Mike's CB550 Project

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

As Bryan has said the parts book is very good at identifying where things like O rings or oil restrictors fit.

As you probably know the block base gasket fits on the crankcase, the larger four block seal rings fit in the groove on the underside of the block. You will need to use red rubber grease on them so they stay in place when you fit the block over the pistons. You also have the fiddly part of fitting the cam chain tensioner blades. You might find it helpful to read that section in my 500 project thread (Page 35) or another members thread.

Using the search facility on this site will also list posts where a subject has arisen before so you can be read a variety of solutions & outcomes.

[Mike_Berkshire]

Thanks Bryan and Ted. Im not sure which model mine is. VJMC did the certificate for the registration and they call it a 1976 CB550K. I assume that this equates to the K3 parts book although I cant see any difference in the gaskets/O rings etc between the three CB550 parts books; I assume it doesn't matter. Ill have a trawl through the old posts using search over the next week or so. I have redgrease that I used for reassembling the carbs which I will use on the O rings so thanks for the tip there.

[Bryanj]

No its a CB 550K2(probably) which is basically a 500 with a 550 motor in it, we never got them but USA had loads.
There is an old 550 parts book on Ashs list, i know as i sent it him.

[Mike_Berkshire]

That makes sense as mine has the tank without the flap over the filler cap. Incidentally, I was looking at a 400/4 at the weekend and the the front wheel and disc brake looked very similar to my 550; are they identical?

[Bryanj]

No, the 40 is a different hub, rim, disc, spokes etc but the caliper is the same

[Mike_Berkshire]

After a few days out of the shed focusing on other tasks I got the new main bushes and shock bushes in the swinging arm this morning and refitted the cleaned up brake pivot, swinging arm and centre stand into the repainted frame. There is a washer/plate that from my pre strip down photos goes under the nut of one of the centre stand pinch bolts. (RHS I think). It looks as if a spring hooks onto it. Unfortunately I didn’t take a photo of what hooks onto this little plate; what fits on here? Cheers.

[Johnny4428]

Mike that’s the plate for the battery vent if you’ve got a lead acid battery on your bike.

[Mike_Berkshire]

Thanks Johnny. That explains it. The bike had a cheap sealed battery fitted with no breather tube. No breather tube means there was nothing that I detached from the plate and therefore no photo. A great help, thanks.

[Mike_Berkshire]

I have a couple more questions as I continue to put the frame and swinging arm back together. I have fitted new shocks to the swinging arm and the top of each shock is as it was on the bike when got it is as follows working from outside in: the dome nut then a plain washer, then the grabrail and lastly the top mount bush of the shock absorber. I have put it back together like this. There is no torque setting specified in the manual. When I tighten the dome nut I can see the rubber bushing bulge out a bit between the grabrail and the frame; is this right? For the lower mount, there is a bolt with no washer that screws through the shock mount bush and into a receiving thread on the lower shock absorber mount. There is no spring washer or similar to prevent the bolt loosening with vibration etc; again, is this right? I have checked both the Haynes manual and the parts book and there are no other parts specified. Thanks, Mike

[Bryanj]

Simple answer Yes

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I'm sure Bryan is correct, I put a thin SS washer between the top of the shocker & the grab rail, likewise on the damper nut, I just thought it looked better. Also a more symmetrical squeeze on the top damper rubber.

[Mike_Berkshire]

Thanks guys; much appreciated.

[Mike_Berkshire]

Hi, I’m collecting all the bolts to fit the steering yokes now that the old school new bearings are in and snugged. In the manual there is a spacer in the top yoke where the pinch bolt clamps the top yoke to the fork tube. I swear this spacer wasn’t fitted when I stripped the bike. Do I need to fit these spacers? See part number 12 in the picture. Thanks, Mike

[Bryanj]

Are you sure thats a 550 parts book, i think they were only on early 500 and 750

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Is that the washer with a flat on it to stop you over tightening the clamp bolt & cracking the top steering head?

I filled a flat on a SS washer on my 500.