Author Topic: 78 CB550.  (Read 23169 times)

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Offline knowsnothing

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #25 on: October 24, 2011, 05:01:58 AM »
Great work so far!  I really like what you have done.  Where did you get that starter button?  I really like the idea and look.  Also, what are you planning on doing for a turn signal switch?  I am guessing the two switches on the head light bucket are for high/low and run/kill?
not running signals. i just use my hands, or should i say finger to communicate with other drivers. the 2 switches are headlight lo/off/hi and the run/kill switch. the mini push button was sourced on ebay.

cool thanks.
1978 CB750k Green - 811 engine
1978 CB750k Blue - for sale
1974 CB375F Faded Black - had to have that 6th gear
1976 CB400F Red - in many pieces
1973 CB350F TBD - in many pieces

Offline lucky

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #26 on: October 24, 2011, 06:54:18 AM »
A lot of good work that you have done!
That gas tank on that bike looks to be in good shape.
That weld on e shift lever is one of the first welds on is forum that looks like a competent welder did it. (I am a welding inspector)
Could you please tell us the name of the black epoxy paint you are using and the aluminum looking paint at you are using? Thanks.

Offline illrational

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #27 on: October 24, 2011, 11:20:00 AM »
First off thanks for finding those rearsets for only 133....im amped!second what part of florida?Third im working on the same bike except i decided to rebuild my engine so everything on my bike is in pieces...cant wait to see your finished project

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #28 on: October 24, 2011, 04:29:19 PM »
thank you. the black epoxy is ACE hardwares brand appliance epoxy, and the silver paint is VHT aluminum silver, iirc.

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #29 on: October 24, 2011, 05:01:05 PM »
First off thanks for finding those rearsets for only 133....im amped!second what part of florida?Third im working on the same bike except i decided to rebuild my engine so everything on my bike is in pieces...cant wait to see your finished project
yeah man, no problem. they are very nicely made, his customer service is great and he got them to me in only a couple days. i bet youll be very pleased as well. as for florida, im in fort lauderdale.  ::)

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #30 on: October 24, 2011, 05:13:55 PM »
my seat showed up today from hotwingglass. first order of business was to shorten it in length. cut off about 2.5" and then test fitted it on the bike. new length seemed right so i marked my cuts, as now i am going to have to shorten the front of it as well. the seat comes 8 3/4 wide and the tank is 7 3/4 wide where it meets the seat, so i had to take out a total of an inch. made my marks and took the ol cut off wheel to it.
marked:

cut:

sides touching, ready for fiberglass.

perfect width, no overlap.

in this photo it shows the first layer of fiberglass mat, after i took this i added 2 more and alot more resin. now just waiting for it to dry.

and mocked up on the bike.

updates when shes dry.

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #31 on: October 24, 2011, 07:18:51 PM »
resins dry, so i decided to cut the hole for the tail light.

grommet in.

grommet with tail light.

.

on the bike.

.

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #32 on: October 24, 2011, 07:23:04 PM »
last order of business before bodywork and paint is to glass a seat pan for the upholstery. taped off the seat, then sprayed the tape with some spray adhesive and laied down a piece of aluminum foil. marked the edges with tape and went to town.
ready for fiberglass:

resin and fiberglass mat laid.

once the pan is dry, ill peal it off and cut it to shape. updates then.

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #33 on: October 25, 2011, 03:42:00 PM »
got my seat pan cut to shape and ready for some foam and a cover. i found an old brown suede jacket at a thrift store and cut that up to be the upholstery. updates on the upholstery when i complete it.
seat pan. it has since been cut and shaped more as well as sanded. these photos are when i cut off all the extra hairs and resin. rough cut:

.

completed the mounting rails as well. painted and cork applied to the top to give a little bit of cushion, as well as a buffer between the fiberglass and steel.

.

drilled the holes in the seat into the rails. the rails are tapped for a 6mm bolt that will sit flush in the tail piece.

on the bike.

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #34 on: October 25, 2011, 04:01:23 PM »
earlier today i sanded, primered and painted the tail piece.
primed:

painted:

tail light in:

on the bike:

.

Offline Tews19

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #35 on: October 25, 2011, 04:12:45 PM »
Damn looks really good. Is that paint in a can?
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
1970 Honda CB750 survivor.

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #36 on: October 25, 2011, 05:59:15 PM »
Damn looks really good. Is that paint in a can?
yup. 3 coats of appliance epoxy.  ;D

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #37 on: October 25, 2011, 06:13:59 PM »
used some heat shrink to cover the threaded rod on my rearsets. worked great, and def. makes them look finished, as well as helping them stay rust free.

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #38 on: October 25, 2011, 06:37:45 PM »
buttoned up the exhaust today. as suspected, the mac muffler was in the way of the rearset, so i cut the muffler off at the weld in order to use the foot or so of pipe. found a simple, 2 1/4 exhaust tip at pepboys and cut the set screws out of it. slid it over the pipe, and put the whole thing back on the header.

.

in this picture you can see that i now have enough room between the brake arm and the tip. it doesnt look like much, but at the angle the lever is at in the photo, would be physically impossible to get my foot to angle down that far.

took a baffle out of an old muffler i had and cut it in half. stuck one end down into the mac pipe piece and the other into the tip. packed some corse steel wool around them and used some safety wire to hold all the steel wool in place. the set screw that holds the tip onto the pipe, also holds the baffle in place as well. i cant say it does much for quieting the bike down, but i imagine it give some sort of back pressure. somethings better than nothing i suppose.

and a side shot.

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #39 on: October 25, 2011, 06:42:43 PM »
always hated how far the side stand stuck out, and how low it was without the stock exhaust on there, so i cut a piece out to make it sit higher and tighter in on the frame rail.
before:

after:

much better.

Offline Tews19

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #40 on: October 25, 2011, 07:21:49 PM »
Damn, you are a machine. Lots of work in a little amount of time. Keep it up. I am curious with your seat. You cut out parts in the middle then did some fiberglass your self?
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
1970 Honda CB750 survivor.

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #41 on: October 25, 2011, 07:38:40 PM »
yup cut out two 1/2 "slivers" in order to shorten the front width an inch. once the material was gone, i pushed the sides in, taped them together, flipped it over and fiber glassed the bottom. did it as well on my 350 seat. easy to do and works nicely.

Offline Tews19

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #42 on: October 25, 2011, 07:45:10 PM »
No cracks later in the future? I mean a pot hole wont ruin your work?
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
1970 Honda CB750 survivor.

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #43 on: October 25, 2011, 07:49:51 PM »
so far so good. i did the same thing on my cb350, and have ran it like that for over a year now with no cracks or issues. i guess you could always fiberglass in two paint stir sticks (thin strips of wood) on the cuts if it helps you sleep at night. my 350 has cb900f shocks like this bike and are way to stiff for it and ive hit some bumps where i flew up off the seat and nothing happened to the fiberglass. and on my 350 i have the seat bolted directly to the frame rails. no cross braces or middle supports.

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #44 on: October 26, 2011, 10:06:19 PM »
well not much of an update, as im waiting on the battery to show up, but progress is progress i guess. got my tag brakcet fabbed up and in place.

and plenty of room between the tire and tag.

also realized i didnt need the rubber mount piece on the side stand, so i got out the ol' cut off wheel and went to town.

ground down the weld, smoothed it and gave it a coat of epoxy.

hopefully the battery gets here by the end of the week so i can make the mount for it, and call all the electrics complete.

Offline dawdish

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #45 on: October 27, 2011, 06:46:27 AM »
You said you got the seat from hotwing...is this the road race 2 ? I've been looking at that one as well.
'75 CB400F
'72 CB500 Four
1 CB550 Chappa (barn find)
1 '75 CB550 (barn find)
'81 Guzzi V1000( I couldn't help myself)

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #46 on: October 27, 2011, 09:20:36 AM »
You said you got the seat from hotwing...is this the road race 2 ? I've been looking at that one as well.
yup, thats the one. i have the road race 2 on this bike as well as my 350.

and the road race 1 on my 175.

 ive ordered 3 of his seats, each time i get a nice product. good prices, made in america, and local to me. (sort of, hes in north florida)

Offline FrankenFrankenstuff

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #47 on: October 27, 2011, 09:30:05 AM »
Nice display.

Offline andrew

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #48 on: October 27, 2011, 09:48:07 AM »
Nice display.

haha thanks... the motor seized up last new years day, and i havnt had much time or motivation to pull it apart to repair. i figure might as well get some "visual" enjoyment out if it in my apt. while she sits and waits for me to finish this 550 as well as my very neglected xs650 project.

Offline dawdish

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Re: 78 CB550.
« Reply #49 on: October 27, 2011, 10:47:35 AM »
Thanks, for the info. I think I'll put one on each my CB 400f, and the CB 750SS.
'75 CB400F
'72 CB500 Four
1 CB550 Chappa (barn find)
1 '75 CB550 (barn find)
'81 Guzzi V1000( I couldn't help myself)