SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

CB550F

<< < (2/4) > >>

Sesman:
Yes, the pattern ignition switches are just fine. Other potential failure points are the RH switchgear starter button, which can turn to goo and disintegrate.

Murf:
The 550 I am restoring is a 75 K1 so earlier than the one you are looking at, it was also a very neglected US bike that had probably been sourced from a scrap yard, then badly bodged by its UK PO to get it back on the road.  Luckily I think it had come from a dry climate area so rust has not been a big problem and most of the chrome has survived relatively well and wheels, mudguards, headlight ears are all usable. Looking at the quality of the chrome, which is 50 years old, I am sure we will never see chrome of this quality ever again.
So bad bits:- worn fork stanchions, knackered rocker cover, knackered cam shaft, knackered cam chain tensioner, stretched primary chain (no chain tensioner on these bikes. Leaking oil pump, needs new o rings, most oil seals on engine leaking, complete top end overhaul needed, carb rebuild needed, new wheel bearings and seals, new swinging arm bearings and collar, new brake hoses. New rear brake shoes, repairs to rusted out seat base, new seat cover, repaint frame, battery box and swinging arm, new fuse box, repair and or replacement electrical components. Wrong Speedo and rev counter fitted, check this as good ones are getting harder to find at a reasonable price.

Well  the list just goes on and on and I haven’t opened up the bottom of the engine yet. 
Neglected 550s can have a lot of problems however they are nice bikes to work on and I am sort of enjoying doing it, but I would rather be riding it😁.

So if you want a project and fancy a lot of work and spending a lot of money buy a crappy bike. If you want a bike to ride next spring and save some cash buy the best 550 you can find.
Good luck

florence:
When I bought my 1974 500/4 in boxes for £150 in 1995, I found the more I stripped the engine, the more problems I found.  Basically, it was worn out, probably from lack of regular oil changes by previous owners.  The camshaft and rockers were scored badly, bores very worn, even the crankshaft was out of tolerance.

Luckily, I managed to find a really excellent low mileage engine from DK Spares for £350.  They actually sent two, the first one I stripped the top end and found it was not in great condition so sent it back.  The second one was found to be excellent though.  I was told it had only done 7K miles.  Being quite particular, and as I had the spares already, I fitted a new cam chain and tensioner, rebored my spare barrel, fitted new pistons and rings and have been running this ever since, changing the oil and filter every 1000 miles.  I am convinced this makes an enormous difference.  It has been a very cheap bike and now the clutch works properly, I love it.  Great fun to ride, even goes round corners reasonably well, although hoping to upgrade the rear shocks soon.

DomP:
Ken gave me the number of a bloke in south Wales that can reline brake hubs, i can dig it out unless he pops up with it

Grewth:

--- Quote from: Bryanj on November 28, 2025, 07:45:48 AM ---Yes you can reline the drum, just have to find a man with a lathe

--- End quote ---
Thanks for that,  I've obviously been mis-informed.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page