CB550K3 Project: My to do list!

[andy_c101]

Hi guys,
Newbie posting.
This is my first (Mid-life crisis) project.
The project objective:
Take a thirty+ year old CB550K3 and put it back on the road before summer; - not concors, but a fair example of the 1970s K3; with more cosmetics (Chrome) to follow next winter.

I did start in Dec last year (2009)., progress is picking up; but first I thought I'd share with you my to do list:

New or refurb front fork stanchions n fit new seals
New Steering head bearings (taper roller instead of balls)
Complete ovevhaul front brake (hoses, caliper, seals, master cylinder
New cables throughout (speedo & tacho, ok)
Respray fuel tanl & sidepanels
new or refurb nameplates.
Repair seat hinge bracket & hinge pins.
Clean Carburettors
New/Replace rear shocks
New tyres & tubes front&rear (Dunlop TT100s)
Polish chrome rims, & mudguards.
Polish engine side covers (LHS sprocket cover; RHS clutch housing)
Polish points cover
Polish alternator cover
remove sump to clean out 30 year old oil 'sludge'
Overhaul/service rear drum brake
New handlebar grips
New sericeable items: plugs,points,condenser, filters
Finally find away to re-produce the classic 4-into-4 pipe setup
.. that's all!
In the photo it doesn't look too bad, but up close all these things need doing.
I better start saving, before I start pouring cash down that black hole.

I'll let you kow how it goes.

wish me luck.
AndyC

[matthewmosse]

Hi, welcome to the forum sounds like you'l be busy. Good luck on replicating the 4 into 4 pipes- it'll likely cost a fortune if you find a set that are good. K3 is a good bike, fuel economy is good on these, I've had a couple - both mine were very tired examples in their last throws of life.

[UK Pete]

Hi Andy c, welcome to the forum, there can be real highs and lows in this restoration stuff especially when things break or you discover hidden bodges made by previous owners, for example i am rebuilding my engine when taking apart i found lots of stripped threads and broken off studs all over the engine so i went all over it dilling out broken studs and helicoiling all suspect threads, only to find 3 more bad threads just when i had sealed the crankcase halfs and torqued up the bolts, so i had to disasemble clean off sealant and repair. i have fitted 10 helicoils so far, and i think i might have to do more on the head.
I find things like brakes easy and enjoyable, as with most of the things you have listed, its just a case of having the time money and enthusiasm.
Good luck with the bike, if you go to the bottom of my post and click on the link it will take you to my 750 F2 rebuild thread, where you can see my progress, remember take plenty of pictures and be sure to post us some to see
Pete

[totty]

I'm doing pretty much the same with the same model bought in January, but to be honest it sounds like I'm aiming for a lower standard
I'm aiming/hoping to simply get it usable and on the road this year replacing little more than service items, then when I've got to know it better I'll take on other stuff. Once it's in use I may get my finger out and tidy up my rough Z50 copy.

[andy_c101]

The silencers are completely shot!
Holes in the chrome & baffles completely gone to rust!
I've gone for a set of universal silencers from bitzforbikes, I'm hoping they will slip onto the down pipes.
They look tidy, bit like dunstalls, & not dissimilar to the honda silencer shape.
So I've bitten the bullet & sawn-of the silencers!
- omg! I've done it now! Hope it works out ok, I'll let you know.
Maybe oneday I might save enuff pennies for a set of custom pipes!...oneday.

A

[PMK]

I do bits and bats on another website and I wrote a tongue in cheek piece about restorations

Look here http://www.realclassic.co.uk/opinionfiles/opinion05040500.html

It'll soon sound all too familiar 

[Rozabikes Tim]

Excellent read. The truth always hurts.!!

[andy_c101]

Purple Koni Shocks!

Very 1970s, painted purple, but they're completely shot!
Very sticky action, pitted damping rods, mmmmm...
That money pit just got deeper!

Ho hum....

[andy_c101]

 
Forks are lookin goooood...
See before & after.

[andy_c101]

More polishing....

[UK Pete]

Hi Andy it is really satisfying to look at each peice of the project once restored, nice pictues by the way
I am going to do a cd of the complete restoration with every bike i restore starting with my F2 from now on just so i can look back with joy
Pete

[florence]

I do bits and bats on another website and I wrote a tongue in cheek piece about restorations

Look here http://www.realclassic.co.uk/opinionfiles/opinion05040500.html

It'll soon sound all too familiar 

I very much enjoyed your article.  It also made me curious about how you get to write articles for the website.  Is it possible to just submit things or do they need to know who you are?

Steve

[andy_c101]

I just started this thread & added to it., that's all.
AndyC

[andy_c101]

Pace has hotted up in the restoration.
- but hit a setback when I sheared off a screw on the oil sump!
Oh beep!!!

I thought maybe it wont leak, there's nine other screws to seal it.....yeah right!
- no, only one optio...............engine out at drill it out!
Having never done a stud extraction before, I was somewhat stressed, i can tell you.
but i thought if i can watch guys on you tube drill out and extract studs, then so can I!
I had to use my dremel-type hand grinder to just touch-up the scheared screw so that I could get a flat face for the centre punch.
But after taking it very steady, 2mm, 3mm 4mm drills, then tapped in the lefthand threaded extracter tool and out she popped!  magic!
Phwe, big sighs of relief and a good feeling of satisfaction at overcoming the problem.
 
PS: you should have seen the state of the slug in the oil sump! I'm really glad I did remove the sump and thoroughly clean it all out; I wouldnt have wanted all that gunge circulating round the engine! So despite the sheared bolt, I'd recommend everyone remove & clean out the sump on any thirty year old bike that has been standing dormant.

[andy_c101]

A few more items for polishing:
I think a previous owner took an angle grinder to the clutch casing; its gonn take some work to smoothout those 'furrows'.
& the rear brake plate could do with some tlc polishing too.

In the meantime, take a look at my side panels, .....now nicely painted.
The name plates have come up well too. I was looking at buying some, but they are like gold dust to find; & all the secondhand ones are no better than mine; so I rubbed them down, bought a pot of Tamaya gold leaf paint a fine brush and with a steady hand re-aointed the name badge.
- well I'm happy enough with it, maybe not concours but pretty tidy.