Author Topic: 77 cb550f trials and tribulations  (Read 2461 times)

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Offline 000jeremy

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77 cb550f trials and tribulations
« on: March 24, 2010, 03:12:15 PM »
Rather than just leaching all of the great people and information available on hte forum, I thought it would be the least I could do to document all of the advice put to good use.  Plus, this will force me to properly document all of the suffering and glory that I signed up for when I bought the bike in August 08.  I have no real grand goals for my honda other than keeping it in reliable running order, as it is main primary mode of transportation.  I bought her in August 08 on ebay from a gentleman in Conneticuit who had done a fine job of keeping her clean and tuned.  Here is a list of things Ive done so far:



-New Dunlop k70s, 4-18 rear and 3.25-19 front.  They look a lot more nobby than I thought, but definitely period correct.  No complaints so far.
-Replaced the regulator and rectifier with a solid state combo unit.  Pretty standard.
-Drag bars plus some new oury grips with a very suspect rewiring of the hand controls...
-CBR 900RR Front Brake Master Cylinder
-Stainless brake lines
-Carb rebuild
-Re-jet with 110 mains from 98 (came with pods)
-Carb synch with Morgan carbtune
-New rear axle adjustment nuts/bolts, new cam chain adjustment nut (both destroyed during adjustment)
-New Yuasa battery
-Cleaned and re-oiled pods
-Replace fork seals
-Polish fork legs
-Replace cold plugs with normal range
-rear fender remval

To do:

-Replace old fuse block and fuses with fin type
-Fix small leak emanating from gear shift
-Top end seals/gaskets
-Clean and repaint motor
-Strip and repaint spare tank, replace current dented one
-new chain and sprockets
-progressive rear shocks

Next post will be whatever photos I have from what Ive already done.



excuse the melodramatic photos



« Last Edit: February 24, 2011, 08:43:35 PM by 000jeremy »

Offline 000jeremy

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Re: 77 cb550f trials and tribulations
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2010, 03:21:15 PM »

Offline 000jeremy

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Re: 77 cb550f trials and tribulations
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2010, 03:28:07 PM »
carb synch: wow, this took forever.  A very fickle adjustment.



note the oil oozing all over the fins...

Offline 000jeremy

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Re: 77 cb550f trials and tribulations - fork rebuild
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2010, 10:54:51 AM »
finally got around to replacing fork seals.  Decided to throw in progressive springs and a thorough polish:

wet sanding steps:

before


before


before


180 grt


400 grt


800 grt


1200 grt


Mothers alum. polish






« Last Edit: June 20, 2010, 11:09:16 AM by 000jeremy »

Offline luceja

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Re: 77 cb550f trials and tribulations
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2010, 03:36:38 PM »
Thank you for the step by step on the aluminum, that's really helpful. I got lots of that comin up..
'75 cb400f, '77 cb550f , CB160 road racer, '88 Hawk GT track bike, FZR400 race bike, and a bunch of old hondas in boxes.

Offline 000jeremy

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Re: 77 cb550f trials and tribulations
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2011, 08:25:07 PM »
spare tank progress:




jesco:







starting to smoth 'er out:







Offline 000jeremy

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Re: 77 cb550f trials and tribulations
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2011, 08:39:44 PM »
tail chop:

I always intended to keep her looking original, but I always thought the rear fender/headlight mount was a bit much.  A spanish fellow ultimately talked me into it.



took the chrome portion of the fender off, flipped and trimmed the headlight mount, flattened out the tabs at the end then bolted it to the brace under the seat:




made a bracket to transfer the load from grab bar to metal tail light housing s that it wasnt supported by brittle plastic lens:






salvaged a portion of the riginal license bracket and attached it to existing turn signal hardware:




the clearance between the tire and the bottom of the headlight is pretty tight...actually it just buzzes it when the rear suspension bottoms out.  Im looking for a similar tail light that is just a little thinner.  Any suggestions?




Offline MasterChief750

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Re: 77 cb550f trials and tribulations
« Reply #7 on: February 25, 2011, 07:57:38 AM »
may i steal your brakelight idea?
1978 CB750 K - Project Red Headed Step Child
1976 CB750 K - Drag Bike
Some things i know, others i dont.
I AM THE STIG
Sam is THE STIG
he said i can be STIG3 tho

Offline 000jeremy

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Re: 77 cb550f trials and tribulations
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2011, 12:42:30 PM »
fee free!