cb550 first attempt - restore and modernise

[Niko]

Thanks for the comments and advice guys, very helpful, yeah i think im just going do the top end and fingers cross , all is good with the bottom.
I pretty much have all the parts ready to for the top end so its a case of me just getting on with it now!

Bit more of an update today,  engine is out and began cleaning up and removing valves and pistons. Alot of elbow grease and hours have been put into just removing old gaskets and i think im finally there! thank god!

some pictures ..





where there paint has flaked there seems to be a purple layer of paint .. surely it wasn't sprayed purple? is this a rust protection or something?

I'm a novice too....this is my first stab at a project of this scale.
Strip, powder, rewire with m unit, new rims spokes and tyres, mot and registration.

Incidentally I had my most successful ride out yesterday.....no breakdowns and only 1 thing fell off ( which was a pod airfilter)
Great fun....enjoy



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[Nurse Julie]

I'm having a go at a CB550 as well. Started off as a wreck of a K3 with lots of wrong bits on it. Have now got a 'F' swing arm fitted, tail cut off and hoop in place, everything powdercoated, complete engine overhaul, new rims, spokes, tyres, rechromed forks. Just starting to assemble it and see what will fit where......which is a nightmare. I take no credit for the work done so far as I just tell him indoors what I fancy and he does it all but, I do help where I can. A long way to go yet but getting there.

[Niko]

I'm having a go at a CB550 as well. Started off as a wreck of a K3 with lots of wrong bits on it. Have now got a 'F' swing arm fitted, tail cut off and hoop in place, everything powdercoated, complete engine overhaul, new rims, spokes, tyres, rechromed forks. Just starting to assemble it and see what will fit where......which is a nightmare. I take no credit for the work done so far as I just tell him indoors what I fancy and he does it all but, I do help where I can. A long way to go yet but getting there.

Looking great


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[aled]

both examples look great guys! and congratulations on the successful ride, i cant wait for my day to come haha

do you recommend the motogadget unit as a big upgrade to the original wiring or is it more for tidying up the triangle? i do plan on changing the clocks and handlebar switches etc..

[Nurse Julie]

I will be keeping basically standard wiring on mine as I'm going to keep the side panels to hide everything behind.

[aled]

I will be keeping basically standard wiring on mine as I'm going to keep the side panels to hide everything behind.

yup i plan on keeping the side panels but unsure if the m unit will make things a lot neater , more reliable and user friendly to different controls etc ?

[Seabeowner]

Only weakness in the bottom end is the primary chain. You may want to turn the engine upside down and assess that. The 550 was better than the 500 i'm told, but they both use the same chain, with no tensioner. On my 500 the chain was rubbing on the aforementioned metal that forms part the pocket where the cam tensioner fits and my 550F was rubbing on the metal above the oil channel between pump and filter. Also adds to noise and erratic tickover if carbs not perfectly balanced. Assessing wear is difficult, but use a torch and feel around inside.

[Bryanj]

%00 also wears into the main oil gallery ain the lower half but I think the 550 was cast slightly different so the chain don't hit (as much). you can feel the groove with the sump off if its been rubbing

[paul G]

I'm having a go at a CB550 as well. Started off as a wreck of a K3 with lots of wrong bits on it. Have now got a 'F' swing arm fitted, tail cut off and hoop in place, everything powdercoated, complete engine overhaul, new rims, spokes, tyres, rechromed forks. Just starting to assemble it and see what will fit where......which is a nightmare. I take no credit for the work done so far as I just tell him indoors what I fancy and he does it all but, I do help where I can. A long way to go yet but getting there.

Not enough hammers in those pictures

[Nurse Julie]

I'm having a go at a CB550 as well. Started off as a wreck of a K3 with lots of wrong bits on it. Have now got a 'F' swing arm fitted, tail cut off and hoop in place, everything powdercoated, complete engine overhaul, new rims, spokes, tyres, rechromed forks. Just starting to assemble it and see what will fit where......which is a nightmare. I take no credit for the work done so far as I just tell him indoors what I fancy and he does it all but, I do help where I can. A long way to go yet but getting there.

Not enough hammers in those pictures

That's very true Paul. I must have put them back in the tool box after hitting Trig with them the last time he did something wrong !! 

[Niko]

both examples look great guys! and congratulations on the successful ride, i cant wait for my day to come haha

do you recommend the motogadget unit as a big upgrade to the original wiring or is it more for tidying up the triangle? i do plan on changing the clocks and handlebar switches etc..

I binned my entire loom and used the m unit.....best device ever.
There is a new Bluetooth one available now that looks even better


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[aled]

I binned my entire loom and used the m unit.....best device ever.
There is a new Bluetooth one available now that looks even better


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[/quote]

yeah i think im going to down this route, seems like a good upgrade and although i didn't plan on doing it , after reading and seeing videos, i dont think i can not go for it, i may need some advice and instruction when its comes to installing!

as for the engine, i did the checks you guys advised and did not find any evidence of wear etc on the bottom end, fingers crossed im okay!

had some progress over the weekend and evenings, soda blaster the pistons and rebuild kit, honed the cylinder barrels and checked the bores and sprayed the barrels using  POR15 heat resistant paint, not sure how good it is but looks a lot better than i did! i took loads of pictures during each stage but dont want to bore you all so heres a few

[Nurse Julie]

Looking good Aled. I hope you mean you painted the barrels with POR15 and not the bores!!!

[aled]

Looking good Aled. I hope you mean you painted the barrels with POR15 and not the bores!!!

thank you! yes! barrels not bores! hah

[Laverda Dave]

Its looking good Aled.  Rapid progress is being made, you'll have it on the road next weekend at the rate you are going
I like the idea of having the bike bench on castors, simple and effective in a small garage.
Keep the photos coming.