL!

78 Basketcase · « **Reply #19 on:** February 08, 2011, 08:14:41 PM »

What I'm starting with.

jpd748 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 08, 2011, 08:34:35 PM »

Mark, you have a CC

..... SPR owner

Roach · « **Reply #21 on:** February 08, 2011, 09:00:09 PM »

i would first take those barrels out of that box with all the nuts and bolts before you scrape one of the insides

78 Basketcase · « **Reply #22 on:** February 08, 2011, 09:02:04 PM »

I've got the frame stripped. Whats the best way to get the grime off of that motor? Its terrible.

78 Basketcase · « **Reply #23 on:** February 08, 2011, 09:04:31 PM »

Quote from: Roach on February 08, 2011, 09:00:09 PM

i would first take those barrels out of that box with all the nuts and bolts before you scrape one of the insides

They are out now. I have them sitting on a table away from everything else. They looked like they were honed out recently. a couple of them have some surface rust now so I guess it'll need to be done again.

Roach · « **Reply #24 on:** February 08, 2011, 09:31:55 PM »

take the cases apart first i cleaned mine by using varsol and some cleaning brushes bathed both halfs of the cases in it

78 Basketcase · « **Reply #25 on:** February 08, 2011, 10:02:48 PM »

Quote from: Roach on February 08, 2011, 09:31:55 PM

take the cases apart first i cleaned mine by using varsol and some cleaning brushes bathed both halfs of the cases in it

Im gonna take the cases apart as soon as my manual comes in. I know there are links but I need it on paper and I can't afford the ink to print a manual out. I guess I could just print the pages I need. Can I separate the cases and leave the tranny alone? Also, I'm getting a 75 cb550 tomorrow. There was a link I used earlier that said all the motor parts were the same part number. So I assume the motor parts are all interchangeable? Thanks again for all the help everyone. This forum is way better than the last.

dave500 · « **Reply #26 on:** February 09, 2011, 12:13:05 AM »

you can remove the sump and have a gander into the transmission,the top end barrels up can come off with out touching the transmission,to do any gearbox repairs the cases have to be split,id split it anyway,ill bet theres a cochroach in there,no kidding ive found a dead one inside a 500 transmission!

MoMo · « **Reply #27 on:** February 09, 2011, 04:10:54 AM »

And if you are going to paint the cases use oven cleaner or aircraft stripper to get the final coating off after using a good degreaser/cleaner. It is good that the PO seemed to organize all the parts and it looks as though you have some extras. After seeing all the crud I would definitely split the lower cases and replace all the seals...Larry

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Author Topic: New to SOHC AND have a basketcase (Read 4517 times)