1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed (now a Roller!) Yes..

[tdc57]

Hey team,
I know I’m the new guy here, but I just thought I jump in with both feet and share my latest project, I’ve got a 37 year old motorcycle that I picked up a few weeks ago (cheep!)

As is (not running) but it did run the last time the owner tried it, (17 years ago).. Or at least that’s what I told. Regardless, I’m going to perform a total restoration on it, Via “old school” Café racer. Basically since I’m an artist who paints WWII Nose Art, I’m pretty much designing the bike for that purpose. Yeah.. I know I’m a little different.

Please note I’m a visual kind of guy, so I’m basically walking you through the process / steps that I’m taking.

I hope you enjoy the project / pics.


Here what I get to work with..

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

Overall, IMO not a bad looking bike

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

Let the teardown commence:

I started with the carbs, why, well because when I open up the master cylinder to look, I saw this! I don't even know what the hell this is?, a mixture of water, fluid, and IDK??

So that’s why

Dam thou, this is ugly too.. lol.. oooo well anther fun project to keep me up a nights, well for a few months anyway..

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

OK.. after an overnight bath in the cleaner (Simple Green) this is what I have now, a clean bank of carbs to start with..

Here’s some more shoots;

Yeah…. I polished, and polished and polished some more..

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

Then I painted them,.. Its kinda what I do.. Yes, I used the right kind of paint too, no worries..

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


And then when you add the two together you get this.. Yes I did rebuild all 4 carbs

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


I’m also started working on the bike itself too,

I figure I’ll take apart the front end and see what I have to work with, while I still decide the bikes overall fate.

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


Soo lets take a closer look at those forks shall we.

Yeah… I’m going haft to rebuild both of these.. no worries thou, as long as I know now.


Time marches on and while I’m waiting for my seals I decided to do a little polishing.

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


After the seals arrived, I rebuild the front shocks and slapped everything back on the bike, just to see what it going to look like before the real progress commences.

Once I changed out the points, cleaned out the gas tank and rebuit the crabs, it fried right up.. Dam thing sounded good to, so I'm proceeding with the project..

Woow.. I haven’t even started anything on this side yet.. hahaha

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

Here’s a before and after shoot.. I defiantly think all of the polishing is paying off.

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


Well that’s enough “fluff” for now, its time to get serious with it, i'll strip it down and actually start the project..

I’ll need to update this to electronic ignition, I found several sources but their all around $140.00.. so IDK.. any thoughts / experiences team?

If slim bikes are in, I’m screwed, this looks more like a hipo.. hahaa

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


All of the wiring is out the bike (safety) I might add.

This does not look good, I’m going to pop off the head and see what’s going on here.

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


So now with everything that needs to be removed as been and now it time to take it outside for a bath..

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


After everything was dry it looked a little different.

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


Here’s what my part bench is starting to look like

Now its time to turn my attention to the rear wheel, it sure needs some help.

Here’s what it looks like after a few minuets

Ooo yeah, I also removed the rear arm lets see where this goes, I’ve got an idea.. hahaa

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

Now lets add tire and shook I’ve been working on and see what we have, Actually we have the making / first look of the “old school” look I’m go for.. Right on!. Please note.. I just painted up the WW on one side of the tire only. I wanted to see what it looks like..

 

[haplo_84]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

wow, way to jump into it man!

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build

Progress continues with the following, removal of the motor, stripping the old paint off and simi buffing the frame..


Last of the bits and pieces before the motor removal

The one man way of removing a motor.. Lets hope I’ll have some help getting it in..

So with the motor out, I stripped everything else off it, and it felt real good to get to this point..

 

[tdc57]

Re: 1974 Honda 550~Four – WWII Themed Café Racer build


Here we go… Now progress is being made.. we do like forward progress.

Here’s what we, the raw material..