Author Topic: Just brought a CB550 home, I'm ready to build (Read 19980 times)

Brandotheamazing · « **Reply #50 on:** November 18, 2012, 09:53:04 PM »

Got my 550 with pods, ran like crud. got an air box, and almost quit trying getting it in, but I did it, and man was it worth it! Bike looks good! much better than mine did, and now currently does ( but it's inside now and is about to get a new life)
If you're still looking for a brake caliper let me know, I'm almost positive I have one in the shed, probably needs rebuild, but I'd give it up cheap! probably worth it. If you're interested shoot me a PM. I love letting old vehicles live again! and stopping is key for the owner to live!. I might have other stuff that could help you out, but i'd have to go through boxes of stuff.

GOOD LUCK! she'll probably run if its got good compression and you give the carbs a good cleaning, check your ignition and all that good stuff.

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #51 on:** November 19, 2012, 05:36:31 AM »

Yeah those pods suck, runs so much better with the stock box.

I'll send you a pm for that caliper, I'm still trying to get that hammered out.

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #52 on:** November 23, 2012, 12:44:29 PM »

Just picked this up on the cheap. It came with a clean title so I don't have that mess to detangle anymore.

So I figure I should get some nice swingarm bushings and head bearings for it. Any suggestions? I thought now would be the only time I would get the frame media blasted and powder coated so that's now or never. I may do that if it's cheap.

So the plan is to move my bike over to this frame over the next month or two in my basement. I'm gonna yank the engine then move it on down. A dude told me a nice little trick for pulling the engine so I get to try that out! Eventually I'll post pics of all that.

Stev-o · « **Reply #53 on:** November 23, 2012, 02:06:11 PM »

Here......

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB500-CB550-CB550F-CB550K-CB750-4-cyl-Bronze-Swingarm-Swing-Arm-Bushings-/400338373130?hash=item5d3606ca0a&item=400338373130&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB350-CB360-CB400T-CB450-CB550-CX500-CB650-CB750-Tapered-Bearings-22-1011-/230853574077?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D3671787606199041110%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D3%26sd%3D230766505576%26

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #54 on:** November 23, 2012, 02:13:04 PM »

Sweet, bronze is stock right? and the tapered bearings I've seen suggested, those aren't stock? Either way they look good and the price is right.

I'm looking at paint or powder coat for the frame now. I just don't think I care about the looks enough to powder coat it. Wire wheel, POR15, rustoleum and I'll be done.

As far as the engine (which runs fine) I think I will put a new chain tensioner on it while I have it out which will also require a new head gasket. Any other trouble parts worth popping in while I'm there?

Stev-o · « **Reply #55 on:** November 23, 2012, 02:20:16 PM »

Some SOHC had crap plastic swing arm bushings, doubt it was your model. Tapered head bearings are not stock and a nice upgrade.
Heard the POR 15 is some good paint, I bought a can but havevnot used it yet.

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #56 on:** November 23, 2012, 02:24:22 PM »

I'm a POR evangelist! I've done more than a couple restos with that and I love it. It may be pricey but you won't be disappointed. My most recent was a typically rusty midwest Toyota pickup frame and it is better than I imagined now. Beat that with a hammer all day and it won't chip.

DustyRags · « **Reply #57 on:** November 24, 2012, 08:13:42 AM »

Check out the Vesrah gasket kits. I used the full kit for mine, and it had everything I needed for a top end rebuild, although I understand it lacked a few minor bits for the bottom end. I hear the top end kits lack a few things for the top end too, but the full kit has all you need for top.

If memory serves right, mine had:

-Breather cover seal.
-Head cover seal.
-Head gasket.
-Base gasket.
-O-rings for under the cylinders.
-O-rings for the vertical oil passages.
-O-rings for the cam shaft end covers.
-O-rings for under the valves (I didn't use those).
-Valves seals.
-Header gaskets.
-Various seals for the bottom end I didn't use.

Everything worked fine and it created a leak-free engine. It did NOT include various copper and aluminum washers.

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #58 on:** November 24, 2012, 10:24:38 AM »

Perfect, looks like what I'm looking for

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #59 on:** November 25, 2012, 03:41:19 PM »

Well I pulled the engine today (pics to come) and I was looking over the engine as it was sitting on my workbench. Ideally I would prefer to just media blast the engine and leave the bare aluminum. Is there a reason not to? If I have to coat it I'm planning on powder coat, my buddy told about a dude who will blast and coat cheaper than I can clean and paint. So if I coat it, should I do the whole thing? I'd love to just leave the head bare but I would like some opinions.

DustyRags · « **Reply #60 on:** November 25, 2012, 05:35:33 PM »

I'm sure others will chime in here, but I've heard a lot of argument about powder coating- apparently it doesn't dissipate heat as well as high-temp paint, but some say it doesn't matter unless you're racing or live in a hot climate.

I'd go with a high-temp paint, maybe a spray paint or something that's easy to touch up.

AFAIK the only reason to paint would be to avoid the gray oxidation you get on aluminum- some people don't like it, some do. I think it's a stable oxidation (like copper, rather than like iron that'll just rust away), so it should be OK.

No reason not to do parts, I see that all the time.

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #61 on:** November 25, 2012, 05:39:52 PM »

Yeah, heat dissipation would definitely be my concern. Maybe I'll just powdercoat the block and valve covers and leave the head and jugs bare.

DustyRags · « **Reply #62 on:** November 25, 2012, 05:57:02 PM »

That would be cool. Leave the tappet covers bare to match, maybe the breather as well. Could look sweet. Or hit the head and jugs with a contrasting paint.

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #63 on:** November 26, 2012, 08:42:01 AM »

So this isn't necessarily a "how to" but a "how I did it" (hillbilly edition, rusty El Camino and all!

).

Obviously pull your pipes, battery, airbox, carbs, tank etc. This didn't take long. Disconnect the stator wiring, harness and starter wire.

Then pull the engine mounts on the right side of the bike. I pulled the brake pedal and peg as well. I unbolted the right turn signals and left them hanging to avoid damage.

Then, drop it

Unbolt everything from the left, bounce it around a bit and here it is

I had to pull the oil filter too, that didn't want to clear the frame.

End result is this!

The engine is sitting on my workbench, the bike is in a warm heated basement next to my keggerator, all is right with the world.

DustyRags · « **Reply #64 on:** November 26, 2012, 09:06:09 AM »

Well played, that's how it's done!

Nice drums.

andrewk · « **Reply #65 on:** November 26, 2012, 10:08:12 AM »

You have an engine that will *probably* run. I would keep the media blasting as far away from that as possible.

Media will find a way in, and that will cause you a lot of grief.

Paint stripper will work though, I use tal-strip. Spray it on, let it work, scrub on it a little, then rinse it off. Takes off all the paint.

I bet you will find the look of bare aluminum to be pretty shabby though, especially compared to the rest of the (nice!) bike.

High-temp paint is the best solution- If you were taking the engine down to the cases, some guys powder coat them then.

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #66 on:** November 26, 2012, 10:51:18 AM »

I suppose a good stripper would work, I know I've seen that done but it seems messy. More and more I think I'll just give it a good scrub and run it. It's just gonna get dirty again anyway. The last thing I want is a show bike!

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #67 on:** November 27, 2012, 07:28:31 PM »

The frame and swingarm are at the powdercoater's, hopefully I will get them back soon. Thats all I did on the CB today but I got my buddy's CX500 started and running for the first time in forever. He just picked it up as a partially complete beater POS. it's been fun getting that going as he knows nothing about bikes (and I'm no expert!). It's still a Honda though! Gotta mess up pretty bad for it not to run.

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #68 on:** December 07, 2012, 06:53:37 AM »

Got the frame and swingarm back yesterday. I only took one pic and it really doesn't do it justice, this dude did an awesome job! The stamped VIN and the VIN plate are perfect and everything looks so good I don't even want to use it. Best news is he only charged $150 to blast and coat the frame and swingarm. You can't beat that!

Stev-o · « **Reply #69 on:** December 07, 2012, 07:09:22 AM »

Great deal! I recently got a bid for double that.

iron_worker · « **Reply #70 on:** December 07, 2012, 10:07:23 AM »

You guys in the states have it easy. It was $350 just to have my frame (and several other parts) blasted. Only blasted. Would have been over $1000 to get it coated too.

To say I'm jealous is an understatement. ha That frame looks great.

IW

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #71 on:** December 07, 2012, 11:21:53 AM »

Yeah, I wasn't even going to PC because of the cost but this was too good of a deal to pass up. I don't think I could have wire-wheeled and painted this cheap!

Vinhead1957 · « **Reply #72 on:** December 07, 2012, 08:01:40 PM »

Very jealous I called the powder coater today still waiting patiently to get my frame back. Don't forget to chase all the threads with a tap and unpaint the grounding spots

thedrewski86 · « **Reply #73 on:** December 08, 2012, 12:38:33 PM »

Progress...

I'm going to build the whole thing in my dining room and then roll it out the front door. I like it here so much I may just park it in the house all the time

Stev-o · « **Reply #74 on:** December 08, 2012, 02:17:19 PM »

Hope you don't plan on doing this:

Kawasaki ZX12R 200mph burn out inside living room.

News:

Author Topic: Just brought a CB550 home, I'm ready to build (Read 19980 times)