There is No Such Thing as "Hoarding" when you work on classic bikes: everything gets used. Eventually. Building my own '76 cb550 cafe racer. You're a yooooge help. Thanks.
The whole front brake system on my CB350F was garbage, there was no fixing it, ended up replacing everything with new parts and upgrading to an 80's master cylinder
I just brought 2 CB550s home yesterday. Neither of them are ready to ride, but both are fairly close. The front brake on one of them was leaking really badly, fluid coming all out of the caliper. It was leaking so bad the master cylinder wouldn't build pressure at all, fluid would just shoot everywhere. I'm used to newer calipers where you can put some air in there and shoot the piston out. I think I can probably build a jig to allow me to bolt the caliper up to a piece of steel with a piece of plywood to catch the piston, but wanted to check and see if you had any hints before going through that trouble? Also I feel dumb asking, but how do you remove the pads from these calipers?
For anyone that runs across this in the future, I ended up having to run some screws into the brake pad material on the piston side of the caliper and then i was able to get hold of those and pull the pad out. It had seized in there from so much fluid leaking. Once I saw how small the piston was I just set the caliper across 2 little 2x4 cutoffs and used compressed air to shoot the piston out.
Ended up pickup up a '73 500 last week and after watching your videos over the last month it's been a blast to work on. Thanks again. A couple questions if you get time.... 1) I had the same issues with the master cylinder/caliper lock up. I have the caliper all apart and am about to sand the inside and lightly sand the piston as you had to. Once you were finished, how easily should the piston slide in with the new seal and a bit of brake fluid as lubricant. I can't get it to go in really at all at the moment but the inside needs a bit of work. 2) Did you find a delrin or plastic style washer in the recessed end of the piston, the bit that goes towards the pad backing plate/metal piece. I can't find this delrin washer in any manual/parts fiche and I notice it isn't on your table of parts either so I'm thinking it shouldn't exist. On the pad side of the piston, right in the center of the piston is a circular bulge and this larger washer fit the bulge while also staying within the walls of the piston recession. It's strange...... 3) What is your clutch lever off of? Thanks man, keep it up!!!!!!!
Hi @MotoCal, 1.The brake caliper piston should slide in relatively easy. If it doesn't you may need so sand a little more to remove any corrosion. 2. I did not have that washer you're talking about. As far as I know that's a spacer for different thickness pads. If you're keeping the same pads I would just keep it in there. 3.The clutch lever is just a universal one I got off of Amazon or Ebay. Most 7/8'' levers should work just fine. Good luck with your project!
Thanks man. Ended up doing the sanding and you are right it slides in beautifully. 260 grit did a great job. Appreciate the feedback on the other questions. Reading up now on forks. Trying to find your link to the clip on's you had in one of the videos. Might source a more modern master cylinder too. Looking forward to more videos, have a good one!
Hey man, I have a cb750 & I replace The master cylinder and all the brake lines including the brake pads. Then I bled the brakes got all the air out of them. Now the brake pads are on the rotor are so tight the wheel will not move. Does this mean I need a new caliper? 🤷🏻♂️
It means your piston has seized in the caliper. Usually the action of the piston seal is enough to pull pad and piston back from the disc when you release the leaver. I would recommend a caliper rebuild. Replace the seal unlike the numpty in this video (they are cheap enough and its brakes! at the end of the day). If the piston is anything other than perfect and i mean perfect replace it or it will just tear up your new seals and possibly bind again. Its so cheap to replace both piston and seal you would be silly not too imho
Hey man, was wondering do I have to get a specific master cylinder for my own 550 or can you use a universal one? Right now I have drums and want to go back to disc on the front
Did you add a front brake switch to the master cylinder when reinstalling it? I have one and it currently doesn’t work; any advice on how to fix or what part/wires to replace with? Sorry, it sounds like I’m asking a loaded question.
Yeah my bike doesn’t have the 3 way connecto half way down. Looks like previous owner installed some kind of switch where the brake line connects to the master. Then ran one continuous hose to the caliper. What would Classic Octane do here?
Just replied to your other message about the start button. For the kill switch it looks like yours should be the same as mine. Black(Common power) on one side and the black/white wire running to both coils on the other.
which levers did you use for the front brake and clutch - i mean you need some that are fitting the brake piston 14 mm to make it work good is that i don't wanna use the originals because they aren't looking that good and they are very very long :( your videos are awesome!
Classic Octane, I've loved the videos! I have a 1974 master cylinder that needs a rebuild. I read on SOHC4 that 1974 and older models use part number 45530-377-305 as their rebuild kit but you have the 45530-404-315 kit from amazon. Im reading that they both work in the CB550k Just wondering what the difference was and if one was better than the other. This is the forum link. Thanks for the help and keep up the good work! other.forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=65011.0
There is No Such Thing as "Hoarding" when you work on classic bikes: everything gets used. Eventually. Building my own '76 cb550 cafe racer. You're a yooooge help. Thanks.
Using a large syringe and hose and push fluid up into system from bleeder screw. Make sure master cap is off. Air travels up . Great vids !!
I haven't ever tried it that way. Thanks for the tip I will be on the look out for a syringe for next time. Thanks for watching!
The whole front brake system on my CB350F was garbage, there was no fixing it, ended up replacing everything with new parts and upgrading to an 80's master cylinder
Loved this playlist.. quality build .. many thanks for taking the time to post up 😎
Awesome, thanks for watching!
I just brought 2 CB550s home yesterday. Neither of them are ready to ride, but both are fairly close. The front brake on one of them was leaking really badly, fluid coming all out of the caliper. It was leaking so bad the master cylinder wouldn't build pressure at all, fluid would just shoot everywhere. I'm used to newer calipers where you can put some air in there and shoot the piston out. I think I can probably build a jig to allow me to bolt the caliper up to a piece of steel with a piece of plywood to catch the piston, but wanted to check and see if you had any hints before going through that trouble?
Also I feel dumb asking, but how do you remove the pads from these calipers?
For anyone that runs across this in the future, I ended up having to run some screws into the brake pad material on the piston side of the caliper and then i was able to get hold of those and pull the pad out. It had seized in there from so much fluid leaking. Once I saw how small the piston was I just set the caliper across 2 little 2x4 cutoffs and used compressed air to shoot the piston out.
I wish you would have shown on camera the work you did, but thanks.
Ended up pickup up a '73 500 last week and after watching your videos over the last month it's been a blast to work on. Thanks again.
A couple questions if you get time....
1) I had the same issues with the master cylinder/caliper lock up. I have the caliper all apart and am about to sand the inside and lightly sand the piston as you had to. Once you were finished, how easily should the piston slide in with the new seal and a bit of brake fluid as lubricant. I can't get it to go in really at all at the moment but the inside needs a bit of work.
2) Did you find a delrin or plastic style washer in the recessed end of the piston, the bit that goes towards the pad backing plate/metal piece. I can't find this delrin washer in any manual/parts fiche and I notice it isn't on your table of parts either so I'm thinking it shouldn't exist. On the pad side of the piston, right in the center of the piston is a circular bulge and this larger washer fit the bulge while also staying within the walls of the piston recession. It's strange......
3) What is your clutch lever off of?
Thanks man, keep it up!!!!!!!
Hi @MotoCal,
1.The brake caliper piston should slide in relatively easy. If it doesn't you may need so sand a little more to remove any corrosion.
2. I did not have that washer you're talking about. As far as I know that's a spacer for different thickness pads. If you're keeping the same pads I would just keep it in there.
3.The clutch lever is just a universal one I got off of Amazon or Ebay. Most 7/8'' levers should work just fine.
Good luck with your project!
Thanks man. Ended up doing the sanding and you are right it slides in beautifully. 260 grit did a great job.
Appreciate the feedback on the other questions.
Reading up now on forks. Trying to find your link to the clip on's you had in one of the videos. Might source a more modern master cylinder too.
Looking forward to more videos, have a good one!
Great video
nice videos been watching the series
Thanks! It's just about done then i'm going to get to work on my CX500.
Hey man, I have a cb750 & I replace The master cylinder and all the brake lines including the brake pads. Then I bled the brakes got all the air out of them. Now the brake pads are on the rotor are so tight the wheel will not move. Does this mean I need a new caliper? 🤷🏻♂️
It means your piston has seized in the caliper. Usually the action of the piston seal is enough to pull pad and piston back from the disc when you release the leaver.
I would recommend a caliper rebuild. Replace the seal unlike the numpty in this video (they are cheap enough and its brakes! at the end of the day). If the piston is anything other than perfect and i mean perfect replace it or it will just tear up your new seals and possibly bind again.
Its so cheap to replace both piston and seal you would be silly not too imho
Any chance your lead in "music" is the starting of a CL77 Scrambler?
It was a CB550 now it's my Triumph.
Hey man, was wondering do I have to get a specific master cylinder for my own 550 or can you use a universal one? Right now I have drums and want to go back to disc on the front
Thoughts on stock air filters versus the ones on this bike (what brand are they?)
Pod filters are a huge debate amongst older Honda owners. I personally like them and haven't had issues getting my bike to run reliably with them.
Did you add a front brake switch to the master cylinder when reinstalling it? I have one and it currently doesn’t work; any advice on how to fix or what part/wires to replace with? Sorry, it sounds like I’m asking a loaded question.
These Honda's use a pressure operated brake switch that T's into the line about halfway down.
Yeah my bike doesn’t have the 3 way connecto half way down. Looks like previous owner installed some kind of switch where the brake line connects to the master. Then ran one continuous hose to the caliper. What would Classic Octane do here?
Hi can send me a picture of your connection on your kill swicth and start botton
Just replied to your other message about the start button. For the kill switch it looks like yours should be the same as mine. Black(Common power) on one side and the black/white wire running to both coils on the other.
how did you manage to remove the piston? mine is seized and i dont know how to take it out without damaging the components.
Leave the brake line hooked up and pump the lever to push the piston out using brake fluid.
which levers did you use for the front brake and clutch - i mean you need some that are fitting the brake piston 14 mm to make it work good
is that i don't wanna use the originals because they aren't looking that good and they are very very long :(
your videos are awesome!
I used the factory brake lever and a universal clutch lever on this bike.
Damn I cannot fit my stock MC with my clipons. Did you have any issues?
No, the ones I got were 7/8" just like the factory bars.
They just hit the clip ons now. I just found out if i flip the clip ons upside down I can get away with it!
Where do you get your seats from?
Tuffside.com
Classic Octane, I've loved the videos!
I have a 1974 master cylinder that needs a rebuild.
I read on SOHC4 that 1974 and older models use part number 45530-377-305 as their rebuild kit but you have the 45530-404-315 kit from amazon.
Im reading that they both work in the CB550k Just wondering what the difference was and if one was better than the other.
This is the forum link. Thanks for the help and keep up the good work!
other.forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=65011.0
I would check out 4into1.com and select your exact model. I had good luck with the one I bought.
What bike stand is that?
amzn.to/2xLt2MA I have had good luck with it so far.