550 F2 started!

[Sesman]

I had one but gave it to Sesman for his twin conversion.

And very grateful I was too. I know you will be onto it Roo, but take great care when modifying the Speedo drive, particularly with centralising, alignment and countersunk screws. I presume you have read the notes in Aladdin’s Cave?

[Oddjob]

Here's how I did it Roo.

Remove all parts of the dish the drive sits on, so it's totally flat, I ground most of it away and finished it off by using grinding paste on a piece of glass to ensure it was totally flat. Drill 2 x 3mm small holes in the flange of the dish, where you'd be expected to fit the screws. Next, fit the drive into the speedo drive and put that onto the spindle, fit the spindle into the wheel and press the speedo drive up against the wheel so that the flat part of the modified plate sits flush against the hub, keep pressing against the dish whilst removing the spindle and drive, care needed here to ensure it doesn't move. Mark through the holes with a felt tip so you know where to drill, drill and tap the holes, depending on space either 4 or 5mm. Tap holes and countersink the dish holes, fit with countersunk screws. Fit spindle and drive and test off the bike to ensure it a smooth run out. Doing it this way ensures the drive plate is central to the speedo drive. You may need to reduce the size of the dish to make sure it fits inside the disc, I had to do that so I presume you will to.

[Laverdaroo]

Yean phil, just had a recap but in all honesty I wont start anything until I have all the right kit. This was jaut the first 'kick in the pants' and i was only cleaning Keeps my average up though, which is good

I know Bryan mentioned to me before that there were errors in the wright up in the drop box and was going to bell him but was after the right bits after finding that cock up. I was awaer there was a differing way of doing this and after a yap tonight that should become apparent, we did speak about it a while ago and I really cant remember.
The 'flange' of a previous owner  cut it out and then glued it back together. The piccie of it 'as removed' from the hub gives you no clue as to it being ruined. It was only after cleaning it and it falling apart that I 'twigged'that it had been got at by an absolute arse!.

[Sesman]

I did it the second time exactly as Ken has written…..success.

[Laverdaroo]

Things moving on in the shed of dreams although this week has seen it renamed the shed of “really??!”

After various discoveries from Bridgett I the past I’ve actually started to progress!
Frame is due back from the powder fosters on a week or so, got my rims back all sorted and the front hub has seen some action so cleaning fettling and generally grabbing fixings and replacement for shagged parts and the like. It’s going reasonably well even considering the new discoveries so can’t grumble too much.

The engine is about thete Barca few cover bits and a ball bearing and springfor the kick start but they should be here by the end of the week with any luck. Reasonably chuffed tbh.
Tank to ‘un-dent’ and solder up, liner to order and that can get dropped off for paint with the side panels and I’ll get cracking on the front wheel conversion.

Just sent the pipes off for chrome at a whopping £250 so I await them coming back to see how they look, they’re not the best set but the best I could find got what fish I had, we’ll see.

Thoroughly enjoying my time though which is what it’s all about


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[Laverdaroo]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Laverdaroo]

That looks the part Phil

[Oddjob]

You'll need the clutch shims to shim the clutch basket out Roo, they'll be in the post today.

[Oddjob]

I did it the second time exactly as Ken has written…..success.

That looks really good Phil, love the tyre, might go for those when I get round to buying some, which will be some time yet I'm afraid. So long as they make them in the sizes I want of course. I'll be going for 100/90x19 front and 110/90x18 rear IIRC. I've got wider rims than standard so I can use wider tyres.

[Laverdaroo]

Yeah, just a mock up so Icould have alook.The old shim was 0.3 and it deffocould do with a bit more to be solid. Having not shimmed these up before, I take iyt that there shouldnt be any lateral 'wobble' abd a direct, 'firm' fit?

[Laverdaroo]

I bobbed those on the 400, always liked these, theyre great on the road and pretty good in the wet too. Not over dear either which makes a change. Buy em after crimbo Len, theyll be cheaper by about 20 quid each in some cases as the raw, cost rubber price drops after December each year. I saved £40 on a set last year which is practically unheard of as there is so little mark up on tyres as it is.
Looks proper that Phil

[Laverdaroo]

Ken not Len! 

[Sesman]

That’s coming along Roo. Stay with it.

Thanks Ken. Some photos of the finished article. Still got to fit the brake hoses and a brake hose clip/ restraint to the r/h fork leg….bit of a head scratcher. These are old photos as the bike is finished, with the exception of a seat and brake hoses. 550 F2 seats seem to be very thin on the ground!

[Oddjob]

Just try and pull the basket out without the springs fitted, so just after you fit the circlip, if it moves it needs shimming, I tend fit shims until I can just about fit the circlip on. Easier on the 500 as it's designed slightly differently.

You need the proper chrome countersunk screws for the points cover Roo, they didn't use those type of JIS screws for that cover 

If you haven't got any yet don't buy them as I may have some NOS as I don't think I'll be using the chrome cover on mine, found a NOS 650 cover instead which I intend to polish up, not sure what screws or bolts it uses to attach itself but I'd imagine the normal 8mm headed flanged bolts Honda love to use. If so my NOS screws are available.

[Oddjob]

How'd those new springs work out on the brake calipers Phil?