Topic: '74 CB450 Refurbishment Thread (Brownie)

[fendersrule]

So I guess I should unveil my newest find now.

Last weekend my friend told me his mother in law's husband passed away, and had an old Honda sitting in his garage. Took about 6 weeks to schedule a visit down to her farm, which is 2 hours away.

Here's what I found:
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This is the jackpot item

[fendersrule]

Brown was one of my considered colors for my other CB450. It just looks fantastic on this model.

I had to wheel this out of the barn into the sunlight. It was 105F out. I had to work fast to determine if I wanted it. I knew from the start that the front end was modified (yuck). Front brake didn't work. Different-than-stock master cylinder. Damaged tachometer. Stupid cruiser-style handlebars.  Yadda yadda yadda. But when I looked at the core of it, I saw a rust free, 5,000 mile, very solid and mostly complete CB450 waiting to be mine. It was stored for 18 years. It still has what feels to be pretty good compression, but needs draining, lubricating before starting the engine. Gas tank will be acid treated.

My goal is to have as many as possible CB450s in my garage. But I have to be the bigger man when it comes to it...The girlfriend is going to get this bike. She's loved them from the start, and now she gets to have one. And only for $400.

I told her however, she is going to have to buy the parts, do the work, and I can help her out along the way. I reckon' about $800-900 worth of stuff. The list below is most of it. The rest is minor hardware stuff.


The bike will be in my garage on Friday after getting pressure washed. I can get much better pictures. I bet ya'll can't wait.

[fendersrule]

I'm shocked that there are no fans of Brownie.

[fendersrule]

Brownie arrived today at 6:00pm.


You guys were a little scared of how the air cleaner would look after sitting so long. But you are NOT going to find better air cleaners in better shape than this. I should secretly put mine on and take these for my own bike so I wouldn't have to do the UNI filter mod. But I'm not that type of guy.


The carbs have me scared from the outside. They are dry. I'm not a carburetor guy. Hopefully I can just clean them up, run a wire through the jets, clean the piston, and call her good. She'l need new carb boots:


This front end is terrible. The CB450 is not a chopper. I guess she's going to need the OEM tubes, a new tach gauge (chrome strip was removed for some reason), and the OEM bars:





All in all, a very nice bike for the money. Steel wool will remove that yellow tarnish easily, and it will be almost like a new bike again. I think the girlfriend really scored a nice find. First step is to fire her up and there's lots to do before that happens.

[fendersrule]

Filled the tank brim full with vinegar. The petcock was blocked and needs a total rebuild. I put on my old CB450 petcock for the time being.




I'll let it sit for 24 hours, drain, I then may either fill up halfway with vinegar and bbs, or if it looks really good I'll do a soak with phosphoric acid to get the tank coated with zinc, and then fill er up.

[fendersrule]

We had a super productive day. Tore most of the bike down, and:

* Washed the crap out of the bike
* Soaked all the rubbers in peanut oil
* Cleaned tank (vinegar, flush, baking soda, flush, and now it's sitting in Phosphoric Acid so it can get it's zinc coating. Brand new tank inside. It was filthiest I've seen)
* Drained oil and cleaned the filter
* Squirted oil in spark plug holes. Cleaned spark plugs
* Painted battery tray
* Painted various spots of the frame
* Polished the rear end chrome
* Cleaned both carbs. Only one carb is cleaned internally for the time being
* Removed valve covers
* Removed seat
* Inspected electrical. Everything works perfectly (minus a horn button)
* Aired up tires
* Ordered new plugs, brake shoes, brake pads, piston seal, mirrors, horn button/spring, turn signal knob, fuel hoses








I wouldn't be surprised if she started up a'roaring. It looks really clean from what I can see in the valve covers.

[MoMo]

don't let it sit too long in the acid or it may eat through, ask me how I know that.  That bike is so typical of the mods done in the 70s to make street cruisers.  You're lucky there wasn't a 16 inch Harley style rim laced up.  Good chance the wiring inside the handlebars and h/l shell may be a mess of crimp connectors.  Good luck with it...Larry

[fendersrule]

Thanks MoMo.

My process for most tanks is a 24-hour vinegar soak (gets about everything), and then a 12 hour soak with Metal Ready (by POR-15). The Metal Ready is draining from the tank right now. When I get off work, I will neutralize it with baking soda, and flush it a few times with water, and then done!

The progress on this bike is flying. It's going to look really good. A huge props to the girlfriend for working on it all day yesterday as well.

[Stev-o]

A huge props to the girlfriend for working on it all day yesterday as well.

We would like to see a pic of that.     

[fendersrule]

Cleaned these suckers real good.

Here you go Steve.

[Stev-o]

Now that is very impressive! I can never get my wife to help out with the bikes. 

[fendersrule]

Brownie runs. Took about 3-4 cranks.

Runs on both cylinders. Idles no problem. Left carb needs a new bowl gasket...that's the only leak.

Sounds heathy. Needs some tuning. Probably should take a look at the points. Keep in mind only 5,000 miles, so maybe I just need to set the gap. Shouldn't go replacing everything with such little miles.

I never understood how to set the ignition on a 450. It's a little more complicated seems like.

[MoMo]

To set the timing on the 450 first take the plugs out so it is easier to rotate the crank with the bolt the holds the alternator on.  Take both point cover and alternator covers off and then rotate the crank till the left set of points is at the widest gap(usually 10 degrees past TDC) and set gap between 12 to 16 thousandths.  Rotate crank till right side of points has the same scenario as the left and set gap using the same setting.  Now you'll need a timing light, bike on the center stand and fire it up with the timing lead connected to the left cylinder-rotate the point backing plate till it fires on the F mark for the left cylinder and falls between the two advance marks when revved.  Switch the timing lead to the right cylinder and fudge the point gap so the cylinder fires on the F mark and falls between the two advance lines.  Stop motor and double check gap to make sure it is still within gap specs. You can PM me if you have any?...Larry

[fendersrule]

Thanks Larry! I'll give it a try.

[fendersrule]

The lady has been kicking ass cleaning stuff up.

She's removed all dirt/grime. Soaked a lot of stuff in peanut oil. Zapped the crap out of most things with brake parts cleaner. Still needs to recondition the air box boots, but all other rubbers have been reconditioned. But man oh man, this is cleaning up pretty damned nice. She also replaced her light indicator box already.

Wish I had a before picture of this, but she repainted everything. Bad picture, but you get the idea. She's still in the process of polishing up this side of the bike, so this is only "half finished":


I polished these because I was impatient.


She finished up this...looks impressive. Yes Steve-o, impressive.


Taught her how to rebuild the front brake:

Dow cornering grease, check. New EBC brake pads, check. Greased the pivot mechanism with some synthetic racing grease, check. Waiting for Honda in town to receive the new piston seal, no check.

Ordered fork tubes. Told her to get the gaiters asap, unless anyone has a spare set?

Damned handlebars for the CB450 are hard to find....she needs those too.

Also needs a master cylinder....are the CB750 and CB450 the same?

[Stev-o]

The "Lady" paints and polishes? Now that is very impressive.

750 MC may work. Post a pic.

[MoMo]

I think the 450 and 750 had the same mc....Larrry

[tbpmusic]

I think the 450 and 750 had the same mc....Larrry

Most any of the single-disk masters of the era can be used, as long as the hose fitting ("banjo" bolt) is the same.......

[fendersrule]

If I'm not mistaken, it's really about the piston size of the master cylinder. I assume that the CB450 and CB750 use the same piston size?

The part numbers appear to be different according to Honda, but they sure look similar.

[Stev-o]

Unfortunately, my knowledge of the 450 is not very impressive. 

[tbpmusic]

If I'm not mistaken, it's really about the piston size of the master cylinder. I assume that the CB450 and CB750 use the same piston size?

The part numbers appear to be different according to Honda, but they sure look similar.

All the single disk units have similar master piston sizes, I think maybe it's 14 mm or so, can't remember.
That's NOT saying they're interchangeable though.
Mine leaked and I couldn't get it to stop, so I just got an aftermarket master off EBay for $50, works great and doesn't leak!!
Dual diskers have a larger piston, those masters may have you doing reverse wheelies on a single disk.

[fendersrule]

I've been seeing these reproductions and they looks very good. I like the stock look. Great price, too.

http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB450K7-SUPER-SPORT-1974-USA/part_123891/

If mine didn't leak I like it enough to even put it on my CB450 build.

Handlebars are proving very challenging to find.

[Stev-o]

I've been seeing these reproductions and they looks very good. I like the stock look. Great price, too.

http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB450K7-SUPER-SPORT-1974-USA/part_123891/

No no no.  If you are going to order a MC, go here. I doubt I will ever rebuild a MC again.


http://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB450K5-SUPER-SPORT-1972-USA/part_123889/

[MoMo]

I've been seeing these reproductions and they looks very good. I like the stock look. Great price, too.

http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB450K7-SUPER-SPORT-1974-USA/part_123891/

No no no.  If you are going to order a MC, go here. I doubt I will ever rebuild a MC again.


http://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB450K5-SUPER-SPORT-1972-USA/part_123889/

$44 for a new m/c?  You're right Steve, hardly worth rebuilding one at that  price...Larry

[goldarrow]

I've been seeing these reproductions and they looks very good. I like the stock look. Great price, too.

http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB450K7-SUPER-SPORT-1974-USA/part_123891/

No no no.  If you are going to order a MC, go here. I doubt I will ever rebuild a MC again.


http://www.davidsilverspares.com/CB450K5-SUPER-SPORT-1972-USA/part_123889/

$44 for a new m/c?  You're right Steve, hardly worth rebuilding one at that  price...Larry

Plus another may be $50 for shipping to US?