The Dirty Swamp Rat '78 CB550k

[smajure]

So lets revive this thread.........
About a year ago I decided to change a leaking head gasket and pulled the heads to do so. Something told me to check the pistons and i found that there was detonation marks on them so I took them off. Its hard to see but those holes are a lot deeper than you think. So I said fuck it and tore it down completely and sat on the bench for almost a year as so many of us do. Yes you know who you are, well all of you.

 

[JustinLonghorn]

Good to see you back in the fold, my man. Is it going to be ready for the Thaw?

 

[smajure]

As things started to snowball I began to check the cost of new pistons and DAMN they are expensive! but you can buy the big bore kit for much cheaper. I then decided to port and polish the heads and sent them to someone that does racing heads. They should be back soon. The bottom end is back together waiting on everything else. For those of you taking a cb550 apart for the first time be wary of these bearings.They aren't sealed and hard to replace.

 

[Maritime]

Ha, back at it. Good on yah Scott.

 

[smajure]

Jen's 1st build. Yes she likes to wrench!! Yes it's a FZR 1000. We have had lots of issues with it but it's a monster now.

 

[smajure]

 

[smajure]

While waiting on the heads to return I picked up a 650 cam and cover set to take it one step further.

It's a direct swap all you have to do is change the cam sprocket and tach drive gear

 

[smajure]

When the heads get back....aherm! Junior!
I'll get the bore completed.
All in all she should be a real beast!
Yes Justin, I hope to be done by the Thaw.

Here she sits waiting.

 

[canyoncarver]

Missed ya buddy. Glad the 550 is going again, I could learn a thing or two from you doing it...mine is one of those "in boxes" builds right now.

 

[hunterrupp33]

I'm signed on. I haven't been on this forum in a minute, but I decided to get back on because my bike is finally going to be dug up from the grave (corner in my garage) that its been sitting in for almost 2 1/2 years now.

I'll being paying close attention since I will probably be ending up doing close to the same as yours.

 

[john83]

Tearing the engine down is something I'm hoping to avoid with mine. Glad you're making some progress though.

 

[papercutout]

Best forum banter, right here! Very entertaining read.

The bike actually looks good too, well done! Good job rebuilding the engine, not something I'd want to have been re-doing.

 

[smajure]

So when I took the transmission out of the parts washer two of these little guys showed up. I have looked at every part of the fiche. They are obviously a dowel ring for something but not this bike.

Sucks when you get stumped because someone didn't get all their stuff out of the parts washer. FYI it's not the ring around the rods for the heads. I saved those upon tear down.

Trying to place these makes me more confident about splitting the cases all other parts accounted for.

 

[smajure]

And then I decide to by the o-ring for the oil cleaner and what do I see? #6
Total parts list accounted for.

 

[Flugtechnik]

Well there you go. Solving mysteries like Scooby Doo!

 

[Maritime]

Nice. Spare parts after an engine rebuild usually leads to another rebuild ;D

 

[smajure]

Well there you go. Solving mysteries like Scooby Doo!

 

[Flugtechnik]

At least I wasn't sleeping next to a trailer tire.

 

[smajure]

gotta find that pic

 

[smajure]

The great Von Yinzer!!!!