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Messages - gbjeppm
31
« on: October 15, 2020, 09:49:04 PM »
Mine has never had a front stay.
Interesting on the stay. I keep looking at the pictures, and i think that my bike with the mudguard/fender with the stay extends further over the top of the tire, although I can't be sure. When i take it off I will look for a part number, it may be after market.
32
« on: October 15, 2020, 08:21:17 PM »
"I grant you that the wire wool has done a good job with the rust, but how durable is the result? Will it come out in a rash of rust spots after being out in the rain?"
Good question. It's one of those things that generally is not looked at very closely. The chrome doesn't rust, chromium being the significant element making steel "stainless" when alloyed with steel.
The visible rust is the steel structure material corrosion coming out through pores in the chrome plate. In effect not curable, but rub it off and keep just a little oil on it, and it'll stay reasonably good but difficult with hot exhaust.
As I understand it, really good protective chrome would use nickel and copper "undercoat" with decorative chrome to finish, effectively making impermeable barrier to the base steel rusting.
Think all chrome of this era ultimately needs coating with oil to preserve it as it's more decorative than long term protection.
I have no doubt that the exhausts are rusting from the inside out, and in fact the no 3 pipe has a couple of holes on the underside of the silencer about 10 cm after the join to the header. I think i am going to get a stainless patch tig welded in to it to make it solid, but i am a little concerned how thin the steel inside is now. I am just hopeful that getting them clean and keeping them clean and dry, and oil coating, and stored inside will prolong its life. Oh and it needs to be used...... that will help a lot
33
« on: October 15, 2020, 05:20:17 PM »
You do know wire wool works best when lubed with a bit of diesel or petroleum?
Yes thanks
34
« on: October 15, 2020, 05:19:50 PM »
looking better now looking at your pillar drill is it made in swadlincote by o bryans i think they called it fobco ?
Yes it is a Fobco, its a fantastic drill
35
« on: October 15, 2020, 04:55:16 PM »
So i start to go through the bike to potentially think about starting it. It has oil in it at the right level, it has spark on at least the two outside cylinders (I have ordered the correct spark plug socket, so that i can get the middle one's out.) I opened the Carb drain screws up, and nasty green sludge dropped out, so I removed the carbs, stripped and cleaned them. Most of the jets were blocked, and most of the float bowls stuck. Luckily the fuel tank was empty, and not too bad, so that should be fine to use when I am ready. Amyway with a temp fuel tank hooked up, and a new battery, all of the lights lit up, the starter whirred and she came to life on the 4th press of the starter. Definitely running a bit rough, and cylinder 3 is not firing at all as far I can tell. I have ordered new plugs, along with the spark plug tool. So when they arrive I can change all the plugs, and test for compression etc and hopefully dial the bike in properly. Also ordered a new clutch cable, fuel tank front rubber, horn (it was missing), oil, oil filter etc, Slightly cleaner, lots more cleaning to do while I wait on parts. 
36
« on: October 15, 2020, 04:43:20 PM »
Hi All, Further to my intro post, I said that i would post up how I am getting along, so I am starting a project thread. I bought a CB550 K3 (Registered Jan 1979), Chassis number CB550K-202*****. Seems a little odd that it is a Jan 1979 bike yet it is a K3, but i am not arguing with DVLA. It is a UK registered bike, that is HPI Clear, and has not been on the road since 2006. That is it as far as History is concerned. Bought at auction with no V5. The speedo says it has done approx 26k miles. The bike arrived from the auction house a couple of days ago by courier, and I have started to get into it, to assess what I have, what is missing, what needs doing etc. Here are a few pics of the initial state.  The Exhaust  The Front Rim  So hopefully you get the general idea. My hope was that it would still clean up well, as most of the rust was surface rust, and with a lot of elbow grease it could be dealt with. Here is a shot of the right hand pipes after a bit of effort with the wire wool. 
37
« on: September 29, 2020, 08:00:53 PM »
Or should I bite the bullet and go for something bigger ?
Everyone has to start somewhere !
My view is buy what you want, and what you will be happy to ride when it is done.
38
« on: September 28, 2020, 09:10:34 PM »
Thanks all again for the welcome.
I will start a new thread with photos when the bike arrives, which may not be for a week or so.
Cheers
Matt
39
« on: September 27, 2020, 01:39:02 PM »
Thanks all again for welcome.
Thanks Bryanj, very useful info.
40
« on: September 27, 2020, 10:16:52 AM »
This is what i am starting with.
I did inspect the bike before buying it, but i was not in the room when i won the auction, and it will be a few days before it is delivered.
Photo courtesy of auction house.
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41
« on: September 27, 2020, 09:50:45 AM »
Thanks for the welcome.
Once i have got it running would be keen to join any local ride outs.
42
« on: September 27, 2020, 09:16:51 AM »
Oops, yes it would, now corrected. 
43
« on: September 27, 2020, 09:09:31 AM »
Hi All,
I am Matt from Surrey, pretty close to Box Hill for those that know of it.
I love all kinds of bikes, and have done a number of restorations over the years. Currently i have a Bandit 600, a Ducati 900ss, an 88 Honda CBR600F Jellymould and a Norton Atlas.
Yesterday i succesfully bid on a Jan 78 Honda CB550 K3 ( i think it is a K3 not a K4), but will confirm when i actually get the bike.
It looks to be totally original with approx 28k miles, and has not been on the road since 2005.
Plan is to assess and do what it needs , but with as light a restoration as possible and keep it totally original. And then use it.
Pictures will come soon, and i will start a restoration thread.
Cheers
Matt
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