CB550-4 cafe' build

[YogiBear]

Engine looks beautiful!

 

[sxecafe]

That is a great deal for sure, but if you had read the entire thread you would have seen that I bought a block and matching pistons to replace the seized ones.

Sorry I just got excited to share it with someone else.

 

[TerryK]

Lol, no problem. I didnt mean to come off sounding like a dick. Thanks for sharing that link! GREAT deal and I would jump on it if I was looking for a piston kit.

 

[TerryK]

So...the engine, carbs, pipe are all almost done.



Carbs cleaned up well but I didn't go with the finely polished look for time and patience reasons.

Pipe was BAD. It took me about 2 hours of grinding and sanding to get it to look decent.

Ready for paint.

Full restored stator cover. I think it looks the TITS!

Decided to go old school and drill some "cooling" holes in a spare backing plate I have. I think it looks awesome!

 

[YogiBear]

The stator cover looks amazing. Did you polish and paint it?

 

[TerryK]

All the engine covers were polished by wet sanding with 400 emery cloth, then 600, then 1000 then with Scotchbright then with the buffing wheel using green compound followed by jewelers rouge. Long and tedious process to say the least! The outer cover is made of light, soft aluminum and is held on with 3 pins with steel expanding spring clips. I removed the cover and GENTLY hammered out the small dents with a small plastic hammer. I filed some of the high spots down to get rid of some of the small gouges but you can still see some of the worst ones, but most of them are gone. I then painted it with VHT "Cast Aluminum" high heat paint. Don't use the "Aluminum" paint if you are looking for a more silver look as the aluminum paint is very shiny.

Once the paint was dry I then masked off the oval around the Honda logo and painted the center with semi gloss black paint. Once it had dried for about an hour I used lacquer thinner on a rag and carefully stripped the black paint off the letter

 

[YogiBear]

So much attention to detail. You have more patience than I do.

 

[TerryK]

So much attention to detail. You have more patience than I do.

Lol, well thanks. I just got carried away! I can't help myself. This thing was supposed to be a vintage bike with vintage, used looking parts and now its a vintage bike, with vintage, shiny parts! (except the fuel tank, that is staying how it is, faded and blotchy looking)

 

[TerryK]

Got my NOS, unopened, spun aluminum CB550 velocity stacks yesterday. They change the entire feel of the bike and are baddass to say the least.

 

[TerryK]

Well, it's alive! Finally fired the little Honda up last night to check everything out. No oil leaks, one carb dribbled a bit but that cleared up and it runs a bit off but thats to be expected considering how this bike was built using parts from at least 6 bikes and the engine (most of it) hasn't run in three years. I'll tweak the tuning once the rest of the bike is mostly completed.

 

[TerryK]

I figure its time for an update. Been really busy with work so progress slowed a bit, but the bike is 99% done. Just have a few minor details to finish up like painting the tail piece and finishing the under seat aluminum work. You'll also notice I skipped the rear sets and knee dents. I like the look and riding position as is.

My buddy Henry welding up my seat mounts, electrical mounts and pipe.

The end of the pipe before paint. Notice the recessed muffler.

Little muffler packed and ready for install. I wanted to take the "edge" off the exhaust note.

Painted and installed. I like it!

New seat pad. I had it professionally done after a couple of shitty attempts by myself lol.

Battery will live here.

Electrics rough mounted. Have to loom and tie it all neatly. I also installed a plug for the tail light so I only have one plug to undo when taking off the seat.

My son Photoshopped the tailpiece green to match the tank. I like it!

 

[bikeboy]

My son Photoshopped the tailpiece green to match the tank. I like it!

me too. Now if he could work that panel graphic in there somehow, you'd have a winner I reckon. That 90 degree bend in the pipe isn't something I'd do, but I like the idea a lot. I think I'd make it a softer bend. You've cleaned up the electrics really well, and they're really well hidden.

Looking great.

ian

 

[TerryK]

me too. Now if he could work that panel graphic in there somehow, you'd have a winner I reckon. That 90 degree bend in the pipe isn't something I'd do, but I like the idea a lot. I think I'd make it a softer bend. You've cleaned up the electrics really well, and they're really well hidden.

Looking great.

ian

Thanks,

Panel graphic is the idea. Once I paint it then I'll work it out but I have the general scheme in mind. Softer bend? The radius of the bend is much larger than the head pipes, something like 5 inches.

 

[bikeboy]

Softer bend? The radius of the bend is much larger than the head pipes, something like 5 inches.

Sorry. meant softer angle. the 90 looks a bit 'severe' to me. Maybe angled back a bit.

I think that's what I was trying to say :


Either way, bike looks clean. Love that authentic tank.


ian

 

[YogiBear]

me too. Now if he could work that panel graphic in there somehow, you'd have a winner I reckon.. I think I'd make it a softer bend. You've cleaned up the electrics really well, and they're really well hidden.

Looking great.

I agree, I really like the front sprocket cover. Is it chrome?

 

[TerryK]

Sorry. meant softer angle. the 90 looks a bit 'severe' to me. Maybe angled back a bit.

I think that's what I was trying to say :


Either way, bike looks clean. Love that authentic tank.


ian

Ah. I thought about that but I wanted to have it coming straight out the side and into some poor car drivers window! ;P

 

[TerryK]

I agree, I really like the front sprocket cover. Is it chrome?

Nossir, I polished it/

 

[YogiBear]

Nossir, I polished it/

Really? It looks amazing!. What polishing compound did you use, if you don't mind me asking.

 

[TerryK]

Really? It looks amazing!. What polishing compound did you use, if you don't mind me asking.

Well, the covers were BADLY corroded so it took a lot of work. Average of three hours for each large cover.

First a wet sand with 360 grit emery cloth, then another with 400, another with 600 then 1000. That's no less than 4 complete sanding jobs on the same part. I use Varsol instead of water for wet sanding as the Varsol cleans the emery as you work it and the cloth gets a better bite. It just works better than water.

Now clean the part up and hit it with a Scotchbright until you have a decent shine. Now you can break out the buffing wheel and use a green compound. Take your time and be sure to wear gloves and safety glasses as buffing this stuff is messy! I always try to move the piece in one direction. Don't go all over the place, just a nice back and forth motion.

 

[YogiBear]

Well, the covers were BADLY corroded so it took a lot of work. Average of three hours for each large cover.

First a wet sand with 360 grit emery cloth, then another with 400, another with 600 then 1000. That no less than 4 complete sanding jobs on the same part. I use Varsol instead of water for wet sanding as the Varsol cleans the emery as you work it and the cloth gets a better bite. It just works better than water.

Now clean the part up and hit it with a Scotchbright until you have a decent shin. Now you can break out the buffing wheel and use a green compound. Take your time and be sure to wear gloves and safety glasses as buffing this stuff is messy! I always try to move the piece in one direction. Don't go all over the place, just a nice back and forth motion.

spoken like a pro. thank you.