Author Topic: 1976 550K Project (Read 30456 times)

mrfish2 · « **on:** July 12, 2014, 12:55:19 PM »

What up guys! New member here, and I just picked up an awesome '76 cb550 yesterday. Wanna guess how much I paid for it?

It hasn't run since '92 and I'm only the third owner of it. It's only got just over 4100 miles too!! My only problems with it are going to be finding a set of 4-into-4 pipes as the ones on it are completely rusted through past the mufflers, and the previous owner tried taking off the the needle and floats in the #4 carb and broke the little stem the needle threads through.....

But other than that this bike is awesome and I'm extremely excited to work on it as it'll be my first project bike. I'll be a senior in college so work will be slow as this poor college student can only afford so much haha. Enjoy the pics!!

(And by the way, I only paid $160 for this sweet vintage machine)

dhall57 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 13, 2014, 02:23:00 AM »

Welcome from North Carolina to the forum mrfish

Looks like you got you a nice project. It will just take your time, dedication and of course your $$

Is engine free? These CB550's are great bikes, I had a 1976 CB550 back in the day also. To bad the original pipes are trash and the float post is broke off one of carbs. Where was the bike stored since 92? Quite a bit of rust on shocks, etc. You say your the 3rd owner, do you know much history on the bike from PO. How did you find it? Looks like its was just parked years ago and forgot about. I found a all original 1974 CB750 several months ago that had been parked in the owners basement since the mid 80's with only 5000 miles. But unlike your 550 the original 341 pipes after a good cleaning look almost brand new

Would love to see some more detailed pictures. For inspiration check out forum member rocs near perfect 1976 CB550. Beautiful bike

Since you got the bike cheap you've got plenty of cash in the parts fund right. Check these out!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-1973-1974-1975-Honda-CB500-CB550-Exhaust-NEAR-MINT-LIKE-NEW-Muffler-HM323-/221484440411?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3AHonda%7CModel%3ACB550&hash=item3391805b5b&vxp=mtr

Tews19 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2014, 07:45:52 AM »

Welcome to the community! Nice score

dhall57 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2014, 03:02:37 PM »

To late on the pipes fish. Winning bid $1435.99 $:-\$

mrfish2 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2014, 06:03:00 PM »

@dhall57 I had been watching those pipes actually but they were wayy over my budget haha. The motor is most definitely free cause the kick starter will turn it over and it sounds like it has great compression. As far as the history all I know is that the original owner had bought it new in '76 and decided to park it in '92 after a truck pulled out in front of him causing him to lay the bike over. I was told it was stored in his basement, but for the past maybe 5 years it was stored in a barn by the PO were it acquired most of its rust. Oh, and I had found it on a local classifieds website.

I've decided to leave the carbs alone for now and let Harisuluv have at em when I can save up some extra money. I did however tear into the front brake today cause the brake lever just wants to flop around and doesn't have any pressure behind it, and wouldn't you know that the darn thing didn't have any brake fluid in it?? Haha not surprising, but an easy fix at least. After a few bruised/bloody knuckles and a broken ratchet i finally got the calipers off, banjo bolts out, and lower brake line off. Letting the rusty bolts soak in some EvapoRust for a while and I'll probably put everything back together tomorrow after work and bleed the lines. I figured if I wanna ride having a working brake might be important...

mrfish2 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2014, 04:12:28 AM »

I thought it was rust as well inside the reservoir, but after starting to clean it it ended up being old gunked up mess with zero rust anywhere I could find (probably the only area that doesn't have rust haha). Stainless steel lines are definitely a future upgrade, but not top priority at the moment. I'll get to work dissasembling that caliper this evening.

mrfish2 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 16, 2014, 06:35:16 AM »

Been pretty busy between work and moving back to college and haven't had time to work on the bike much, but I was pouring over it today making a detailed list of things to do and I noticed this:

Unless this is a previous owner putting CB500 exhaust and mufflers on this bike I'm very confused as to why they would be on there. Also, if anyone has a plastic "F" laying around for a side cover such as the one below I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands.

Tews19 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 16, 2014, 06:40:06 AM »

Those are the pipes for your 550. They all came with the pipes stamped with 500. Steel wool triple 0 should clean those up like new.

mrfish2 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 16, 2014, 06:46:12 AM »

Oh ok, I was just confused cause I've seen sets on ebay stamped with CB550. But these pipes are shot, I planned on replacing them anyway. If you look at the pics above you'll see they've rusted right through the bottoms.

mrfish2 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 06, 2014, 11:11:13 AM »

Finally got the stuck oil filter and drain bolts off today thanks to the Hulk and discovered this behind the filter housing:

Obviously there shouldn't be a crack here, but will this be harmful at all to the motor? Seems like it isn't in any particularly important spot.

Tews19 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 06, 2014, 11:14:44 AM »

Looks like the normal casting marks.

Ran into the garage. 550 here with what looks like the same but in a different area.

markings.

Tews19 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 06, 2014, 11:40:38 AM »

Shoot that's the parts bike.

mrfish2 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2014, 02:23:44 PM »

SHE LIVES!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYipRnAtyR8

Finally got the title from the PO, getting ever closer to being back out on the road.

Tews19 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 04, 2014, 02:27:17 PM »

That video is freaking awesome! Your buddies new name is Switch!

mrfish2 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 04, 2014, 02:55:05 PM »

I'm the one in green by the way haha

Stev-o · « **Reply #15 on:** October 04, 2014, 05:40:25 PM »

Welcome and congrats! BTW - my 550 does not like throttle on a cold start til she fires.

brokesohc · « **Reply #16 on:** October 04, 2014, 08:51:10 PM »

Congrats

mrfish2 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 05, 2014, 11:33:15 AM »

I understand this bike has been sitting for a long time, but shouldn't it still idle somewhat? After shooting the video me and my friend continued to getting her to start consistently, and soon it would start on the first kick, but it wouldn't idle at all. As soon as the throttle is let off it would completely die. Is this normal for sitting for so long or should I be checking for something?

goldarrow · « **Reply #18 on:** October 05, 2014, 12:14:30 PM »

Adjust the idle adjustment screw on the right side of the carbs

mrfish2 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 05, 2014, 12:31:43 PM »

Quote from: goldarrow on October 05, 2014, 12:14:30 PM

Adjust the idle adjustment screw on the right side of the carbs

I did that yesterday but it refused to idle even around 2000. Had to turn it in till it was basically holding the throttle at 3000. I'm hoping it was just because it hadn't run in so long.

goldarrow · « **Reply #20 on:** October 05, 2014, 12:34:19 PM »

Did you go through 3k miles service yet?

Stev-o · « **Reply #21 on:** October 05, 2014, 04:01:23 PM »

Bet your pilot jets in the carbs are clogged.

mrfish2 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 05, 2014, 04:06:39 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on October 05, 2014, 04:01:23 PM

Bet your pilot jets in the carbs are clogged.

One of the pilot jets i cleaned completely, even with guitar string, and the other 3 i had to replace. I used Napco rebuild kits, they're made in Japan.

And no, I haven't done everything in the 3000 mile service yet.

goldarrow · « **Reply #23 on:** October 05, 2014, 04:10:04 PM »

What size are your pilot jets? And what do they look like?

mrfish2 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 05, 2014, 04:22:27 PM »

They're #38, stock size. The only difference I could find between the new ones and the old ones were the size of the holes in the stem. The only reason I replaced them was because I couldn't get the guitar string to go all the way through, it kept getting stuck so they were clogged pretty good.

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Author Topic: 1976 550K Project (Read 30456 times)