Author Topic: Another 550 followed me home again (Read 2818 times)

rb550four · « **on:** August 31, 2013, 05:42:19 PM »

I was in a house cleaning mood recently, built as many bikes out of the parts that where laying around the shop .Almost finished rebuilding a spare 500 engine that was recently acquired , and was ready to get going on a spare 550 engine when I thought it would be safe to look at the local CL just to see what's out there, when suddenly, at the top of the page ,there was a 550. Much to my surprise I found myself clicking on the add for more information. Turns out it was someone's project bike that has never been completed,sat around for a while, and now it was time to move on. I was shocked at the affordable asking price and shot him a message that I might be over to take-a-look-atter today ,and I did, but only took the truck and not a trailer because if I want it , I must suffer, think about it a bit,then push it up planks to get it in the truck, kind of a self induced deterrent ya know. Didn't work. Had that bad boy strapped down in the truck in 10 minuets.Then it followed me back home and got it's picture taken.

No carbs but,it turns over and seems to have good compression for a change.The PO did some custom welding on it that I kinda like and will leave on it...don't have a bobber yet, maybe this will be the one that will be the bobber when finished. O Rings at the jug shows some leakage, guess I'll have to take her apart, paint it up and all that now . I haven't had these wheels yet,maybe they'll grow on me.
pics with progress

Stev-o · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2013, 05:53:09 PM »

Are those Lester's? Like the red, looks good. You are hereby crowned King of the 550's!

RAFster122s · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2013, 06:19:39 PM »

While I'm not a fan of bobbers I'm glad it came to a good home that will take care of it and fix it up...
Ape hangers are just priceless...

rb550four · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2013, 06:22:03 PM »

I don't know if they are Lesters, I was trying to get through an old Gold Arrow discussion about markings somewhere on the wheel that would identify them as such. Haven't found the discussion yet .
King... no ...I know there's guys here with more toys than I have. I just like them (550's) and have been known to pick up a one or two every now and then...and I'm not addicted, I could stop anytime I want ,...
Uh huh.
I'll look around at those wheels tomorrow. Why does Gold Arrow like those wheels so much? What is it that I don't know that makes Lesters so interesting to folks?
Yes, the ape hangers, something will have to be done about that.

cabrala · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2013, 06:37:38 PM »

They're just some collectible mag wheels that people really like. I don't know if there is any certain "thing" about them. Buuuut, if you decide that you don't like them or want them we can talk about a deal...

I just really like the looks of them and have a couple 550's they could look good on. Great pickup though! I second the love of that red; looks sharp! Oh and about the addiction...uhh yea I can't help you there.

Stev-o · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2013, 06:56:23 PM »

I bought a 550 and it had Lester's. personally, I don't care for them, but they are kind of rare and collectable.
It will have the name on it somewhere, may be in the drum area on the rear, and not visible.
Look on the spokes of the front.

ekpent · « **Reply #6 on:** September 01, 2013, 08:53:26 AM »

Check a spoke

goldarrow · « **Reply #7 on:** September 01, 2013, 09:07:38 AM »

Those wheels look like Lester's alright, but just to double check, make sure they don't have Yami logo on them. Should say Lester at least.

Me no like polishing and trueing the spokes

once tried to true spokes and spent 2 days and not going no where...

With that said, let me know if youre parting out those wheels.

For boober or bobber, would look better with 16 rear and fat tire.

Stev-o · « **Reply #8 on:** September 01, 2013, 10:51:22 AM »

Boober?

Tews19 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 02, 2013, 06:31:20 AM »

Nice find RB.... will the tank stay as is or repaint or replace for a custom look?

someone say boobie?

rb550four · « **Reply #10 on:** September 02, 2013, 12:17:54 PM »

Yup, found the markings, they are Lesters.
Started going through the box of parts that came with it, took off the seat, and surprisingly enough. it is just great on that camo bike.

Ape hangers are off and a stock set of bars are back on .
I have a decent seat up in the rafters that will take the place of that saddle.
This is getting more and more back to stock already, guess this one won't be a bobber either.
I really like that red color, it has some chips in it but no dents yet, if I can keep it dent free I hope to keep the tank the way it is.

Tews19 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 02, 2013, 12:23:57 PM »

Nice find on the Lester's!

RAFster122s · « **Reply #12 on:** September 02, 2013, 02:36:55 PM »

I will give you $150 for the lesters, so you can have the bike for free. I'll cover shipping too...
(

)
Nice find, sometimes you are fortunate. You were.

If you want to (I could send you a decent set of spoked 19-18" spoked front/rear wheels to replace the Lesters) on this one...

David

rb550four · « **Reply #13 on:** September 02, 2013, 05:26:33 PM »

Thanks RAFster but I think that I may hang on to them, I have a plan.
This was a 500 I took in trade to clean out all the 750 stuff that I was thinking of rebuilding earlier

This is the spare 500 motor that I was rebuilding, that was the parts motor Chewy, it's ready to be swapped with the 500 in the cradle, then that one gets sorted out and on the shelf as a spare

The frame on the black 500 gets taken apart/cleaned / and painted,then reassembled. The tank and Lesters

will go on that as most of that machine is complete and the chrome is buffable. Should turn out alright.
Remember that dumbass move I was trying to do with that 250 kaw dirtbike? Well ,it ain't over yet, I want that mono shock suspension on the 550 in that frame.perhaps it can still be a bobber especially since I still have piles of parts that are less than perfect and I wouldn't mind cutting and painting some of that stuff. The dirt bike forks and tires are out. I may still have a shot at getting this shop cleaned up.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #14 on:** September 02, 2013, 05:45:44 PM »

rb550four, just kidding...figured you would keep them as you got a steal of a deal.

I'm sure whatever you do will look great.
That 500 motor looks pretty nice. What's the story with the frame, why wouldn't you drop it back into the frame? No title? or other damage? or already used?

David

rb550four · « **Reply #15 on:** September 02, 2013, 06:28:11 PM »

Both frames have titles, the 500 has a running engine in it now but it sounds like something is very wrong like maybe the camchain tentioner wasn't set into the perch and it's grinding on the primary chain.That 500 came with the spare 500 engine. So the finished spare 500 will go in the cradle and the other one I can leave on a bench and check it out this winter when I need to get out of the house.
The 550 frame has been slightly modified already so bobber is a possibility, haven't attempted to make that 550 engine run yet, like I said earlier , oil on the jugs, will probably just break it down , and give it a thorough going over and at least change all the gaskets and rings.

rb550four · « **Reply #16 on:** September 12, 2013, 07:35:30 PM »

Fabulous news on that 500 motor that was making all that noise in the black tank 500,Turns out there has been a n electronic ignition upgrade (this one takes up more room than points and condensers) and the awful sound that I suspected may be a cam chain tentioner being eaten by the primary chain wasn't the problem...turns out the points cover had a dent in it, and was making severe contact with the new electronic ignition making scary lower case sounds. Bumped the dent out and the sound is gone, May just go through the carbs , sinc' em, and run that motor a bit, and save the rebuilt for a different project.
The 500 now is sporting one newly painted rear Lester,the front one is on the way to paint. The chrome is being buffed and undinged .Everything else that usually happens is planned to happen....Except rebuilding that engine and possibly not painting this frame ( it looks really good so far) but will know better when I get a closer look around the cradle and neck areas.pics when I know for sure.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #17 on:** September 12, 2013, 08:17:50 PM »

Glad you found some good news on it...

rb550four · « **Reply #18 on:** September 15, 2013, 05:47:58 PM »

The 500 frame was pretty clean, I usually paint them, this one really didn't need it (for a change) so it's staying in factory paint. painted the front Lester wheel (These things are growing on me ), knocked out some dents on the fenders,did some polishing (needs more), painted the triples and the gauges.
It should be ready for the family photo by Wednesday.

rb550four · « **Reply #19 on:** September 18, 2013, 01:28:29 PM »

It's time for the family photo for the 500.
just to recap, this was what it was when it pulled into the driveway.

This was the 550 that I picked up recently

this is what happens when that 500 meets that 550

and of course there will be a nother 550 project on the way soon.

Stev-o · « **Reply #20 on:** September 18, 2013, 04:39:50 PM »

Looks fantastic. Love those pipes.

Tews19 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 18, 2013, 06:40:58 PM »

Nice property you have RB! Bike looks great and I'm with stev-o, pipes look sweet..

RAFster122s · « **Reply #22 on:** September 18, 2013, 06:54:27 PM »

Very nice work on the bike. It came out looking very nice, that is a large rear tire.

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Author Topic: Another 550 followed me home again (Read 2818 times)