Author Topic: project 1 of12 started (Read 33010 times)

rb550four · « **on:** January 31, 2012, 08:47:47 pm »

Last week I started on the projects, the first rebuild has begun and it's not a 550. A couple of years ago my first sohc build was a 500 that was just out in the barn for a while...or longer. While rebuilding the engine I customized everything else .I really like this machine so this will be the first of a dozen to be rebuilt this year

.

This bike could use an overall general freshening up but it's only getting a fresh engine this time. Last week it was broken down ,cases split,cleaned and inspected. (this was a seize so i cut the cam chain ) replaced the cam chain,honed the cylinders, installed new rings and gaskets. I'll give it a valve job this week if I can get the time and plan to have a much happier 500 by the end of the Superbowl. I haven't turned a wrench in over 5 months and I just walked into the house from the shop smellin of Honda. And it feels good!

luap · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2012, 09:34:10 pm »

So how different are you gonna make each one? whats your plans for the one your working on now?

lucky · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2012, 11:33:23 pm »

12 projects? WOW.
I hope you are not paying for those.

BTW....Where is our photo of the first project?

Tap....tap...tap.
Now you have 13 projects! LOL

scunny · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2012, 03:39:34 am »

damn, 12 projects. I've got 3 and still get sidetracked.

lone*X · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2012, 11:22:22 am »

I think just hearing the story of how you came up with a dozen 500's to work on would be cool.

lucky · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2012, 12:28:23 pm »

Quote from: lone*X on February 01, 2012, 11:22:22 am

I think just hearing the story of how you came up with a dozen 500's to work on would be cool.

A true Scorpio dream that they would own that many bikes.
Except for the ones they have hidden. LOL...lol..lol

rb550four · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2012, 05:10:38 pm »

Haven't been able to transfer photos from facebook. I'm better with wheels than electronics, pics are the wrong size or something,couldn't get them into gallery either.Sorry, I'll see if one of my kids know how to do it.

rb550four · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2012, 05:45:38 pm »

The 1st machine (custom 500) will look the same as it is now- rebuild engine....The engine that comes out gets rebuilt next and goes into another frame that has been made ready last July...The lightly cafe'd 550

is next-engine rebuild....The near stock550 is after that

-engine rebuild....The full out cafe kaw gpz1100/honda

550 base- engine rebuild.... The bright orange super stock

-engine rebuild..... Stock 550k project I picked up recently- total rebuild... Then there are 3 500 engines for the other ongoing projects, I was thinking of swaping the snowbike

550 engine into another frame.... The semichopped 550 is in good shape and a rider

as is the stock 650 ... and if I get bored this summer there is a 72 450 that could use some work, sounds doable. The other possibility that I haven't counted on is finding another 500/550 for sale somewhere...just can't resist taking them home. And yes ,I am footing the bill for all this...they are all mine. That's the plan .

moosh · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2012, 07:08:49 pm »

jealous

lone*X · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2012, 07:16:43 pm »

Got it figured out. RB must own a cycle salvage yard! I couldn't find another 550 in the south east Texas area without having to pay way too much for someones cut up cafe attempt. Forget originals completely. What city are you located in? I might need to come for a visit!

rb550four · « **Reply #10 on:** February 01, 2012, 07:57:09 pm »

There are no cycle salvage yards in my area, folks seem to hold onto everything until they get tired of looking at it, then it ends up in craigslist. I sweep craigslist in a 200 mile radius from my house every night, when a 500/550 comes up I'm all over it. Almost every machine I have was rusted,seized,and had a touring seat for some reason. I'm gonna tear them down and rebuild them anyways so there is no reason to buy a decent one. The 500's come don't around as often as the 550's,this year has been slimmer than the last year. I am seeing tons of 750's around this year. I scan the southern states every now and then just in case,and have found no 550's.

rb550four · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2012, 09:24:17 am »

So I took a 1/2 Friday , lapped the values,cleaned up the upper end,burned up a new gasket kit and put the whole 500 motor together, except the carbs. I have a spare set soaking and fresh rebuild kits ready, but there may be a snag. While removing old engine from bike 1, upon close visual inspection , I realized that there was mud and rust in places that the pressure washer missed and chips in other places. I don't know if I can live with that. But not sure how to handle it, build all motors first, then set them one frame at a time(after painting)? Build each bike separately,engine and paint? or build the engines stick em in and ride them in faded glory? Nope can't do that. One at a time, is only easier on space and not like a production line, all at a time means parts everywhere but a uniform time finish for all, one at a time means I can finish and ride that one until the next is done.all at a time means I can't ride any of them until they're all finished. This wasn't a problem yesterday! Should I just be building engines now until it gets warm enough to paint?

lucky · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2012, 09:46:17 am »

I would rebuild all of the engines first.

And clean all of the frames and sand blast them and the other parts.
Then in the summer you can paint everything.

After you sandblast all of the parts I would put some phosphoric acid on them so it stops any rust. Put the parts in plastic bags so there is no oxygen and then they cannnot rust.

Is a space prepared for all of this?
Maybe that is another part of your production.

rb550four · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2012, 03:17:29 pm »

I have a space dedicated to 500/550/s approx 24x32, salamander heat,benches,tools parts,and bikes everywhere-a little light on elbow room. I have another space 45x100, again no heat,no tools no bikes or parts about 5 miles away,this is the space that was flooded and I am really afraid that it could happen again to the same machines in the same location. That didn't sound very manly

. Perhaps I should start on some of the project bikes first with the fresh motors, since some frames are ready,motorize them and push them off to the side. Then build the rest of the engines one at a time and leave them on a shelf and by that time it'll be spring and warm enough to do some painting-just like you suggested-only longer. THAT COULD WORK! Thank you for clearing path for me.

rb550four · « **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2012, 08:18:39 pm »

The engine from the 1st 500 has been removed and started to be torn down. Even though the guys from the snowmobile shop tried to save the motor by changing the oil 4 times after a short fire, The pan was loaded with silt, and I'm hoping that the sludge stayed in the pan and not spread throughout the engine via oil pump. Will find out, #2 to be totally torn down soon.

XC204 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2012, 03:48:33 am »

Wow 12 ! I'm wondering after just doing bicycles if I'm up to a motor cycle!

rb550four · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2012, 05:51:18 pm »

Why wouldn't you be if you really wanted to? Frame, wheels, steering, you are already familiar with those in principle. Manuals can fill in the blanks on the rest of it. They are machines, even if you screw up you can stop, go back and fix it. Don't be surprised if you find it relaxing,clears your mind, and improves concentration . But you may find that the only thing you'd be thinking about is the next build, be careful brother, it happened to me and most everyone on this site.

XC204 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2012, 10:04:40 am »

Cool thanks for the encouragement. At almost 62 I am finally not sweating the details a big project is just a lot of little ones strung together.

rb550four · « **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2012, 07:51:50 pm »

For sure xc204, I usually break down the engine as a bunch of small projects . I'll inspect and clean up the lower end and close the case in one sitting, next it's pistons rings and jug, then it's off to lapping the valves and reassembly ( this takes me close to 4hrs alone),Torque the head and install intake manifolds and valve cover, slip engine back in it's cradle, then rebuild the carbs...and so on. Lots of little projects make the big project seem easy and the hours just slip away.

rb550four · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2012, 08:04:11 pm »

Engine #2 has a couple layers of paint on it that I would like to remove. Has anyone tried oven cleaner on the case? I used it on my stove top one day and it did a remarkable job removing the lettering and numbers, I can't tell you how surprised my wife was. Why, for years it seems ,was the subject of conversation every time she would bake. Yeah, we got a new stove. But will oven cleaner harm the aluminum case?

lucky · « **Reply #20 on:** February 10, 2012, 11:20:27 am »

Quote from: rb550four on February 06, 2012, 08:18:39 pm

The engine from the 1st 500 has been removed and started to be torn down. Even though the guys from the snowmobile shop tried to save the motor by changing the oil 4 times after a short fire, The pan was loaded with silt, and I'm hoping that the sludge stayed in the pan and not spread throughout the engine via oil pump. Will find out, #2 to be totally torn down soon.

Snowmobile shop?? Worried now.

How old are you?

You know just ONE engine could cost in excess of $1000. to repair just for parts.

rb550four · « **Reply #21 on:** February 10, 2012, 06:33:45 pm »

#2 engine wasn't that bad except for the pan .Cleaned everything , checked for excessive wear and found none,cleaned the cases again then used oven cleaner on the case ( didn't get easy off) and the paint didn't come off so easy. Cleaned it ,dried it, painted it ,cooked it in front of the salamander. Had the cases back together by 5 and thought I can get allot more done tonight if I push on. Mistake ,needed a break, didn't take one, by 7 I broke the a ring and thought this was going too easy by 8 I 'm ready to put on the head, looked in the holes and something just felt wrong. Upon closer inspection it occurred to me that the arrows were upside down

yup ,all 4 of them.Took it apart and walked away for the night. As for the snowmobile shop, it's the closest all sports store around and I get my parts there. As for age,53, and try not to practice " old enough to know better"

rb550four · « **Reply #22 on:** February 11, 2012, 02:08:41 pm »

Okay ,so it took 45 mins. to change out the pistons, no biggie, but what I realized is that I'm supposed to be having fun. I'm not getting paid piecework on some production line, shouldn't have to panic if not enough got done dammit, I'm gonna slow down a little bit, if spring comes before they're all finished so what! It ain't the end of the world ,well, not until December right?

lucky · « **Reply #23 on:** February 11, 2012, 02:13:55 pm »

So right you are!
Can we get just one little picture of this?

rb550four · « **Reply #24 on:** February 13, 2012, 08:13:22 pm »

It warmed up a little today, #2 engine is complete and in frame. My wife asked if I could spend tomorrow night at home and not with the motorcycles,"well sure I will honey", after all it is Valentines Day, but I won't be getting anything done.

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Author Topic: project 1 of12 started (Read 33010 times)