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Author Topic: 1972 CB500 restoration  (Read 4642 times)

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Offline Kermit

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1972 CB500 restoration
« on: October 08, 2011, 04:51:13 PM »
I recieved this bike as a christmas pressent from my father-in-law. He knew i wanted a project bike since i had just had my 1st child born, and sold all of my other bikes.

If you like constant updates on progress that is being done overnight then this probably isn't your kind of build. With a full time job, and a baby i'm strapped for time so this could take a while. This will not be a cafe bike, a hot rod, bobber or chopper. My hope for this bike is that it will end up being a mostly original classic. I will document my progress here. I intend on keeping a running tally of my expenses, except for my time and beer.

The bike was purchased for $175.00 with no title.

Day 1







« Last Edit: October 08, 2011, 05:36:28 PM by Kermit »
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Offline Kermit

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Re: 1972 CB500 restoration
« Reply #1 on: October 08, 2011, 04:53:16 PM »
The bike has sat under a tarp for the last 10 years, but the previous owner said that he had it started about 2 years ago, but the throttle cable broke, and it was running poorly.

Washed and sprayed down with some foam to knock off the crud.









I don't think it looks too bad for sitting for that long. So far i know that the kickstand tab is broken off, so i half to hold it up with jackstands. Brakes are shot, clutch won't pull, i'm thinking its a rusted cable. I'm missing the rhs cover and the kickstand. The seat is the incorrect base for the bike and is attached with a door hinge at the rear.
« Last Edit: October 08, 2011, 05:01:46 PM by Kermit »
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Offline Kermit

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Re: 1972 CB500 restoration
« Reply #2 on: October 08, 2011, 05:06:46 PM »
After i figured out that the vin has nothing to do with the paint code i had to know what color it was from the factory. So i started picking at the black rattle can paint job that is on it. Turns out that it has a coat of metallic flake red under the bondo and black. But checking online it doesn't' look like red was an option in 1972. I guess its been painted multiple times. But the good thing about that is i get to pick my own color when i repaint. I'm thinking the factory green/black.

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Offline Kermit

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Re: 1972 CB500 restoration
« Reply #3 on: October 08, 2011, 05:35:42 PM »
Pulled the airbox and carbs. The boots going from the airbox to the carb are in bad shape. At least one will need to be replaced. I'm having a hard time finding anyone who makes them. I really don't want to put pods on it, but i may be forced to.



I figured out that i'm missing some parts to the carbs. First i'm missing the small piece that the throttle return spring attaches to. If anyone has a good pic of it please send it to me, i'm going to half to make one. Next thing is i'm missing the flat steel pieces that joins 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 together, from the pics i've seen its a thin steel piece with 2 holes in it. If anyone has a pic of that it would help me out in making one.
« Last Edit: October 08, 2011, 05:40:11 PM by Kermit »
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Offline Kermit

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Re: 1972 CB500 restoration
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2011, 05:43:51 PM »


Looks like i have an oil leak from the pan. Not a biggie, i'll put a new gasket on it when i pull the motor.
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Offline Kermit

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Re: 1972 CB500 restoration
« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2011, 05:47:41 PM »
Got the carbs taken apart and almost ready to be cleaned. Ran into a couple problems. I havn't been able to get the emulsion tubes out yet. Didn't have any pices of wood laying around, guess i need to run to the hardware store for a dowl rod. I trashed 2 of the float valves getting them out, and one of the air screws is in poor shape.



2 carbs were pretty clean, 2 were really bad like this:


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Offline Kermit

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Re: 1972 CB500 restoration
« Reply #6 on: October 08, 2011, 05:52:36 PM »
Float bowls are clean.

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Offline Kermit

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Re: 1972 CB500 restoration
« Reply #7 on: October 08, 2011, 05:59:44 PM »
And that brings us up to the present. My plan for this bike has been to do what i needed to see if the motor would run before i removed it from the frame. That way when i started building the bike back up i would know if the motor needed rebuilt before i got everything back together. I do plan on a frame off restoration, especially since i need to do some welding in the area of the kickstand tab.
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Offline Kermit

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Re: 1972 CB500 restoration
« Reply #8 on: October 10, 2011, 05:59:02 PM »
Carbs are clean, waiting on rebuild kit.
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Offline Kermit

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Re: 1972 CB500 restoration
« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2011, 03:23:32 PM »
Snagged off craigslist.



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Offline Mcwilliams570

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Re: 1972 CB500 restoration
« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2011, 04:10:38 PM »
Looking good so far.. Take your time and have fun :)

Matt
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My CB550 project http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=101182.0

Project UFB Cb550 http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=112143.0

Like a 10 dollar hooker on Friday night its going to be ridden.

1974 cb550
1975 cb550
2005 vmax
2009 vmax-sold
1981 gl500i

Offline Greggo

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Re: 1972 CB500 restoration
« Reply #11 on: October 23, 2011, 04:15:50 PM »
Good start there.  Maybe check underneath the tank to find the original color.
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Offline SohRon

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Re: 1972 CB500 restoration
« Reply #12 on: October 27, 2011, 12:14:10 PM »
David Silver Spares has the carb boots you need; both the carb-to-intake and carb-to-air plenum sets are available. If they're not listed for the CB500, check out the CB550 section and you'll find them there:

http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB550K0-1974-USA/part_53056/

Looks about $36 a set.

Good luck on the rebuild! Really gotta love these bikes!
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"He slipped back down the alley with some roly-poly little bat-faced girl..."

Assembling my '74 CB550: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=86697.0
Assembly of the Right-hand Switch (a rebuilder's guide):  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=80532.0
Installing stock 4X4 exhaust: CB500-CB550 K: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=82323.0
CB550 Assembly Manual: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151576.0.html

Offline smshield28

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Re: 1972 CB500 restoration
« Reply #13 on: April 12, 2012, 11:27:47 AM »
Pretty funny. Just found this build thread. I bought this bike off Kermit two days ago.

The carbs are still in ziploc baggies. I'm guessing a parts set of carbs will probably be a good thing to have for spares and a template for rebuilding them.
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