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CB550 First Build - Hondvarna?

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matthewmosse:
Either use as is / coat of cheap paint and put up with a less than perfect finish (which is what I'd do cos I'm tight) or replace. Check the spokes for pitting as it can be inconvienient if they snap in service. I had one do this at 60mph on a backroad, the wife was not inpressed at me being late to pick her up from the station and I was very glad I had a good spare at home. Be particuarly suspicious of painted spokes as this was what hid the state of mine from view.

cinqmars2:
Ha, I think it will be worth investing in new spokes, don't want to risk them falling through on me, this comes to mind, watch from 2:45:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS3NE9G1qlA

 ;)


Well I successfully avoided any real work yesterday and looked into getting replacement rims. On the US forums they are always banging on about Excels or Suns, I've had Excels on a few crossers with no troubles at all so I know they're good for it, but I'm struggling to find someone who sells them in the stock dimensions, 19" front and 18" rear no? Does anyone know the width offhand? Or better, laced stock 550 hubs with Excels? They're not the prettiest of rims though, if anyone could suggest better looking (no logo) or something with a nicer section then I'm open to suggestions, always been a fan of the completely square rims like they used to use on the old late 60's/early 70's flat trackers...

Seeing as I've got two swing arms now, I'm planning on making a truing stand to build the wheels on, in a non-damaging way if possible, I've built a few wheels before for bicycles but this will be the first for a motorcycle, guess there's a first time for everything...  :)

Ewan 500 K1:
 ;D

1. front forks used as truing jig
2. swingarm used as truing jig

both unmodified and okay for using as parts again

cinqmars2:
Ah they're great! Sorry for the (very) late reply but I've been working on a film for the last month and haven't had time to scratch my arse, let alone play with bikes.

Before the project, I bought another bike on eBay, and believe me, it made complete financial sense  ;)
I found a lot that consisted of a frame, two pairs of forks, tank, electrics, swingarm, lights and an engine which, most importantly, had a set of carbs. I won the whole lot for £150, a sum that I feel is a bargain for the carbs alone! Although I'm stoked on it, my housemates feel otherwise and, as a result, have half a CB550 in my bedroom...

I'll be disassembling the new engine and selling the parts individually, cleaning and tidying as I go, there seems to be significantly more money to be made this way from what I can tell on eBay.

The only actual garage progress has been in de-tabbing the frame, I'm halfway through, going slowly as I can't afford any mistakes! Will post pictures if I remember to take some, would be good to have opinions on this as it's the task that's worrying me the most. The other thing has been working on the stator cover from the new engine, my original is so beat up you can barely read the Honda emblem. I'm not a fan of the fins so I got rid of them and will spend a couple of hours this weekend making it shine. Hopefully I'll get to spend more time on it now I've not got as much on!

cinqmars2:
So I've been tinkering here and there but not really getting anywhere substantial. I'm getting the feeling that I'm actually making some things worse, for instance I got itchy and tried to de-tab the frame with nothing more than an angle grinder with one grinding disk and one cutting disk. Suffice to say, the cutting disk went before I was even half done and the grinding disk just ate everything in sight, I've got a load of flat patches on the frame now and I'm worried that I've done some irreparable damage :( I know the tubing is dead thin on these bikes and any compromise to the integrity could be fatal to the machine, or even myself...

I feel really stupid about it and wish I had the patience to save up for proper tooling.

You can see the flat spots clearly in the last photo, should I get accurate measurements of the lowest diameters? Would anyone here be able to advise as to whether it's now dangerously thin? If so, what options do I have? As mentioned, I have another frame, which was involved in a head-on. The backbone and headstock are screwed but the rear is as straight as an arrow. Any room to chop and change that back end?

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