Topic: Project: Over the hill -1971 cb450 (SURPRISE!)

[Bill/BentON Racing]

I suspect we'll need friction plates!  We will see. Those might be toast!

[Stev-o]

Do you guys like Vesrah?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vesrah-Clutch-Friction-Plate-Set-VC-140-Honda-CB350F-CB400F-CB400T-CB450-/171240031134?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27deb3839e&vxp=mtr

[cheftuskey121]

goodness I am terrible with updating. I can't post any pics from work because my photobucket does not load but I can add those later. I finished the color and clear on all parts, just need to wetsand and buff now.

I also ordered and received new clutch friction disks from Honda, as well as a whole spare used set including metal plates from ebay. I bought a new OEM ignition and fork lock, as well as a new tail light cover, gasket, bulb. my hubs are polished and clearcoated, as well as the drum brake panel, and the hubs have bearings. going to the post office today to pick up my spokes and should be lacing the wheels up tonight

airbox covers were cleaned, I am not going to paint them as they are not seen under the side covers. they are cleaned though and look decent. I have not had a chance to get up to ATL to see Bill and work on either the 450 engine or the 750 engine. I did buy an engine seal kit for the 450 though. hoping in the next week or two to get up there.

waiting to hear good news that my swingarm from hondaman is finished, so I can get that back, painted, and can start getting it  together

this is good info for anyone with the same issue I had....fork seals! so the fork seals I pulled out were pretty thick. thicker than the OEM available ones for this model. I now have 5 sets of 750/450 fork seals because I have been trying to find the thicker ones. the thicker seal eliminates the need for the "backup ring" or washer that goes between the seal and the circlip on these earlier year forks. I did research to find out what the hell that seal was from and its an early 750/450 type seal used on the K0s

funny how that works, so I have a set of those coming from david silver and should be able to FINALLY put the forks together and get the front end assembled. I also ordered another good amount of stuff from DSS...like new winkers, rear sprocket, passenger peg rubbers, steering stem top nut, rear axel nut, swingarm nut, brake caliper adjusting bolt and spring, and a new master cylinder. thanks for reading guys!

[cheftuskey121]

polished parts









bearings in place



more various small black parts. only things left are the swingarm, battery box, seat pan, and passenger pegs



the color!. stripe set is from david silver spares

[grcamna2]

polished parts









bearings in place



more various small black parts. only things left are the swingarm, battery box, seat pan, and passenger pegs



the color!. stripe set is from david silver spares

chef, These polished parts came out  great,you must have wore your fingers to the bone on them !

[cheftuskey121]

hit a snag. finally got my spokes. turns out they were waiting at the post office for about a month. pick them up and all looks well. laced up the rear first with no issues. then starting lacing the front and did the inner spokes ok. when I started lacing up the outer set, I noticed it was taking a lot of force to bend the spokes into the rim holes....no good. I checked it a thousand times I am lacing it properly. the 1971 cb450 wheel is the same as my 71 cb750. they used the same hub, rim, brakes etc. the spokes bend too soon, meaning there is not enough depth to get through the hub all the way, so the spokes are bending against the ege of the hub to make it back to the rim. unacceptable, unsafe, etc. I have contacted the seller and am asking for a half refund because half of what I ordered is unusable. I double checked it against my cb750 spokes AND the original cb450 spokes and for sure they are not cut properly. the length is ok, its just that it bends too quickly. not really a way to safely fix that. the front spokes are literally trash.

the spoke set I ordered was from a vietnamese seller, I mostly bought it because it was the only set with rear spokes. the good news is because the front wheel for my 750 is the same as this, I went ahead and ordered the same spokes I used on my 750 front, since I know the quality and fitment is good. that should be here in a few days and I can lace up the front, and get the tires on! that will be a nice little achievement

[cheftuskey121]

chef, These polished parts came out  great,you must have wore your fingers to the bone on them !

thanks grcamna2, it wasn't too bad really. I used an angle grinder with a wire wheel to get the aluminum fresh, then sanded with 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, and then started polishing with black, brown, and white rouge. used some simichrome in there too, and some steel wool. had to do lots of combinations to get it just right but am pleased, so I clearcoated it so save the shine! haha its a labor of love you know

[grcamna2]

When's your Dad's Birthday ?

[cheftuskey121]

When's your Dad's Birthday ?

august 8

[grcamna2]

I hope HondaMan gets your swingarm back soon and Bill B. your engine so you can fine tune it w/ lot's of good test rides.

[Stev-o]

Love the paint on the tank, Chef!

[DH]

When's your Dad's Birthday ?

august 8

At the rate you're goin, you could almost shoot for Father's day

[grcamna2]

Love the paint on the tank, Chef!

+1 for me too 

[fendersrule]

Damn. You are making some sick progress. I'm really impressed!

I think the stripe should have gone up just a little bit higher--center justified on the angled metal. I could be wrong though.

[cheftuskey121]

Damn. You are making some sick progress. I'm really impressed!

I think the stripe should have gone up just a little bit higher. I could be wrong though.

that's funny because I feel like progress is moving way too slowly for me! I tried to set it higher but the waterslide was not as pliable as the oe I got for my cb750 and it just would not set properly higher than where I put it. it was going to crinkle and not bend properly. so I chose the place that the decal naturally wanted to go.
1) he isn't going to remember where the hell the stripe was
2)both are centered and straight
3) I doubt he plans on selling it as a "restored" bike.

also found out the vietnamese spokes I got use a small size spoke nipple. I use #9 for the standard spokes....I think this is a #10 so I'll have to get one to fit.....or send all of them back and find another set of rear spokes. waiting to hear back from the seller, will make a decision and continue from there. I kinda like these spoke nipples because they are gold in color. looks really good with the chrome and is a nice little detail

[jerry h]

Nice update. 

Quote from: Stev-o on April 01, 2014, 09:51:40 PM

    Love the paint on the tank, Chef!


+1 for me too 

+3

[cheftuskey121]

thanks guys

here is the front spoke issue I am having. you can CLEARLY see how "off" the depth of the spokes are, causing my bending issue. these are just cut wrong, not to mention thinner. sending this picture to the seller....damn language barrier.

[cheftuskey121]

What? Vietnamese isn't taught as a Second language in GA? Frickin' Common Core...

hahahah that gave me a good chuckle cal!

[grcamna2]

thanks guys

here is the front spoke issue I am having. you can CLEARLY see how "off" the depth of the spokes are, causing my bending issue. these are just cut wrong, not to mention thinner. sending this picture to the seller....damn language barrier.

chef,
I wonder how tough it would be to get your Original spokes which are still in good cond. coated to look like new after you've brushed them? or are they bad ?
 I was thinking if anyone had some real Nice spare Original spokes that were a little dull looking they could donate them to you & just be re-finished to look like new.
I'm going to go that route because of how Good Originals fit and True Up.
I've seen So many issues w/ spokes that're Too thin throwing a wheel off or breaking outright over time.,they're very important. 

                                                        Bill
It's tough to beat OE spokes for fit.

[cheftuskey121]

Chef - the bike looks beautiful; you're doing great work, for a really great reason. I wish my father deserved that much love and effort.

I can only imagine the day when the reveal goes down. Real tear-jerking stuff.

Hats off to you for making it happen!

I am very excited too! a buddy of mine in ATL ( a member here) should be driving up to NY with me. we are going to hopefully trailer the 450, my 750, and his 750 as well so we can all go riding. I think the reason I am so impatient this time is its the second full bike I am doing, third time doing a front end restore, haha) so my end result expectations are moving faster than my time or money can supply. this time around I have a better idea of what I am doing. its a double edged sword

[cheftuskey121]

thanks guys

here is the front spoke issue I am having. you can CLEARLY see how "off" the depth of the spokes are, causing my bending issue. these are just cut wrong, not to mention thinner. sending this picture to the seller....damn language barrier.

chef,
I wonder how tough it would be to get your Original spokes which are still in good cond. coated to look like new after you've brushed them? or are they bad ?
 I was thinking if anyone had some real Nice spare Original spokes that were a little dull looking they could donate them to you & just be re-finished to look like new.
I'm going to go that route because of how Good Originals fit and True Up.
I've seen So many issues w/ spokes that're Too thin throwing a wheel off or breaking outright over time.,they're very important. 

                                                        Bill
It's tough to beat OE spokes for fit.

talked with the seller and I am wanting a full refund, I don't want to mess with these thin spokes. so note....if anyone is looking for cb450 spokes here is what they look like. don't buy them from a vietnamese vendor. I am going through cmsnl.com now for the rear spokes. I have used them many times before and they almost exclusively use OEM parts or perfectly replicated.

[grcamna2]

chef,
How about anyone here in the states? Have you tried asking a good Honda dealer if they can locate you some NOS spokes ?

[tbpmusic]

Though I ordinarily don't pass on anecdotal info, I've always heard that Buchanan's in the UK is really high quality (though pricey).

[grcamna2]

chef,
How about anyone here in the states? Have you tried asking a good Honda dealer if they can locate you some NOS spokes ?

I know of a Honda dealer out in N. Indiana who's got a great way of doing a Dealer search and finding NLA & NOS Honda parts right away.

[DH]

Another good source for new in box vintage parts is Arkport Suzuki/Honda 607/295-7426. They go around the country and by closing dealers inventory. Had a brand new, still in the bag '74 wire harness for me. Label indicated packaged in Japan, had an inventory label from 10/76 on it. $64 plus shipping.

calj  do you have a link for them on the net?