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cb550 first attempt - restore and modernise

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mike the bike:
Looks like a great project youve got there and plenty of pictures to keep us interested and entertained.
I see you live round by me, where to.  I don't mind calling in and giving you a hand if needed.

MarkCR750:
An alternative thought on how far you go with the engine Alan, although other members suggest a complete strip and rebuild, (and that is a perfectly logical approach provided you don't mind the extra time and expense) it's worth bearing in mind that Mr Honda produced very reliable motorcycles!, there is probably nothing at all wrong with the bottom end of that bike, I'd go as far as saying it's a 90% probability that it's OK, so I'd go along the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" route if I were you, if once you have it running again you do find an issue then OK take the lump out and completely strip it, how many times do we hear people say that once stripped everything was within tolerance, and let's face it when we buy second hand cars we don't take the engines out and rebuild them do we! 😄, I'd give it a go as is, if I'm wrong then it will mean a few hours extra work and another top end gasket set, if I'm right you've saved a load of time and money, anyway that's my ten pence worth 👍
PS if you need to change the cam chain you can do it with a soft link which again will save you having to split the cases, I did that on a 400/4 30 years ago and it's still running (a mate of mine still has it).

matthewmosse:
I tend towards the let it be route for engine bottom ends on old Hondas, the cb550 is a fairly tough cookie and its probably ok, most times I've seen one with issues its down to work done on it by well intentioned but mechanically perhaps not the best tinkerers. I always like to hear it run, and select the gears under load before pulling them appart, as often it proves they dont need my intervention. If you do open up the bottom end be sure to check the location peg on the cluch side bearing for the gearbox shaft when re assembling, very common for the holes to be miss alighned and the top of the casting to pop instead. Also the tensioner needs care to put back as it has a hard to spot location pockett in the bottom crank case. I always used to find a replacement engine was cheaper than fixing one with problems, though this might have shifted since I used mine as a daily commuter - though I doubt it as the parts have gone up as badly as the engines. I still have a pile of engines that either got retired as they had problems or that I bought as handy spares, rather than rush to buy new parts I prefer to look for the parts nice and cheap and use a spare engine so I'd not hold up progres too much if the engine is waiting on a part, just crack on with the rest of the build. Makes life less stressfull I reacon.

Clunker:
I'm with MarkCR750 and matthewmosse, get em running first. By all means strip and clean the carbs, check valves, change oil and plugs, check brakes then ride em for a couple of weeks at least. Make sure it's a bike you are gonna be sure you want to keep before you go splashing out loads of money on it. Tidying up for an MOT is only elbow grease and a bit of time. Have some fun first, then sort out what you want to change / fix. :)

aled:
Thanks for the comments and advice guys, very helpful, yeah i think im just going do the top end and fingers cross , all is good with the bottom.
I pretty much have all the parts ready to for the top end so its a case of me just getting on with it now!

Bit more of an update today,  engine is out and began cleaning up and removing valves and pistons. Alot of elbow grease and hours have been put into just removing old gaskets and i think im finally there! thank god!

some pictures ..





where there paint has flaked there seems to be a purple layer of paint .. surely it wasn't sprayed purple? is this a rust protection or something?

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