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Author Topic: 76 CB550 Cafe Racer Project...ooohhhh boy  (Read 2924 times)

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Offline sparkyy192

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76 CB550 Cafe Racer Project...ooohhhh boy
« on: October 11, 2011, 07:15:26 AM »
ive finally decided to stop ignoring my gf by spending hours browsing this forum and start ignoring her by being an active part of this forum!

a little bit about me: 23 years old with limited mechanical knowledge and experience. Hey, i know how to change the oil!

Anyway, finally found a decent cb550 worth turning into a cafe!!! Paid $500 (too much?) for the RUNNING bike and three boxes of replacement parts. Lots of new parts, lots of doubles. Spent the weekend taking it apart, down to the bare frame...nothing too complicated (except getting the damn engine out).

Anyway, looking forward to a long cold winter sitting in my basement with this thing, with you guys by my side.
That being said, I have a lot of parts that i wont be needing for my resto, so if you guys need anything, send me a message!





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Offline articblue

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Re: 76 CB550 Cafe Racer Project...ooohhhh boy
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2011, 09:51:10 AM »
Getting the pieces off is the quick part. Putting them back on is the harder part :)

Keep it up though.
500 for running is good, plus extra bits and pieces always helps.
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Eventually I'll get something that runs, but until then I'll wrench until I make it run.
Project 750

Also, another 'new' project 1975 Honda CB400F.

Offline Ouch

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Re: 76 CB550 Cafe Racer Project...ooohhhh boy
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2011, 10:29:33 AM »
Quote from: articblue on October 11, 2011, 09:51:10 AM
Getting the pieces off is the quick part. Putting them back on is the harder part :)

Keep it up though.
500 for running is good, plus extra bits and pieces always helps.

putting it back together and it be running is the hardest  ;D
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Offline dawdish

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Re: 76 CB550 Cafe Racer Project...ooohhhh boy
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2011, 10:36:47 AM »
Way to go, I think it was a good price. I would be interested in the tank...Post some more pics ;)
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'75 CB400F
'72 CB500 Four
1 CB550 Chappa (barn find)
1 '75 CB550 (barn find)
'81 Guzzi V1000( I couldn't help myself)

Offline sparkyy192

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Re: 76 CB550 Cafe Racer Project...ooohhhh boy
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2011, 10:52:16 AM »
I actually have two tanks for it. send pms if anyone is interested. will post more pics soon
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Offline lucky

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Re: 76 CB550 Cafe Racer Project...ooohhhh boy
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2011, 12:06:35 PM »
On the CB550 can't you just lay the frame and engine on its side and lift the frame off like the CB750?
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Offline sparkyy192

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Re: 76 CB550 Cafe Racer Project...ooohhhh boy
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2011, 12:13:42 PM »
Quote from: lucky on October 11, 2011, 12:06:35 PM
On the CB550 can't you just lay the frame and engine on its side and lift the frame off like the CB750?

yep thats what I did...except put it on the wrong side at first where there was an extra tab welded onto the frame which kept getting caught on the engine...tried the other side and although a tight fit, it eventually came out.
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Offline bluesmoke69

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Re: 76 CB550 Cafe Racer Project...ooohhhh boy
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2011, 09:17:29 PM »
Welcome and it will be worth it when its done ;D
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Offline sparkyy192

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Re: 76 CB550 Cafe Racer Project...ooohhhh boy
« Reply #8 on: October 13, 2011, 11:49:54 AM »
just an update...
havent had much time to work on anything but decided to start taking the engine apart to see how it looks inside. Of course the screws and bolts on the breather cover and cylinder head are rusted to #$%*. Unscrewed only two of them, stripped the others :o

went and got a screw extractor and got one of them out before the bit broke. guess i gotta get a cobalt extractor right? damnit, setback #1
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Offline lucky

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Re: 76 CB550 Cafe Racer Project...ooohhhh boy
« Reply #9 on: October 14, 2011, 01:04:26 AM »
Quote from: sparkyy192 on October 13, 2011, 11:49:54 AM
just an update...
havent had much time to work on anything but decided to start taking the engine apart to see how it looks inside. Of course the screws and bolts on the breather cover and cylinder head are rusted to #$%*. Unscrewed only two of them, stripped the others :o

went and got a screw extractor and got one of them out before the bit broke. guess i gotta get a cobalt extractor right? damnit, setback #1

Always use a hand impact driver to remove the phillips screws.
Make sure you are using the correct size tip.
#2 or #3.

Many people strip the screws because they are using a #2 tip on a number 3 size screw.
Valve cover screws are #3 NOT #2's.

Take all the screws and put them in a tray of phosphoric acid to soak for 30 minutes, then rinse with water and spray with WD40.
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Offline Toxic

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Re: 76 CB550 Cafe Racer Project...ooohhhh boy
« Reply #10 on: October 14, 2011, 04:02:10 AM »
If those stock pipes are in as good shape as they appear to be in the photo, they are worth some serious cash
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Offline sparkyy192

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Re: 76 CB550 Cafe Racer Project...ooohhhh boy
« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2011, 10:37:17 AM »
Quote from: Toxic on October 14, 2011, 04:02:10 AM
If those stock pipes are in as good shape as they appear to be in the photo, they are worth some serious cash

they are in pretty good shape actually. im gonna clean them up a bit and put some pictures up tomorrow in the parts for sale section.
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