Author Topic: 1975 CB550 F.....I'm not even sure what to call this thing any more!!  (Read 21948 times)

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Offline verboten1

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I picked up my '75 550 F tuesday.......I already have it torn apart.
Trying to get it started has been a trouble shooting session from hell.

Fresh at home, first pics before touching anything!






the next morning




day 2 of work, removed some parts, figured out that the spark plug caps are killing my spark

The CB with the KLR685 and the XV920


the dollar store CLR really removes the rust from the chrome.

Before

After:


The parts that will not be used in this build, they don't really fit my idea of an old CB
they are FS now...lol









I hope to get some new 5K NGK spark plug caps, and some JIS screw drivers ASAP then I can get this thing running, and really tear into her
« Last Edit: November 22, 2010, 10:01:55 PM by verboten1 »
1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #1 on: August 11, 2009, 05:28:42 PM »
thanks to neall (nrd2052) who hooked me up with some wheels and a tach cable.



the front, with it's antique Kenda



the rear....I cant get the sprocket out of the cush drive..



a little bit rusty inside, and  few of the spoke nipples are rusted on, but it will clean up



the right tool for the job?



I did  few this way...but man, it was tough



so I got out the VERY RIGHT tool for the job lol



Rear done, took about 2 minutes



the rear really cleaned up


the front also really did too!



maybe this is why the starter button wont work>?


there's the rest of it!
1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Do0ki3 PWNS

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2009, 05:34:39 PM »
good stuff keep us posted.

Offline CBJoe

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2009, 06:25:38 PM »
Hey verboten... need any parts for that Virago 920??  If you ever get down to Indy,  I've got an engine, frame, and misc pieces and parts that i'd almost pay you to come and take out of my garage (or you could give me a 6 pack of Bells Oberon ::)). 

Cheers, Joe

'07 Bonneville Black
'15 Moto Guzzi California 1400
CB750K2 Hot Rod Revival http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,171693.0.html
'65 CB77
'66 CM91 (C90'ish)

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2009, 07:23:10 PM »
Hell, I'll bring a case if you'll share it with me!!



I may just take you up on that offer!
1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #5 on: August 17, 2009, 04:31:04 PM »
IT RUNS!!

I got the dyna coils mounted, cut up the cables, wired em up, and VOILA, fire!


it wont idle, so I pulled the carbs, gonna clean em up, they are pretty nice inside, surprisingly, but found some grit in there.

now that I know it will run I can tear it down, clean it up, and start on the project!

got some podwer coating done....it was my first part, gonna blast it and redo, powder coating is definitely an art.

I can paint, so I know I can PC



1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2009, 10:38:59 AM »
got the carbs cleaned out, and rinsed out the tank with some clean gas, cleaned off the petcock filter, and she runs great now!!!
1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline GoatBaSS

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2009, 03:49:17 PM »
Rock on and Congrats!!!
Leethal # 3046?
1972 CB750K/900CC Red Headed Dunstall, 1975CB750FSS Gone BNF: 1974CB500T, 1976CB750K X 2

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2009, 05:43:37 PM »
Thanks!!!
Now that it runs, I figured i better work on it a little.



I pulled off a few parts....


that rusty chain, and stripped out  sprocket cover screws brought out the old spoke wrench!







AND THEN......siince it ran so well, I kinda took the engine out!!


1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline GoatBaSS

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #9 on: August 19, 2009, 06:36:50 PM »
Damdest thing once we get them running we then ripem to shreds... :D
Leethal # 3046?
1972 CB750K/900CC Red Headed Dunstall, 1975CB750FSS Gone BNF: 1974CB500T, 1976CB750K X 2

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #10 on: August 19, 2009, 06:41:51 PM »
well, i wanted to make sure it was worth ripping apart first...lol


but now I feel like i have really made some progress!


get the frame cleaned up, hopefully work out a deal for powder coating, and go from there!!


I definitely need a head gasket, with it running teh last couple of days, there is a bunch of oil on the fins now
1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline Flying J

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #11 on: August 19, 2009, 07:19:05 PM »
I had/ have the same problem on my 550. I just wipe it off every now and then untill i get around to putting on a ported head. Looking good.

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #12 on: August 19, 2009, 07:22:14 PM »
thanks!,

 I may just clean it up and get it moving for now, if I can get some of this powder coating work for some R/C guys, I may very well have the money for parts, if I don't then it will just be clean it up, put it back in
1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #13 on: August 20, 2009, 05:22:49 PM »
well i think i havethe color picked!

I painted the side cover today.

1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #14 on: August 24, 2009, 03:02:01 PM »
I got my seat pan today!!!










still trying to find a tank, almost bought a triumph tank, but passed on it.

swap meet next month about 2 miles away....I'll probably wait to see what I can find
1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline GoatBaSS

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #15 on: August 24, 2009, 04:04:46 PM »
Good Idea. If not let me know Barbers is in October...
Leethal # 3046?
1972 CB750K/900CC Red Headed Dunstall, 1975CB750FSS Gone BNF: 1974CB500T, 1976CB750K X 2

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #16 on: August 25, 2009, 04:51:22 PM »
AAARGH!!!!!


I was toying around with the bike today trying teh swingarm, damn thing fell over and dented the tank :(

it's only 1 dent, hope I can pop it back out.





BUT I got the Ninja swingarm mounted, have to figure out bushings for the pivot, spacers for the wheel, and machine the end for the honda axle.














1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline FunJimmy

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #17 on: August 25, 2009, 05:34:05 PM »
Well i think i have the color picked!

Dam. A year ago we could have traded bodywork and saved you a paint job. LOL

Glad to hear it's a good runner.

Cheers
FJ
You never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychiatrist's office!

CB550 Cafe Interceptor a Gentlemans Roadster
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=27159.0

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #18 on: September 01, 2009, 01:09:32 PM »
I finally got the hang of the powder coating unit!!!

my top triple...



rear brake pedal
1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline Flying J

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #19 on: September 01, 2009, 03:15:10 PM »
lets see this powder coating unit.

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #20 on: September 01, 2009, 06:21:05 PM »
I have the harbor freight 30 psi unit and my oven is the biggest toaster oven i could find


1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #21 on: September 05, 2009, 03:57:25 PM »
I did some work today, it's amazing how simple these things are!






I need to fix up that tank dent, and get some painting done
1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #22 on: September 05, 2009, 05:48:44 PM »
Riley (my 9 year old son) wanted to get a pic of me on my bike, so here it is!





this thing feels so small!!!
1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline verboten1

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #23 on: September 13, 2009, 05:59:59 PM »
some more good stuff happening to the bike.


engine parts back on....







cut the frame for the seat to fit.







chopped the fender, still need to clean it up




and my interpretation of the gauges


« Last Edit: September 13, 2009, 06:04:22 PM by verboten1 »
1975 CB550F
1982 XV920
2000 KLR65085

Offline fergie

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Re: 1975 CB550 F.....cafe?
« Reply #24 on: September 13, 2009, 06:23:55 PM »
Are you planning to keep the stock bars uside down or go with clip ons or maybe clubmans?
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