1976 CB550F1 (what have I let myself in for) Project

[eight0]

Making a bit of headway. Sorry I've been rubbish at taking photos of progress.

This is what the bike currently looks like.

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I've been working on getting the foot controls sorted.

I've mocked up the rear-set on the brake side and shortened the brake rod. Unfortunately the rear brake arm and cam splines are very worn and don't really fit together anymore so I'm on the lookout for some replacements!

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Other work I've done is weld the battery table, battery strap hooks and solenoid mounts.

I'm converting to twin disk and have had a speedo bushing and spacer machined as per the black square motorcycles design which fits perfectly.

After I've got the foot controls sorted I'll focus on mocking up the wiring and the front brakes.

Some issues I need to overcome is the kickstarter hitting the brake and moving the tank petcock bung forward as it currently fouls the carbs,

[eight0]

Can anyone see an issue with this wiring diagram? I amended the Revival cycles one.

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[SteveW]

Clutch switch?

[Lobo]

...the coils are earthed?

[Bryanj]

Nope, primaries via points, secondaries not but the steel mounting is bolted to the frame and an earth wire connects there as well

[eight0]

They were drawn with earth's on the revival cycles diagram. I assumed the way they bolted to the frame handled the earth anyway.

Don't think I'm going to run a clutch or kick stand switch.

[Bryanj]

Didnt have a kickstand switch

[Lobo]

Hey Bryan,
Certainly on the 400F the HT coils are not earthed to the frame; I’ve my bike in bits at the mo and your post intrigued me so I bloody had to isolate them (!) - and sure enough it runs with them sitting on a rag.
I’m guessing it’s due the dual spark build nature.
An ohm meter across earth and a plug gives open circuit, and across the both plugs gives abouts 22kOhms.
Simon

[Bryanj]

Correct Simon, one of the other Japanese big 4 had it in their service schedule that when sparks plugs were cleaned at 6,000 miles you should swop 1&4 and 2&3 over to even out erosion wear as one plug sparks from the centre electrode to earth tang and the other one from earth tang to centre electrode. I have no idea if this is true and we never did it just fitted new anyway

[eight0]

Interesting. I won't be grinding down the powder coat where the coil mounts bolt to the frame then.

[Bryanj]

But unfortunately you need to as there is a small earth wire that fixes on the coil mouting bracket and if it doesnt connect properly you get all sorts of odd problems, same as RH rear engine mount needs to have no paint either side where it touces engine case or you will melt the loom when you use the starter!!

[eight0]

Brian is that the smaller green earth in the original wiring loom you're referring to? I'm ditching the original loom and running an M unit.

[Bryanj]

Yesit is

[eight0]

Thought I would post some long overdue pics of my very slow progress.

New Reg/Rec placement

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Battery and Starter Solenoid mounted

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Speedometer Bracket made and mounted, Needs cleaning up and painting

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Going to change the headlight brackets so they fit the smaller headlight better. I don't like the look of the spacers.

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[eight0]

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Ignore the droopy brake lever...

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