Orlando, FL- starting a 74 CB550f Cafe Conversion

[Big Splash]

So, I used to ride my baby relatively stock and bought it because... well, aestetics. Electrical problems insue, lost key coupled with a guilt of innadequate maintenance make me park her in the garage. Fast Forward 3 years of it sitting in my garage and then, after I graduate college, I come home and start the teardown. I am a super begginner: I have primitive tools, that I JUST bought, and a clymer's manual. So, then I see some cafe racer photo's and I have been obsessing. I am here to ask both mechanical advise and cafe racer advise. I greatly appreciate any hints/tips and will not be offended if you call me ignorant (about mechanical crud) because I am. Daddy, didn't love me.
SO, question one: I am going home to her with a new, charged up battery and see how it turns over. I plan to drain the 3 year old fuel from the tank and carb, and put in some mid-octane chevron techron fuel. Is there any other suggestions before I see where it stands? Also, I tried the throttle and it is VERY tight. Rusted maybe, but not seized. Is there anything I should be looking for?

Thanks again, fellas (and ladies)

 

[muzak]

So, I used to ride my baby relatively stock and bought it because... well, aestetics. Electrical problems insue, lost key coupled with a guilt of innadequate maintenance make me park her in the garage. Fast Forward 3 years of it sitting in my garage and then, after I graduate college, I come home and start the teardown. I am a super begginner: I have primitive tools, that I JUST bought, and a clymer's manual. So, then I see some cafe racer photo's and I have been obsessing. I am here to ask both mechanical advise and cafe racer advise. I greatly appreciate any hints/tips and will not be offended if you call me ignorant (about mechanical crud) because I am. Daddy, didn't love me.
SO, question one: I am going home to her with a new, charged up battery and see how it turns over. I plan to drain the 3 year old fuel from the tank and carb, and put in some mid-octane chevron techron fuel. Is there any other suggestions before I see where it stands? Also, I tried the throttle and it is VERY tight. Rusted maybe, but not seized. Is there anything I should be looking for?

Thanks again, fellas (and ladies)

Was the tank at least full? If you left fuel in there for 3 years with no fuel stabilizer and it was anything but topped off, you're likely going to have some rust built up. If so, you can line it with Por-15; this stuff works great. You will more than likely need to do a carb dip as well. That in addition to changing the oil, with a new battery, I bet she'll start right up. Not sure about the throttle, hard to diagnose things over the internet, but you may just need to clean and lube the cable.