Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl *WIRING QUESTION Pg 4*

[TowelThief]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

Yea its the right one and im going the right way...just f'ing stuck....ill post pics up this weekend for you.

GOT IT! ;D

Started pissin oil...lovely....next step to get the engine out but here some pics before I drained the oil.
Clutch cable was a bitch to get off.

And heres the rust from the headers....best way to get it off? They'll be painted so...

 

[GB400 fan]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

i'ld find a soda blasting firm and get them to go over all the bits you want cleaned. it will take your pipes down to bare metal without damage!! its actually really good on everything, check out my rebuild thread for before and after pics of how the motor turned out!
it shouldn't cost you much to get everything you want done, including the frame!

 

[RedRocket]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

My suggestion would be to soak your exhaust nuts in penetrating oil (WD-40) before you try to break them loose. when they are that rusted you run the risk of break the stud and dealing with more problems.

 

[bikeboy]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

Started pissin oil...lovely....

...and you were expecting a river of gold ? ;D

Good news. Cross that off and move on to the next jobe eh? Looks like you're having fun.

ian

 

[TowelThief]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

...and you were expecting a river of gold ? ;D

Good news. Cross that off and move on to the next jobe eh? Looks like you're having fun.

ian

Oh yea....I almost have the engine out....just a few more bolts....but idk how to actually get it out...Should I jack it up? Should I remove the top end (the breather cover needs to come off if anything for the bottom to clear)?

 

[bikeboy]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

Oh yea....I almost have the engine out....just a few more bolts....but idk how to actually get it out...Should I jack it up? Should I remove the top end (the breather cover needs to come off if anything for the bottom to clear)?

well, I can tell you I took my 400F out by laying the frame down and lifting it off the motor. I was dismantling the whole thing at the time, so the wheels were off as well. It seemed like a good idea, and worked well as a one-man operation. Had to take the breather cover off, as well as the sump. Others may have different procedures? The 900 has a removable frame section that lets you drop and slide the motor out.

ian

 

[TowelThief]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

well, I can tell you I took my 400F out by laying the frame down and lifting it off the motor. I was dismantling the whole thing at the time, so the wheels were off as well. It seemed like a good idea, and worked well as a one-man operation. Had to take the breather cover off, as well as the sump. Others may have different procedures? The 900 has a removable frame section that lets you drop and slide the motor out.

ian

Yea I laid it down on its side....front wheel still on lol....breather cover on(there's a screw that wont budge and its kinda stripped)...just the oil pan cover, and oil filter off.. lifted the frame off the engine.

I'll post pics here soon, but now im just gonna take the swing-arm off and the front suspension off and send her to get sandblasted and coated.

 

[TowelThief]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

 

[TowelThief]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

Stage 2
The money begins to disappear.

sandblasting should be done within the week.

 

[TowelThief]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

Few questions....

Do the steerting stem races come out?

On the swingarm:

Do the bushings on the back end of the arms come out?

Same with the collar and seals/washers on the front side?

Cause those mothers dont budge I think they need machine pressed out. Or cut.

 

[Big R]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

Everything you mentioned - if it doesnt come out easily, then yes it needs pressed out.

Sorry man.

 

[TowelThief]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

Everything you mentioned - if it doesnt come out easily, then yes it needs pressed out.

Sorry man.

Well the rear bushings on the swingarm look like they come out and on the 350/400 swingarm they do; but the manual for the 500/550 doesnt say they do but also doesnt look like there are any in the picture...ill take some pictures...Its all being sandblasted right now with them in there cause Im just planning on getting new everything.

 

[JRK5892]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

ahh bud! here is so much greece and crap in there you should pull them before blasting! or else when you pull them out you will get that goop all over your freshly blasted parts!

 

[TowelThief]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

ahh bud! here is so much greece and crap in there you should pull them before blasting! or else when you pull them out you will get that goop all over your freshly blasted parts!

too late lol

 

[TowelThief]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

Okay guys im too the point where Im just gona start ordering all the things i need and collect them for when Im ready to put her back together so I don't have to waste time waiting on parts.

So first off Im looking for a good quality set of Clip-on's as well as rear sets...for a decent price of course but I know a lot run high.

 

[TowelThief]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

Okay guys im too the point where Im just gona start ordering all the things i need and collect them for when Im ready to put her back together so I don't have to waste time waiting on parts.

So first off Im looking for a good quality set of Clip-on's as well as rear sets...for a decent price of course but I know a lot run high.

The back of my frame is being chopped and welded with a rear hoop that has a slight upward bend, some signal brackets, and battery box brackets.

Whats the best way to degrease an engine? The stuff is caked on there...I know I'm gona have to take it apart because there are alot of grooves and tight spots with crud in them...is there any solvent i can put the parts in?

 

[Big R]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

Couple cans of engine degreaser and kerosene will do wonders. Just dont use a pressure washer - it can get water where it shouldnt be. Some small brass brushes, tooth brushes, and a nice kitchen sink brush work well too.

remember to lay down a drip / catch pan and have some rags around too.

 

[TowelThief]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl

Rear hoop done and welded turn signal brackets put on along with battery brackets and also smoothed out the factory welds and chopped brackets i didnt need...this was done by a buddy with a shop down the road, Bent Kustomz....Im gona slowly build up my tool collection and skills to one day do all this myself but right now, with school and sports, im too busy.

 

[TowelThief]

Re: Noob building a 78 CB550 Cafe - Pearl *Frame Done*

Forgot the seat brackets lol.....

About the wiring...Where do most of you guys hide all the stuff on the wiring harness that's originally across from the battery? Do you need all of it? Im only running headlight, tail, back turn signals, kill switch, lights and turn signal. This bike will have a brat style seat