Topic: 1977 CB550 K cafe racer build

[Zaipai]

Getting tired of spending money guys, in all honesty....I'm ready to just ride it now, but I have to do things right.

~Joe

I hear ya.. I am ready to pull the carbs off mine and have it out of commission for a few weeks just because they are not quite right. Funny tho it runs ok. Just idles high when really warm, I could live with it but its not right.. Sigh.. So I am going to ride it as much as I can before I take em off.. I just keep telling my self that there is still lots of riding season left. If the Suzuki was running I probably would not mind as much.. oh well.. Also the tach is not working correctly so that is bothering me, also a few other things..

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

I'd say ride it now....make a list and fix it this fall.

Just my .02

~Joe

[Zaipai]

I'd say ride it now....make a list and fix it this fall.

Just my .02

~Joe

Taken under advisement.. Same could be said about yours.. Except you have another ride.. so its probably not the same..

.: Scott :.

[spatman]

Thanks for the great writeup, Joe. My face is numb from reading it straight through!

I've just bought a '72 CB500 and am going to start in on it in the next couple of weeks. I'm sure I will reference your thread a lot! It's nice to know you did it without a bunch of expensive tools and a crazy shop. I'm in the same boat. Unfortunately, I don't have your eye, so we'll just have to see how it turns out. My Phase I is to get it running so I can ride this summer. Phase II will be doing all the fun custom stuff. Thanks again and enjoy the ride!


-joe

[traveler]

thanks, Joe.  Hope you decide to stick around.

~Joe

[Godffery]

Hey I like this cover you made, I'd like to get my hands on some.  How much & what are they made of...?

[traveler]

Those covers are made by "frankenbike" on here.

~Joe

[Laminar]

My 550 with pods and exhaust does the exact same idle thing. I've just made a habit of fiddling with the idle knob once the bike warms up.

[traveler]

Well, find a happy medium and leave it be.  If that means 1,400 RPM when fully hot instead of 1,200 then no harm.

Every carb'd bike I've ever had has had a bit of a "wandering idle" depending on engine temp.  If she runs hard and smooth....that's about as good as you're gonna get on a street bike, IMHO.

Even if you get it perfect......it will change in a few weeks.


~Joe

[Laminar]

That's not really possible for me. An idle setting to barely keep the bike running when cold means an idle of 3000+ RPM when warm. So I fiddle.

[Little_Horse]

a lot of times a wandering idle is the air mixture being a smudge on the lean side. Try another half turn out on the screw and see if things settle some. See there will be a difference between hot and cold but once the bike is warmed up if you haven't changed elevation a hole lot or went through huge environmental temp change it should stay very steady where you have it set.

[traveler]

Well, my PD carbs don't have that, so I'll just have to ensure I have no air leaks and then play with jetting.

Hopefully, my springs will show up soon, so I can go ahead and swap them in and change the fork oil.

I'm also going back to stock pegs.....My legs are just too long for rearsets.....VERY uncomfortable to ride as is.  

Anyone interested in my RAASKS?

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Same problem here.. so thanks, but I will pass. I was going to ask if you ever worked out the kick starter issue, but I guess that is a mute point now..

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

Going back to stock footpeg arrangement and stock "K" kicker.

RAASK set is up for sale.  Has a few nicks and scratches, but still okay.

~Joe

[Flying J]

Going back to stock footpeg arrangement and stock "K" kicker.

RAASK set is up for sale.  Has a few nicks and scratches, but still okay.

~Joe

I might be intrested.

[traveler]

.....PM sent.

[traveler]

Well, my O-Rings for the carb inlets arrived, and I installed them.  I then attempted to adjust the float a bit....although it is still leaking, I did get a tad better performance....so I will have to give her a bit larger jets.  Pulls like crazy to 5,000 RPM as is!  I will adjust #4 float a bit more and try some 125 jets.



I also went ahead and changed the oil, using a new filter setup and 3 full quarts of 10W40 Valvoline motorcycle oil.



P.S.  I have decided to put my '79 CB650 cam up for sale.  100 bucks including shipping.  This cam is SWEET!



~Joe

[Laminar]

Pardon my ignorance, but why aren't you using the cam yourself? Installation is straightforward and fairly quick, and results are great.

[Zaipai]

Shhh.. Laminar I am trying to get my wife to let go of some money.. Don't talk him out of selling it..   

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

How much extra power is it worth?

~Joe

[Godffery]

   I'm calling dibs on that 650 cam.
PayPal ok?

[tweakin]

Come on Joe, put that cam in the bike.  You came this far with this beautiful build and in my opinion the motor needs some love also.  Sounds like the 650 cam is a nice piece for the 550 motor.

[traveler]

cam is sold.

Power wise...it is already where I wanted it....so it made sense to me, to sell the stuff I don't need, yet someone else CAN use.

You have to remember, my bike is ALOT lighter than a stock 550.....hehe....there's not much to my bike!  I has been gutted and has a 14ga. aluminum tank and seat!

It really rips!

~Joe

[Zaipai]

Are the wheels lighter then the spoke ones also?

.: Scott :.

[traveler]

they're about the same, Scott.

~Joe