Honda-SOHC

Hi all,

It seems like forever that I've been meaning to pull the trigger on attempting a "from scratch" loom for my '76 K2 CB550 cafe / brat & I was planning on going down the M-Unit route. Certainly not cheap but perhaps an"easier" path for my limited knowledge of auto electrics (there's always going to be you guys & you tube to help educate me). However, just this week I've picked up on a similar but cheaper alternative solution.....namely, the Axel Joost B-Box & I was wondering if any of you had had any experience of the B-Box (I appreciate that although not universally embraced, the M-Unit is generall regarded as a decent bit of kit but I've never seen / heard anything mentioned about the B-Box)?

It seems like the main differences are that the B-Box is a cheaper option but that it has less whistles & bells & perhaps has a slightly less stealthy install (the components from Axel Joost seem generally larger so will take up correspondingly more real-estate on / in the bike). Cost is certainly up there when it comes to what goes into the build, but space is limited & functionality of the final solution is always being considered. I think I'm right in saying that once you're on your way down the Motogadget rabbit hole, it's Motogadget kit all the way. Is that the same with Axel Joost or can you use components from others?

I'd be grateful to hear anyone's experience, help, info or advice to hopefully move to pushing the button on the next big part of my project.

Thanks.

Hello again,
I didn't get a side stand in the '76550 K2 "box of bits" that I bought to build so I was wondering - as I've no need to generally fit model specific items - what other models I could search for that will fit & work. As I'm building a brat/cafe bike, I like the "minimalist" look of the attached stand (listed on fleabay as a CB500 K1 / K2) & have seen the there are similar stands for many other CB models (350, 360, 400, 650 etc.). So, I'm expecting the main question is over the length but I can also see a possible query over the pivot size.
As every, many thanks in advance of any help / advice you can offer.
Andy

Hi all,
So my cafe build has come to the seat making stage & as I’ve never seen how the rear end of a standard 550 tank fits to the frame, I’ve no idea what I’ve got to fabricate, to work up to (the piece of perforated is just a start). Can someone describe the method of locating the tank & the ultimate arrangement (with the plates, flaps, rubber piece & holes that can be seen in the photo) or direct me to a link or images etc. that will help me understand what I’m aiming at please?
Many thanks for any help offered from your immense pool of collective knowledge.
Andy

Hi there everyone,

I recently discovered that the rev counter drive gear casting of my CB550K2 has completely sheered at the point it leaves the rocker cover & one side of the "slot" (that the rev counter cable end locates into) has also snapped off so an alternative solution needs to be sorted out (i.e. either find a replacement part or do without a rev counter on the final build altogether).

Before I finalise the idea I've had for the neatest way of opting for the latter (preferred) option & blanking off the hole that would be left in the rocker cover (ditching the clock would help significantly clean up the cockpit area #cafebuild), is there any reason why I shouldn't do away with the rev counter?

One potential issue I can foresee is setting up the carbs without accurately knowing the revs. Is it essential to know the revs or is there a trick out there means I don't need that particular bit of information? Thinking out loud....I wonder if there's a way I could Heath Robinson the rev counter "off" the bike just for the purposes of the carb setup?

Over to you you amazing people. Is there's any information / advice you can offer

Hi there all,

1st time posting on here so, hello, here goes - some time ago (years) I bought myself a "project" - a completely disassembled '76 CB550 (de-tabbed & already hooped bare frame with EVERYTHING else in boxes & bags) that's been sat waiting patiently for me to get my backside in gear. I've no experience of building anything like this & only a basic mechanical knowledge but I'm armed with a manual, a box of tools & a big bag of enthusiasm so what could possibly go wrong???

There are parts that aren't CB550 (the forks look like they could be from a CX & the rear brake looks like it's from a 750) & there are definitely parts missing - some could be more of a challenge to find than others - such as the petcock, rear brake switch (in fact the entire wiring loom needs starting from scratch) & loads of nuts & bolts etc. etc. but nothing - other than the subject of this post - that's particularly fazing me (yet).

Well my backside's in gear now & I've finally got round to doing something with it (it's going to be a cafe racer - think Seaweed & Gravel, Brady Young Black & Tan / similar kind of thing) with much of the work so far being cleaning, tidying & painting of the "big" bits. The bottom 1/2 of the engine is built (with the top 1/2 painted & ready to bolt back together) but I've picked up the carbs & there seems to be an arm missing in one of them as can be seen here...

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I think I've tracked down that the part that's missing is (at least part of) the arm set but I've no idea about the significance of it not being there (hope that doesn't sound too stupid a question). And if it is needed, what the parts do I need exactly, how difficult an issue it is to fix & how I go about fitting whatever's required (I wasn't planning on taking the carbs apart to that degree but if absolutely necessary, I suppose I'm going to have to have a go)?

You can assume a healthy dollop of novice confidence at spannering in terms of tackling jobs.

Many thanks for any help you can offer.