1978 CB550 Pieces/Parts Hellride

[irk miller]

We were close, but not quite to the point of running when school ended for summer. Had a couple mishaps- throttle cable broke- that put us back. Now the bike is back in my garage and on the lift again.

There are a couple of changes I’ve been meaning to make. I lopped off a bunch of seat. I finally have my head wrapped around a design for side covers which led to my plan for the tail.

This has become another loooong term project.

 

[irk miller]

Knocked out a bunch of details and tweaks I’ve been putting off as I wait on the metal to machine spacers for the front rotors. Note: I stole the brakes off of this bike to install on my Airhead (same front end), so now I need to remake them. I also stole the headlight.

Had to do some heat bending on the rear brake pedal and the shifter. I have no idea what the origin model of any of these parts are. All stuff from the bins. UJM I also fabbed a clutch cable bracket, because I don’t have a 550 one, or know what they look like. LOL

 

[Brodie]

That switch block is fabulous.

 

[pidjones]

That switch block is fabulous.

Very Ed "Big Daddy" Roth-ish.

 

[irk miller]

Sculpting bodywork. More work to be done, then this gets coated and cast in glass. Under the painters tape is insulation foam which is super easy to cut and sculpt. Once it’s sculpted, the tape sands pretty easy before coating and gaps can then be filled with putty for a more perfect surface. I don’t care about making a mold to replicate, so not worried about perfect surfaces. I just want it close. I’ll refine the fiberglass layer instead. This will be a one piece unit.

 

[Rider52]

Great design!

 

[irk miller]

Thanks!

Next: an epoxy coating (Smooth-On Epsilon 101) which will get sanded and refined a bit before it’s ready for glass.

 

[irk miller]

Glass up.

 

[Maritime]

Nice. So is that a mold you are then going to make the piece from, or finished piece?

 

[Jimbonaut]

I tried fibre glassing some repairs on my old VW bus and made a right meal of it. You make this shit look easy Irk, and it isn't. Nice work man

 

[irk miller]

Thanks, y’all.

Mike- if I was doing this for a stock or mildly altered frame, I would’ve made a more refined buck, then cast it as a mold to reproduce more. Since I doubt there will be too many CB550k’s with a Husqvarna subframe and EX500 rear end, I decided to just do the one-off. LOL.

I’ll be doing a fair bit of body work on this, but I’m cool with that.

 

[Maritime]

That makes sense to me Irk. Looks good.

 

[Jimbonaut]

Bit of a pivot. My '82 CB750 has been a proper shitshow the last few months, but I'm pretty sure it's carb related. Will be trying yet another hail mary on them this week but I'm close to chucking my toys out the pram and buying a new set. Notice you've got some of Murray's carbs on your 550 - got any real-world feedback on them? I know he offers a set for the DOHC 750 and pretty soon I may be weighing my options.

 

[Maritime]

Bit of a pivot. My '82 CB750 has been a proper shitshow the last few months, but I'm pretty sure it's carb related. Will be trying yet another hail mary on them this week but I'm close to chucking my toys out the pram and buying a new set. Notice you've got some of Murray's carbs on your 550 - got any real-world feedback on them? I know he offers a set for the DOHC 750 and pretty soon I may be weighing my options.

Pretty sure he'll say do it. He has like 4-5 sets and one was on the CB750.

 

[irk miller]

Bit of a pivot. My '82 CB750 has been a proper shitshow the last few months, but I'm pretty sure it's carb related. Will be trying yet another hail mary on them this week but I'm close to chucking my toys out the pram and buying a new set. Notice you've got some of Murray's carbs on your 550 - got any real-world feedback on them? I know he offers a set for the DOHC 750 and pretty soon I may be weighing my options.

Haha. Like Maritime says, I would do it. I love Murray's carb kits and now he is casting manifolds instead of welding them, so even more reason to get a set.

 

[Jimbonaut]

Moreso than the Keihin Special CR carbs? Despite the fact that those things are twice the price of Murray's do you know if they are that much better?

 

[irk miller]

Moreso than the Keihin Special CR carbs? Despite the fact that those things are twice the price of Murray's do you know if they are that much better?

My rudimentary brain would suggest that very little is better for performance than a CR carb set. But, the MC kit is tuned for plug and play performance on a street bike, and it will perform in the range you want it to- like cruising down back roads at 60mph, or red light to red light.

 

[Jimbonaut]

Good to know. Hoping to fix the problem in the Keihins but options are always a good thing

 

[ex119x]

My '82 CB750 has been a proper shitshow the last few months, but I'm pretty sure it's carb related

Just remember that 90% of carb problems are really electrical issues. Those DOHC Hondas are known for igniter issues.

 

[Maritime]

Just remember that 90% of carb problems are really electrical issues. Those DOHC Hondas are known for igniter issues.

This is true. Jim those ignitors can over heat and then the spark degrades, it would fit your 45 min ride then shit the bed, then fine after cool down