Honda-SOHC

SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: Johny Boy on March 31, 2026, 05:35:23 PM

Title: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Johny Boy on March 31, 2026, 05:35:23 PM

Hi all,  I thought I would share a little win!

The bracket for the rear brake switch appears to be discontinued.

I have made one from a standard 1 quid 50 x 50 x 20 bracket from Screwfix.
Drilled out one hole to dia 11 to suit the rear engine mounting.
Drilled the second one to dia 13, cut 25mm off the end and added the slot.

Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Johny Boy on March 31, 2026, 05:36:22 PM

With switch fitted

Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Johnwebley on March 31, 2026, 05:39:10 PM

Excellent

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Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on March 31, 2026, 06:15:30 PM

Nice bit of adaption. :D

Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Towsejames on April 01, 2026, 07:26:20 AM

This sounds very interesting. Do you have any photos?

I only ask as I’ve just bought a 1976 cb550F and the kick start hits the rear brake lever, meaning the kick start can’t be used. I’ve tried looking at some pictures of bikes in that area off google photos and similar but haven’t found any real reason why mine hits.

Along with this I am missing the rear brake lever return spring and currently the lever only has the brake light switch spring to hold it up. I’ll try and grab some photos later on.

I’ve heard the cb550K and the cb550F have different kick stat lever and/or brake lever? (I think my bike could be abit of a mismatch, as it has a CB550F frame number but 550K tank and side panels.) But difficult to know which bits are which.


Any help would be appreciated.


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Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Johny Boy on April 01, 2026, 08:53:08 AM

Hi, I haven't fitted my kick-start yet, but I've had a quick look on CMSNL and it appears the brake levers are different

CB550F2 Part number:
46500390000

CB550K3 Part number:
46500404670

CMSNL is a great website for Part identification and supply, they have exploded assembly drawings for each version of the Honda models

Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Johny Boy on April 01, 2026, 08:57:31 AM

Also, Oddjob found this on ebay for me the other day
Return spring, discontinued now, so I would snap this up

https://www.ebay.com/itm/286777387009

Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Towsejames on April 01, 2026, 11:18:03 AM

Thanks for the advice, I do need one of those springs. Did you have to pay additional import tax with it coming from the US to Britain?


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Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Towsejames on April 01, 2026, 11:26:53 AM

Quote from: Johny Boy on April 01, 2026, 08:57:31 AM

Also, Oddjob found this on ebay for me the other day
Return spring, discontinued now, so I would snap this up

https://www.ebay.com/itm/286777387009

Ah they won’t deliver to my address anyway with it coming from the US. Did you get yours delivered to the UK?


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Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Johny Boy on April 01, 2026, 12:00:37 PM

I actually bought a kit of second hand parts from Bulgaria which had a spring in it.

I'm surprised they won't deliver to the UK?
Maybe try again as that is the only other one I could find anywhere

Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on April 01, 2026, 01:44:03 PM

I bought a good used  spring from two wheel spares, had to buy the lever as well.

Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Oddjob on April 01, 2026, 06:25:37 PM

The rear brake lever on a 550f is flat steel, on a 550k it’s round. If yours is round the kickstart lever will hit it.

Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Towsejames on April 02, 2026, 10:47:15 PM

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260402/838e8c1a864adea84d0b619594a7de33.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260402/010b142fb828d3f48ed78c76e1075d80.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260402/6b7d6554b7854bd4e93150df99fbe115.jpg)
Here is what’s is happening. I think the footpeg and brake switch are mounted incorrectly and maybe I have the wrong brake lever and or kick start lever?


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Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Johny Boy on April 02, 2026, 11:14:59 PM

Hi, mine is mounted on the bolt above where yours is, it's the rear upper engine mounting bolt.
The bottom of the spring hooks onto the inside of the pivot part item 12, in the notch
But mine is a homemade bracket!

Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Johny Boy on April 02, 2026, 11:38:43 PM

I've just had a look at my kick start lever, it does seem to have much bigger offset than yours, but it has obviously also hit the brake lever a few times in the past. Although mine came without the brake lever

Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Oddjob on April 03, 2026, 01:22:41 AM

You have the right setup Johny boy. The 550f got a r/h footrest that folded up to get out of the way of the kickstart. The 550k didn’t get that. The part of the kickstart that bolts to the splines was also much much wider to get the kickstart far enough out to avoid the 4 into 1 system the 550f got that the 550k didn’t.

Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: mickwinf on April 03, 2026, 11:31:27 AM

towsejames, looks like you have k3 footrest and brake lever and kickstart on your f frame. the f1 and f2 had a folding footrest that mounts on a stub on the frame, you can see a nut just under the swingarm bolt. the k3 has the footrest on the main engine mount bolt and is quite long to give space for the exhausts, and the f kickstart does have a big offset to clear. as oddjob mentioned the f2 has a flat pedal to help with clearence but still often fouls slightly.

Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: mickwinf on April 03, 2026, 11:34:04 AM

just found this pic of my f2 before resoration

Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: Towsejames on April 03, 2026, 01:13:50 PM

Quote from: mickwinf on April 03, 2026, 11:34:04 AM

just found this pic of my f2 before resoration

Thank you for this, and for the reply. I have ordered a 550F kick start lever to see if it will work with my set up. Failing that I will order a different footpeg and brake lever to suit. Providing I can find one


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Title: Re: CB550 rear brake spring bracket
Post by: mickwinf on April 03, 2026, 11:29:33 PM

I might have a footrest and brake lever will have a look.