Author Topic: dave500s 550f  (Read 24156 times)

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Offline dave500

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dave500s 550f
« on: October 28, 2012, 02:11:10 AM »
a mate rang me today and told me about a 550f in parts on our selling site 'gumtree"a bit like craiglist maybe,it had only been there 15 minutes and was about an hour drive away,,i went straight out and nabbed it for 520 bucks,thats pretty good value here,its totaly complete less the mudguards and chain guard and headlight ears,story with those is he left them at a platers for a quote then gets a phone call a week or two later saying they are ready now $1400 bucks,so he said keep them,its got a complete new gasket set and new rear shoes,6 year old almost unused metzler lazer techs and the tank is perfect inside,the seat base is great still with glossy black factory paint and the master cylinder actually moves,has a clymer manual and the keys!,,i have a good clean 550 engine i assembled a while ago ill use,,the engine that came with this has the top end off and filthy,it looks like ill keep it and resurect it another day,i wont get stuck right into this untill our christmas holiday break so ill just get it rolling and cleaned up a bit.

« Last Edit: October 28, 2012, 03:16:56 AM by dave500 »

Offline Killer Canary

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2012, 06:23:21 AM »
Right on Dave! You can make something out of that.
If it's worth doing at all it's worth over-doing.
Honda MT250, CB400F, CB450K, CB550, GL500, CBR929
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Offline jgivens

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2012, 04:17:04 PM »
very cool find! I love to see bikes resurrected that many people might consider too much of a "basket case"
« Last Edit: October 29, 2012, 06:45:59 AM by jgivens »
1978 CB550 Project

Offline Tews19

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2012, 06:33:45 PM »
This will be the first build thread I think I've seen from you Dave! This should be good. My 550 headers looked like those. Lots of elbow grease, CLR and nvr dull and they came out real nice.
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2012, 06:39:43 PM »
Looks like he spilled battery acid on the tank?!
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #5 on: October 28, 2012, 06:43:55 PM »
subscribed...my money is on this one turning out really good...plus Dave500 cracks me up
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline dave500

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2012, 01:52:12 AM »
hey i crack myself up barney!!this is just going to be a throw back together cleaned up"engine test bike"then ill probably do it again,i posted one in 2010 tews, http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=81033.msg908232#msg908232 and also this one http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=74027.0 ,ive deleted a few pictures though from photo bucket it was too full,i need fenders for this,everything else is there!

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2012, 02:57:55 AM »
Good score Dave.... ;)
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If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline jgivens

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2012, 06:47:52 AM »
i need fenders for this,everything else is there!

If you weren't so far away, off on your own continent  ;), I'd offer to sell you my stock 550 rear fender. but good luck!
1978 CB550 Project

Offline Garystratos201

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #9 on: October 29, 2012, 07:16:54 AM »
Looks like he spilled battery acid on the tank?!

Looks more like lack of proper preparation before painting. ( wasnt sanded and primed properly). Nice find i will watch with interest..............Gary
« Last Edit: October 29, 2012, 07:18:43 AM by Garystratos201 »
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Offline Greggo

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #10 on: October 29, 2012, 11:11:47 AM »

Offline dave500

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #11 on: October 29, 2012, 12:33:33 PM »
i need fenders for this,everything else is there!

If you weren't so far away, off on your own continent  ;), I'd offer to sell you my stock 550 rear fender. but good luck!

thanks jgivens,ive ordered a repro rear from david silvers,he has them at a special price at the moment,i have a rusty front one to use.

Offline dave500

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2012, 12:20:42 AM »
ok up date,,, ive cancelled that david silvers rear guard order,,,a local to me member here "hot500"(who has a fabulous cafe 500)has an old rear guard for me,thanks kev!not much else to update except ive sorted through the boxes of stuff and done some pre cleaning,my aim here is to do this as cheap as chips with roadworthy and saftey using what other parts i have on hand,ill replace the brake hoses/pads with new,,the chain and battery will be hand me downs from my regular bike and that gets the new stuff,the sprockets on this are near new looking "jt" ones although it has a naughty o ring chain ill toss,rattle can frame paint job after a quick rub back and just sand the tank and side covers back to break off the loose paint(looks to be applied over a freshly waxed tank?it might all blow off yet with the pressure washer?),,all the rusty stuff like brackets and rear shock springs has gone into the mollasses tubs,ill paint the bars once they come clean,the rims are solid,,ill sand blast the spokes and spray them,the loom is virginal and checks out fine,ill remove and clean all the contacts in the gang/multi plugs,the starter motor spins up torquey,the solenoid clicks and the stator field and ignition coils check out ok,i threw the plug caps,,one was 33kohms!

the headers are solid,the first bend has no chrome and rusty,,ill just paint them silver.

ahh mollasses!

the tank is great inside and perfect outside!i dont like these trap door ones though?i have an early 500 one i might use yet?its dented though.


the rims are coming up easy with some elbow grease and steel wool with jiff(trade mark registered!)those hubs will get a sand blast,
ill run these tyres at first and see what they do?i know it goes against anything posted here etc about old tyres,ill only be going along my street and local,ill watch them for cracks,they hold air,i want to use this as a test rig for engines for a year or two,,then pull it down again for another face lift!

nothing to see here folks,,just another nude frame!how dry is our grass?with a bit of luck itll green up where ive been pressure washing at least?.

the po said the front forks had been re sealed and apart,,i believe him there,,the oil i pumped out was clean and clear not the usual grey stinky puss you find in old forks!
« Last Edit: October 31, 2012, 01:06:29 AM by dave500 »

Offline dave500

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #13 on: November 02, 2012, 09:05:42 PM »
did a lot of cleaning/sandblasting and painting today,got quite a bit done,,photobucket is going funky at the moment so no pictures yet,anyone else having drama with photo bucket?they seem to be updating it.

Offline Tews19

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #14 on: November 02, 2012, 09:17:03 PM »
I had the same problem a few days ago. I switched back to the old version. You have the option to do this.  Works fine since I've done that.

Unfortunately Dave, PICS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
1970 Honda CB750 survivor.

Offline dave500

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #15 on: November 02, 2012, 09:25:43 PM »
HA!yeah i did that and it wont up load,it has a red x with no picture after the upload?a few other pictures have gone awol this way aswell?

Offline goldarrow

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #16 on: November 02, 2012, 09:49:46 PM »
Good going Dave. You fix bike, but break website. Lol

Powder coating frame?
Rattle can touch paint?
Life Is Full Of Challenges - And My Backyard Is Full Of SOHC4's

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CB750 K0, K2, K23 JDM, K45, K5
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Offline dave500

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #17 on: November 03, 2012, 01:56:13 AM »
rattle can everything goldarrow!this is project peasant!

ok cool,photobucket is back on track,i decided not to polish the forks,instant niceness instead.

i sand blast small stuff in no time,tidies it all right up after painting.



the frame got a degrease and thorough pressure wash twice and a 240 wet sand,then i hit the worst rusty bits with sand blast,,then another wet sand and pressure wash,then rattle can gloss black,,i use the construction type stuff that needs no primer over bare steel.

the hubs and spokes got the same silver as the forks etc,after a decent scrub up,you can see how the sand blows that white/grey corrosion away,this took five minutes.

i should have it on wheels and mount the engine next week,i have a good clean runner already to go in.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2012, 02:07:56 AM by dave500 »

Offline Garystratos201

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #18 on: November 03, 2012, 09:37:51 AM »
Looking good...............Gary
Visit my build project;
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=111620.0

Current ride; Bass boat.... 2005 Ranger 521VX,250 hp Mercury Verado, super charged and direct fuel injected. Not a bass on the lake can out run me !!!

Offline dave500

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #19 on: November 03, 2012, 08:38:10 PM »
the paint is very forgiving,looks ok from a distance,got the tap cleaned up aswell with new screws,you cant buy these taps but the filter is available.

still not real good with the macro on my old camera.

had a break for a while and cracked a beer(four),thought id tinker with some electrical,one indicator is faded badly and wont pass our roadworthy check so i selected the best pair of lenses and bodies and quickly shined them up,i have a pair of "gulp" harley ones i found a few years ago to use as the other pair,,they are very good and heavy,great chrome and quality!out of interest the honda globes look to be the factory ones?brass bayonet with stanley written them.



the paint will harden up in a day or two,,ill get it rolling then,this my first fix up for a year or two,ive placed a david silvers order,i want to make this the cheapest 550 in history!
« Last Edit: November 03, 2012, 11:38:06 PM by dave500 »

Offline dave500

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #20 on: November 05, 2012, 12:19:45 AM »
its back on its wheels now,i did a little after i finished work,ill get it registered and ride it around with that crappy paint for a laugh untill i decide on proper painting,im going to bare metal rattle can it.


Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #21 on: November 05, 2012, 12:24:50 AM »
Looking good Dave... ;)
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline dave500

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #22 on: November 05, 2012, 12:31:50 AM »
nothing flash,i want it on the road for a grand all up!

Offline iron_worker

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Re: dave500s 550f
« Reply #23 on: November 05, 2012, 07:34:53 AM »
Did you mask the spokes before you painted the hubs?

IW

Offline goldarrow

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dave500s 550f
« Reply #24 on: November 05, 2012, 11:00:23 AM »
Looking great and moving quick too! Nice to have all that yard space to work on :)
Life Is Full Of Challenges - And My Backyard Is Full Of SOHC4's

CB550 K0
CB750 K0, K2, K23 JDM, K45, K5
And the little ones z50r, xr50r, st90


750k5 http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=114817.0