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Messages - Mike_Berkshire

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1
Project Board / Re: Mike's CB550 Project
« on: May 15, 2024, 03:49:43 PM »
Call me a vandal - I put my valve in an electric drill using an old screwdriver holding it as a cutting tool. I kept away from the vet edges then finished the job with 400 grit Wet & Dry.
That’s quite reassuring Ted. I will continue Dremelling for now then. You don’t say if the bike ran or not after you did this though; I assume it did :-)

2
Project Board / Re: Mike's CB550 Project
« on: May 15, 2024, 01:56:34 PM »
So de-carbonising the inlet valves was easy. The exhaust valves less so. The deposits on the valve face & stem are like concrete. I am assuming this is normal (?) Are there recommended ways of removing the deposits from the exhaust valves? As the crust is so hard Im worried about damaging the valves. I have been using a Dremel clone with softish Scotchbrite mini-mops.

3
Project Board / Re: Mike's CB550 Project
« on: May 15, 2024, 01:52:37 PM »
PM me your address and i will send you a used one
Thank you so much Bryan. I have sent you a PM.

4
Project Board / Mike's CB550 Project
« on: May 15, 2024, 11:47:04 AM »
Thanks all so far with the help in my initial steps with this project: rebuilding the carbs to get the bike running pre-stripdown, removal of the stuck rocker cover, knocking out the shock mounts from the swinging arm, removal of the steering races and identification of mystery parts along the way. The bike is now stripped down apart from the bottom end which Im intending to leave intact and, so far the wheels are still 'bearings in'. The first outside job of repainting the frame, swinging arm and various other brackets etc should start tomorrow.

Whilst Im waiting for the frame painting I am getting on with the head. All valves etc are out, the head is decarboned and Im now decarboning the valves pre to lapping them in. Whilst working on the inlet valve for #2 cyclinder I can see there is damage/an imperfection in the valve face (see picture). Should this valve be replaced with a new one and if so is it OK to replace one valve only? I have checked piston #2 and there is no sign of any impact damage on the piston. Also there is a single valve collet hiding somehwere on the floor of the shed which Im hoping to find but is so far proving elusive. Thanks, Mike

5
I assume the cushion is for them to sit on whilst observing the fettling?

6
CB500/550 / Re: Frame/Swingarm prep for paint
« on: May 12, 2024, 11:46:25 AM »
Well I dont think my 5/8 socket is ever going to be the same but they're out!

7
CB500/550 / Re: Frame/Swingarm prep for paint
« on: May 11, 2024, 04:13:17 PM »
Thanks for all the input and suggestions. I will tap out the brake bit and the bearing cups and whilst Im at it will have a go at the shock bushes and see how bonded in they are. I will get a kit of the old-style ball bearings and races as if it worked for nigh on 50 years then thats going to see me out. Mike

8
CB500/550 / Re: Frame/Swingarm prep for paint
« on: May 11, 2024, 01:33:21 PM »
Thanks Bryan. I can see how to remove the other parts apart from the rear brake pivot arm; does the rear brake pivot arm just knock out? I cant see a circlip or anything holding it in but dont want to start bashing it unless Im sure. Also, once the old-style ball races are out of the steering tube, is it worthwhile replacing with a set of taper bearings/races in your opinion or would you stick with the ball races? Thanks again.

9
CB500/550 / Re: Frame/Swingarm prep for paint
« on: May 11, 2024, 01:10:14 PM »
The swinging arm bushes are removed and I have a new set of brass ones from Julie to fit after paint (ensuring no paint on outside edge of swingarm tube). Its the bushes for the lower mount of the shock absorbers that are still in place on the swingarm plus the pivot arm for the rear brake and the bearing cups for the headstock in the main frame.

10
CB500/550 / Frame/Swingarm prep for paint
« on: May 11, 2024, 09:24:01 AM »
Hi all. I have stripped the bike and the next task is the repainting of the frame and swinging arm. I am taking it to a local stove enameller that does bikes and will do the masking. I have removed all brackets, grommets, rubbers, stands, springs and fasteners etc. Only parts still in/on the frame are the rear brake pivot linkage, head bearing cups and shock absorber bushes. Do these all need to be removed too and if so any tips for their removal? Thanks

11
I have this task coming up in a month or two. There I was thinking I just screw everything back together and job’s a goodun! Another learning opportunity looms. I suspect I will be re-reading this thread carefully. Thanks for starting it Ted.

12
CB500/550 / Re: top end gasket set recomendations
« on: May 04, 2024, 09:19:12 PM »
No matter what set you need thicker O rings at the headgasket than those in the set
Does this apply to all gasket sets Bryan or just relating to this particular model? I will be putting the top end back together on my CB550 in the next month or 2 and it would be good know if I’m going to need to source some different O rings.

13
Misc / Open / Re: Can you remove the idiot light plate?
« on: May 03, 2024, 09:59:36 PM »
Thanks for this. It’s one of the many questions I had lined up to ask so it’s good to see somebody else asking it.

Please let me know how you get on.

14
CB500/550 / Re: Swinging arm bushes
« on: May 02, 2024, 09:39:55 PM »
Old bushes knocked out today. They were as Julie described: a sort of Bakelite material, definitely not metal. I concocted a tool to knock them out made of a length of M10 studding. Worked a treat. When it comes time to put the arm back in the frame I’m probably going to need some help. Looking at the parts diagram I don’t recall there being that many spacers and washers etc when I took it apart. Everything that came off was bagged up however,
.

15
CB500/550 / Re: Swinging arm bushes
« on: May 01, 2024, 10:47:57 AM »
The old ones you are referring to are like a bakolite. Cut a chanel in them and remove them before powder coating etc. Just cut lengthway with a hacksaw blade and prise out. Then cover the ends for powder coating. I sell the bronze bush replacements.
Thats extremely helpful and I now understand - having properly cleaned the area I can now see. So I remove the inner steel tube, cut out the old bushes, mask, paint, knock the new bushes in, put the steel tube back in, refit arm, re-fit retaining bolt, re-grease? Thanks so much! Mike

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