1974 CB550K Cafe Racer!!!!!

[hmenzies]

Hey everyone! This is my first bike and I am excited to get working on it. I'm finishing up my last year in high school. This is a long term project! I got the bike from a guy for $450. When i picked it up, it ran with jumper cables hooked up. The battery was bad. But other than that it works. It needs some love and a thorough cleaning to get it running well though. Can't wait to turn it into a cafe racer!

 

[kzcafe82]

Sweet bike. I see the potential for a nice cafe racer. Good luck with you build!

 

[Red Devil]

Cool!!

 

[Speedorchid]

welcome! That will look awesome...set up a paypal account and get buying...ha ha.

 

[Nojokirk 75cl360]

hey dude, how do you post a build thread?

 

[hmenzies]

I've got a decent amount of rust in the tank. I have had some Evaporust sitting in it for a couple days now. Filled it up with a lot of bbs too. Every day I go out and shake it around and put it in a different position. What should I go to keep it from rusting again? Also is Evaporust the best thing to use? I've heard vinegar works. Also update: i took the carbs out The tank and seat are also off. The guy who sold it to me had lost the key and jerry-rigged a switch. I replaced the switch. Now I have to figure out how to mount it! He lost the factory ignition bracket.

 

[hmenzies]

hey dude, how do you post a build thread?

You go to the section you want and click New Topic

 

[Poopwink]

Nice find, get after it!

 

[YogiBear]

you've got a great starting point, looking forward to the build

 

[hmenzies]

Pulled out the carburetors and took them all off. Muddobber nests were falling out while I was taking it apart. The grime is caked on there. Do I need to replace the small orings on the fuel line connections? Will orings from Lowes dissolve in gasoline?

 

[hmenzies]

I am gonna use the stock tank on this bike and make a seat that turns up in the back, somewhat like a tracker. I've got a very rough mockup of my paint scheme. Today I'm off to get 3 gallons of vinegar and a bunch of lemon juice! Oh and chrome drag bars too.

 

[hmenzies]

The guy I bought it from had lost the key and mounted this to replace it.

I ordered an EMGO ignition switch now I just have to fab a bracket for it.

 

[YogiBear]

lol, gotta love 'fixes' like that from previous owners. ;D

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Fabrication at it's finest!

 

[Bert Jan]

Cool bike! i have a '76 550. They're really easy to work on and always run as long as there's gas and battery.

Bit late to say i guess, but it's kinda essential to keep the parts you take out of each carb with each other. Each needle has other worn patterns and when you mixmatch the carb parts you might end up with a bike running worse then before.

 

[hmenzies]

There is a short rubber hose that connects each carb together. What is this part?

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/1978-honda-cb550k/o/m9449#sch400930

At first I thought you were talking about the "fuel rail" type piece that goes between them. (its between the number 1's which are o-rings on the drawing on bike bandit.)

Now i'm thinking it's just a breather tube and on mine there wasn't ANYTHING there...but mine was a 76' Do they go to dead ends? I don't think those are necessary,hopefully someone else can chime in if they ARE indeed needed.

 

[hmenzies]

http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/1978-honda-cb550k/o/m9449#sch400930

At first I thought you were talking about the "fuel rail" type piece that goes between them. (its between the number 1's which are o-rings on the drawing on bike bandit.)

Now i'm thinking it's just a breather tube and on mine there wasn't ANYTHING there...but mine was a 76' Do they go to dead ends? I don't think those are necessary,hopefully someone else can chime in if they ARE indeed needed.

im pretty sure it is the fuel rail between the 1s on the diagram. are they vacuum breather tubes or fuel lines?

 

[Modgod1]

There is a short rubber hose that connects each carb together. What is this part?

If we're talking about what I think your talking about, it's just a bit of fuel line. Should be 5.5mm, but that's impossible to find these days so just use 3/16" (5mm)

 

[hmenzies]

If we're talking about what I think your talking about, it's just a bit of fuel line. Should be 5.5mm, but that's impossible to find these days so just use 3/16" (5mm)

It is smaller than 5.5mm. I think its about 1/8"