Author Topic: New user on Forum :) 1976 CB550 k2? (Read 11997 times)

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #25 on:** October 12, 2011, 03:56:25 PM »

Ok so I got new superbike bars and a new right hand control. Talk about my fun money gone in 60 seconds. Right hand control from babbits.com $100. I installed the handlebars and I'm running the wires on the outside. I decided I'm not taking this to a beauty pageant so I'd just route them that way. New brake/clutch levers, new push/pull cables and clutch cable. New grips and all. I actually am not a fan of the grips I got and they may be gone sooner then later. I need to get new turn signals on the front, then I need to fix up the front brakes including the bleeder. I still need to install the carbs and get this baby running. That reminds me I also need a new battery. Damn thing is dead. As for the seat, I might just find some measurements and try to make a single seater cafe style seat for it.

Chicago550 · « **Reply #26 on:** October 14, 2011, 07:41:15 AM »

This is a late reply but why not just drill holes into those new handlebars? I did it on my bike. Just lay the bars next to each other and match hole locations from the end of the bar (so your MC and levers clear the bend). It took me about 20 min with a punch and hand drill. Just be sure to file the holes and maybe put some tape around them when you slide the wiring through.

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #27 on:** October 14, 2011, 08:58:40 AM »

I was going to but this is just a daily driver. I didn't want to go through all that hassle I just want to get it running. I already put everything on and it's working out just fine. This isn't exactly a restore project as it is a "pass inspection" type deal. Maybe down the road I'll end up restoring it but as for now it's good to go.

xXCafe500Xx · « **Reply #28 on:** October 14, 2011, 09:21:57 AM »

Now ur getting into the dirty work! Bike looks really nice with that all black scheme and the bars suit her perfectly

Good luck with ur money and if you need help making that single cafe seat just check the help or tutorial sections and im pretty sure there's something for that in there.
Cheer,
-B

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #29 on:** October 14, 2011, 09:48:50 AM »

Quote from: xXCafe500Xx on October 14, 2011, 09:21:57 AM

Now ur getting into the dirty work! Bike looks really nice with that all black scheme and the bars suit her perfectly
Good luck with ur money and if you need help making that single cafe seat just check the help or tutorial sections and im pretty sure there's something for that in there.
Cheer,
-B

Yea I found some seats on eBay. They ended up being out of Vietnam for around $200, and this doesn't include the labor. They send you the precut foam and the seat vinyl/leather. For 200 dollars I'm sure I could find someone who does upholstery. I'm just going to look up some tutorials like you said. If I screw the seat up too bad then I'll just pay to get it done. Haha

lucky · « **Reply #30 on:** October 14, 2011, 10:07:33 AM »

Quote from: RuffTuffGuy on September 20, 2011, 08:03:37 AM

Ok quick question people. Does a 750 engine bolt right on this frame?

NO. Engines are dedicated to the frame on almost ALL motorcycles except choppers.

There are rare exceptions like a Honda Super Magna can accept a VF1000R engine case.

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #31 on:** October 14, 2011, 07:47:09 PM »

Thanks lucky. I wasn't sure, decided to just stick with the 550 to get wind in my hair. I might upgrade to a 750 and cafe it out eventually.

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #32 on:** October 14, 2011, 08:04:20 PM »

Ok so i got it back together it starts up and I had a crazy high 5000 rpm idle. I made some adjustments and found vacuum leaks fixed the boots from the engine to carbs. That brought the idle down to about 3000. I still had another problem. I guess I made the cables too tight and didn't put enough slack in them. Also I made some adjustments to the air screws to 1 1/2 turns from close as it says in the manual. Adjusted the throttle stop to spec and now I think I need to adjust the syncing of the carbs. I'm going to borrow a vacuum tool from someone and see what I can do of this. I have it idling around 1000-1500rpm. It just doesn't sound healthy. Maybe it's just me (first time working on a bike). It keeps sounding like it's running a little lean maybe? Like it wants to die off. It will hold around 900-1000 but it's on the edge of shutting off and it just sounds clanky. I'm just not sure. Maybe it's fine. I'm going to try and post a video so you guys can hear and tell me what you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e5He7T1R08&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I'd appreciate the input. Thanks ahead of time.

Also sorry the video is sideways. I don't know how it happened. Ha

rickmoore24 · « **Reply #33 on:** October 17, 2011, 09:42:33 AM »

I'd set the idle screw to run at 1200RPMs when she's warmed up proper and call it a day.

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #34 on:** November 09, 2011, 06:02:56 PM »

Alright guys, its been awhile since I've posted anything, but I've just had a little block and hadn't messed with the bike much. Ok, so I have a problem with my wiring out of the headlight harness. I'm not sure, but I have 1 wire left over and I can not find anything else to splice it to. Its a brown wire, and I am not sure what wire I should connect it to. I'm just going to take a wild guess that it is my horn...although it could just be a parts failure for the reason it is not working. I am just not sure about which wire is for the horn. If anyone can help I'd appreciate it.

AbbyRider · « **Reply #35 on:** November 09, 2011, 06:09:58 PM »

My bike sounded a bit like that. I filled it up with gas that didn't have an ethanol in it. Sounded and idled much better after.

Tews19 · « **Reply #36 on:** November 09, 2011, 06:56:35 PM »

I will go into my headlight and look for you on the brown wire.. Its the solid one correct? also you know there is the schematics of the wiring diagram for your bike on this site.. I have it downloaded on my computer and will look for it right away then edit this posting...Were you able to sync the carbs? You may want to check the timing and then adjust the valves. Very easy to do on this bike.

Update--- here is something HondaMan sent me on a post i did..
If your bike is a K7/8 (like in your avatar), take a look at the inside of the headlight bucket where the Brown wires from the instruments plug into the brown circuits. I have seen them with too-short wires (for whatever reason in production) that slip out of their sockets, just on those bikes. Some of "F" bikes of the same years had little triangular wire junction boxes just below the headlight, with extension wires added to help alleviate the pulling of too-short wires.

It can also be a broken wire where 2 Brown ones come out of the keyswitch: they are connected together in the switch, but the top one of the two can come unsoldered with age and repeated flexing over the years.

Or, something along those lines...

Some of the 550F bikes suffer a similar situation where the wires pull loose from being poorly routed around inside the bucket, pulling on them when the handlebars are turned fully, from slightly short wires. This makes their taillights go out.

Not sure if that helps but I can not find the great adobe wire diagram thing yet...........I will be back

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #37 on:** November 10, 2011, 01:12:42 AM »

I actually have the diagram on my phone now. I found a section that contains a crapload of useful knowledge for this bike. The only deal is at this moment I'm away from my bike. I DO know exactly what you are talking about for the too short wires and yes it is a solid brown wire. My dad actually attached an extra wire to the solid brown wire to make it longer. I just wish I would have marked them before I pulled it all apart. I have it all together but that one stupid wire. Well I'll have to check it later today. Thanks for that info I appreciate it.

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #38 on:** November 10, 2011, 01:16:28 AM »

Quote from: AbbyRider on November 09, 2011, 06:09:58 PM

My bike sounded a bit like that. I filled it up with gas that didn't have an ethanol in it. Sounded and idled much better after.

Yea well the hardest part to do is find gas without ethanol around here. I found out my problem was the boots from the carbs to the engine were loose. I still need to sync my carbs and get new airbox boots. Along with all that other fun maintenance stuff.

Rgconner · « **Reply #39 on:** November 10, 2011, 07:40:47 AM »

Quote from: RuffTuffGuy on September 21, 2011, 09:46:03 AM

I didn't say I needed new carbs just because of the screws! I just pointed that out. I got the screws loose anyways. There is epoxy in there for some reason and it gunked it all up bad. That's why I wanted new carbs, you must not have read my second post. I may be a newb but I'm not going to throw out my carbs because of a couple screws and I wouldn't give my carbs to a salvage yard either.

It is because they are missing the proper clips to hold the jets in.

They are wings made of spring steel so they press against the bottom of the bowl and hold the jet in place.

Just below part 35 on this diagram:

http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/1975-honda-cb550k1/o/m9232#sch401316

Not sure where you can get those. Someone might have spares.
Might come in a rebuilt kit? I dunno.

Bob3050 · « **Reply #40 on:** November 10, 2011, 08:12:25 AM »

Use a test light on the brown wire and I think you'll find it only gets hot when you turn the key to the last position. In that position everything is off with the exception of the tail light. The brown wire in the headlight is for a front parking light that is not used in the USA. Some countries require lights on when the bike is parked on the street. So that brown wire is not connected to anything.
Bob

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #41 on:** November 10, 2011, 10:28:31 AM »

Quote from: Bob3050 on November 10, 2011, 08:12:25 AM

Use a test light on the brown wire and I think you'll find it only gets hot when you turn the key to the last position. In that position everything is off with the exception of the tail light. The brown wire in the headlight is for a front parking light that is not used in the USA. Some countries require lights on when the bike is parked on the street. So that brown wire is not connected to anything.
Bob

After looking at the wiring diagram I came to the same conclusion. From what I read off the diagram it actually goes to the tail light. I don't know for what reason besides what you said about parking lights. Everything works fine except the horn, but I've always had problems with it from the start. So for now I'll test it and see what triggers it. Thanks for the insight.

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #42 on:** February 27, 2012, 05:39:26 PM »

I am working on trying to set the timing per the manual and it's just not working for me. I can not get the "f" mark to line up with the timing mark for 1-4. I've tried moving the base plate and readjusting and got it a little closer but still not where it needs to be. I know this probably doesn't matter since I can't get the 1.4 adjusted but I was able to get 2.3 right on target. What can I do about advancing 1.4 a few more degrees that the base plate can't give me? I'd appreciate any help.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #43 on:** February 27, 2012, 05:54:12 PM »

Maybe start a new thread on that problem?

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #44 on:** February 27, 2012, 06:00:10 PM »

Yeah maybe...

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #45 on:** May 24, 2012, 10:03:32 AM »

Well I figured out the points by a lot of trial and error. I have a lot of new mini jobs that need done on the bike. Unfortunately I need more play $$$ for this. I basically just need all the basics...mirrors, turn signals, tail light (maybe an all in one that include the rear turn signals if possible), new headlight bracket, new tires, horn, and down the road I'll be replacing parts on the bike with newer stuff piece by piece. My goal is to get this bike going ASAP, I want to ride it before the end of summerrrrrrr. I've decided to go with a cafe-ish bobber-ish look. I'll post up some pics of some stuff that was done.

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #46 on:** May 24, 2012, 10:21:20 AM »

So this was how it looked before hand. It does have the new superbike handle bars on.

I took the sissy bar off and decided to cut up the seat an try to design my own cowl to fit over the seat for a cafe look. I decided it just wouldn't look right. I also had a bunch of rust and dings on the front fender so it was chopped down from both the front and back of the fender. It smaller and lighter but it will still do the job. I think it looks rather neat.

Then decided to cut the seat down more and use the old crappy seat pan as the new bobber-ish pan. I decided it was still too fat for the look of the bike.

I hacked it all to hell. I'm going to find a way to make this work. So now I need to find a way to support it on the bike. Im going to end up either bolting it straight to the frame or think of some other way to make this work.

Basically the look I'm going for. I'll be cutting the frame off past the shocks. I'll weld the seat mount forward and down for extra support. The rear fender will be welded into place.

The seat was cut down a lot skinnier. I'm starting to wonder if I lost everything that was comfortable. I may start looking for a gel pad. Either way I need to pound the old seat pan into shape, or maybe I'll just buy a new flat piece of metal. On the other hand it's already molded under this foam.

I'm actually liking the rear fender/turn signals/tail light look on this brat. I'm going for my own look, but I love ideas! The fat tires are interesting me also.

So do any of you guys have any ideas for any good all in one tail lights or good turn signals like on this brat?

steakCB550K · « **Reply #47 on:** May 24, 2012, 10:30:38 AM »

I think it's coming along nicely. The look of the bike is pretty cool and I like brats (bratstyle, not bratwurst, though I like those too.) Keep up the good work.

RuffTuffGuy · « **Reply #48 on:** May 24, 2012, 10:45:58 AM »

There is a time and place to have a bratwurst on a bratstyle with my own brat wife. Haha jk

steakCB550K · « **Reply #49 on:** June 21, 2012, 03:17:36 PM »

@RuffTuffGuy,

any progress on the bike? I am curious to see how the seat turned out.

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Author Topic: New user on Forum :) 1976 CB550 k2? (Read 11997 times)