Author Topic: 74 cb550 in the frozen tundra....Damn near done! (Read 53613 times)

Bakeoff · « **Reply #25 on:** February 10, 2011, 01:34:53 PM »

Quote from: joshuanagao on February 09, 2011, 11:50:42 AM

I think the recommendation for the 500 and 550 is the 5ohm. That's what I put on my 500, and remember reading somewhere. Checkout Z1enterprizes, they have the best prices by far on the dyna systems and coils.

From what I have seen, it looks like the only danger of running the 3 ohms is if I am still running points, but I can't confirm it...

Quote from: bluesmoke69 on February 09, 2011, 10:05:06 PM

I here you it to dam cold to work in the garage !!

This weekend should be in the 30's, from what I saw a few days ago. I'm praying for warmth so I can get some things done out there!

I may have an update soon, since I'm working on the seat padding in my living room right now. Gotta love having a huge coffee table! Don't get too excited! Once the padding is done, I'll be taking it to my sister's place across town to have her upholster it, and it might be a while before she has time. We'll see how it goes.

But any more advice on the ignition coils would be awesome!

mrrch · « **Reply #26 on:** February 11, 2011, 06:29:22 AM »

What is your friend doing to the 360? cafe or tracker?

Bakeoff · « **Reply #27 on:** February 11, 2011, 08:49:13 AM »

Quote from: mrrch on February 11, 2011, 06:29:22 AM

What is your friend doing to the 360? cafe or tracker?

Neither. I'm probably picking up the steel this weekend to do a hard tail on it. I threw on some 750 forks with 500t triples I had laying around, so the front is raked out a little. Its just going to be a fun little mini chopper with a springer seat.

Bakeoff · « **Reply #28 on:** February 15, 2011, 07:12:01 AM »

Since it was Valentine's day, I decided it was time to get this girl naked. I can even say she put up a fight. A couple scrapes and a sore back were well worth it.

Early in the night:

To get the chain off the front sprocket, I popped the cover on the case and found its missing a chunk... Critical?

A little later in the night:

Naked.

And this is everything that came off it:

I got the seat pan finished and painted last night. Hopefully I have some time this weekend to upholster it. But I want to get the frame sorted first. The rear foot pegs are coming up. A few gussets will be added, and I'm going to finish welding all the joints that Honda didn't deem necessary. I'll probably even finish fixing the tail that has bugged me so much since I welded it on. More to come!

Bakeoff · « **Reply #29 on:** February 26, 2011, 07:39:12 PM »

I went to a buddy's shop today and he helped me with a bunch of stuff. He welded up the holes on the triples. Another friend brought over some flapper wheels I didn't have a chance to pick up yet and I got them ground smooth. We bored the center of one rotor and milled it for the tabs of the speedo drive gear.

This is the rotor with the speedo drive gear set in place.

The speedo drive gear is a tight fit!

Showing off the machining work.

And a nice view of the triple clamp after some smoothing.

cdoggy81 · « **Reply #30 on:** February 27, 2011, 05:44:53 PM »

She is looking good!

joshuanagao · « **Reply #31 on:** February 27, 2011, 08:48:13 PM »

The more I look at the tail section of your bike the more I love it. Really great lines.

Bakeoff · « **Reply #32 on:** February 28, 2011, 07:45:36 AM »

Quote from: joshuanagao on February 27, 2011, 08:48:13 PM

The more I look at the tail section of your bike the more I love it. Really great lines.

Thanks! I'll have to get some more recent pics of the tail posted. I chopped the bottom of it and reformed it. The original shock mounts were staring at me every time I walked past them. The lines flow a lot better now. Maybe I'll get some updated pics up tomorrow.

Bakeoff · « **Reply #33 on:** February 28, 2011, 11:47:13 AM »

I found a pic to throw up, so here she is. I'm pretty happy with the results! Just need to smooth out some welds.

Bakeoff · « **Reply #34 on:** March 13, 2011, 08:30:39 PM »

I finally got back around to working on this thing.

The frame is pretty much stripped and I added some gussets.

Full shot of the frame:

And with the side covers, explaining why I curved the bars and showing the gussets matching the top corners of the side covers.

Not a lot to show, but about 8 hours worth of work today between stripping the frame and welding in the new metal. Not bad for a day's work.

Stev-o · « **Reply #35 on:** March 14, 2011, 08:51:37 PM »

Will you have the frame powdercoated? black??

Bakeoff · « **Reply #36 on:** March 15, 2011, 08:57:00 AM »

Since the tail has a couple blemishes in it, I'll need to do some filler on it. I can't get in with a dolly to properly bang out the couple dents. So, she'll be getting painted. I'm not the happiest about it and would have done the tail differently had I thought of this issue at the beginning. But I'm a car guy playing in the bike world. Live and learn.

Bakeoff · « **Reply #37 on:** March 17, 2011, 08:08:33 AM »

I got her into primer last night.

Over the next couple days I'm hoping to get a few spots smoothed out on the tail and grind off some welding spatter I missed. Then another coat of primer/sealer, and I'll shoot some paint. Hopefully she'll be ready for reassembly by the end of the day, Sunday.

BruceDeuce · « **Reply #38 on:** March 17, 2011, 09:43:05 AM »

I have used th3e Spraymax 2k clear and its good stuff. Look into it if you dont know about it already!

Bakeoff · « **Reply #39 on:** March 17, 2011, 10:47:20 AM »

Quote from: BruceDeuce on March 17, 2011, 09:43:05 AM

I have used th3e Spraymax 2k clear and its good stuff. Look into it if you dont know about it already!

It looks like it might be some good stuff! I might give it a shot!

Bakeoff · « **Reply #40 on:** March 22, 2011, 11:12:50 AM »

Well, work went a little slower than planned. Add in blowing off working on it completely on Sunday for a good looking blond....I'm back on track.

Got all the welding spatter (from the factory and what I added) ground off and smoothed out the tail with some filler.

After getting paint on it, I found a few blemishes I want to clean up, so I'm working slowly, but still making forward progress. I've also been distracted with the roommate's project, since he doesn't know how to weld. I want to teach him, but structural parts don't seem like the best place for a newb...

Anyway, once the frame is done, I just have a few things to finish up on the forks so I can get them back together. I cannot believe the amount of grit and grime that made its way inside them! And I need to get to work on the nasty swing arm.

Bakeoff · « **Reply #41 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:46:56 AM »

After a little sanding and another coat on the frame, its looking better! I have to throw a few more coats on, but here's a #$%*ty shot of the tail to give you a terrible idea of how wonderful it looks. lol

I finally got around to stripping the tank to unearth all the terrible dents I knew were there. So, after stripping, out came the Evercoat (Bondo can bite me...)

I'll have more pictures of that in a day or three.

The last thing I really worked on yesterday was grafting pieces of side cover together. The original was missing a mounting post. So, I got a pair on ebay and the seller failed to show the area a dog had chewed like crazy... So, off came one corner, and on with another. I love plastic welding.

Donor with the broken tab in the background.

A little close up of the front part way through sanding.

Who cares what the back looks like? lol

I got a few more things done, but nothing I documented...

Bakeoff · « **Reply #42 on:** March 31, 2011, 07:58:14 AM »

Last night was a night full of trial and error. I picked up a different paint for the frame to make sure it was compatible with the clear coat I bought. That went fine and dandy, and I got a couple more coats on the frame. I also painted the lower forks, so I'm almost ready to reassemble those. I also painted the lower triple. It had casting flaws and looked like doodoo, so those were ground smooth and its looking really nice (pics eventually).

I forgot to go with higher grit on the primer before laying the new color I wanted to try out. So, you can see scratches in the paint, but I LOVE the color. Its a keeper.

I also got the top of the tank all smoothed out and finally got to prime it. I thought I gave it enough time to dry, and #$%*ed that up. More sanding... The primer was just getting sucked into the filler, so it looks a little weird on the top edge.

More to come!

Bakeoff · « **Reply #43 on:** April 01, 2011, 07:25:57 AM »

I shot some color at the tank last night...

Then I found I missed a couple scratches that are too deep to just wet sand on the color... So, she'll be returning to primer, getting sanded, and then get some paint sprayed. The tedious painting process... It sucks being anal about paint.

hoodellyhoo · « **Reply #44 on:** April 01, 2011, 07:44:07 AM »

Yeah, I've found out that I don't have the patience for painting.

Bakeoff · « **Reply #45 on:** April 04, 2011, 01:56:29 PM »

I already got the Dyna S ignition, but just ordered coils and wires, so my ignition system is complete.

I also broke the gas cap latch, not thinking it would be a pain in the ass to replace. Billet replacements for $40-50? F that. I won an auction for a tank on ebay that has a dent in one side and some nasty paint, but the latch is there and in good shape. $21 shipped? Yes, please!

I'll be grabbing more paint and some finer sandpaper tonight after work, so I might get some progress made in the garage tonight. We'll see how it goes!

Bakeoff · « **Reply #46 on:** April 05, 2011, 01:12:43 PM »

BLEH!!!!! I just got off the phone about tires. I'm going in tomorrow to have the new Lasertecs mounted. Tires, tubes, rim bands, old tire disposal, etc, there goes just over $350...on a bike I paid $500 for.

If I hadn't been a dumbass, I would have gotten new copper O rings for the forks yesterday at Napa, but I forgot them at home when I ran over there. I have a feeling, things will really start falling into place soon.

Bakeoff · « **Reply #47 on:** April 06, 2011, 08:32:22 PM »

I went to the shop today to have the new tires mounted and balanced. Once the old tires came off, a ton of rust was uncovered. So, the wheels came back home with me. After attacking them with the wire wheel, they look decent and all the damage was cosmetic pitting. Nothing structural. I threw a couple coats of paint on them and I'll go back tomorrow to have the tires mounted... Just another bump in the road.

Bakeoff · « **Reply #48 on:** April 07, 2011, 11:23:09 AM »

I'm such a parts whore...

The new tank just got here today with the gas cap latch I need. It is riddled with bondo, dented, and STINKS of varnish. I have it sitting outside the garage right now with the cap open to evaporate off some of the funk.

I also found a set of goldwing wheels on craigslist that have aluminum rims (17 rear, 19 front) that he wants $60 for. So, I'm going to pick those up this weekend. The 17 is a 2.5" so if I find a 2x17 for the front, I'll lace those up on my spare set of 500 hubs and get sport bike tires next year and really have what I want.

Take two on getting the tires mounted on the original wheels tonight after work.

Bakeoff · « **Reply #49 on:** April 11, 2011, 09:32:36 PM »

Paint progress! Shot silver on the tail. It will act as a base coat similar to the light grey primer base coat for the other red paint.

The tank is wet sanded, thus the hazy paint. But I wanted to see some colors thrown together.

And the guys thought I should see it with wheels in place to get an idea of the look it'll have. Oh, and it shows the new tires all mounted up!

And some close ups of the tail.

News:

Author Topic: 74 cb550 in the frozen tundra....Damn near done! (Read 53613 times)