Author Topic: [pics added] So I've got the bike, now what? (Read 5266 times)

stereosilence · « **on:** November 23, 2011, 02:47:10 PM »

I finally bought a 1975 CB550K. I have always wanted one of these and I want to learn how to work on it as well.

Being that I'm 25 and the bike is 36, I'm not sure where to start. Here is what I have:

The guy I bought it from used it as a daily driver and recently had the carbs rebuilt and tuned and the bike generally serviced recently. It rides very well. I have taken it on the interstate at 70-80 MPH no problem.

It is not all original but seems to be pretty functional. I want to remove the electric starting system as it doesn't work and kickstarting makes you look BA.

It looks like it probably needs a new chain and sprocket. When I put a really heavy load on it in 2nd gear, it has slipped into neutral. It doesn't seem to do that in other gears. There seems to be some very slow leaks of engine oil along some seams of the engine. The front disc brake works but not as well as I would like (the rear brake works great).

I had to rebuild the gauges but I already did that and everything works great now.

I got a maintenance manual (Clymer's I think) and have flipped through it. The periodic maintenance looks like enough to keep me perpetually busy. My question is, "Where do I start?" I'm not sure I have the skill set to tear the engine apart and rebuild it correctly the first time. Plus, it seems to run well, I don't want to risk "fixing" what ain't broken. Should I just warm up doing maintenance or what?

Thanks.

IMO, anything that you can ride is worth $1200.

Kong · « **Reply #1 on:** November 23, 2011, 02:52:21 PM »

Don't do anything yet. Just go ride it. Over the weekend change the oil and filter. Then start just looking at it real real hard. You'll see things that don't look right, when you do ask about them. What you do not what to do, what with your relationship with the bike being new and short, is to start yanking it apart. Ride it, enjoy it, then improve it.

PS: Kick starting doesn't make you look BA, it makes you look like guy with a crappy bike.

Johnie · « **Reply #2 on:** November 23, 2011, 03:19:47 PM »

Welcome to the board stereosilence. Listen to Kong as he is wise and speaks the truth. Don't start yanking things off the bike yet. You mentioned you are just learning about this bike. Time and time again guys start yanking stuff off and then they have a bike that will not run. Granted, it is your bike and do with it what you want. But kick starting a 550 does not make you a BA nor does riding a 550. One thing you will learn here is ride it and enjoy it. No need to tear into a good running factory engine. Post up some pics. We like pics here.

kerryb · « **Reply #3 on:** November 23, 2011, 03:29:01 PM »

Welcome to the forum. I just got back from a test ride after working on my 550. First thing I recommend you do is research the electric start system. Read about it, identify the parts, test the electrical wires, find the problem and fix it. We'll be happy to help. When you're done with that you will have discovered what to do next besides regular maintenance. Ride it, clean it, enjoy it. And post some pics!

Rigid · « **Reply #4 on:** November 23, 2011, 03:57:43 PM »

"PS: Kick starting doesn't make you look BA, it makes you look like guy with a crappy bike." yep

FuZZie · « **Reply #5 on:** November 23, 2011, 04:18:56 PM »

Quote from: kerryb on November 23, 2011, 03:29:01 PM

Welcome to the forum. I just got back from a test ride after working on my 550. First thing I recommend you do is research the electric start system. Read about it, identify the parts, test the electrical wires, find the problem and fix it. We'll be happy to help. When you're done with that you will have discovered what to do next besides regular maintenance. Ride it, clean it, enjoy it. And post some pics!

I agree, start with only fixing what's broken and BA is getting to enjoy a great bike!

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #6 on:** November 23, 2011, 04:43:13 PM »

I'm with you Stereo, Kickstarting makes you look BadAzz!! My starter works fine and I use it when no one is around. But when in a group of other bikes, I kick it! But then again, I am OldSchool that way!!

Do fix your starter though as having more then one option to get your bike started is always a plus.

What does make you look like ur riding a crappy bike is oil stained pant legs and shoes. If the oil weeps you mention are indeed spotting your shoes and pant legs, you can roll up a piece of paper towel and discreetly cram it between the fins to sop up the oil. Change when saturated.

FuZZie · « **Reply #7 on:** November 23, 2011, 04:51:51 PM »

Quote

If the oil weeps you mention are indeed spotting your shoes and pant legs, you can roll up a piece of paper towel and discreetly cram it between the fins to sop up the oil. Change when saturated.

errr... that bit is not BA

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #8 on:** November 23, 2011, 04:59:37 PM »

Quote from: OldSchool_IsCool on November 23, 2011, 04:43:13 PM

I'm with you Stereo, Kickstarting makes you look BadAzz!! My starter works fine and I use it when no one is around. But when in a group of other bikes, I kick it! But then again, I am OldSchool that way!!

I did a lot of cross country trips with friends who had Nortons that were kick only. They used to roll their eyes at me when I bipped the starter on my XS.

But I get a certain amount of satisfaction when I kick it. Now don't discourage him, here's a young guy who actually likes a little physical effort instead of just pushing buttons. Yeah kicking it over is BadAzz.

Stereo, you hit it on the head in your last two sentences.

Your electric start could be as simple as a bad starter button (very common), bad solenoid, or starter. Try jumping the main terminals on the solenoid with a screwdriver or large gauge wire to see if the starter is good, then work back from there.

Trav-i · « **Reply #9 on:** November 23, 2011, 05:01:34 PM »

Also not BA is having to kickstart your bike in the middle of a busy intersection cause you stalled it... it makes you a target to be run over, or hit while trying to push it out of the road. The stating circuit is simple and basic, just read your Clymer and fix it.

fmctm1sw · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2011, 05:24:12 PM »

I guess I'll pile on to this kicking vs. clicking argument. I do think there is a coolness to kicking. BUT, only if you can get it started on one kick. Kicking and kicking makes you and your bike look lame and is much harder to disguise if you're broke down on the roadside. Nothing says embarrassing quite like hopping up and down on the kicker on the side of the road. But, back to the topic. All the stuff already mentioned. Ride it, develop a feel for it. See if the jumping out of gear issue is an anomaly or a trend. I would fix the starter, easy enough as folks already mentioned. If you do decide to yank it, there are plugs of some sort race guys use to put in place of the starter...

Duanob · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2011, 05:39:13 PM »

Quote from: FuZZie on November 23, 2011, 04:51:51 PM

Quote
If the oil weeps you mention are indeed spotting your shoes and pant legs, you can roll up a piece of paper towel and discreetly cram it between the fins to sop up the oil. Change when saturated.

errr... that bit is not BA

Heh, I use one of my wife's tampons, talk about NOT BA! And I don't consider SOHC4 owners as BA, that's why I'm here.

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #12 on:** November 23, 2011, 05:46:43 PM »

It's possible it may be time to rebuild the MC and front caliper if the stopping power seems weak.

KCbarsos · « **Reply #13 on:** November 23, 2011, 05:49:40 PM »

Quote from: OldSchool_IsCool on November 23, 2011, 04:43:13 PM

My starter works fine and I use it when no one is around. But when in a group of other bikes, I kick it!
Quote from: OldSchool_IsCool on November 23, 2011, 04:43:13 PM
+1

BobbyR · « **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2011, 06:25:20 PM »

The rolled up paper towel move is widely practiced on these. Kicking is cool. As luck has it there will be some hot chicks digging your retro style. That will be the day your foot slips off the kicker and you come down on the family jewels. Cool turns to fool quickly.

Johnie · « **Reply #15 on:** November 23, 2011, 07:12:42 PM »

Now if you are really a BA...then you don't care if you get oil on your shorts, white socks and sandals...

Don R · « **Reply #16 on:** November 23, 2011, 08:04:40 PM »

Good info tempered with humor. welcome and I agree, fix the starter in case you need it. Every once in a while even the most bad ass rider forgets to turn on the gas and it dies in an intersection. Work on your skills while learning your bike and most of all, enjoy it.

camelman · « **Reply #17 on:** November 23, 2011, 08:18:00 PM »

Agreed on the starter. The first time you kill it at an intersection and have to stop in traffic that is just starting to move (scary), put your feet down, flick out the kick starter, kick it... realize it is not in neutral as the bike jumps forward when you kick it (pulling in the clutch disengages the kick starter), stick your right foot on the ground, use your left to search for neutral which is now hard to find, then repeat the whole procedure again with about five kicks to get it going... you will really wish you had a kick starter.

I caution against my mistakes too. Those sundry pieces of gaudiness that you are thinking of taking off and throwing away become highly desired as you learn about these bikes. They are also worth much more than you think, and cost a small fortune when you decide that they didn't belong in last month's trash.

Good luck and enjoy.
Camelman (and no, I don't smoke cigarettes)

scottly · « **Reply #18 on:** November 23, 2011, 08:27:36 PM »

First things first: just how worn are your chain and sprockets? Can you see daylight between the chain and the rear sprocket, when pulling the chain straight back from the center of the sprocket? Pics will help.
(C-man, thought you were on the west coast? What 'cha doing in SA??)

arblebang · « **Reply #19 on:** November 23, 2011, 08:52:56 PM »

Hey dude I agree that kicking the bike over is the way to go, but that doesn't mean you have to remove the starter... no one has to know you have one there if you don't want them to lol.

BTW that problem you have with the 2nd gear doesn't sound like a chain/sprocket problem to me, more of a transmission problem. On my GS850, it was the shift fork. However, I rode it that way for about 20,000 miles, just skipping 2nd gear until I finally decided to fix it.

That 550 was a wicked bike, I regret selling mine. This was mine: To Honda with Love: 1975 CB550

My advice would be to ride and enjoy it, because if I could get mine back I definitely would.

dave500 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 23, 2011, 09:23:25 PM »

a pair of blondes watching as you kick start your bike,,"wow did you see that?a Bull#$%* Artist"= b a.,if its jumping out of second gear bad enough to warrant skipping that gear the engines coming out,itll only get worse and risk a chunk of metal getting loose,,as well as the personal danger like when you really need second gear and it aint there.

scottly · « **Reply #21 on:** November 23, 2011, 09:29:01 PM »

If you really want to look bad-a$$, pretend to start the bike by hand, while thumbing the starter-button.

dave500 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 23, 2011, 09:38:15 PM »

i use my teeth for that manouvre,you can actually start these easy by hand on the kicker,ive done it a few times,,your only starting a 125 after all.

camelman · « **Reply #23 on:** November 24, 2011, 03:38:23 AM »

@ Scottly,

I am in SA as an engineering project manager and site engineer for the first utility scale Solar PV projects in this country. We made power last week and I'll be heading back to SF in a couple weeks. FYI, I've been hanging out wiht TTR400 while in country. He has some beautiful bikes, knows his stuff, and is a cool cat.

Camelman

Kong · « **Reply #24 on:** November 24, 2011, 04:38:36 AM »

On the Bad-ass front, here's how you impress all the little kiddies that you think will be watching you.

Start it by hand. You don't need to leap into the air and come down on the kick-start lever like you had a 1950's Harley between your legs. There was never a stock Honda made that an average sized guy couldn't just grab the kick start lever with his hand and give it a good snap to start the engine. I used to do it all the time with my first 750 (Chopped, no electric start) just to piss off the Harley and British-bike guys I used to ride with. Starting a bike with your arm actually does look BA, even if any 95-pound flyweight can do it.

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Author Topic: [pics added] So I've got the bike, now what? (Read 5266 times)