Topic: RE: My $100 dollar CB500 - Thanks to everyone

[chewbacca5000]

I got the lead for this bike from a CB350 twin enthusiast who responded to my ad on Craigslist for free tires.  I had too many and spring cleaning demanded I get rid of some stuff.  While there he told me about a guy who had a CB500 for $100 dollars.  He then sent me some pics and I posted an ad here hoping someone would want it, but no one showed any interest.

Then I remembered my friend who really wants to get back into riding, but doen't have the funds to make it happen.  He's helped me out alot in the past and I want help him out now, but 3,000 for a Honda shadow is out of the question.

Then I remembered this little CB500 it would be perfect since he would be able to touch the ground no problem.  We take a ride out there and it is even better than expected it has a fairing which he like and a sweet little rack on back.

Here is a pic of when we got here home. The next pic is the mouse, bike spider snake sanctuary that made a home in this bike for the past 20 years.

[chewbacca5000]

The guy I bought this from said it was stuck so I was hoping I could break her free with a grease gun.  Even 3000psi of grease was no match for this engine.  If you look carefully you can see the grease coming out of the head gasket.

[chewbacca5000]

So all attempts to break that engine free failed and I decided it was time to put an ad on craigslist for an engine.  This really cool guy called and said I have an engine with 8,000 miles I could not have been happier.  For $180 I got a good engine and a solid tank.

Her is a couple pics. with the new tank on the bike and the original engine out.  Not much to look at, but at least the animals are gone and the new engine spins free and happy.

My cost is up to $280.  My goal for the whole project is $500.  It will be close.

My next big challenge is to find a good carb number 1 for a CB500 and I got a couple forum members working to help me with that as well.

[Stev-o]

Motor and tank for $180?!  Unbelievable deals up there.

[chewbacca5000]

Motor and tank for $180?!  Unbelievable deals up there.

You know it!  Got an extra bank of carbs for CB500 or just carb number 1.  They are the earlier style marked 627b 71 to 73 should be the same.  Just go into the bat cave and pull something out.

[Mo]

HA, I remeber when I said I wouldn't put more than $500 into mine...

That was about 700 dollars ago now..

[chewbacca5000]

HA, I remeber when I said I wouldn't put more than $500 into mine...

That was about 700 dollars ago now..

Yeah, I know it happens all the time.  I am going to try to stick with the budget and purchase most everything with sweat equity.  We'll see.

[Mo]

Very true. Admittedly, when I began I had a very limited amount of tools. A lot of money was spent on tools, paint, and supplies (oils, etc).

In terms of parts, I'm probably only about $600 in total. Great find on the engine!

[Garystratos201]

When I started my build I was just going to make it run.lol I dont want to know how much I have spent. And lord please dont let the wife figure it out!!!.............Gary

[iron_worker]

The amount my budget was blown by is in the thousands now I'm sure.

 

IW

[Stev-o]

Budget?   What is that??

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

$180!!  Awesome deal.  If you can keep the "budget" under $500, you get the frugal gourmet award!

[chewbacca5000]

$180!!  Awesome deal.  If you can keep the "budget" under $500, you get the frugal gourmet award!

"frugal gourmet award" I love it.  I used to be able to do this on a consistent basis and now there is always just one more thing.  You know how it goes.

[Mcwilliams570]

Nice find hit me up if you need any parts I have a cb500 parts bike just sitting in the garage. I will check on the rack of carbs for you when I looked at them last year they were in rough shape but maybe number 1 is usable will dig them out today if you still need them.

Matt

[chewbacca5000]

Nice find hit me up if you need any parts I have a cb500 parts bike just sitting in the garage. I will check on the rack of carbs for you when I looked at them last year they were in rough shape but maybe number 1 is usable will dig them out today if you still need them.

Matt

Sweet!  Thanks guys I really appreciate all the help on this.  Matt I do need a top clamp.  I do need a couple of those jet springs though.  Greggo is hooking me up with a parts set in exchange for a CB750 top clamp.  I am sure I will need other parts though.

Here is a pic of new carb 1 complements of Greggo.  If I can get this thing going over the next couple weeks it will be a miracle.

[Mo]

It seems like you're familiar with the 750 carbs. I must say, that these 500 carbs are easy as hell to rebuild. Pull them apart (maybe 1-2 hours). Cleaning (I let them soak in carb cleaner) and then blast with carb cleaner (canned kind) and compressed air to clear the jets. And then reassemble.

I think I did mine in about 12 hours while drinking on a Saturday. And that was my first time ever...

The float gaskets are a pain in the ass, so try to make sure you get the ones that are properly shaped and not the o ring kind.

[chewbacca5000]

Is it possible to put the valve cover on backwards?

[deafcaferacer]

The amount my budget was blown by is in the thousands now I'm sure.

 

IW

I'm in the same club. Vintage motorcycles and budgets do not belong in the same sentence.

[Frankensteins Bride]

Nice find and engine save!

I'm with the others, bike budget? BAHAHAHAHA that will go flying out the window 

[chewbacca5000]

Yeah well I am going for running and maybe some decent paint which isn't too much if I use left overs.  Found some gold pearl while cleaning my garage which looks great over orange.

Not sure I will use that as I am thinking some crazy ruby red flake with black side panels on the tank, or maybe just black.  I asked my buddy what color and he said black.  Probably my least favorite color for a bike.

Hopefully I will find a way to fix a missing chunk out of the fairing with a repair kit.  We'll see. 

[chewbacca5000]

So I made some progress today and got everything stripped down hopefully I will get some more good weather and bust out the pressure pot to clean up the frame.  The only real issue I am a little concerned about is a melted ground wire near the coils so now I will need to sort that out.  Sorry no pics today I am beat.

Does anyone know if you can get a replacement wiring harness for the CB500?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

So I made some progress today and got everything stripped down hopefully I will get some more good weather and bust out the pressure pot to clean up the frame.  The only real issue I am a little concerned about is a melted ground wire near the coils so now I will need to sort that out.  Sorry no pics today I am beat.

Does anyone know if you can get a replacement wiring harness for the CB500?

Don't know. I wonder if you can simply use a CB550 harness.

[chewbacca5000]

I know it's been over a week since I have updated this thread.  One step forward two steps back.  Kinda hard to get motivated when every nut and bolt is rusted.

The bright side the frame is sweet!  After 3 hours of blasting got her down to bare metal and there is very little if any corrosion on the frame or swing arm.  The other bits I just drop into my Espirt pal.  Thanks Lee!

Re did the fork seals today went fairly smooth.  It was pretty nasty with all the original oil still in there.  I wonder if anyone ever changes their fork oil

I also discovered that a gravy separator works great to measure fork oil with the gradients in oz and mm.

Now time to sort out wiring and taring the tree sap from other stuff while waiting on more parts.

[Stev-o]

Good update, whats next?

[chewbacca5000]

Good update, whats next?

Bolt the engine and other parts and try to tackle electrics.