My '77 CB550
Jun 3, 2012 20:01:21 GMT -6
Post by yardape on Jun 3, 2012 20:01:21 GMT -6
Picked up from B-Rad for a smokin' trade (thanks brew)! Nobody jumped on it, and I couldn't not get it with the way the market is these days. Not to mention huffman has thrown down the cafe gauntlet to all us local guys.
My first adventure is the head gasket. I was reading around and most guys who had a blown head gasket either had a little puffage out the tailpipe or had a little drip externally. I fired the bike off of a can of contact cleaner just to hear it and see where the leak was. The motor sounded great, but it literally super soaker-ed oil all over the wall inside my home shop. (DISCLAIMER: brad told me about the leak before I got the bike and even included a full top end gasket kit. I'm not griping or angry, I just thought it was funny)
I spent today pulling some spare accessories (anybody need a crash bar with built in highway pegs for $free-fiddy?) and the head off. Luckily brad also included a manual (see sig line below).
Although pretty carboned, the pistons and cylinders are seizure free and the isn't a major lip at the to of the cylinder (an indicator of wear). Let's recall this bike is 35 years old, and the best I can tell has never been into. I be a happy camper. As far as the carbon, you'd be amazed what a soft brass bristled brush and some funky old pre-mix will do.
The blessing of an oil leak is the amazing lack of rust on this bike. once again old pre-mix works wonders as a cleaning agent.
I just got it to have a bike to ride while the XS was in process. So I won't be into anything too crazy until this winter with it.
My first adventure is the head gasket. I was reading around and most guys who had a blown head gasket either had a little puffage out the tailpipe or had a little drip externally. I fired the bike off of a can of contact cleaner just to hear it and see where the leak was. The motor sounded great, but it literally super soaker-ed oil all over the wall inside my home shop. (DISCLAIMER: brad told me about the leak before I got the bike and even included a full top end gasket kit. I'm not griping or angry, I just thought it was funny)
I spent today pulling some spare accessories (anybody need a crash bar with built in highway pegs for $free-fiddy?) and the head off. Luckily brad also included a manual (see sig line below).
Although pretty carboned, the pistons and cylinders are seizure free and the isn't a major lip at the to of the cylinder (an indicator of wear). Let's recall this bike is 35 years old, and the best I can tell has never been into. I be a happy camper. As far as the carbon, you'd be amazed what a soft brass bristled brush and some funky old pre-mix will do.
The blessing of an oil leak is the amazing lack of rust on this bike. once again old pre-mix works wonders as a cleaning agent.
I just got it to have a bike to ride while the XS was in process. So I won't be into anything too crazy until this winter with it.
