Topic: '74 550 restoration done- FINALLY

[CoachDoc]

I think I should receive some recognition both for my ability to procrastinate as well as for hanging in there until the job was done. This restoration literally started 17 years ago. I worked on it for a couple of months- then work and a growing active family intervened and the bike got covered up in the garage with parts strewn hither and yon all over my work space. In the meantime I put about 200K miles on other bikes, but I always intended to get back to my 550 (purchased new my yours truly June 9, 1974 in Montebello, CA). Well the kids are out of the house now for the most part and this year I got around to finishing the job. Naturally all the years in storeage created additional headaches, but I found this forum and was able to get through all the problems over the last 4 months. 2 brushes with catastrophe- I initially installed an O-ring chain and ran it for about 110 miles before I saw a post on here about the possible damage to the lower case and a seal. I got that chain off just in time. Then last week when everything was done except new tires, the wheel-less bike fell off the center stand in my garage, but survived intact. Now it looks unbelievable and with rebuilt carbs plus new ignition components it's running like new.
Many thanks to the forum members who helped me over the last months, with a special nod to Hondaman for help with chasing an electrical problem that had me stumped. I also want to tout his igniton unit which I love- it really smoothed out my idle and startup. This forum is dynamite.

[78 k550]

Nice ride.

Paul

[Danno]

I am so glad you kept the original appearance to the bike it looks very nice did you do the motor too

[bender01]

I remember the fumble. It looks very well done. Was it repainted? It looks great. Dont take this the wrong way but some new stock pipes would really set it off!
  Get them from Honda while you still can! That bike deserves them

[bjatwood]

Excellent work Doc! 

[ABikeNamedTrouble]

Gorgeous!  I wish mine was that shiny 

[geminimotors]

A project started 17 years ago, and finished? My hat is off to you. Rarely does something put on the back burner for that long get finished, and rarely by the person who started it.  My familys 55 Bel Air resto started in 1982 is still in peices. Cheers!
 Nice to see a 550 celebrated in stock trim. Good work, Doc.

[orange550]

I think I should receive some recognition both for my ability to procrastinate as well as for hanging in there until the job was done. This restoration literally started 17 years ago. I worked on it for a couple of months- then work and a growing active family intervened and the bike got covered up in the garage with parts strewn hither and yon all over my work space. In the meantime I put about 200K miles on other bikes, but I always intended to get back to my 550 (purchased new my yours truly June 9, 1974 in Montebello, CA). Well the kids are out of the house now for the most part and this year I got around to finishing the job. Naturally all the years in storeage created additional headaches, but I found this forum and was able to get through all the problems over the last 4 months. 2 brushes with catastrophe- I initially installed an O-ring chain and ran it for about 110 miles before I saw a post on here about the possible damage to the lower case and a seal. I got that chain off just in time. Then last week when everything was done except new tires, the wheel-less bike fell off the center stand in my garage, but survived intact. Now it looks unbelievable and with rebuilt carbs plus new ignition components it's running like new.
Many thanks to the forum members who helped me over the last months, with a special nod to Hondaman for help with chasing an electrical problem that had me stumped. I also want to tout his igniton unit which I love- it really smoothed out my idle and startup. This forum is dynamite.

Bike looks awesome. I have the same one but still working on getting it as nice as yours. Couple questions:

What tires are those? Continentals? Super Twins?

Is the exhaust a mac? Can I ask why you didn't go to original 4 into 4? Not a criticism, at all.. I'm struggling on deciding whether to keep my old but very decent after-market chrome 4 into 1, or get the original pipes... and just wondering what other people think about the difference on a mostly original restoration.

[dhall57]

Very nice Doc I also had a CB550 mine was a 1976 that I bought used 1977. Bike had only had around 3000 miles on it and like new condition, but sold it several years later. I wish now that I was as smart as you and held on to it like you did yours. Do you by chance have any original pictures back in 74 when you bought it. Doc these 550's are rare so much harder to find than the 750's. Most members here like me don't have the original SOHC 4's they bought back in the 70's. It must give you a good feeling knowing you are the one and only owner Bike looks great,but I agree with the other members get you a new set of the factory pipes from Honda (big $$$ I know) but would really put the finishing touches on it. Either way bike is awesome!

enjoy riding it and showing it off
dhall

[bender01]

  I bought a set of 4/4 pipes for my 75 3 years ago. They were $800. That might be a factor. 
 

[MrGardman]

Way to hang in there with the bike. As was said previously most projects of that length never get finished. I think you did a great job. Looks tremendous and you should be very proud of the accomplishment.

[CoachDoc]

Guys, thanks for the many kind words. Really appreciated after all the work I put in. To answer some questions/ comments-

The paint is original. The side covers I was able to replace new in '94 or '95, and they sat under wraps ever since. The tank has some nicks and very small dents, with the top side faded just a bit. I touched up a few rusted areas on the frame, which is otherwise original paint.
 
One advantage I had was that there is no "PO", so I knew the motor was fundamentally very sound. Other than a very thorough 3000 mile tune-up, the motor was untouched. I did however replace the plugs, points, condensers, plug leads and connectors, and recently I installed Dyna 5 Ohm coils. I also did a meticulous rebuild of the carbs, replacing all the rubber but reusing the brass components after cleaning. Carbs were synched.

The tires are Dunlop K70 Vintage bike tires. I really like their retro look- goes very well with this era's bikes. I also replaced the wheel bearings while the wheels were off.

Although I purchased this bike in SoCal, it spent most of its early years in the Northeast, including being ridden through much of the winter a couple of years. As a result my original 4into4 exhaust was shot in about 8 years. I kept it going with muffler tape and improvised bracing for a longggggg... while after it should have been replaced due to the high cost of replacement OEM pipes. The system now is a Mac 4 into 1, but I strongly agree with the comments about going back to the stock 4/4 system- I love the way that system looks and it definitely belongs on this bike. The holdup is of course the $- close to a grand now for the 4 pipes, which is more than I spent on a long laundry list of replacement parts to this point. Nevertheless the 4 pipes may find their way back on to this machine at some point. I'll repost if/when I do.

Orange550, we do indeed have the same bike. I look foward to seeing your finished product.

I've included a picture of this bike new in '74/'75, plus a shot of it 20 years later ('94) on a cross country trip. The last 3 pix are the finished product. I can't tell you how good it is to find guys devoted to keeping these vintage bikes going. This bike will just get easy rides on warm sunny days from here on in, so hopefully it will last for many years.

[singedebile]

congradulations and happy ridding!!

[dhall57]

Doc, you should win a award for your packing skills, also doubles as a nice backrest I see the spare qt. of Castrol GTX oil and the gas can, what all else did you have strapped down. How did she handle loaded down like that? How many miles did you cover, where did you go, Sorry about all the questions, but just interested in your restoration of your original bike.

dhall

[dave500]

well done,its a great old colour.

[Duanob]

As a 550 owner I am envious!~ Super nice job Coach! Love the sunburst orange.

Keep it covered, you would hate to have those side covers go missing.

What happened to the originals pipes? Looks like the bike had them not too long ago.

[CoachDoc]

Doc, you should win a award for your packing skills, also doubles as a nice backrest I see the spare qt. of Castrol GTX oil and the gas can, what all else did you have strapped down. How did she handle loaded down like that? How many miles did you cover, where did you go, Sorry about all the questions, but just interested in your restoration of your original bike.

dhall

That was an amazing trip (1994). I went about 5000 miles from the New York suburbs northwest across southern Ontario, back in to the states at Windsor, then up through Wisconsin until I got to US highway 12 west, which I stayed on all the way through the upper midwest and mountain states. When I got to Walla Walla, WA I turned south and came back to San Diego. I got the gas can when I crossed the Bitteroots from Montana into Idaho- 135 miles with no services. 20 years earlier I rode the same bike when it ws new about 4000 miles from California back to NY, taking a more southerly route. I have a rack for this bike that's pretty large, and I would lay a packframe on the backseat extending well past the end of the rack to give me a larger loading surface. You're right about it making a good backrest. Handling was unaffected. Altogether this 550 has been in 37 states plus Canada and Mexico. This may help explain why I'm attached to it enough to keep it all these years.

What happened to the originals pipes? Looks like the bike had them not too long ago.

The original pipes rusted incredibly fast during the years I had the bike in NY. By '94 they were literally held together at the joints with muffler tape and makeshift splints. When I started the restoration back then the first thing I got was the Mac 4 into 1 aftermarket exhaust. If the bike holds up well I may bite the bullet and plunk down the big bucks for the OEM system from Honda.

[dhall57]

I can understand why you are attached to this CB550. Your are the only owner its ever know and the two of you have covered many miles together over the years and seems to have served you very well and never complained.

[TwoTired]

Looks pretty sweet.
I wish mine looked a good. 

Cheers,

[CoachDoc]

I can understand why you are attached to this CB550. Your are the only owner its ever know and the two of you have covered many miles together over the years and seems to have served you very well and never complained.

Well said. This bike has withstood a lot of use and abuse over the years. It richly deserves this restoration to it's former glory.

Looks pretty sweet.
I wish mine looked a good. 

Cheers,

TT, I owe you a debt of gratitude. I learned more about this bike from reading your posts than I did in the preceding 37 years combined. If they gave advanced degrees in SOHC Hondas (and especially 550's) you'd be a PhD. several times over.

[Gman]

Doc,
    Beautiful bike!  I just bought a 76 cb550 this summer and can look to yours as a shining example of what it could be restored.  Well done, sir.

Gman

[CoachDoc]

Doc,
    Beautiful bike!  I just bought a 76 cb550 this summer and can look to yours as a shining example of what it could be restored.  Well done, sir.

Gman

Thanks, Gman. I envy your "blank canvas"- I'd almost like to start all over again. I hope you keep it close to stock.... I hate to see a nice restoreable 550 end up as a cafe conversion, but that's just me.