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CB550K3 fork ears compatibility

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Bookmark1:
I am trying to source a set of fork ears for a 1977 550K3 which I’m trying to bring back to life. After much searching I have found a set in Canada which look identical (they have the extra stem fitting for the indicators) but they are from a CB750. Does anyone know if these parts are interchangeable.

deltarider:
According to CMSNL 550 models only https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb550k3-four-england_model14671/cover-rfrfork_51602390610/

Oddjob:
Different lengths between the 750 and 550, so even though they look identical they are not.

I bought a pair from DS many years ago for a 550F2 which uses exactly the same ears as the K3. They came in a bag labelled F2 but no part number. I kept them for years and years as a just in case pair but got asked for a pair by Graham on here who was restoring an F2 and wanted some NOS ones, I sold him the pair only to find that the ears were actually from a 750F2. They couldn't be made to fit, too long IIRC. So I had them returned and refunded the money.

Finding a pair in decent condition is difficult, not impossible though. Most will be dented in some way or have pitting and be really rusty behind the ears on the strengthening plates.

I do have some decent ones as I'll be restoring my 500/550 this year and bought them as I saw them, I have a NOS pair, a pair off my bike which are decent and I think maybe either another NOS pair or a really good pair, I'd need to check as they are all in a large box in the loft.

I MAY sell a pair, it depends on the offer. I wouldn't sell the NOS pair I don't think though unless the offer was exceptional. Expect to pay roughly £100-150 an ear if NOS, maybe more these days. A decent second hand set, maybe £150 a pair.

The part numbers you need for a UK model are 51602-390-610 and 51602-390-610. They are not the same as most of the rest of the world ones so be aware of this, some of them have male sockets for the indicators for instance and you need the female type with the welded thread insert.

If your interested I can post some pics of the ones I have, I was going to take the ones off my bike for chrome stripping on Tuesday, not because they really need it but just because even one pit in the chrome is too many for me, it has to be perfect or as close to perfect as you can get these days.

Just been and checked, I have 2 NOS left ones, 1 NOS right one, 1 R/H one which was rechromed but the chromer marked the chrome on the back of the tube slightly so he did it for free and the pair off my bike, which others would classify as excellent (no dents) but a couple of chrome pits.

Bookmark1:
Many thanks for the help guys, particularly the info regarding part numbers. I have got a useable right hand ear, albeit quite rusty as the bike sat in a shed for over 20 years after my mate pranged it and got it well and truly written off. The left ear however is in a couple of pieces as it was that side of the bike that took the full impact in the crash.
I think my mate had kept the wreck in the hopes of one day getting it back to its glory but unfortunately he passed away at the end of last year and the bike was found in his garden shed so a couple of us are trying to restore it as a tribute.
My preference would be to source a matching set but the priority is to at least replace the left one. I’m happy to pay up to £150 for a decent second hand set or around the low £200s for NOS.

Oddjob:
I'll post a pic of the pair off my old bike and see what you think. TBH I was kinda surprised just how shiny they were when I unwrapped them from the bubble wrap I'd stored them in. They were brand new when fitted in the late 70s/early 80s and I always used to go OTT on protecting them, so the inside of the tubes were painted in zinc paint and the reinforcing plates were also painted, I must have removed a couple of chips to see what the metal was like underneath and it's bright and shiny like new. They ain't concours, there are a few small chrome pits which is why I put them in the pile for re-chroming but for anyone else but me I'd say they'd jump at the chance of buying them, I'm just a perfectionist on this restoration as it's my last one and must be as perfect as I can make it.

I'll post a pic of the right hand rechromed one as well, TBH I was chatting to the neighbour over the road who's restoring a Velo and he works in a bike shop at weekends. We got talking, as you do, and I mentioned about the amount of chroming I wanted doing, he said an old bloke does all of theirs for a pittance as he's retired but still has the equipment, of course my ears picked right up. So I offered him a spare R/H ear that had a few spots on it, can he strip it I said and I'll polish the metal and remove all the spots/pits etc and then he can have it back for chroming. So a few days later he turns up and says "He's chromed it but for some reason he's scratched it, dunno what on". I didn't want to say "Hang on he's only supposed to have stripped it" as I was getting a good deal and didn't want to chance spoiling that. However the chroming was pretty good, shame about the scratches, which I think was from the buffing machine". He wanted £30 for chroming it, my mate said no way are you paying for that and wouldn't take any money for it. I was going to have it stripped to see if the scratches came off with the chrome/nickel layer but haven't got round to it yet.

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