Topic: 1976 CB500/550 Project "Squirrel"

[calj737]

Ta da!

Remind us all again, this rebuild included:
new head
+1mm intakes
new springs, seals, and guides?
Recut seats
porting
New jugs
pistons and rings
M-unit
m-Lock
m-blaze pins
new harness
m-switches

Did I forget anything? Or did I add something that wasn't done? You've been a busy boy over these past 6 months 

[Stev-o]

Congrats...and +1 the video is great!   

Next time, it might to a good idea to point the exhaust towards the door, unless you enjoy breathing CO2!

[calj737]

Congrats...and +1 the video is great!   

Next time, it might to a good idea to point the exhaust towards the door, unless you enjoy breathing CO!

FTFY. CO2 is Carbon Dioxide, CO is Carbon Monoxide. Or Colorado as it were 

[riverfever]

Ta da!

Remind us all again, this rebuild included:
new head
+1mm intakes
new springs, seals, and guides?
Recut seats
porting
New jugs
pistons and rings
M-unit
m-Lock
m-blaze pins
new harness
m-switches

Did I forget anything? Or did I add something that wasn't done? You've been a busy boy over these past 6 months 

Yes to all of that. Also...new Woodcraft clip ons, modified and polished stock top tree (we will see if this is more comfortable than the Tarozzis were), the polished tappet covers and breather, all the paint on the top end of the motor, new mirrors, and I think that's it. I did plan on doing Cognito brackets and rear sets but I'm going to hold off for now and make sure that I can ride the thing before I head down that road. If I can ride it for several rides without getting stranded then I'll spring for them because I know the Woodcrafts probably won't feel "right" until I ditch the stock pegs (which are bent on the right side pretty badly and not helping). It's been a lot of work but it was really cool to hear it today.

[riverfever]

Yeah it was not pleasant when it first started. The video shows the second start. On the first one it wasn't real happy but it was because it needed more air. It was really running fat because I had the choke closed. Once I figured that out it was a different beast. However, if you guys recall, back in June when I parked it and went to Maui I was losing just over 2 volts from battery to coils. I believe I am getting much hotter spark now (meter showed 12 volts at coils with just the power switched on the other day) and am curious if this will require more tuning. Also...the results of plug chops and tuning always seemed to fluctuate last year and I suspect that may have been because of the broken insulation and strands of wire I found on the switched power side of the harness? Now things are more consistent.

[calj737]

With the new O/S valves, that should help equalize your AF ratios given your altitude. Might even get you near stock carb jetting! Your motor will certainly be healthier and maybe strong enough to feed the MGP exhaust beast 

[riverfever]

I'm stunned at the difference in this start up versus the initial start up after the top end rebuild. Kind of confirms how effd up the wiring was.

[SF]

Where's the video??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[riverfever]

I've tried twice now to upload it to Photobucket and it's not completed it either time now. Super frustrated. I'm still working on it. Hate PB.

[riverfever]

I (sloppily) updated the squirrel for you... a more appropriate nut.

I'm really thinking of getting some of these made. Small though and maybe placed on the side covers. Thanks Bryan.

[calj737]

Ink! Ink! Ink! Or at least a shoulder logo added to your SOHC4 fan wear!

[riverfever]

So I think you all will appreciate a car shopping story. So finding a 3.6 liter Outback is difficult here in Subaru land. We found a really nice 2012 2.5 Outback and were ready to buy it but I kept wondering if I would regret buying the 2.5 and living up here on the moon. So after talking to my credit union, even at the list price for this 3.6 we had found, which was way overpriced, it was only gonna cost me an additional $30 a month so I figured I needed to go look at it because I knew Heather was gonna beat em down (she's brutal at the negotiation table). So we do. We get there and the sales guy takes us out to it. Right away something is giving me pause about this car but I just can't place it. Then it hits me. This thing has pinstripes. Not stickers. Actual pinstripes. With a brush. By hand. Old school. Car is blue and the stripes are blue and gray. I ask, "Dude...WTF's up with these stripes?" They run the length of the car in the traditional location. They hug the contour of the flare in the front fenders. And across the back of the hatch. Heather hadn't noticed them and neither had the sales moron. Heather asks if this is gonna be a deal breaker and I say I don't know. On an old Impala...no. On a cool motorcycle? Hell no. On an Outback??? Maybe yeah. Then I notice a CR on the front fenders. Then it hits me. Colorado Rockies. I say to myself, "Self...would someone be such a baseball fan that they would get team themed pinstripes?"

We go to drive the car and the sales guy can't go because he has to finish up something else. Bummer. Car drives great and we get back and park it and I'm trying to figure out if I can buy this thing. Another sales guy walks up and asks if I need any help and without even looking I say no I'm good. This guy then says, "Well good because you're a SOB anyways and I don't wanna help you!!" I start to turn to ask this guy who he's talking to and immediately start to laugh because I worked with him years ago. As we start to talk he tells me he remembers taking this car in on a trade a month ago. Then tells me I know the PO. Tells me their name and I don't know who he's talking about. But Heather does. Turns out the guy owns the house next door to me and rents it out. Him and his wife are Rockies fans and then I can remember her pulling up in this exact vehicle when they first bought the place. Small world. I'll have to get some pics of the car. I'm just gonna buy a Rockies hat and keep it in the car in the event of questions.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Ta da!

Remind us all again, this rebuild included:
new head
+1mm intakes
new springs, seals, and guides?
Recut seats
porting
New jugs
pistons and rings
M-unit
m-Lock
m-blaze pins
new harness
m-switches

Did I forget anything? Or did I add something that wasn't done? You've been a busy boy over these past 6 months 

Yes to all of that. Also...new Woodcraft clip ons, modified and polished stock top tree (we will see if this is more comfortable than the Tarozzis were), the polished tappet covers and breather, all the paint on the top end of the motor, new mirrors, and I think that's it. I did plan on doing Cognito brackets and rear sets but I'm going to hold off for now and make sure that I can ride the thing before I head down that road. If I can ride it for several rides without getting stranded then I'll spring for them because I know the Woodcrafts probably won't feel "right" until I ditch the stock pegs (which are bent on the right side pretty badly and not helping). It's been a lot of work but it was really cool to hear it today.

Plus new MC and clutch perch.

[riverfever]

Oh yeah. And I found your Braking MC when I cleared off the bench today. I'll get that headed your way real soon here Don.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Oh yeah. And I found your Braking MC when I cleared off the bench today. I'll get that headed your way real soon here Don.

No hurry.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Did you get some riding time this weekend (even if you need a new front brake cable)?

[calj737]

Did you get some riding time this weekend (even if you need a new front brake cable)?

He told me he went up and down the street and then broke his bike. I told him to tear it all out and start over. He stopped responding after that 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Did you get some riding time this weekend (even if you need a new front brake cable)?

He told me he went up and down the street and then broke his bike. I told him to tear it all out and start over. He stopped responding after that 

That's just mean!  What broke??

[calj737]

He's got a ground problem. Hit the START button and its shorting out the main power. I told him he had to call back during "Normal Business Hours". He wasn't too cheerful with me after that.  Texted all kinds of 4 letter words I couldn't understand 

I pulled a bit of TwoTired mode on him: wouldn't tell him the answer, made him think through it to understand how to identify the source. He got close, but then grew frustrated with me (friendly manner). He needs to track down a couple of things to sort it out, but its as simple as a loose wire somewhere between the M-unit, Starter Motor, and battery. Only challenge he has is his meter does not have a continuity setting so he will be hunting a bit longer than he should.

He did say, the bike ran really well and inspired but didn't have the weather for a real test.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

He's got a ground problem. Hit the START button and its shorting out the main power. I told him he had to call back during "Normal Business Hours". He wasn't too cheerful with me after that.  Texted all kinds of 4 letter words I couldn't understand 

I pulled a bit of TwoTired mode on him: wouldn't tell him the answer, made him think through it to understand how to identify the source. He got close, but then grew frustrated with me (friendly manner). He needs to track down a couple of things to sort it out, but its as simple as a loose wire somewhere between the M-unit, Starter Motor, and battery. Only challenge he has is his meter does not have a continuity setting so he will be hunting a bit longer than he should.

He did say, the bike ran really well and inspired but didn't have the weather for a real test.

He took a photo this weekend and the whether looked promising (between taking on bad weather).  I was hoping he could at least enjoy it a little.  Damn wiring!!

[calj737]

Damn Newbies trying their hand at wiring!! 

[riverfever]

Did you get some riding time this weekend (even if you need a new front brake cable)?

He told me he went up and down the street and then broke his bike. I told him to tear it all out and start over. He stopped responding after that 

That's just mean!  What broke??

I did fire it up again and take it up and down the street after those glamour shots. Clutch was all out of whack and needed adjusting after that new sexy perch and new cable. I had to stop and start it several times while making adjustments and then, all of a sudden, no more start. Just like Master Po said, M Lock would power everything up like normal then I'd hit the start button and hear the M Unit click and then it was lights out. I could reactivate the M Lock and the M Unit powers up just like it should and then kick the thing over and all is good. Double tap on start button kills it like it should. But hitting the start button one time resets the M Unit every time. 

[riverfever]

Did you get some riding time this weekend (even if you need a new front brake cable)?

He told me he went up and down the street and then broke his bike. I told him to tear it all out and start over. He stopped responding after that 

Hahahahaha!! He did text back for me to tear it all out and start from scratch. I cannot confirm nor deny if any four lettered words were uttered. However, I did NOT text four lettered words. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Just as long as you don't have to pick up that hot pot with your forearms!!

[riverfever]

He did text me all sorts of riddles and I know his intent is only to help me understand this system and I really do appreciate it but it does tend to stretch my brain.

Po: Will you walk with me grasshopper?
Lowly insect: Yeah I guess.
Po: What is your view on the starter circuit?
Lowly insect: I think this blows.
Po: Wind blows grasshopper. The amperage must flow like the Yellow River. How flows your amperage?
Lowly insect: Ummmmmm.....downstream??

I will say though...that even with my extremely limited knowledge of all things electronics, this is much easier. Because the M Unit isolates things into circuits, I thought I was dealing with an issue in the start circuit. I checked battery connections, M Unit ground, ground from the starter solenoid, power wire off solenoid going to start OUTPUT, and both cables on solenoid. All looked fine and were tight. I jumped the posts on the solenoid and the starter spun but it was very labored. On the bench and after I reinstalled it on the bike it was not this slow. So I'm wondering if I have an issue with the starter. Po has been walking me through ways to isolate that. Electrical has always been foreign to me. AC, DC, amperage, volts, continuity, resistance, etc.  I just don't understand what it all means. Sometimes it's been frustrating but I've learned a ton installing all this stuff.