Honda-SOHC
General => New Member Introductions => Topic started by: totty on January 30, 2010, 01:52:09 PM
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Hi,
I've just bought a CB550K and found this forum.
I don't really know much about these bikes yet, mines been off the road for the last 7 years but appears to be fairly complete and original, it could do with some general tidying but it looks like it may go straight through a MOT. It starts and funs fine but feels very flat, I'm in the process of downloading a workshop manual so I can check it over properly.
This is my first big bike having ridden a Chinese copy of a Z50 for the last 4 or 5 years. The z50 is quite heavily modified with 125 engine in it for a start, but I currently intend to keep the 550 fairly standard.
I've also got a CF70 that I'm sorting out for my girlfriend, it's lowered with proper front forks, 110 engine and fat rims.
Cheers
Allan
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Hi Allan , welcome to the forum
Pete
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Where are you Allan?
Fill in your location in your profile and it will appear on every post (save all those "where are you?" posts...)
Welcome. We need more 500/550s around here - in danger of becoming a CB750 site! ;D
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Hi Allan, welcome and congrats on getting yourself a 550.
Post some pics and shout if you need to know anything, loads of experience and help on here.
Phil
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Welcome, it amazes me the sheer number of old Hondas that must be out there in sheds, garages or just under covers. Yours sounds like another one.
Cheers
Den
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Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm near Durham and I'll fill my profile in now. I don't have any pics yet but I may take some later today. The bike was spotted by the guy I bought it off (who rides a cb750) it was under a cover next to a wall that was being demolished, he persuaded the owner to part with it, got it running with very little work and sold it to me.
I'm sure I'll have loads of questions but I'll wait for the workshop manual arriving in the post and get to know the bike a bit first. (All the ones I downloaded turned out to be for a 2 cylinder cb400)
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This is a shortcut to the US "branch" lots of info here for you. http://www.sohc4.net/index.php?q=content/honda-cb550-1974-1978
Cheers
Den
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Bryan Jones (you'll find him soon) and I have a load of CB500/550 pdfs which I will send you on CD if you PM me (or email me) an address.
Steve
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Hi, welcome to the forum, always good to hear from other middle sized sohc owners. The k3's one of the better ones apparently as it's jetted for marginally better fuel economy - worthwhile savings over the 500's fuel econonmy from my expirience running both as everyday transport. These old honda's are pretty solid machines so hopefully yours should work well for you.
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I've just had my first daylight look at it and spent 3 hours polishing which is far from my favorite activity.
The tank has a small dent and the paint work isn't very good, the wheel rims are corroded worse than I'd realised and the front mud guard damage is also worse than I thought. A fork dust seal is also split (is this a MOT item), the air filter is manky and it wont start.
I'm not overly concerned about any of it though. It ran on Friday, I'll service it and try to get it running again next Sunday.
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Dust cap is not an MOT item, oil seal is. None start is frequently down to blocked pilot jets as the K3 is cold blooded and needs the choke for quite a while before idling properly
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Have a look here for a Genuine manual and parts lists etc
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=17788.0
Welcome to the group
Seamus
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Hi & welcome.
I always found that the Haynes manual for the 400/550F quite a good publication, & readily available from the library or from Halfrauds/Amazon.
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I've always wondered about Haynes.
They publish a book on the 350/500 (both different) and the 400/550 (both different...)
I wonder why they didn't do a 500/550 and 350/400 book - surely less work!
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Must admit that the Clymer manual for the 400F was excellent.
Maybe Haynes thought that people who owned a 400F would move on to a 550F/K next.
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Good news on the dust cap, I'd like to get the bike back on the road ASAP, get some miles on it and treat it as a rolling resto. I already have a new cap on order along with a few service parts.
Thanks for the pilot jet tip. I think I've read elsewhere that these are pressed in but can be pulled out and tapped back in, I think I'll try a bit of redex first.
Thanks for the info and links on manuals, Steve is posting me some on CD.
Cheers
Allan
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I've now got a pic online:
(http://www.kirstyandallan.co.uk/cb550k.jpg)
and also written a to do list to start on Sunday, although I may make an attempt to get it running before then as it's really bugging me.
adjust tappets - Done
strip and clean carbs - Done
static balance carbs - 1/8" drill bit - Done
check rubber inlets - Done
refit carbs - Done
change plugs - Done
check coils/leads/caps - Done
drain fuel - Done
replace air filter - Done
check points condition and alignment - Done
gap points - Done
lube points cam - Done
static time points - Done
set dwell
dynamic time
check advance
change oil and filter - oil looks new.
change brake fluid - Done
replace or temp glue fork dust cap
clean and oil chain - Done
fit number plate - Done
Grease swing arm pivot- Done
repair seat tear - Done but not happy with it
replace seat lock
MOT - Booked for Sat
Tax
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So what are you going to do on Monday?
;D
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Go to work feeling annoyed that I only made it to line 3 on my list on Sunday, and due to being on the IOM the following weekend I won't get to work on it in daylight for another 12 days :(
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Having done a few jobs it's a totally different animal, sounds much better and is keen to rev. I'm happy with that for a days work, although my back isn't :(
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It's booked in for an MOT on Sat so wish me luck :-\
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Good luck with MOT , mine went through the other day it is a good feeling
Pete