SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

Steering stem interchange

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glhonda:
I have a '71 cb500 four. K1? It's presently in an old Savior chopper frame. Because I'm a gluten for punishment, I intend to put it back on the road. It was always a death trap, but it's on my bucket list so.....
I have the same problem that has plagued this vintage of Honda. The upper tree clamp ears break. I know I can spend eight hundred dollars for a new triple tree, but I'm cheap. I'll be using the stock diameter front tubes.
Who has a definitive interchange with a sturdier upper clamp? Thanks.

Oddjob:
The CB550F fits, it has smaller drillings in the stanchion clamps, 7mm as opposed to 8mm for the 500. So it uses a smaller clamp bolt and that means less torque and more metal left on the clamps.

The downside, it uses bigger clocks but then the 550K2 used the same size clocks so it's still look original. Saying that the bigger clocks light better at night, 2 bulbs as opposed to one, they are easier to see with them being angled toward the rider, whereas the 500 is almost flat. They are also better looking IMO.

Bryanj:
There is no "sturdier" ont any 500 or 550K up to 76 will fit and the clock mounting bracket from yours will fit

glhonda:
Clarification please. Oddjob. The 550F will work if I don't use the original clocks (Gauges?). This is a chopper, so aftermarket speedo and tach will be used which would eliminate the need for stock gauges/brackets. Simply using a smaller bolt doesn't necessarily add to the strength of the entire surround. Is the casting thicker?
BryanJ. Is your comment based solely on the bracket fitment or are there not any sturdier pieces that will fit. Again, this will not be using standard gauges.

Oddjob:
AFAIK the casting wall is the same size, I could be wrong and they were cast different, it is a different casting to the 500, however as the hole running through it is smaller then the walls left are thicker, they don’t seem to suffer breakages like the 500 does. Saying that, the 500 is supposed to use washers fitted into the slot to limit the amount the casting can be compressed, a lot are left out when rebuilding due to lack of knowledge of what they were fitted for in the first place.

I’ve got a 550 top yoke fitted on my 500 using the 500 bottom yoke, so it does fit. The clock mounting plate holes are different between the 500 and 550, so no the 500 clocks won’t fit, However if you’re not using standard clocks anyway that’s not an important factor. Clocks equals gauges yes.

Does that help?

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