Mike's CB550 Project

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

CWC fitted my 400 front tyre on back to front, to their credit they collected the wheel & delivered it back f.o.c.

[Sesman]

Thanks guys. Needles have been adjusted with carbs in situ. The clip was on the 4th slot down from the top so I have relocated in the 2nd groove down from the top. Wheels back with the tyres on correctly so I will be refitting to the bike tomorrow. Well that’s the plan.

Out of interest, Mike. You are running with full airbox and filter? I ask simply as the previous guy probably wasn’t with those settings?

[Mike_Berkshire]

Yes I am and when I got the bike it had no air filter so I assume the needles had been raised to compensate for the weaker mixture without the air filter.

[Mike_Berkshire]

Is there a trick to torquing the front wheel spindle? I have a couple of wrenches with different drives; both are conventional socket wrenches. I can’t see it’s possible to get the socket over the spacer nut as the hex part of the nut goes adjacent to the wheel hub and therefore I can’t get a socket over it?

[Bryanj]

Never used a torque wrench on one, just tight as both ends are clamped in forks

[Mike_Berkshire]

Thanks Bryan. Front wheel now on. Rear wheel has a puncture so back to the shop Monday; frustrating!

[Mike_Berkshire]

A good day today - got to the bottom of the charging problem. It turned out that the alternator earth was 5 ohms. On further investigation I discovered that the earth wire at the rear of the 8-way connector back into the main loom was missing; I assume the 5 ohms was from some other random route back to earth. Fixed the missing earth wire and presto - 14V across the battery at about 2.5K revs.

The strange thing is that at no point has the field coil magnetised the bolts that hold it to the alternator housing.

There seems to be less carb hang too now - maybe lowering the needles has helped this?

Refitting indicators, fuel tap and number plate next.

[Mike_Berkshire]

Last few jobs done. Just need the ignition switch bracket (on
It’s way thanks to a kind forum member) and I can do a test ride up the lane opposite the house.

[Rozabikes Tim]

That's looking nice with tasteful mods. You should be rightfully proud.

[Laverdaroo]

That’s looking very nice Mike, simple mod’s and dontt they make a difference?
Great job mate


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Looks nice, very retro, like the tank colour.

[Johnny4428]

Like the look of the bike, there will be good rasp from that exhaust. Any indicators?

[Mike_Berkshire]

Thanks guys :-) and well spotted Johnny - yes there are indicators but I took that picture before they were fitted. They are ultra-bright mini LED ones, you can just see see the right hand rear one in this picture

[Rozabikes Tim]

Thanks guys :-) and well spotted Johnny - yes there are indicators but I took that picture before they were fitted. They are ultra-bright mini LED ones, you can just see see the right hand rear one in this picture

Cool looking numberplate, both letters involved and colours against the bike.

[Johnny4428]

Very discreet Mike, yes like the quirky number plate. Describes the bike obviously!😂