[borzwazie]

Hey all, just checking in. Today is my birthday, so I conned the wife into spending some cash:

Only $50 bucks! Got a title and everything.

As you can see, the fork seals don't exist anymore, and the bike is very grimy with green and rusty corrosion in lots of places. The motor does turn over though. It's got a CB500 motor in it, apparently the guy that owned it before wedged it in.

That's the original tank sitting there on the floor, but I'm told it leaks, and it's crusty inside, so it may not be worth saving.

The mufflers you see on the floor are off some Harleys and the guy had his own CB with these on it, I've got em so I can pass inspection after I get it running, as the originals are cracked in a bunch of places and kind of rusty.

Heck, I even got the key, bonus!

If you follow this ( http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2005\11\23\bikepics-472165-full.jpg ) you'll see pretty much what I'd like to do to it.

Happy birthday to me!

 

[jaimesix]

Happy day dude.

Nice bike, I can imagine it all cafeed with clip ons and running. Congratulations. Make it happen

Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

 

[JackC]

Happy Birthday! Looks like $50 was a STEAL. Some guys have to pay nearly that for the KEY.

 

[Lance]

Nice score those twin Hondas are sweet and have great cafe bike potential.

84 FJ110
77 CB50 Cafe bike now
76 parts bike
74 Suzuki t500 soon to be on the road

 

[Quicklimegirl]

Oh hell yeah! $50 for a titled bike that'll turn over is great! Send the seat of to Sargent in FL or get that tail section at Glass from the Past, new fork seals, some clubman's or clip-ons, a new tank, perhaps some rearsets and new shocks....whatever else you deem appropriate...you should have a solid machine for well under 4 figures.
I love the pic you posted of how you'd like it to look that's a sweet looking bike! I'm not into 4-stroke vintage bikes but I'd love to find a deal like that...way to go!

Edited by - Quicklimegirl on Dec 17 2006 12:00:40 PM

 

[borzwazie]

Thanks for the replies - and thanks for the link to Glass from the Past, that's a good site.

 

[krapfever]

As long as it isn't seized up, should be relatively easy to get running. Looks like those carbs been puking for a long time. Might be a good place to start. Electrics may be an issue considering its an engine swap (who knows what kind of "quality" wiring the previous owner(s) subjected the poor girl to? Don't be too dismayed if you find some lamp cords duct taped in there.)

Give it a good brillo-job and a fresh battery (you can jump start bikes from a car battery - just don't do it with the car running). Buy some new plugs, pull the carbs, remove the float bowls and spray the shit outta them with carb cleaner (get in the jets and metering passages real good). GET A MANUAL and check the points/timing and kick her over. Good Luck!

Honda go sideways!

Edited by - krapfever on Dec 17 2006 8:36:50 PM

 

[ROSKO]

I think I have a spare 450 tank in that color if you need it....

BORN TO LURK, FORCED TO WORK.
www.NYCvinMoto.com
www.VinMoto.org

 

[jaimesix]

Before you try to start it , I suggest taking the spark plugs off and squirting some "Mistery Oil" into the cylinders. Mystery Oil, if not familiar , is sold everywhere ( auto parts places ) , it is a red bottle , comes in quart bottles. it is great for loosening and lubricating metal, and ideal for cylinders that have been dormant for a while.
Change the cranckcase oil, filter, and check the points/ ignition . I would install new points, and if posible disassemble the carbs and clean them.

By doing this, you will asure a trouble free bike. The rest is cosmetic, basics first.

You are going to have fun and good times with that bike.

Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

 

[borzwazie]

Thanks for the suggestions! You guys obviously knew what questions were coming, didn't you?

I didn't much chance to look it over this weekend, but I did pull off some of the completely dry-rotted fork covers, and found no pitting underneath. There may be pitting up higher, but not where it really counts, so got lucky there.

The spokes are a write-off, and I'll have to lace new ones on. They're pretty pitted. The rims are a little crusty, but I bet I can buff them out, no problem.

I took a look under the seat, the wiring didn't look too bad, and I didn't find any mice nests.

I also hosed down a lot of the bolts with Liquid Wrench to let them soak for a while.

Thanks for the suggestions about the oil in the cylinders. Marvel Mystery Oil is pretty easy to find here, so I'll get some of that tonight.

Rosko, I'd be interested in the tank, you can email me at yahoo, same user name.

Were there a lot of differences between the CB450 and CB500/550 regarding engine internals? They're both DOHC and they look exactly the same from the outside. I better get a manual for both, I guess.

Do you guys recommend that I tear the motor down completely? How hard is this motor to disassemble? Am I gonna need a press to split the case?

 

[ROSKO]

a total rebuild would be a pain. if she turns check the compression, do a leak down test, change the fluids, clean the filter, pry the clutch plates apart.... plenty to do. In my experiance these Honda engines will run after sitting quite a while as long as you make sure everything is solid. new battery, new plugs, check ALL bullet connectors, check that all switches work... you should be able to get it to fire if all this stuff is done. get a factory manual NOT a clymer/ hayes. Engine is too complicated for their vague info.

450 and 500 engines are FUNCTIONALLY the same, diffrent cylinders and transmission gearing.

http://www.osg.se/sweb/cb450/index.asp
http://www.cb450dohc.com/
http://groups.msn.com/HondaCB450DOHC/classifiedforum.msnw
http://www.design-classic-cars.de/honda/450k-01.html
http://www.i3juy.freeservers.com/English/Moto/Manual/Table of Contents.html
http://arml450.tripod.com/index.html
http://members.aol.com/classjap/Page7.html
http://www.vf750fd.com/Joep_Kortekaas/joep.html
http://home.comcast.net/~rdarke/450hist.htm
http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~george98/CB450.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/geek/ofalltrades/links1.html
http://www.lump-proof.com/CLASSIC/RACER/al/
...and thats just to get you started. get to reading! We are not even getting to the parts available. that'll be up next.

BORN TO LURK, FORCED TO WORK.
www.NYCvinMoto.com
www.VinMoto.org

 

[borzwazie]

excellent, only 1 manual to read! thanks for the many links.

To buy:

MM Oil
Engine oil
Battery
Spark Plugs
WD-40
bandages
beer



Edited by - borzwazie on Dec 18 2006 2:50:37 PM

 

[krapfever]

quote:
excellent, only 1 manual to read! thanks for the many links.

To buy:

MM Oil
Engine oil
Battery
Spark Plugs
WD-40
bandages
beer

and carb cleaner, a LOT of carb cleaner.

I've used brake cleaner to de-crust electrical fittings too (works great on hornet's nests too).



Honda go sideways!

 

[borzwazie]

You know, something I didn't even think about at first - do I need lead additive for this bike? Or did Hondas of this era already have hardened valve seats? I ask because my dad has a '74 BMW R65 that didn't, and he had to have those seats added.

 

[krapfever]

Don't worry about it. The Big Red's got you covered.

Honda go sideways!

 

[fuzzybutt]

y'know, i may have to do something with the cb450 i have sitting out in the shed. guy gave me one about 6 months ago. motor turns, has good compression and it's almost all there.

some people are like slinkies, basically useless but they still make me smile when i push them down the stairs

 

[Quicklimegirl]

quote:

To buy:
MM Oil
Engine oil
Battery
Spark Plugs
WD-40
bandages
beer

LOL that cracked me about on the bandages! There isn't one vintage bike in my garage that I haven't shed blood multiple times for..new project = stock up!

BTW on the pic of that sweet maroon Cafe Racer, can anyone ID the type of fender, is it available or a rare NOS on evilBay? I've been using a Arlen Ness HD "Cafe" fender made for 19" wheels on my stock RD, but would love to find another Vesco fender or something similar. Stupid corporate chain MC dealers...trust 'em to put on a tire & they cracked the fender and naturally won't own up to it.
















Edited by - Quicklimegirl on Dec 19 2006 12:04:49 AM

 

[jaimesix]

quote:
excellent, only 1 manual to read! thanks for the many links.

To buy:

MM Oil
Engine oil
Battery
Spark Plugs
WD-40
bandages
beer



Edited by - borzwazie on Dec 18 2006 2:50:37 PM

Do not forget the gloves...I learnt to use gloves long time ago....it was not cool to see my hands filled with black stuff for weeks, specially at work. Some people do not understand how cool and rewarding it is to work on your own vehicles , plus I got tired of explaining my dirty hands 10 times/day to work aquaintances. bosses, girls.....

No need, gloves are great. And do not allow the "macho" crap to get you. Occasionally I find the "macho" guy that tells me, "gloves.....why?? I am tough"

yea right, I am macho and more, like a lion, the lion is not stupid, he will not attack an elephant, he knows how to survive and have plenty of lionesses and cubs because he does not commit suicide nor drink rotten poluted waters...in the same way...avoid not only stubborn grease ...but asure no chemicals get absorbed through your skin, and do not give an excuse to that girl you like to look at you and say....yuck....


Cafe racer DOHC CB750F

http://cardomain.com/id/jaimesix

 

[borzwazie]

MM Oil - check.
1 Gallon carb cleaner (I always knew I was glad I had an ultrasonic cleaner!) - check.
Honda Manual - check. (had to order from local honda shop)
extra toothbrushes - check. I hate to use my own, they clean so good but taste so funny afterward.

In addition to the liberal hosing down with Liquid Wrench, today I popped the plugs off and squirted some MM oil down there, gonna let it set a while.

Obviously I won't get much done on it this particular weekend, but my plan for the following week is to drop the carbs and pick them apart. By then my manual will have come in and I'll have a better idea of what the heck I'm doing.

Just to stay motivated, I figure I'll toss up pics of the bike as I go along and you guys can nag me if I get lazy.

 

[borzwazie]

So, I'm real disappointed - you guys didn't nag me like I asked and here I am working on it today only for the second time!

Christmas kept me busy, as did the news that I'm going to have a baby girl. Apparently, the only paint jobs my wife can see in the future are painting my son's room pink and moving him to a new room.

Off comes the seat:

And what a seat it is!:

Minus the tank (and camera stupidly in macro mode):

I'm afraid to look inside:

Probably looks like these side covers inside:

One sooty and one sooty and oily plug:

Lots of work to do! Judging from the right cylinder plug, I have a re-ring job in the future. It's hella hard to kick over, though, so maybe compression is ok. The MM oil did it's thing, and the motor moves pretty smoothly with the plugs out.

No battery, which is good! No acid damage. Wiring looks surprisingly good.

Got the official Honda manual. It was print-on-demand, which means "take 4 weeks to ship it to me."

Out of time for today, but clearly I gotta get moving if I want to beat an end-of-May/start-of-June deadline (newborns take more time than teardowns, that's for sure).