Topic: 1976 CB500/550 Project "Squirrel"

[calj737]

That and rubber boots with no holes...

[riverfever]

I got around to swapping the clips on the carbs today and they are all now in slot number 3. I also synced the carbs again and they were way off. The torn rubbers were obviously a major issue. I have a pretty significant amount of oil leaking from the top end and in multiple places. It's got to be the pucks. In several spots it starts right below the valve cover gasket but I used a new gasket and all bolts are tight. When I installed the pucks I used a thin layer of Hylomar on both sides and just set them in place. In hindsight, and after talking to Joey, I should have put a generous amount of Hylomar on the head side and then pushed each one into place real well and then sealed the tops of them. Curious if this is what you all do when sealing those things? Is the Hylomar acceptable to use? I'm afraid I'm going to have to address this once school is out but I guess the good news is that it's not too big a job and won't cost a ton with just new pucks and the hassle of readjusting the valves. While I'm in there I suppose I should also double check the head nuts for proper torque.

[calj737]

Hylomar is good stuff.

[bwaller]

Often I've those picks are barely thick enough to seal. I hate to see a bunch of goop on those but they do need to seal...Before you install plunge the tail of your vernier in the puck groove to measure the depth and compare to the thickness of the puck. We're they OEM?

[riverfever]

I'm certain they were OEM Brent. I was paranoid about having an oil leak so I made sure to use all OEM gaskets. I just didn't use enough schmutz on them. I'll find some more of them and have to address it once school is out. I've also got oil leaking out of the cam end caps where the o rings are and those were new as well.

[bwaller]

For a while even OEM were borderline. The last couple years I've found were thicker again. O-ring thickness is a similar issue. 

[riverfever]

New OEM pucks showed up several days ago and I got around to the job over the weekend. Once I got the valve cover pulled, I couldn't see any oil on on the fasteners underneath the pucks so I do not believe they were leaking at all. Regardless...I replaced the pucks (two had been disturbed by removing the cover) and then started to put everything back together. The first bolt that went in under the breather cover pulled the threads out of the head. And I hadn't even felt resistance yet when tightening it so, unlike Kyle's assumption, this was not a result of my shear brute strength. I installed a helicoil in that spot and, refitted the cover and the rest of the fasteners snugged up just fine and I moved on to adjusting the valves. Once that was done, I was reinstalling the inspection covers and one of the first few I put on had the threads break. Here's what I noticed as I was looking at things after this. When I painted the cover, I didn't do a good enough job taping things off or simply cleaning up things afterwards. I don't think the inspection cover o rings were sealing properly because of areas of paint that created high and low spots on the cover where the o ring seals. I don't think this was resulting in huge oil leaks but for sure some. The other thing I noticed while cleaning up oil was that the majority of it was on the front of the motor between headers 3/4 and 2/3 and it had leaked all down the fins. This was a healthier leak. When I went to put the tach cable back in, it dawned on me that that was where all the oil had been on the nut securing the head. Cable seals were leaking. I had the inner most seal but had never installed it so I did that and I ordered a replacement o ring but used one from a kit that I have here for the mean time. I carefully took care of any paint where the tappet covers seal. While I had the valve cover off I double checked the torque and several of the nuts were not at spec so we'll see if this helps the slight leak under the cylinders on the left side.

The education continues.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

This build exemplifies perseverance.  Thumbs up!

[seanbarney41]

Weird coincidence?...a couple weeks ago me and some friends went on our annual MC camping trip in the traverse City area of Michigan.  One morning I was cleaning up the campsite after a long night of campfire boozing and I found this spent sticker.  None of my friends have anything to do with sohc4s or this site.  No idea where this came from

[riverfever]

That's a sticker? That IS bizarre Sean! His spirit is everywhere!

How long did you guys go camping for? Got any pics of your bike loaded up? How was it? Details! Tomorrow morning I'm going on my first real ride (other than plug chops) in a bit over a year. I'm heading on a favorite ride of mine that runs right along the river for about 10 miles in one spot. There's a lot of camping spots along the way. I'd really like to try to do some camping/very light touring on the bike the summer.

[seanbarney41]

This trip isn't about true roughing it.  Although we do sleep in tents, there are bars, restaurants, grocery stores, even a strip club nearby...mostly just ride excellent twisty scenic roads all day, eat, drink, and be merry all night.  The campground is about 200 miles from my home.  Someone always brings a van or a truck to haul gear and for break downs, plus there is a full service motorcycle shop on the campground.  Pretty wimpy, but hella fun.  Didn't take many pics this year

[riverfever]

I've said it before but I'm gonna say it again...I've met some really wonderful people on this forum who have encouraged me and helped out along the way and I am extremely appreciative. A good friend of mine recently visited her father (who is not doing well) in Florida. He has a shipping container on his property and she sent me a picture of the inside and it was loaded with crap. I saw a Harley and multiple bikes but I couldn't exactly tell what they were. Well she lugged two of them home and dropped them off at my house. One is a Whizzer motorized bicycle. It's basically a bicycle with a 1.95hp motor bolted to it. This was relatively easy to get started but I joined a motorized bicycle forum while trying to figure the thing out and it was not helpful or informative at all (and that's the only reason I really mention it). Totally opposite of my experience here.

Yesterday I came home from fishing and found a package on my doorstep. I wasn't expecting anything but opened it up and found this:



Needless to say I was pretty blown away. Steve O is the artist behind this gift and I just wanted to publicly say how psyched I am with it. Thanks a lot Steve! It was really thoughtful of you.

Also...eventually I plan on installing rear sets on this bike but before I put anymore money into it, I'd like to ride it some. However, the right side peg is badly bent. Would anyone happen to have one laying around they would be willing to sell?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Bravo, Stev-o! 

[calj737]

Before I ship a new, replacement peg to you, please confirm you don't have one lying around the shop already  (Inside joke fellas)

[riverfever]

I'm really sorry! It wasn't that I had a tappet cover laying around but that I was able to find one at a dealer. I feel awful that I literally missed you by minutes. I'll make it up to. I'll take this brand new one and polish the snot out of it and then stamp a squirrel in the top of it (on the nut portion haha) and send it your way. That way there'll be a part of the squirrel on YOUR bike!! Sean found traces in Michigan, Don should have found evidence on a box that I just sent him and now this!!

[calj737]

Wait! You went out and BOUGHT one!?!?! You are so lucky I can't get my hands on you and thrash you enough that even Jesus couldn't take  You had me digging and driving all over VA, screwing around with the Posties, just to ship something halfway across country so you could "run down the street" and get one? MFCUKR! I'm coming to CO and it won't be pretty when I leave. 

[joeyvans]

Wait! You went out and BOUGHT one!?!?! You are so lucky I can't get my hands on you and thrash you enough that even Jesus couldn't take  You had me digging and driving all over VA, screwing around with the Posties, just to ship something halfway across country so you could "run down the street" and get one? MFCUKR! I'm coming to CO and it won't be pretty when I leave. 

I'll get in line for my whooping too, then. It was my suggestion, as these covers are still readily available.

"Thank you sir, may I have another!?"


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[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I'm really sorry! It wasn't that I had a tappet cover laying around but that I was able to find one at a dealer. I feel awful that I literally missed you by minutes. I'll make it up to. I'll take this brand new one and polish the snot out of it and then stamp a squirrel in the top of it (on the nut portion haha) and send it your way. That way there'll be a part of the squirrel on YOUR bike!! Sean found traces in Michigan, Don should have found evidence on a box that I just sent him and now this!!

There might have been some squirrel hair in that Priority Mail box. 

I was out at my buddy's ranch in Central California this last weekend.  His dog got a hold of a squirrel and it was not pretty.  At one point the squirrel had its paws up shaking as it squeaked in fear.  Brutal!  As a defense mechanism, my brain played word association and I thought of your bike instead of the little critter getting thrashed to its end.   

[riverfever]

Wait! You went out and BOUGHT one!?!?! You are so lucky I can't get my hands on you and thrash you enough that even Jesus couldn't take  You had me digging and driving all over VA, screwing around with the Posties, just to ship something halfway across country so you could "run down the street" and get one? MFCUKR! I'm coming to CO and it won't be pretty when I leave. 

All I can do is what I've already done. Apologize. I thought Joey was full of it but they had one sitting on a shelf. I will gladly return yours to you.

[calj737]

Wait! You went out and BOUGHT one!?!?! You are so lucky I can't get my hands on you and thrash you enough that even Jesus couldn't take  You had me digging and driving all over VA, screwing around with the Posties, just to ship something halfway across country so you could "run down the street" and get one? MFCUKR! I'm coming to CO and it won't be pretty when I leave. 

All I can do is what I've already done. Apologize. I thought Joey was full of it but they had one sitting on a shelf. I will gladly return yours to you.

Too late. Already in western OH. Brace yourself; I'll be there just after supper 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Wait! You went out and BOUGHT one!?!?! You are so lucky I can't get my hands on you and thrash you enough that even Jesus couldn't take  You had me digging and driving all over VA, screwing around with the Posties, just to ship something halfway across country so you could "run down the street" and get one? MFCUKR! I'm coming to CO and it won't be pretty when I leave. 

All I can do is what I've already done. Apologize. I thought Joey was full of it but they had one sitting on a shelf. I will gladly return yours to you.

Too late. Already in western OH. Brace yourself; I'll be there just after supper 

Cal must be driving, or his G4 is having serious weather delays.

[calj737]

Driving. AKA "flying too low" as the Staties would say 

[riverfever]

Haha! What's supper anyways?? We don't eat that meal around these parts. We have lupper or linner.

[calj737]

I'll be dining on your hiney tonight whichever meal it will be. Cuz I'm fixin to give you a chewin' 

[Denver_Larry]

That got homoerotic real fast...