Author Topic: 550 cafe "The Big Roar Project" (Read 4951 times)

mgmt1234 · « **on:** April 09, 2012, 09:42:49 AM »

Hi my name if Jon and one day I got bored and so I went on eBay and bought a project bike that would keep me busy while I'm on the road working. By the way I have never worked or built a bike before so go easy on me. When I got this bike the starter didn't work but it kicked over with little effort which was nice. Overall it ran great no problems just needed a little tuning and some love.

I wanted a café racer so a couple of friends and I started tearing the bike down inside the trailer house I rented. That trailer was trashed when we were finished. We stripped it down and I grind off all the taps I wasn't going to use. Like a week later I got some parts in and got it into a roller.

sanglasmick · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2012, 10:36:59 AM »

Hi Jon,

Nice work so far, keep it coming. I love posts with pics.

While I love cafe racer styled bikes, I, personally feel they should be built from bikes that are too far gone to restore. Your original bike looked really nice standard machine. Still, each to their own!

I'm really just glad to see another 550 put back on the road.

Good luck with the build. You'll get plenty of help from the guys here, maybe a few difficult questions and certainly lots of interest.

I'll be keeping an eye. Happy Easter and cheers from Ireland!

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2012, 11:07:07 AM »

Thank you, with the carbs I just checked the floats and cleaned out the jets, nothing to big just alot of cleaning. My buddy drag races so he has alot of stainless steel fuel line so I put that in but its really thick unlike the stock 1/4 in line. But it works and I went to Jegs and got all the hardware I need to make it work. I think it looks pretty slick. I also changed out most of the visible screws for red aluminum ones from probolt. I painted the chrome caps with duplicolor hi heat paint. I was in a rush and did not prime them so I hope it wont flake off.

before and after pic

Mcwilliams570 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2012, 11:13:13 AM »

Welcome to the forums.. Bike is looking good so far keep it up...

Matt

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2012, 11:32:35 AM »

This is my motor which im stilling working on. I have a 650 cam im trying to drop in but its giving me hell every step of the way. I have a whole post just for that. I had 2 or 3 gaskets leaking so I paid way to much for a gasket kit and replaced them. Nothing special I painted the motor black, but im still deciding weather or not to polish the fins on the top part of the motor or just leave everything black.

I wanted that fast while stopped feel so I changed out almost every single bolt to red or blue. Plus it matches the fuel line fittings so its a win win. I still have a little bit more cleaning to do but Im in no hurry right now. but other than that the motor is stock and Im about to give up on the 650 cam swap.

Mcwilliams570 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2012, 11:37:31 AM »

Whats the problem with the 650 cam swap? I did that and had no problems at all. You need to make sure you check the clearance when you get it in some people have had that issue most just drop and go though.

Matt

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2012, 11:39:31 AM »

Thats what the problem is. The rockers are hitting the top of the valve cover. Theres a post its 650 cam swap question, its mine check it out I need all the ideas I can get.

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2012, 11:40:13 AM »

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=104779.msg1172186#msg1172186

thats the post

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2012, 01:56:29 PM »

While Id finished doing work to my motor I order the Pinas seat and tank from Benjie and the battery box tray. Heres the pic he sent me

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2012, 02:03:55 PM »

When I got it in I couldn't help myself so I put the gas tank on.

Then I had to wait a couple weeks till i could get my hands on a welder. I cant weld to save my life so my buddy welded the battery tray up for me then I went to town with the grinder. after that all the fab work was done and this is what it looks like.

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2012, 07:04:49 PM »

A couple of weeks ago I stripped off all the old paint and got everything all primed

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2012, 07:09:20 PM »

I got everything painted except for the tank and seat Im going to have someone do that for me but this is where Im at right now. I just got the tires Friday and that look great exactly what I wanted.

Im still stuck on this F*@king cam swap.

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2012, 07:12:05 PM »

Now Im just waiting on parts, I got a box in late tonight and I have YSS shocks that will be here later this week. And I think my levers are stuck somewhere in customs in New York, its really annoying they've been there since march 25.

luap · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2012, 08:05:59 PM »

motor an carbs look good man, what size is the braided fuel lines? Just my 2 cents but these carbs like the 1/4 fuel line,

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2012, 04:08:48 PM »

ya its 1/4 hose its just really thick its made for a car fuel line not the skinny line for motorcycles

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 10, 2012, 05:01:53 PM »

I have a coil question if someone can help me out. Im looking at buying Dyna coils. just the coils which coils should i go with to use with the stock ignition? There's a 3 ohm and a 5 ohm. Also what ohm wires would I need to run with these? I already ordered an 8 ohm wire.

luap · « **Reply #16 on:** April 10, 2012, 09:34:04 PM »

black 5ohm dynatech, 7mm wire an some ngk caps, then just go to napa an get the booty an small metal caps

aliphian · « **Reply #17 on:** April 11, 2012, 09:04:58 AM »

Looking great! I can't wait to see it shape up!

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2012, 04:49:36 PM »

will 8 ohm wires not work say on dyna 5 ohm coils? if not why just wondering?

Just got my shocks im going to go put them on now.

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 15, 2012, 10:27:05 AM »

This weekend I got a lot of parts in and have been trying to make them fit. The damn hardware store doesn't have all-thread so I have to wait the week starts to go to a store that has it so I can finish my rear-set linkage. I also put on my levers and started a little bit of wiring on the bike. I cut the exhaust to where I wanted to. I like it but my friends don't. I don't care its what I want i paid for the damn thing so..

Also here is a pic of my frame. I bondo a lot of the frame cleaning up the welds. I spend days doing this and I think it turned out good being for my first time. Stupid me didn't take a before pic but I hope you can tell the difference. Its smooth and looks a lot better than the stock stamped pieces and welds. The hole frame looks better now like one piece instead of those #$%*y tack welds that you can see. Ill take more pics of the frame if any body wants to see more.

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 15, 2012, 07:19:49 PM »

I found out that the 650 cam is pushing the valves into the piston so no 650 cam swap till next winter. Bummer. But I did get the motor back together finally and I started to hook things up finally.

I also broke the clutch cable. I was trying to find the right fit and the damn thing broke on me. Is there any way to fix this or do I have to get a new one?

luap · « **Reply #21 on:** April 15, 2012, 08:59:11 PM »

is that the perch side or the clutch cover side, could just put it back on an resolder, its a nice bike id spend the 10 bucks on a new cable

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 15, 2012, 09:44:50 PM »

I just ordered one and it was 10 bucks lol. I hate waiting for parts though

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 19, 2012, 05:16:02 AM »

I just have electrical left and to put on the chain. The things I hate most to do. The paint came out great better than I expected!!!

mgmt1234 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 09, 2012, 08:49:07 AM »

finally getting my bike wired up, hopefully it'll be done by Sunday!

News:

Author Topic: 550 cafe "The Big Roar Project" (Read 4951 times)