Topic: 1976 CB500/550 Project "Squirrel"

[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! 

[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!!

[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!?"


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[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.

[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.

[riverfever]

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

[Denver_Larry]

That got homoerotic real fast... 

[RAFster122s]

Squirrel boy, your as_ is grass and Cal's gonna be the mower!  Given he was in wester Ohio, say Dayton...that is merely 1184 miles from CoSprings.  So, 10:30 ish with 8 hours requires a sustained 148 mph for a 6:30 ish arrival and a loafing 131 mph for arriving in 9 hours.  Given a '95 Volvo T5 Wagon un-governed can achieve speeds in excess of 155 mph , with production models of sedan and estate being limited to 147 mph.  The std MB  S550 is electronically limited to 155 mph with the AMG S63 and S65 Cabriolet being elect. limited to 186 mph...SO, it is not a mere idle threat that is not achieveable.  After he finishes with you he can enjoy a nice grass fed or grain fed steak before finishing his trip to LA to show BLAC how to mark and measure for the fly cutting in his pistons to be allow to APE do their magic flycutting the pistons for that 126-20 cam so that BLAC's 650 motor can be finished and enjoyed.   Delivery of the cylinder cover needed to allow the piston marking and measuring for depth of cut for those fly cutters...
Then drop by Jay Leno's Garage and appear on Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon
before heading back home...naturally enjoying a little time with all the lovely people sunning themselves and enjoying the beach on Cali coast.  What is a trip to Cali without at least enjoying watching and smelling the clean sea air?  Maybe he will rid the waters in nearby coastal areas of a few Great Whites menacing those waters so he will have a souvenior for the family and a gift for his buddies at Cognito-Moto.
And if he gets carried away while in CoSprings he can always drop you in the La Brea Tar Pits in downtown LA before heading over to BLAC's place.  No mess no fuss disposal.  It is fairly deserted after hours and not at all crowded...

Might want to hide that trophy from SteveO, might get shoved somewhere painful in meting out your punishment...

  8D

[Restoration Fan]

Personally, I'm just disappointed that Steve-o didn't put assembly lube on that piston/trophy before sending it out. 
Geesh....rookie mistake, Steve-o!

[Stev-o]

Personally, I'm just disappointed that Steve-o didn't put assembly lube on that piston/trophy before sending it out. 
Geesh....rookie mistake, Steve-o!

Ron, you should know this, the USPS would not have allowed it!

[Restoration Fan]

OK, good point.  My bad.  Carry on.

[BLAC]

Or did you use it elsewhere when they quoted you the shipping price? 

[RAFster122s]

Any liquids, explosives, perishable or fragile, assembly lube, or KY Jelly in this package?
Er, no?

[riverfever]

You guys are ridiculous.

Cal...tappet covers showed today. Thanks man.

Today I went back and double checked my timing and I do believe it's off by a bit. I know there seems to be a lot of debate from what I've read about setting timing either static or dynamic. I'm using Dyna's ignition and according to the directions, they want it set up static first and then say you can check to make sure the advancer is working afterwards with a strobe. When I checked 1-4 with a test light, the light came on (with the rotor turned clockwise as far as possible while turning the crank) so that the notch in the case was almost to the second advance mark (slightly more than halfway between the two advance marks). When I checked 2-3 the light came on well past the second advance mark. I'm guessing that these need to be as close as possible for both modules?

That's where I left things today because I had to finish cleaning the house, cutting the grass, going through gear, and packing. I'm catching an early flight in the morning to chase Tarpon. Should be fun. I have an 8 hour day on a flats skiff booked for Monday. I'll spend the rest of my time there chasing Snook in the surf. I've already landed Tarpon on a fly before but not Snook so it'll be cool to check another species off the bucket list. Another list fish for me is a Peacock Bass so I'm hoping to hit some freshwater canals and find some of them. Oh...I'm also looking forward to spending time with Heather as well. 

[Camrector]

Enjoy the trip brother! Be careful with that gel spun, cuts deep.
Tight lines.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Have a great time on your fishing trip, Chris.

[Restoration Fan]

Chris,
You probably know this but Snook have a very restrictive size limit that you're allowed to keep (if you're fishing in Florida for them...I don't know about elsewhere).  Just make sure to find out the limit (used to be 2 per day per person) and the size range you're allowed to keep on board the boat.  They were really serious about them years ago when I went Snook fishing, although granted it was almost 30 years ago when I did....so it may have changed since then.

Ron

[Stev-o]

Chris is a "catch and release" kind of guy, I'm surprised he's still married!

Personally, I don't get it.  If I'm going through the trouble to catch it, I'm eating it!!