Topic: 74 CB550 Cafe le'Indiana

[lucky]

I think I removed a 76 or 77 550 seat by unbolting the lock.  If I remember correctly, it was not too hard to do. 
Steve

The ignition key will work on the seat and the gas cap.

[Retro Rocket]

I think I removed a 76 or 77 550 seat by unbolting the lock.  If I remember correctly, it was not too hard to do. 
Steve

The ignition key will work on the seat and the gas cap.

2.  The seat is locked and the PM is still looking () for the key.

No Key..!!

[wedoo2]

Turns out that the gas cap may be some aftermarket piece and needs a special tool to open it.  What a dumb idea.  I posted a thread on the regular forum to see if someone knows about.



In the meantime I am cleaning parts, taking stuff apart, tracking oil on the carpet.  Regular stuff.  Will take pictures as I go along.

[VoodooChild]

Glad to see you're getting some work done on that bike. I wish I could say the same for mine. You obviously seem to have a better handle on things than I do, but I will give you one piece of priceless advice that can never be repeated too many times...STAY AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP AT ALL COST!!! It's a good rule of thumb anyway, but I know that local Honda dealer you're talking about. They are the epitome of a stealership.

[lucky]

Got the carbs out.  I hate doing that.



Bowls off no problem or screw stripping.  Not bad for a bike that has sat for maybe 15 years.



I seen worse bowls.  The screws on the floats and the drains screws are too tight.  PB Blaster for a couple of days.

Make sure you put in new float needles!!!!

You do not need the seats - just the four needles.

[wedoo2]

Thought I would update my rebuild since it has been a few weeks.  But I have been busy.  Mostly trying to solve problems and I have had a great deal of help with those issues.  At least enough help that I was able to forge ahead.  From front to back.

The only thing that I have done on the front end is to rebuild the front brake.  The piston was a bear to get free, but it is free now and the caliper cleaned up and painted as you see below.



I have ordered anew stainless steel lines that are the same color as my frame will be, and a new master cylinder from Slingshot.  I will be painting the outside of the rims on both ends, so I won't be installing the new brake system until that is done and I get a new tire.
 
Have a new clubman handlebar from Z-1 that looks very cool.  I cleaned up the instruments and painted the tach / speedo.  New clutch cable but we'll see how the clutch is when I start it.

Cleaned up the motor, but I have not painted it.  Still have not started the bike and after that happens I will be tearing it all down to paint the frame.  I rebuilt the carbs with a good amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Had to make my own felt washers.  They are back together.



Will be putting them back on this week and see if the thing starts.  I sanded down the tank and started the bondo on the side emblems. Had trouble with the tank latch, but found another tank for $12 a a local part guy.  I have a tank if someone needs it.  Got a dent in it.  This one looks good.  Clean on the inside thanks to The Work.  Unbelievable stuff for light to medium rust.



New battery and rectifier.  I removed the rear wheel and cleaned it all up.  New brake shoes.  The rim has a flat spot so I may need a new one if it doesn't bend out.  Will be getting new spokes and tire when the time comes.



Moving right along.  Will post a video when I get it started.  If it's all broke, then I'm going to have a lot a nice clean parts to sell.   Hope to be ready to ride by March or early April.

[wedoo2]

Got the carbs in, the tank, and hooked up the linkage to try to start the bike.  Kicks fine and I got a couple of sputters with starting fluid.  Then I lost power somewhere.  No lights, battery is at 12.5 volts.   Fuses all good.  Can't find anything in  the manual to see if it has a main fuse like the 83 Gold Wing had.

Nobody said it would be easy.

[wedoo2]

I was going through the electrical troubleshooting and I looked at the fuses.  All looked fine, but here is a lesson.  The 15A fuse looked ok, but when I put the continuity tester on it, it failed.  Changed the fuse and everything lit up again.

Doesn't look bad does it?

[K5owner]

+1 on checking fuses with a meter or test light. A visual check only will sometimes lead to more expense... when the real problem was a .50 fuse.

[wedoo2]

Seems that I fixed my little electrical problem.  But in trying to start the bike my petcock leaked like a congressional committee.  Ordered a kit from ebay and it should be here tomorrow.

So it sits.



In the meantime I worked on the tank and side covers.  First time I have ever did a bondo job and it came out great.   Can't tell the side decals were ever there.



Had to repair one of the tongs on a side cover.  Glued up nice and I put some bondo on it to keep it there.  Got all three primed.



Going to have to paint things one of these day.  Still not even sure if it will run.  Otherwise I will have a great tank, and tons of other stuff, to sell.  Definitely going to have to paint my garage floor after this.

[wedoo2]

Kind of what I am going for.

[IndyFour]

Looking good wedoo2.  Can't wait to see the final product. 

[wedoo2]

Tried starting the bike, but no luck.  Not getting fuel.  I do have spark though and it wants to start with starting fluid.  Turned over a couple of times so I am hopeful.  I was pretty sure that my fuel lines were kinked so I removed the tank  and then one of the nozzles on the petcock came off.  I posted to the general forum for some ideas on how to fix that.  If anyone has any ideas................

[wedoo2]

I popped the tube back in and that seemed to be okay, but I may have to change it out later on.  I got plenty of gas.  Leaked out of my drain tubes like I was pouring gas.  I completely rebuilt the carbs, but I guess that I did not set the floats correctly.  I can't think of another reason.  Pretty sure all four were leaking.  Not been my best day.

Take em off and try to set them again.  Or take them to someone.

[IndyFour]

Are you using a float gauge?  If you don't have one, a nifty trick is to use a barcode cut off of a carton or box of some sort and measure which line is closest to 22mm (spec for the 550 if I recall correctly) from the edge of the cutout and mark it....use that as your gauge....place the edge on the carb casting and look from the side to measure.  Worked like a charm for me.  Did the carbs on both my bikes this summer that way and it worked well.

[wedoo2]

I'm going to post a picture of the bottom of the carburetors.  You may notice a couple of things here,  One is the residue that is on the floats,  I cleaned my tank with the Works,  It did a great job with the rust in the tank.  I cleaned the tank with gas by swishing a pretty good amount around to get out the gunk.  I may have to clean it out with something else but I'm not sure what.

Secondly, you can notice that the residue is not even on all four floats. In fact, number four has very little on it at all.  They were black when I put them in. The difference is a lot easier to see in person.  So they are adjusted unevenly?

I doubt that the cause of my leaking problem is due to a gummed-up channel in the carbs since I was very careful to clean every hole with carb cleaner and shot air through everything.  Obviously, since I have everything off, I will do that again.  Besides the overflows leaked as soon as I put gas through the gas lines.

At any rate, I will post this here and on the regular forum for some advice.



Indyfour, I am going to get a metric ruler today.  I used something I got off the Interwebs to measure with.  The ruler was both metric and American and the American side was spot on.  But, just to be safe.....

[dagersh]

Wedoo,

Nice work!

As far as the nozzle off the petcock, they are press fit.  Use a good set of pliers large enough, and protect the metal with a rag and press it back in.  I have done it many, many, many (It happens to me all the time..) times with great success!

Keep up the good work!

Gersh

[wedoo2]

I'll tell you what, when that nozzle came off I had one of those OMG moments 

I took my carbs to the local dealer.  Let them mess with it.  I need some downtime from problems.

[wedoo2]

Little update with pictures.

Took the holiday off and got away from the motorcycle,  I got the carbs back today after having the floats adjusted.  We'll see if the dealer knows what they are doing with old carburetors.

Got some new parts in though.  First off, some new front brake lines from Slingshot.  Looks like the quality is great.



Also a new master cylinder from Slingshot.



Looks like the same one on my VStar;



Try to start it tomorrow.

[wedoo2]

It starts and runs pretty good.  Haven't found a stable idle as yet, but it will.  Here is a video of the second time it ran.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/v9M2vPXqDZo

[wedoo2]

BTW, it has not ran since 1985   

[wedoo2]

Now that I know the bike runs I can start tearing it down.  The stripping starts



How will I ever get this back together?  At least the colors are the same.



What is this thing?  I looked at the fishe and could not find it.  RADAR?

[CBJoe]

I'm pretty sure that's a side facing indicator/signal/reflector.  I think one of my bikes had it mounted to the headlight ears on either side.  I ditched 'em right quick as they were ugly as hell.

edit:   or i could be totally wrong.   

[mrrch]

Turn signal buzzer.

[wedoo2]

The tops of my forks are beyond being pretty again.  Is it going to be against the law to paint them some type of silver?