Topic: Trying to find speedo gearbox retainer for dual disc setup

[mgilvary]

I'm finally converting my 75 550 to dual discs, and now that I have the whole thing ripped apart, I cannot for the life of me find the replacement gearbox retainer that will accommodate the second brake rotor.

The part number, which I found in these forums, is 44641-300-000. But apparently its discontinued and I can't find any dealers who've got it in stock. A number of websites list the part when you punch in the number, but once you order it, you get an email telling you they don't have it. I've tried all the usual suspects -- Western Hill, Service Honda, Bike Bandit, JT Motorsports, CMS, David Silver, etc. Salvage yards don't seem to be able to help with just a part no. to go on. I found one place that said they had it -- Ohio Cycle -- but they sent me a different part because, it turns out, they didn't have it.

What's a fella to do? 

It seems that I could modify the existing retainer to fit inside the rotor, but I'm really not setup for that kind of machine-shop job.

Any advice on where I might find this durn thing?

Thanks in advance.

- Michael

[bill440cars]

                I know it's a shot in the dark but, have you tried crotchrocket.com? If not, it'd be worth a     
       shot, wouldn't it?    I'll keep my fingers crossed. Later on, Bill

[Chris Liston]

All of those sites listed usually place the order with Honda America, so if they don't have it, they don't have it.  I just recently ordered from BikeBandit.com and they said that as soon as the order is placed, its ordered from the Manufacturer. 

I think there is a fix for this though,  read the faq's.  Something about notching the existing retainer I think.  I'll be in the same boat in a few weeks too as I just got another caliper to go dual on my 550.

[caferacer550]

I just finished this conversion on my 78 550.
I searched everywhere as well, but found someone with a few left.

Mike - hondavintage@gsig-net.qc.ca

The part is not cheap though $40 US.
He said he only had a few left - hurry.

Good luck.

[Chris Liston]

Good work.  I just emailed him.  Hopefully he has some left.

[mgilvary]

Crotchrocket was one of the companies that let me order it online, then notified me that it was discontinued.

I just emailed Mike as well. I hope he has TWO in stock. 

[bill440cars]

Crotchrocket was one of the companies that let me order it online, then notified me that it was discontinued.

             I am starting to get disappointed in crotchrocket (and any other company for that matter)
      for doing things like that. I mean, it's like 1 hand doesn't know what the other hand is doing. At
      1st, I was feeling pretty good that about them and was recommending them any time I could.
      Now, I don't know whether to or not and it really bothers me because we're both in the same
      state (Arkansas). Well I still have faith in a used parts place known as Tim's Cycles (endlessdollars
      on ebay) in Berryville, Arkansas.

             I will let it go and move on for now and I do hope you can get a hold of one of those
      retainers or you may have to modify (or get someone to modify one for you). Anyway I hope
      you get it worked out. Later on, Bill

[crazypj]

I've never seen a genuine part. Anyone have a picture of it before fiting (dissassembled)?
I made on for the twin disc set up but it was years ago. I have a spare 550 front wheel and disc, may take it apart to see what I can do
PJ

[Chris Liston]

Is this part 100% needed.  Does is move the speedo gear out farther to clear the rotor?  Is there a homemade fix?  Thanks    Hope Mike emails me back soon.

[mgilvary]

From what I can tell by looking at it, the speedo gear won't turn without this plate in place. The plate rotates with the wheel and has a notched piece that fits into the gearbox and turns the mechanism.

I'm getting darn close to just mangling my stock retainer and trying to make it fit by any means necessary.

[caferacer550]

I was thinking about this:

Use the old speedo drive.
But, mount it between the hub and the rotor.
Then put the speedo on the rotor.

I wonder if this would work...
Unless the the speedo drive is too big and won't fit through the hole on the rotor.

Then I guess we're back to where we started. 

Oh... the speedo drive you're looking for was a stock part on the Sandcast K0.
I guess if you can pieces of a sandcast (good luck) - then that might be another option.

[bwaller]

Here are a couple pictures of what you need to do. All you need is the flat section of the drive that contacts the hub, then bend two tabs on opposite sides to fit into the drive notches on the hub. Allow for a slight amount of play to center on the axle. I used a die grinder with a cutting wheel (could use a dremel or hacksaw for that matter) to remove the shouldered section of the drive.

[crazypj]

Thanks for pics, just what I needed.
PJ

[mgilvary]

Great pix. That's exactly what I ended up doing. I got a response from Mike; he does have the part in stock, but, as we were warned, he want's $40 for it. So, I took my dremel to the original retainer.

I went through 5 cutting wheels, but was able to cut off the lip pretty cleanly. Then I used a grinding wheel to reduce the outside diameter bit by bit until it fit inside the rotor. My tabs are not as neat as yours, but they do the job. All in all, it's a fine-looking mod.

[bill440cars]

                   bwaller. What kind of rotor is that? It looks flat but, I'll bet it's got 6 bolts to hold it on.

           I'm looking for 5 hole rotors with less dish to it than the CB650 rotor that I have. If I had one

           like that one, I could possibly get it redrilled. Any input would be appreciated. Later on, Bill

[bwaller]

bill440cars,

Those are Suzuki six bolt 4.5mm rotors that are the same diameter & offset as the 500/550 rotors. Several Suzuki models through the eighties used them. Redrilling a five hole pattern.....not sure I'd do it, but check out a used parts joint (these shouldn't be hard to find) and decide for yourself. 

[Chris Liston]

Well, I ordered that speedo retainer from Mike in Canada and somewhere between there and the US the damn thing is lost in the mail.  $40 down the drain.  Be careful when ordering from Canada to US.  I understand there is nothing that Mike can do about it and hopefully it will show up.  Or maybe there's a postal worker who's running dual disks now.  This is the first time I've ever had something lost going either way between the US and Canada.  SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!

[Tim.]

Is the dual disk conversion any easier if you don't run a speedo at all?  I've been considering this as well for my 550, as I've grown tired of the weak front brake performance (I ride in traffic on the 401 highway up here, and there are often opportunities to test the front brake  ).

I also have a set of forks and front wheel off a CB750F.  Single disk, but maybe I jump to that setup at the same time?  Not sure of any advantages though.  Same vintage forks - were the 750's any better than the 550?

[Chris Liston]

I think (THINK) the 750 forks are the same as the 550 except longer.  The caliper is alittle different though.  Single brake to Single brake probably the same crappy braking

[Chris Liston]

Talk about strange things.  I just posted that the part was lost in the mail and wouldn't you know it.  My mail carrier delivered it just now   I'm relieved.

[dusterdude]

chris,i do think you should apologize to the canadian postal service.

[bryanj]

You will still have to modify either the inside diameter of the rotor or the "tabs as the hole needs to be rectangular not a segment of a circle if you know what I mean