Topic: First bike! '76 CB550

[tfrasca]

Hey there,

I posted a few days ago before I went to look at a beat up old 550, asking for some tips and stuff to watch for. Everyone was super helpful, and despite my better judgement, I picked up the bike. It's going to take some work to get it on the road, and a LOT of work to get it where I want it, but I'm excited. I've got some old friends with old bikes here in Santa Cruz, so hopefully I'll have a support group when this thing takes up all of my time and money.

Immediate plans are to get a battery in it, freshen up some wiring, fix the seized front brake caliper, clean the tank, and get the air box sorted. Then it should be road worthy.

Then I'll be doing the usual stuff that hipsters tend to do to these bikes!

Thanks for all the help so far,

TF

[flatlander]

Then I'll be doing the usual stuff that hipsters tend to do to these bikes!

are you going to grow a beard as well 
good luck with it, these are good bikes. i'm sure your time and money will be worth it.

[calj737]

Congrats! Always exciting to grab your first bike, and these 40 year olds never seem to disappoint.

Here's some helpful links for you:

Color coded wiring diagram http://manuals.sohc4.net/CB550/CB550CWD.jpg
Download Service Manual from here http://manuals.sohc4.net/CB550
Complete parts fiche for your bike http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550f-super-sport-550-four-1976-usa_model467/partslist/

You can use the last link to identify what parts you should have, what the assemblies look like, and then source them locally, domestically or elsewhere in the forum.

Plenty of tricks posted within the forum for unstitching a front piston (search bar by your aviator in the top). Member also offers stainless steel braided brake lines and hard lines for your bike, www.slingshotcycles.com. Use code SOHC4 for a discount. And member Godferrey sells phenolic pistons as replacements for your stock brake piston that's stuck in the caliper. They tend to be corroded and pitted due to moisture being trapped in there.

If you do plan convert your bike to a different style, take very patient care to remove the stock bits. Many of the smallest items have a resell value to other members if you don't mash them up while removing. And lastly, those aren't Phillips head screws, they're JIS. If you desire to remove and reuse them, buy a set of JIS bits and a hammer impact driver, and they'll come right out. Otherwise, a large Phillips on an impact driver can turn them out, but will tend to tear them up. Many replace with socket head cap screws (Allen heads).

Enjoy!

[tfrasca]

Thanks guys, extremely helpful,yet again. And don't worry, I already have the requisite beard, haha!

TF