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Neils 1978 CB550 F2 Project - Newbie Let Loose
Bryanj:
If you are ordering Hondamans fusebox consider his electronic ignition box, it keeps the points but reduces the current flow so points dont wear out.
No matter what some members say the 500/550 has only just enough generator power, especially with the later halogen headlight and needs to be turning at quite high revs to charge, most electronic ignitions use more power than points as they leave the coil "turned on" for longer and if you fit 3 ohm coils its even worse.
Setting points and timing can take a bit of time but once do is usually ok for at least 3,000 miles so how much riding are you going to do in a year?
If you insist i still have a couple of dyna knock offs i imported last year for a reasonable price, me i am sticking to points
Oddjob:
I second those comments. Plus, as the harness ages the connectors start to deteriorate and more and more resistance builds up lowering the charging even further. Heavy traffic and constant use of brake lights and indicators can drain the battery to the extent that the engine stops.
Using the Hondaman fuse box also stops the theft problem the old fuse box had which meant you could get the bike started using no tools at all.
Neilw:
--- Quote from: Oddjob on February 07, 2026, 01:00:55 AM ---I second those comments. Plus, as the harness ages the connectors start to deteriorate and more and more resistance builds up lowering the charging even further. Heavy traffic and constant use of brake lights and indicators can drain the battery to the extent that the engine stops.
Using the Hondaman fuse box also stops the theft problem the old fuse box had which meant you could get the bike started using no tools at all.
--- End quote ---
Do you think its worth just replacing the harness for one from David Silvers to head off any potential problems, alongside the new upgraded fusebox?
Also, I've just got to the cleaning stage, engine, carbs and purchased the Berryman® Chem-Dip® - Carburettor & Parts Cleaner, as I saw a demo on YouTube. But the instructions that came with it have scared the life out of me, and I don't think I could use the product safely. What do others use to clean the grease, carbon desposts and the carbs?
Oddjob:
Lots of negative reports on the DS harnesses, wrong colours used and no literature to tell you what they are meant to be.
My harness I removed from my 500 is actually from a 550F2 I bought as a write off back in the late 70s. I liked the fact it had multiple fuses instead of the single one on the 500 so I ended up with a lot of 550 parts on my 500, something I’m quite happy with. A few years ago I bought a NOS F2 harness still sealed in its bag. My existing harness is in really good condition with just one splice where I installed a dual ignition lock. Easy to revert back to standard. Not sure yet what harness I’ll use when I rebuild the bike later this year. I also have a brand new aftermarket harness made by one of our members on here called Big Al. It’s very good. That’s for sale if you’re interested.
Neilw:
Small Update
I've been working on taking the head apart, with a view to relapping the valves and also painting. I've decided to get the top-end soda blasted, as it's taking me ages to get them clean and the paint removed.
I had a go at cleaning the tops of the pistons; they all have a coating of carbon, which I've mostly removed.
However, at the edge of one of the pistons are two small chips, almost opposite each other, and I wonder if the piston is still okay to use? There is no damage in the cylinder, it was from. See pics.
One of the pistons has some light pitting, which I can't really feel with my finger and may polish out. Is this something to worry about?
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