Hey everyone. I've been lurking for a while and have learned a ton from the community; hopefully I can give something back.
This is going to be long but is an intro/ posting of where I'm at.
I picked up a 77 CB550F for cheap back in July and I’ve made some progress on it. It was in pretty tough shape when I got it.
It appeared that it was only missing carbS, airbox, and side covers but was also missing the starter solenoid. I got some carbs, not 069A like it needed but 022A and completely rebuilt them. I got 069A rebuild kits and new emulsion tubes and put the carbs on the bike. I threw in a new starter solenoid and got it to run. It had all the gears, but they were a little rough shifting/hard to find neutral. It looked like the clutch was maxed out on adjustment according to the dots on the cover so that so that will get a new clutch kit.
Other work I have done on it is with the gas tank. The original gas tank was like swiss cheese, most of the bottom of the tank had JB weld so that got tossed. When I was at the junk yard getting a float bowl drain screw I spotted a 68-69 CB450 tank. The paint was mostly gone and the chrome side covers had some dents and very minor rust. I did some research and came up blank if it was compatible with a 550 so I took the gamble and snagged it. It turns out the frame width is the same but the tank rubbers on the 550 were too thick. I also have a 350F and those were thinner and worked perfect with the 450 tank. The rear mount needed the tabs spaced in and then the 550 rear rubber was usable. The only other issue was the petcock was on the right side in the rear and was right over the carbs. I cut that off and had the longer nipple from the trashed 550 tank TIG welded on the left side where it needed to be and a patch welded over the old hole. I just finished painting the 450 tank and and headlight bucket with 2K base coat/clear coat. The color is Jarez black from the E90 BMW's and it is a very dark blue, almost black, with blue pearl in it. I also used red kote prior to painting.
Aspirations for it are a cafe build. I need to paint the frame and am considering matching the frame color to the tank. I’m going to do a mild 550/650 hybrid with the engine and hope to use the rocker cover off the 550 on the 650 head, which might just work with some hondabond.
Tank fit on stock front tank mounts
Tank as it came from the junk yard
Tank after I painted, cut, and buffed
