Topic: Green Hornet CB 550/650 # Some pics of my trip to Scotland with SOHC4 Honda

[Syscrush]

Looks great, I have 2 questions:

1. Will you wire it into the bike's electrical system somehow?  If you do, be careful, this thing probably needs a very steady voltage to work correctly.
2. What are you doing about lighting it?

[Oette]

Looks great, I have 2 questions:

1. Will you wire it into the bike's electrical system somehow?  If you do, be careful, this thing probably needs a very steady voltage to work correctly.
2. What are you doing about lighting it?

to 1)

Yes it will be connected to the battery via a adjustable voltage stabilizer (1,2-33V) which stays connected even if ignition is turned off. All the necessary parts will arrive tomorrow I think, except the stabilizer, but I'll connect it with extra plugs outside the speedo in my electronic's box under the seat. The speed sensor also needs to be placed at the swingarm.

to 2)

First, I hope that the backlight will reach out. If not, i'll provide a single, not too bright led in front of the gauge face.

[Syscrush]

Cool - good luck!  I've thought about doing something like this as a much cheaper alternative to something like Koso or Motogadget gauges, really looking forward to seeing how it works out for you.

[Oette]

And here are the first lighting results. Don't get irritated by the dirty glass the bright lights in the pictures. The camera catched them much brighter than they really are.

Inner lighting



Upper lighting



An old printer Parallel cable provides enough cords for all the functions of the speedo.

[laminaytrap]

Love this setup, I might end up doing something like that on my bike. So clean with a single gauge too!!!

I'm using lights like those as my turn signals on the headlight right now, they are white normally giving a halo effect, and when the turn signal comes on they flash orange.

Keep up the good works!

Jon

[Oette]

Love this setup, I might end up doing something like that on my bike. So clean with a single gauge too!!!

I'm using lights like those as my turn signals on the headlight right now, they are white normally giving a halo effect, and when the turn signal comes on they flash orange.

Keep up the good works!

Jon

Thank you. Unfortunately, the last parts won't arrive today. I'm so curious about the finished speedo unit...

[Syscrush]

The speedo itself should work no problem.  I know a few people who have used them on bikes with modified gearing, changed tire sizes, or inaccurate stock OEM speedos.  From my experience using them on bicycles, the only advice I'd give is to mount the sensor as close to the magnet as possible.  There should be no more than 1mm of clearance.  You might be able to give yourself a bit more room if you use a strong rare-earth magnet instead.

[CROMOLY]

Verry good work on your Bicycle speedo/ tach combo, i will keep in mind for my next project.
Thanks
Cromoly

[strynboen]

is there a clock funktion on that digital spedometer?

[Syscrush]

is there a clock funktion on that digital spedometer?

Yes.  And odo, trip odo, trip time, average and max speed, etc.

[Oette]

The sensor's position is the step to think about when the bike is nearly finished. It's tricky but I think the bike provides enough places for a working sensor. I will use a strong rare earth magnet because of its size and not having any other magnets here.

The functions are useful and the odometer is also adjustable in the main setup of the speedo. (Just in case that the battery is disconnected too long. For short powerless intervals I'm using a goldcap to extend the time the speedo can work without being connected to the battery.)

[Oette]

ok, some movement over here.

Tacho-Unit was accidentally destroyed by my little sister. I have a replacement unit now, but the scale is broken. I'm waiting for a decal to cover the recently glued scale and its crappy look.

DAMMIT! I won't ever place a work like this on my desk without appropiate surveillance...

Since the bike speedo is not available, I have to go for another solution which does not look as clean as the first one. But MAYBE I'll try something else to get a good looking gauge.

So far, I've distracted myself from this dilemma by giving the swingarm the final attention. Unfortunately the next problem appeared, but what is a bike build without a neverending chain of new problems?

see yourself:

I turned some new bushings for the rear shocks by myself out of polyurethane, because the old ones were not useable anymore.



And placed some units on the naked frame again, just to get a view on the lines of the bike in future. In particular, I do that frequently to motivate myself finally not to give up that build since the finish line is already in sight.



The swingarm's tapered roller bearings were in a bad condition, so I ordered new ones. Let's see when they'll arrive.

[rb550four]

The Fun is over coming the obstacles that are holding you back. The alterations ,the engineering, the  hands-on of building a machine that will ultimately be a part of you. And when you finish,the pride when you park it where ever you go and folks show an interest in your machine....Which is part of you because of the engineering, quality of workmanship ,and pride in a job well done. It all goes round and comes around.
  Give up on this...is like giving up on yourself.  It's all fun and games you know. You're in the game , so find the fun. There are only excuses for failure, success will be had by those willing to work for it .You can do it!
   So, go back to your workspace, get a handle on it , and make that machine your own! No excuses.



Sounded like self motivating skills were weak, Pep talk needed


 

[Oette]

So here is my compromise for the speedo.

I managed to rebuild it, but still a small broken piece is left. That piece ís hidden under the speedo case's edge.
I'll get some decals to make it look like new.

So here is the comparison between the two layouts:

First one, was cracked by my sister:



The current state (4 bores for full beam, neutral, indicators and oilstand-LEDs):



I'm convinced it will look like new when the decal is applied and the screen's frame is painted black.#

So far...

[Syscrush]

I'm convinced it will look like new when the decal is applied and the screen's frame is painted black.#

Maybe patch it from the back with a bit of fiberglass & epoxy, then fill the crack on the frontwith spot putty and sand it smooth before applying the new decal.

[Oette]

So here I am again with a finished speedo.
It has been quite a plenty of work to get here. Before you remind me of that crack in the gauge face, I have to tell you that I'll leave it as it is or fix it later.
But at the moment I think it adds some character to the bike, so not everything is perfect when it's finished.
Enough of words, here are the results:




MUUUUUCH brighter photo than it really is...





The 3 switches to adjust the speedo in the backcase.







Video will follow in some minutes!

Tell me about your thoughts on this project ;-) !

[Oette]

Here's the video of some adjustment:
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[Oette]

Today I turned these 5mm alloy profiles into the following:










Filed an polished





The result is a quite flat profile of the whole bike. That's the way to go.


There is enough space to adjust the speedo and connect the tacho's cable.


In my opinion this view straight over the tank is absolutely beautiful. It just looks so clean with just a single instrument....

[chris mcshifty]

Looks good

[Bankerdanny]

Excellent work!

[Gregorymoto]

Good for you...

[Tews19]

Great work again! Keep it up. Interested in a video of the gauge working on a ride when she is completed

[Garystratos201]

Very unique design. I like it !!!.........Gary

[70CB750]

That is bloody beautiful work!

[Oette]

Hey, thanks for all your comments. I'll make a video while riding when it comes to me riding it  .

Today I got rid of my old chrome plated D.I.D rims and cutted both hubs out.
Since I have some new bearings here, I wanted to get those in before I give the hubs away for respoking with the new alloy rims.

Unfortunately I got stuck at the rear hub. The cap nut holding the jerk dampers does not come off the hub. I read that it has a left oriented thread, has it?
Do you have any tips to get this bloody nut off the rear hub?