1977 550 F2 Project - First time owner

[Longstride]

Hi folks,



As some of you know from the introduction board, I took a gamble on a US import 550 F2.

Well she’s arrived, so my journey can begin!

First things, chrome gone in places but who cares really?  Gave her a wash.   Changed air filter.   Ordered a clutch cable.   Found some gunk in master cylinder for front brake, not sure if I can clean that or not yet.   New battery going on now.

Will drop and top up oil, then see if she’ll fire up gently!

Paperwork says she came from Ohio!

[taysidedragon]

If it hasn't run for a while I'd put a bit of oil down the bores and on the camshaft, then turn it over a few times with the kickstart,  ignition off.

[Longstride]

New battery, new fuel, new air filter.

Kicked a bit of oil around engine as suggested (thank you) and then to my amazement the starter worked!    20-30 seconds turning over and we got a pop then a few more then a one cylinder fire, then two then four!

Yes yes I knew I SHOULD have cleaned carbs, and I will now, but I wanted to see if she would go!

Happy days!   Electrics seem good!   She runs!

[philward]

Great result - always good to get a project to run to assess the starting point.

[Longstride]

Has anybody got any tips on what to do with that brake system?

Clean it? 
Rebuild it?
Replace it?

Cheers

[Bryanj]

Try with a clean using denatured alcohol but be prepared for a pattern master cylinder from Dave Silver(you will get to know his web site very well) i think about £40 but out of stock at moment, stripping the master is not as easy job and causes lots of frustration and anglo saxon.
Make a listof what is missing and put it up here, people frequently let parts go for postage plus a beer

[Longstride]

Thanks @Brianj, @oddjob, too late!   I bought it already 🤣

Now the fun begins!

[Longstride]

Thanks Oddjob!   I've managed to get one from ebay but really appreciate the support!    Same for the idiot lights (I never heard them called that before SOHC :-) )

If anybody had a front master cylinder however Id bite their hands off!

[Longstride]

A little video update today!

Taking it very easy and gently, slow revs on the pilot jet circuit, some on full jets, loosening up the cruddy carbs.    Def needs a rebuild but running ok for now!

Amazingly aside from one indicator (which works as side light)  electrics all seem to work!

Are the indicators dual filament?   

Just need a clutch cable, and sort front brakes out then fresh tyres and tubes and she’ll be pretty sound!   

Going to do an engine flush then fresh oil tomorrow.

https://youtu.be/rDzmFTtT4uE

https://youtu.be/rJcv74IEMS4

Enjoy!

[Bryanj]

US have dual filament front blinkers, 5watt as running light 21watt as blinker, in the headlamp disconnect the blue with white stripe and orange with white stripe as UK plod dont like orangerunning lights and whilst you dont need an mot it would fail for them, or at least it would when i was doing them

[Longstride]

Thanks BrianJ!

[Longstride]

Another day another update!

Still waiting on a carb kit but to be fair through gentle coaxing across the revs and different jets and she’s really spat the muck out and ticks over lovely! 

Today I ran some engine flush through then changed the oil and filter.

I put a new clutch cable on only to find the clutch is stuck on!    If only I’d known before the oil change!    Tried a few things to unstick it but no joy yet!   Any tips?

I noticed today the bars are bent so she’s def had a bump in the past but it’s only the bars really that are bent.    Shocks and wheel seem fine.

Managed a bump start and run up the track today!   Good to actually “ride” it!

[Longstride]

Yeah and the front mud guard brackets look like they’ve been wrangled back into shape also!

But it tracks well enough, so fingers crossed!   

How do I check the seals @oddjob I don’t know much about forks.   I couldn’t see any oil up the stancions when I pumped up and down on the front end.

Thanks for the clutch tip!

[Bryanj]

If the forks feel damped and there is nooi on the stanchions seas should be ok

[Longstride]

So after running her a while on clean oil, I finally broke the clutch loose last week by reving  up in gear on the stand then sharply applying rear brake, eventually it broke free!

I’ve now got new tyres (I went for a trials pattern, as I’ll ride it a fair bit on scrabbly farm tracks near me and around the woods no doubt until she’s registered) , new braided front brake pipes, new bars, new idiot lights, carb kits and a master cylinder repair kit!

Hoping for a dry busy  weekend!

.