Topic: 1975 CB550K1 550 Four

[CJK]

They are called the "Dust Plate A" or "Dust Plate B" according to the Honda Shop Manual. It's just a flat piece of metal that holds the carbs together so I'll probably just rig one up with thin sheet metal

[Greggo]

That toilet bowl cleaner " the Works" seems to do a good job eating rust in hard to get places.

It will also do a GREAT job at eating all the chrome on that gas cap

[CJK]

That toilet bowl cleaner " the Works" seems to do a good job eating rust in hard to get places.

It will also do a GREAT job at eating all the chrome on that gas cap

Wow thanks for the heads up before I committed to it!! Not sure I want to have to re-chrome the cap since the chrome is decent enough. I used aluminum foil as my sanding medium with some vinegar to get the few rust spots off that were on the top and it looks better now. You electrolysis will work best on it then or maybe I'll try soda blasting it?

[Cheffish]

You can clean it up the best you can. But, personally, I wouldn't worry about it. No one will ever see it. And it's not touching gas from what I can see

[CJK]

Yeah It Won't Be Touching The Gas. Cafe Racer Seat From Roccity Cafe Coming Tomorrow 

[IRISHCBRACER]

Which tail did you order?

[CJK]

 I got the Roadster. I really like the look of it on the bike. When I get home from class today, I will throw it on the frame with the tank so you can see the lines. I could not be anymore excited for my Spring Break to start. All I plan on doing is working on the bike.

[CJK]

Wow...been a long time since I was posting status. Figured I would update as I got one of them fancy iPhones.

This is it as of today. Suspension is all done. Longer CB750 (13.2") Ikon Shocks on the rear. Bronze swingarm bushings, heavier weight fork oil. Tapered head roller bearings on the forks.
Rims and hubs all powdercoated Satin black "Blackjack" color. New spoke set as well. Laced and trued. New rubber on there as well.
Carbs all cleaned in and out. Bowl gasket seals replaced. Others looked pretty much brand new. All brass internals had been replaced at time of purchase. Running 40# Slow jet and 110# mains at current time. Will be putting on TinTops anti-pod filter as well as 4-1 collector to 12" Cone Engineering mega. Might size up to 115# but will need to get it running first.
Brake rotor has been drilled by Scottly on this forum. New pads and Dot 4 fluid to follow soon enough. New master cylinder and SS brake line from Slingshot Cycles.
Electrical is getting moved to under tail section, Hondaman Transistorized Ignition going to be installed also. Replacing some wires that PO "modified"

[CJK]

Woah...wrote too much and it chopped it off.

Anyway, Headers are getting hot tanked to clean carbon buildup (figured why not since I got it apart). Need to order Cone Engineering 18 Deg bend and megaphone as well as hanger to mount.

Gas tank is at radiator shop being cleaned out of old coating. Hot tank didn't get it all. Aircraft stripper and nails got most of rest out but still some small bits.

After that, I was thinking of powdercoating tank Polar White with a Super Gloss topcoat (have access to gun and oven so I figured why not). I would do gas cap and badges in Satin Black to contrast. Seat would also be a Gloss White, with black seat pad.
My worry is that would look too plain. What do you guys think? ...if there are any of you guys reading this.

Here's it a couple weeks ago with tank and seat on

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Your bike is sportin' the Halloween colors!    I like the all black motor.

[CJK]

Your bike is sportin' the Halloween colors!    I like the all black motor.

I sure am! Orange is my favorite color so I wanted to involve it somehow. Really liked how Satin Black, Orange and White go together with KTM bikes. This is sorta my inspiration...except probably butchered so much that only I will love it.

What so your first bike and your first girlfriend have in common?
 - you don't care what they look like as long as you have something to ride.

[CJK]

School and Life have been leaving me with not much time to work on the bike. I did get my gas tank back from radiatior shop this week and it's now completely clean on the inside. I plan on Powder coating it Polar White tomorrow as well as the gauge clusters and the outer ring of headlight.

 I still need to finish sorting out electrical harness, fab a new shelf to house all the electrical components under the seat cowl, lengthen most of the wires so that they connect. Rear taillight/turn signals is in and looks amazing. Need to figure out a good way to mount it.

It's a 12" strip of LEDs both Red & Amber so it is integral Running light/brake light and turn signals. It has 3M strip backing so just sticks on surface. But I don't just want to stick a strip of LEDs on outside of seat, that would look very dumb having a flat seat with a raised strip on back. Any ideas?

My only thought would be to flush-mount on lower lip, just dont know how to achieve that

[CJK]

This is the LED strip http://www.radiantz.com/index1.html?193.html&1

and heres a link to my thread where I brainstormed this:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=88085.msg989988#msg989988

[CJK]

I really dig that KTM scheme too. I fact had planned it for my about to begin '500 project.

Regarding your tail lights, there was a build on here where he built a light box inside the rear hoop, covered the outside with polycarbonate, then had the lights projecting through and out. Very trick! You could do the same through seat tail if your reluctant to cut your frame hoop.

Like the bike lots-

Thanks, much appreciated. I always liked the way White, Black and Orange went together. I fear I may have overused the orange a little bit but I think plopping a White Tank and Seat on Top should balance it all out.

I'm thinking It might work best to cut a 1/4" slit in the seat on the back about like 2" from the bottom and mount the LED strip from
Behind so it's flush. I just don't have the courage yet to try cutting the seat. Might be taking it somewhere where someone has better system to cut it

[CJK]

Here's a little sneak preview of the stuff I got coated today on the bike. That's "Polar White" with a "Clear Vision" topcoat. Turned out okay, some minor blemishes on the tank but from 5 ft they are hard to notice. I'll call it a unique touch of my own.

there's my shop assistant next to the bike.

Hopefully this weekend, I'll be able to do the gas cap, tank badges, and gauge mounts in Satin Black powder coat.

To Do:
- Fab new electronic component holding tray.
- Run electrical to the tray
- Header Wrap on exhaust and paint wrap Silver
- Handlebar controls
- Install Front Brake and master cylinder
- Engine Oil
- Cables
- get new Gauge faces laser cut
- Mount seat
- install LED taillight unit
- license plate bracket
- bob front fender
- install Steering Damper
- Cone Engineering exhaust (leaning more toward "Quiet-er Core" now. Don't want it to be horrendously loud)

[Ewan 500K1]

got the same radiantz rear light unit .. and same issue as you Chris ... do be interested in what you come up with. On mine you can still see the hoop under the seat , so was thinking that I'll just stick it on the hoop.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I like the orange highlights and the white gauge housings.  Very nice!

[CJK]

got the same radiantz rear light unit .. and same issue as you Chris ... do be interested in what you come up with. On mine you can still see the hoop under the seat , so was thinking that I'll just stick it on the hoop.

I'm thinking the way to go would be to cut a 12" horizontal slit in the fiberglass seat with a dremel and mount the LED strip shining through slit.

[CJK]

I like the orange highlights and the white gauge housings.  Very nice!

Thanks! Adding the white tank and seat sure restored the balance. I was definitely a bit worried that I "over-did" the orange but it's looking better now.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I like the orange highlights and the white gauge housings.  Very nice!

Thanks! Adding the white tank and seat sure restored the balance. I was definitely a bit worried that I "over-did" the orange but it's looking better now.

Agreed. It looks balanced.

[CJK]

Welllll finally back it. Got the tank all lined with POR 15. Gosh that was a process and a half. Let the degreaser sit in the tank for probably almost 72 hrs and I'd move it around. But safe to report that I somehow did not get any of the liner on the paint!

Giving it about a full week to cure before putting any gas inside just to make sure it's 100% dried and I won't have to ever re-do that PITA process again.

Taking in the Acrylic painted material I have for the gauge faces to be laser cut from and engraved on this week so I can finally put gauges back together. Still need to order the 4 LEDs to integrate "idiot lights" into Tachometer gauge.

Not much else to report, life has been keeping me busy.

[CJK]

Hopefully someone can weigh in...this isn't looking good is it? Exhaust valves don't look so bueno to me but hope I'm wrong

Cylinder #1

Cylinder #2


Cylinder #3


Cylinder #4

[Tews19]

Not to bad... Did you scrape off some carbon build up on the first pic? That is the only one that I question..

[CJK]

Not to bad... Did you scrape off some carbon build up on the first pic? That is the only one that I question..

Yeah,
I used an exacto knife with the shop vac to make sure all the loose material was picked up.

Thanks Tews,
Seeing that much build up had me a little worried. Glad it's nothing to worry about. The headers at the first bend had loads of carbon as well, took those to get cleaned in hot tank. Could that be an indication of the bike running too rich?

[CJK]

Chris - you planning on running the stock header? If so, I have some recently ceramic coated flange ears in flat black that I won't be using (swapped to a MotoGP unit). Let me know if you'd like them shipped out. Yours looked badly rusted at the start....

I think, if I'm not mistaken, that is an aftermarket header. Not fully sure, but yes I'll be running that one for a while until I get around to getting SS header. Love the look of SS exhaust.
 
That would be great! Thanks so much. Mine are quite ugly, rust really pitted them quite deep.