Honda-SOHC

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone,

Welcome, you picked the most unloved 550 model there but when sorted and used regularly(pd carbs are a shite) they are really nice and yes just a tad lighter than the GL

Yeah, bike was registered in July 77, by that time the promise of 'Super Sports', 'F' models had come along, I actually bought a 400 four Super Sport a month later in August which I loved and I remember thinking how much more modern the 4 in to 1 exhaust was. So it must have been a very 'special' person to ignore all the modern trends and buy this bike. Probably an older citizen which of course I am now. And the funny thing is I love the 4 into 4 exhaust this bike has now so go figure!

And yes the PD carbs dont get a good write up, I would probably like to change them. But having lived through lots of pain servicing the GL 755A carbs until I got them right they are by comparison very simple.

Got as far as removing the valve gear/camshaft cover today (I love taking stuff apart). Everything looks kind of ok to these relatively untrained eyes with the odd exception.

Not a great start, I sprayed Plus Gas on everything over the last two weeks but I guess on these longer bolts it isnt going to penetrate that far -
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The remainder should not be too hard to remove-
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Rocker pads look ok as do cam lobes and there is no movement on the shafts, plenty of clean looking oil everywhere so oil supply is good -
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Worst thing is this, I can feel it with my fingernail and there is a witness mark on the cam journal, not sure how I am going to deal with this yet any ideas? -
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Cant see how something could have got to that position whilst the engine was running so I think its been there on assembly which means that someone has been into at least the top end of this motor before I think.
 
I can lift a link on the cam chain about 5mm so the chain feels pretty loose, is this normal?-
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Tomorrow I will remove the head and see what other challenges are waiting

Hi Everyone,

I have just finished restoring a 1977 GL1000 K2 complete with Krauser luggage and a Vetter fairing -
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So its time to move on to my next project a 1977 CB550 K3 -
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The picture above was taken the day I bought the bike last February. Its very deceptive as the bike looks to be in good condition but in actual fact it was a complete mess, engine covered in crud which was almost tar like, exhausts shot, frame covered in surface rust, bodywork heavily scratched, wheels beyond saving, seat full of splits, would not idle steadily, cam chain rattling as well as the worst primary drive chain rattle I have ever heard.

Ok so the shop I bought it from saw this mug arrive and thought, "right one here soon palm him off with this piece of crap" snigger, snigger. The thing is that I fell in love with it straight away, it was in such a sorry state it just had to be rescued, and actually on the test ride it rode extremely well and sounded amazingly good on the move and was lots of fun to ride compared to the big heavy Gold Wing.

So a deal was struck and the owner retreated with a huge grin on his face and a few days later I took delivery. What I decided to do was get her initially in a state where I could ride and assess what has to be done so I spent a lot of money on a new exhaust from DS which is actually very nice. I spent two days with every conceivable degreaser I could find trying to get the crud off the engine and the rest of the bike, she has obviously had a hard life and been stored outside and not washed over the past two decades. I stripped off and fully rebuilt the PD46A's finding all sorts of nasty bodges as I went. Bought a new seat cover and refurbished the pan. Oil change, tried to fix the cam chain tensioner but the adjuster wont budge. Fitted a Dyna ignition system and new Dyna coils. Oh and replaced the extremely stretched and dangerous drive chain.

After lots of fiddling I got a good idle and the engine runs really nice but at low RPM sounds terrible. I didnt want to ride her too much but have had some fun but now its time for the work to start. I am going to do a bare frame restoration with a full strip down and refurbish of every component so this is going to take some time, especially as I have a full house to paint in between!. It is going to be hard work as every bolt I have tried to remove has been seized.

Some pictures to show the current condition after much cleaning.

Engine casings need further clean and painting -
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Frame is covered in surface rust but nothing that looks like it needs welding -
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Wheels and spokes are beyond saving so I will replace with alloy rims and stainless spokes -
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Hi,

Forgive me as this isn't a transverse four but I am busy restoring a CB550 K3 so belong to this forum.

I have been trying to find my old bike which I bought new in 1978 a Sirius blue Gl1000 K2 registration YJP 198T, still on the road and looks like it changed hands last year.

If anyone knows of it please write to me

Cheers, Ken