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Author Topic: 550 l/h fork save or replace?  (Read 1889 times)

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Offline stevenwr

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550 l/h fork save or replace?
« on: May 22, 2012, 11:16:54 AM »
I'm restoring a 74 CB550. I drained the r/h fork and out came dirty oil, I went to drain the l/h fork and water came out! The l/h fork wouldn't come apart...everything was seized. I filled the fork with oil and the fork finally came apart. Lokking at the internals I'm not sure if this fork is worth trying to save or if I should get a new/old one?
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Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: 550 l/h fork save or replace?
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2012, 11:30:55 AM »
I think I would be looking for a new tube. Is that bent or just a trick of the light?
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'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


Les Ross.            Certified by a Professional

Offline stevenwr

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Re: 550 l/h fork save or replace?
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2012, 11:39:48 AM »
Nothing seems bent...it's just light, camera angle. The dampener end cap was seized onto the dampener. You can see in the photo were I have the dampener in my hand....the black color is heavy corrosion. I expect to see rust on the fork tube under the rubber boot area but it is also rusted near the bottom which goes inside the fork cylinder. I was shocked to see water come out instead of oil!
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Offline mono

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Re: 550 l/h fork save or replace?
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2012, 01:54:03 PM »
Quote from: LesterPiglet on May 22, 2012, 11:30:55 AM
I think I would be looking for a new tube. Is that bent or just a trick of the light?


digital cameras like to distort images.
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Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: 550 l/h fork save or replace?
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2012, 04:02:19 PM »
Bent or not I would replace it.
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'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


Les Ross.            Certified by a Professional

Offline xsmooth69x

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Re: 550 l/h fork save or replace?
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2012, 08:22:58 PM »
replace it! look how the fork tubes are pitted
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1975 CB550 (FINISHED?!?!?)
first motorcycle ever!!! ow and i dont know how to ride it either :D

raw rust rice venti quad shot cafe racing latte project aka my build..... http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=88853.0

black and white equation godzilla chalkboard 
1972 cb750 - next in line for some <3

Offline stevenwr

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Re: 550 l/h fork save or replace?
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2012, 02:52:33 PM »
So I went to a local bike salvage yard and picked up a fork from a CB550 with 12/73 on the VIN tag. Brought it home and found that the inner fork tube (tube that goes into the triple tree) & spring are longer then my 74 cb550 3/74 fork tube. I went back to the wrecker and found that the cb500 fork tubes and the 77/78 fork tubes are also longer! I would have thought the fork length on all 500/550 would be the same...apperently not.
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Offline stevenwr

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Re: 550 l/h fork save or replace?
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2012, 03:58:15 PM »
74-76 CB550 fork tubes being different lengths then 77/78 fork tubes doesn't seem right. I have a feeling the PO has changed the tubes or forks. I measured the fork tubes that are on the bike and they are 22 1/8" long. I found a ref. stating all CB550 tubes are the same length: 74-78 CB550 K 23" 35 26
 Is this correct?
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Offline shorty24

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Re: 550 l/h fork save or replace?
« Reply #8 on: May 24, 2012, 02:11:16 AM »
I just replaced the fork tubes on my '77 550, and they were 22 1/2".  I don't think its a big deal if the replacements are a little longer than stock though; you can always just install them with a little bit of the tube sticking out of the top of the triple to compensate.
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Offline stevenwr

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Re: 550 l/h fork save or replace?
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2012, 02:35:29 AM »
True enough.
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Offline kyre

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Re: 550 l/h fork save or replace?
« Reply #10 on: May 24, 2012, 06:17:57 AM »
I just replaced my tubes on my 74 550K and the factory tubes were 22 1/8. The new tubes are 21 13/16 from cycle xchange..
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CB400F / 466 Build Thread (currently in progress)
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=105027.0
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