"Traveler's" 1977 CB550K Cafe build
- Thread starter Traveler
- Start date
boomshakalaka
Over 1,000 Posts
So Ive been following your thread for a bit, pretty nice build so far. I think I posted before that I am also a big fan of the CR style tanks, and that seat flows nicely with the tank. I think someone else pointed out that those mirrors just have to go, theyre just clashing with everything else. Also, have you thought of getting the frame powdercoated? Youve gone through so much to clean the engine, and dropped quite a bit of dough on the tank/seat combo, it almost seems silly to just leave the frame with its dingy nearly 40 year old finish.
Hoosier Daddy
Earache my eye...
Whew, I just read your entire thread before work, page 13 was a little speedy but I want to chime in and say WOW! your devotion and patience are top notch! I can not imagine doing the polishing of those fins let alone the rest of the engine and frame work all with hand tools.
AWESOME BUILD!
AWESOME BUILD!
Thanks.
Powdercoating the frame is something that would come after the bike is completed and has been through alot of shakedown runs.....
The engine cleaning is time consuming to say the least. I took a break from it and went to other stuff for a few days to avoid burnout....now, I'm back on it, then the rear wheel gets the same treatment as the front.
After that, the scrubbing SHOULD be done. :-\
~Joe
Powdercoating the frame is something that would come after the bike is completed and has been through alot of shakedown runs.....
The engine cleaning is time consuming to say the least. I took a break from it and went to other stuff for a few days to avoid burnout....now, I'm back on it, then the rear wheel gets the same treatment as the front.
After that, the scrubbing SHOULD be done. :-\
~Joe
Joe you can always wrap the motor and electronics up in foil, pull the tins.... scuff the frame and shoot the frame with the motor in that sucker... i have done it in the past. just takes time to prep that sucker up... that is what we did on my brothers goldwing build, didn not pull the motor and it looks awesome!
makes the bike look like brand new, we used a gray scuff pad, wiped down with denatured alchole, and tacked cloth.... hit the whole frame. taped up parts we did not want hit, and went to town. took one night to prep, one night to shoot... night and day diff... it would realy make that motor pop and show all the work that went into it with a clean black frame...
pulling the wheels off these old scoots is a snap, hell if i was you i would just take off the front brake, and pull the whole front end off with the tubes. foil wrap your trees, pull off the rear wheel, foil up the chain... you already relocated your electronics so that is a simple cover, your new air box is simple to wrap, then just cover the motor in foil.... i get it from the dollar store. bet the whole deal would take you maybe a night to prep and another night to shoot. cost you 10 bucks tops! give it a whole new look and really make all the work you have done shine bud!
makes the bike look like brand new, we used a gray scuff pad, wiped down with denatured alchole, and tacked cloth.... hit the whole frame. taped up parts we did not want hit, and went to town. took one night to prep, one night to shoot... night and day diff... it would realy make that motor pop and show all the work that went into it with a clean black frame...
pulling the wheels off these old scoots is a snap, hell if i was you i would just take off the front brake, and pull the whole front end off with the tubes. foil wrap your trees, pull off the rear wheel, foil up the chain... you already relocated your electronics so that is a simple cover, your new air box is simple to wrap, then just cover the motor in foil.... i get it from the dollar store. bet the whole deal would take you maybe a night to prep and another night to shoot. cost you 10 bucks tops! give it a whole new look and really make all the work you have done shine bud!
+1 for what JRK5892 said, when I did my rebuild I copped out and just shot the frame while I had the back wheel off, left on the front end and the engine, nobody but me would ever know she wasn't down to the frame when I painted her though (well except for you guys lol).
I also used Duplicolor Engine Enamel, semi-flat though, turned out great and has stood up very well. I didn't bother to clear it either so I can just spray any trouble spots as needed. I wire wheeled pretty much the whole frame (had some rust), hand sanded it all very quickly, then wiped with alcohol and tack clothed it. Oh yah I used self etching primer too, actually based on a recommendation from JRK5892 way back.
As for the mirrors I'd throw on some bar ends on that sucker, I just put some on mine and they look amazing, change the whole look of the bike.
I also used Duplicolor Engine Enamel, semi-flat though, turned out great and has stood up very well. I didn't bother to clear it either so I can just spray any trouble spots as needed. I wire wheeled pretty much the whole frame (had some rust), hand sanded it all very quickly, then wiped with alcohol and tack clothed it. Oh yah I used self etching primer too, actually based on a recommendation from JRK5892 way back.
As for the mirrors I'd throw on some bar ends on that sucker, I just put some on mine and they look amazing, change the whole look of the bike.
Basement rat
Over 1,000 Posts
That engine enamel is some of my favorite spray paint to use.
tWistedWheelz
BUILT NOT BOUGHT!
WOW, took me a long time to catch up on this build! I did not realise I had never commented on this build, so it never poped up in my replies! I had to go through like 5 pages to catch up! Sorry I never said anything before, I did not even realize that I didn't. Anyway, this bike is coming together very nicely! Sean really did an maizing job on that tank and seat! I love the four cylinder Honda's! This is really going to be a head turner for sure when its done! Great work and keep it up! I will be sure not to get behind on this one again!
Cheers!
Cheers!
Well, got my motor done:
I also got the carbs all cleaned up and ready to go
And good riddance to this:
All I need to do is put the pipes back on...here's a view of where we're at:
Some parts of the engine will receive a final buffing with WD-40 and a white scotchpad, but the hard part is DONE!
~Joe
I also got the carbs all cleaned up and ready to go
And good riddance to this:
All I need to do is put the pipes back on...here's a view of where we're at:
Some parts of the engine will receive a final buffing with WD-40 and a white scotchpad, but the hard part is DONE!
~Joe
Had a productive day....nice and warm...lots of sunshine.
Started by getting my fork stabilizer mounted. I drilled a hole in the frame right where the cross bracing is, as that is the strongest section. I then tapped the hole, and since there was a bit of play in the threads, I used red loctite and screwed the heim joint in....after it was dry, I assembled the rest.
I then went ahead and installed my 3 inch shorter tach cable I got from Motion Pro
After that, I went ahead and installed the battery. As you can see from the pics, it is in nice and tidy
I then mounted a painted "L" bracket, and mounted the rectifier up nice and neat...where it can get "air"
I then finished up the day by laying out my rear drum holes, and getting them started. It was then my battery went dead on the cordless drill....so I decided to stop for the day.
~Joe
Started by getting my fork stabilizer mounted. I drilled a hole in the frame right where the cross bracing is, as that is the strongest section. I then tapped the hole, and since there was a bit of play in the threads, I used red loctite and screwed the heim joint in....after it was dry, I assembled the rest.
I then went ahead and installed my 3 inch shorter tach cable I got from Motion Pro
After that, I went ahead and installed the battery. As you can see from the pics, it is in nice and tidy
I then mounted a painted "L" bracket, and mounted the rectifier up nice and neat...where it can get "air"
I then finished up the day by laying out my rear drum holes, and getting them started. It was then my battery went dead on the cordless drill....so I decided to stop for the day.
~Joe
