Author Topic: 1976 CB500/550 Project "Squirrel" (Read 285014 times)

riverfever · « **Reply #475 on:** April 30, 2015, 06:26:39 PM »

I have a buffing wheel. The problem with this project is that it was in pretty rough shape. The fork legs were scratched up badly and I had no choice but to go in and sand them down. Tonight I wet sanded with 1200 but then found some spots that I'm not happy with (I'm a bit of a perfectionist). I walked away for the night but may go back to 400 tomorrow and rework a few areas before buffing them. Parts should be here tomorrow and then hopefully I can get it back together in the next week.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #476 on:** April 30, 2015, 07:41:18 PM »

You can always be lazy like me and take them to a polisher, although mine cost next to nothing for all of the work required. ($30)

riverfever · « **Reply #477 on:** April 30, 2015, 08:03:13 PM »

Well I'm still learning as I go with this project. These are the legs after tonight. The one on the left is really looking good. You can see the ear on the one on the right has some scratches on it that I'm not thrilled about. I walked away tonight but may go back and rework that spot again before buffing. I just went down and looked and my bench grinder is 1/3 HP.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #478 on:** April 30, 2015, 08:41:31 PM »

The advantage to the 3/4 HP model is that it will no bind or overheat when you apply pressure to the polishing wheel.

Keep at it Chris. It's coming along.

riverfever · « **Reply #479 on:** May 01, 2015, 04:54:43 PM »

This is the picture I meant to include last night.

I'll go back and address a few areas and then commence buffing this weekend. We'll see if my grinder does a good enough job or if I have to run to HF. Thank you.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #480 on:** May 01, 2015, 10:49:29 PM »

Chris,

I'd give the fork leg on the right a little further sanding to address some of the deeper scratches prior to buffing.

riverfever · « **Reply #481 on:** May 02, 2015, 01:07:02 PM »

I got home last night and had a box waiting for me. Progressive springs, fork seals, and head bearings all showed up.

Bought a grinder stand and got that together.

Today I drilled out the steering stops and installed some 4mm stainless bolts to keep the new bars from hitting the tank.

Old bearings are on the left. New bearings with the thinner spacer from All Balls is on the right. Getting ready to install the bearing onto the triple and then I'll start putting things back together. Tomorrow I'll start working on the fork legs a bit more before I put them to the buffing wheel. I really hope this takes care of the clearance issues between the header and the fender.

calj737 · « **Reply #482 on:** May 02, 2015, 02:12:41 PM »

You don't want to run that buffer inside.... Trust me. Your beautiful bride will skin you with a dull, rusty spoon. Slowly and completely.

riverfever · « **Reply #483 on:** May 02, 2015, 06:04:50 PM »

I bought that stand so I could pull it out in the driveway and work in the sun. Both forks are rebuilt with fresh oil and seals. They feel stiffer but we'll see. I got one leg back up in the trees and should be able to get everything buttoned up tomorrow and know if the fender will clear the header. Really happy with how those lower legs came out. They're not perfect but they look nice. I'll get pictures in the morning.

joeyvans · « **Reply #484 on:** May 02, 2015, 06:08:28 PM »

It will work! It better work, otherwise I'll be dealing with the same situation when I toss on my MotoGP Werks.

riverfever · « **Reply #485 on:** May 02, 2015, 06:18:15 PM »

Here's some pictures.

This is right after I got the bearing installed. You can also see the 4mm bolts I put in the steering stops.

I wish I could say I strategically drilled for these bolts but I totally eyeballed it.

Here's after one pass on the buffer.

I've had a rodent of some sort tunneling in under one of my retaining walls. I think it's pretty smart because it moved a trap aside and didn't touch the delicious peanut butter I had in it. So today I went with a rat sized sticky trap. Stay tuned.

And this is where I stopped for the night.

joeyvans · « **Reply #486 on:** May 02, 2015, 06:33:01 PM »

Watching the fight? BWW is charging $20/head in Fargo. Go Pac!

Stev-o · « **Reply #487 on:** May 02, 2015, 06:36:11 PM »

Quote from: calj737 on May 02, 2015, 02:12:41 PM

You don't want to run that buffer inside....

Ha! Was thinkin the same thing when I saw that pic.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #488 on:** May 02, 2015, 10:42:42 PM »

That fork leg looks damn good after one pass.

riverfever · « **Reply #489 on:** May 03, 2015, 08:43:08 AM »

Thanks Don. It's really hard to get a good picture of how it turned out but I'll try today. That pass revealed some scratches that I hadn't seen before. I ended up buffing it then doing more wet sanding with 1200, repeat, repeat until I was satisfied. Of course I got them all greasy while putting the forks back together but I'll do a final polish with Mothers once they're on the bike.

riverfever · « **Reply #490 on:** May 03, 2015, 03:19:03 PM »

All back together.

Pretty pumped with the end results.

Not a great shot of this side.

Was really hoping to start it up but I have a fuel leak and a broken inline filter so I need more line, clamps, and another filter. Sometime this week I'll start it up.

Bootsey · « **Reply #491 on:** May 03, 2015, 04:18:05 PM »

Lookin' sharp!

calj737 · « **Reply #492 on:** May 03, 2015, 04:21:07 PM »

Right side axle clamp is on backward. Gap goes to the rear. Lowers look really nice, Chris-

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #493 on:** May 03, 2015, 07:36:50 PM »

Chris,

Outstanding polishing job. I'm sending my parts to you and not the guy through my painter any more!!

Don

riverfever · « **Reply #494 on:** May 03, 2015, 08:01:28 PM »

Thank you Don. I really appreciate that. Your bikes are ones that I have often looked to for inspiration/direction. Send me parts. I only have 4 more weeks of school and then I'll have a lot of free time on my hands.

riverfever · « **Reply #495 on:** May 03, 2015, 08:05:39 PM »

I wanted to mention that now, when I sit on the bike, the fender does not contact the header and that easily happened before. If I lock the front brake and put a lot of effort into it, I can make the the fender hit. I suppose there's only one way I'm going to find out if it's an issue and that's to find a safe spot where it's straight (not while needing to steer) and grab a lot of brake and see what happens??

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #496 on:** May 03, 2015, 08:08:17 PM »

I guess that illustrates how worn out the stock springs were. That test sounds a little sketchy but I think you'd be okay with it as described but make sure you are going dead straight.

calj737 · « **Reply #497 on:** May 03, 2015, 08:13:20 PM »

May also need to go up in wight with the fork oil, or possibly add some preload spacers to stiffen the front end.

riverfever · « **Reply #498 on:** May 03, 2015, 08:17:13 PM »

If I wanted to try 15 weight oil (I used 10) could I just drain the oil out from the bottom without taking them all apart again? What do you mean by adding preload spacers Cal.

Cal...great eye and thank you for mentioning that. I'll be sure to fix it.

calj737 · « **Reply #499 on:** May 03, 2015, 08:23:46 PM »

Yes, you could open the drain screw on the outside of the lower leg, and refill from above.

Preload spacers are PVC tubes cut in lengths (often about 1, 1-1/4" in length) to add to the top of the springs to apply pre-compression load. This reduces how much travel occurs under suspension load as the forks are already somewhat "loaded".

Try the heavier weight first. Then add preloads if you need a bit more (or less, actually) suspension stiffening.

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Author Topic: 1976 CB500/550 Project "Squirrel" (Read 285014 times)