CB550f 1976 back from the dead project.

[Bert Jan]

Back in business!

The Honda hub is smaller then the YZF hub and therefor i needed to make adapters to make the brakes fit.
Didn't have alumium or funds, but found the perfect adapters. in the YZF wheel i did not sell eventualy hehe..
Don't think explainations are needed, it's pretty straight-forward machining.

I felt smart when i discovered the adapters being in my workshop all month

Eureka!

Best. Lock. Ever.

Also use an hacksaw to get rid of some knobs to accomodate the lock and such.

 

[Bert Jan]

one of the rings didn't fit perfectly so need to mill it a little more. Therefor no more pictures of me pulling a 400ft wheelie.





yeah right.

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Holy Modification batman. I just found this thread, and what you are doing is a nightmare to me ! haha. Wish I had the skills to do that kind of work man. 8)

 

[Bert Jan]

haha that made me laugh so hard it's now my avatar!

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

haha that made me laugh so hard it's now my avatar!

+1 hahaha Stoked to see this build continue sir.

 

[Bert Jan]

140mm - check!

bits 'n pieces

she's so pretty, she can sleep indoors

bolted up

need to trim the bolts a little bit

sexy

I'm so goddamn happy this job is done. Took forever and was a royal PITA.

Checklist:
take a couple mm's of the wheel bolts
Bolt on calipers and bleed them with new braided hoses
install mx throttle (already in) with new grips
fix electrics and headlight
rear fender (already in)
buddy (flatter and shorter)

Shouldn't take to long from this point on.

 

[RustyOlive]

WOW!! Out standing fabrication Bert Jan
My thoughts on building my front end seem to be really close to yours. The adaptor plates are a great idea. Good to know the Yam from hud can be used as such, I was just going to fab mine from scratch... but your idea fits my wallet better. LOL

I'll be following your build closer. 8)

 

[Bert Jan]

Hey Rusty,

thanks!

Have to say it was a tough job. When you are able to pick a fork, take your time and measure everything 3 times.
If i had to do it over, i would choose to use my time searching for a fork that needs minor mods instead of buying the first usd with nice pricetag that comes along and ending up with a lot to fab.

On the other hand, i know i'm competent enough and if i bought an 'easier' fork i would have thougt of something else to break my brains over hehe

btw if you google for 'cb550 interceptor' there's a guy doing the same thing with a set of conventional honda forks and 1 disc. looks cool. he has a build thread about forks wich i strongly recommend to you regarding your planned fork-swap.

 

[RustyOlive]

Oh!? Your talking about funjimmy's thread?! Ya, i've read that one over a few times. And taked with him over the issues.
All worthy info!

 

[Bert Jan]

Yeah, funjimmy's. I didn't take to much advice onhis "rake" lessons, so we will see if she goes smooth thru the corners

 

[RustyOlive]

I some what agree with you.
If our bikes were going to hit a track or fly down the hi-ways wide open... Which even on a good day on my 550, is pushing it beyond its factory-breaking point.. Hahahaha. Then, maybe i'll pay more attention to rake. But seeing as my bike is mostly a city booter and hitting the back roads in the country side from time to time. I'm sure its all good...
Plus, I've already changed so much in my bikes genometry, its never going to ride like the same old CB550 that rolled off the floor in 78.. Hahaha.

 

[Bert Jan]

my thoughts exactly

there;s one thing i need your (all of you) opinion about. funjimmy's adapters have rings to fit in the hub. for allignment and stiffness and such. i dont on one side. the 6 8mm 8.8 bolts are everything holding hub and bearing together. There's a little edge, about 3 or 4 mm that centers the adapter though. i hope it's clear, cant explain it any better.
are the 6 bolts strong enough?

chopped the bolts a bit btw, wheel is spinning free right now. ordered brake lines and worked on the throttle.. few more weeeeeeeeks!

 

[Bert Jan]

small update to avoid the 30days whining... Installed braided brakelines.

working on my gf's cb200 most of the time i have off.

 

[Bert Jan]

Today i bleeded the brakes and found out my clutchline is shot. Came between fork stopper thingy damnit. another $40 down the drain. Hope to make it fit on my gf's clutch or brake for the cb200 cause the line is broken near the banjo.

brakepads are against the discs, causing a drag. Will this dissapear when riding or do i need to clean em up. It's not THAT bad, i can still push the bike without to much effort.

 

[Bert Jan]

Been very busy with school and my gf's cb200 engine. That thing is gonna be awesome

Did a little tinkering on a taillight i bought. I think it's to big for a taillight. Instead, i'm going to use the housing to accomodate my speedometer and ignition lock. Odds are they are EXACTLY the same in diameter!

Removed all the little bits 'n pieces. Just speedometer, oil and neutral lights. No tacho either.

the lighter is in there to keep the meter straight...

Going to take care of the inside of this thing on the lathe, so it will become a ring to lock up the speedometer.

end result (planned), without the ring on it obviously.

next to being a perfect fit it's a rigid lump of metal, so ideal for my ignition lock and wiring shizzle.

Also fixed my front brakes (calipers came without mounting bolts, 10x1,25 is damn hard to find here in the Netherlands..)

Like i said i have been doing massive engine work on my girl's CB200. I guess she will be updating lots-o-pics tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Bert Jan]

just bought myself some sweet bluespot 4 piston calipers cause the costs were even between that or revision kits and such.
Gonna look killer
Not much news.. 3 months till graduation, so busy wih that most of the time..

I also found out i can still use the original tacho cause i used the "original hub" part. Have to check the speed though and adapt the tacho plate with the numbers. Easy,i have that open already. life's gooooood!

Anybody know where i can find info regarding the scale on the tacho without using a GPS and marker alongside?
Some formula or both the rev numbers from the cables? YZF750 94' vs cb550f '76

 

[Bert Jan]

gonna slap em on this afternoon. Heard somewhere they won't fit without modifing the fork legs?

 

[Bert Jan]

Mounted the calipers today. Forks needed to be filed (not sure about if that's the correct word..) but it's all good now. they clear the spokes by about 2mm. Enough
Seat and rear fender building will be done in coming week. very busy with school/

 

[Bert Jan]

update:

new clutch hose, calipers mounted and bleeded, rear fender in mock-up and working on the seat.
used FunJimmy's idea on the fender. The mounting part got chopped and i removed a large piece from between the fender. Then welded them together again. Will get some resin over it to smooth it out.
Pics:

Wood? wtf?

Determing center:

Skwweekkkk skwweeeek skweeek (you know, when a tool made for wood is used on aluminium )

Swing!

 

[Ringo]

Very slick! Mind telling a little more about your hydraulic clutch swap? I've been wanting to do that. The one I've been eyeing basically just replaces the cable:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150758011347?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649