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

[Stev-o]

Hmm - with the shifting issues and locked engine you have to wonder if maybe there is a little more going on than just some stuck rings. I would play with your 50/50 mix  and the 14mm bolt along with some good heat on the cylinders for awhile simply for the reason its easier in the frame. Be nice to get it broke free before yanking it.
  Did your seller have any history on the bike or is there an old owner on the title you could track down ?  More info for you the better.

+1.  Did you buy it with known stuck/seized motor issues?

[cheftuskey121]

Thanks guys. I will keep at it with 50/50 and heat. Just odd that the kick start moves freely. Poppin that cover today when I get out of bed. Also reading about seized engines and diagrams to understand better. I knew the motor was seized yes. I talked with the seller and he bought it like is. I know everything he knows. His was way over his head so he gave up. I'm too stubborn to do that. I was hoping there was a magic secret bolt to undo or something

[Stev-o]

Glad to hear you knew what you were getting, that would not be cool if he did not give disclosure.

[cheftuskey121]

Glad to hear you knew what you were getting, that would not be cool if he did not give disclosure.

agreed, that would be the pits, I got it at a fair price, and considering I don't have much option and not the greatest amount of time, I wanted to move fast. its ok, this will happen. it has to. I was able to restore Yolanda in 5/6 months and I had NO knowledge or tools or muscle memory for turning wrenches. I have some now and am fully prepared to use it!

[fendersrule]

Keep in mind that CB450 parts are a little less available than CB750 stuff, but it shouldn't deter you from moving forward with this motor since things can be found, just not as all over the place like the CB750 stuff is.

Pity that the motor is stuck. I feel stupid for posting all that stuff about tune ups and inspections when you are quite a ways away from doing any of that. I didn't think the bike would be in major "project" shape. My hope is that you've paid only a few hundred for this bike. It has potential, but just make sure you're aware of the road ahead of you. A tight deadline can make a project very annoying, so I've learned to follow the "things get done when they get done" approach.

What's your budget? I would recommend acknowledging that you are going to need 2-3 thousand, as a start, to get this into the shape you would want it. Stuff adds up, as you know.

I rock the handlebar stache too. 

[cheftuskey121]

haha thanks fender. gotta represent the stache. I got the right side cover off today, after having fun with the right side pipe. when I got the cover off I could see that the shift shaft was seized. and the selector fork wasn't in place. I got shift linkage off and got movement back into the arms, I put the shaft back in place and now the shifter drum seems to be seized. it won't budge. so its still not going into gear.

the kickstart spring is just fine. when I turn the kickstart lever down slowly it engages the final drive and the wheel turns. it should not be moving at all considering the motor is stuck, right?

[vmass]

Hello All,

I am going to make this short, since my previous, longer post didn't make it.

I am the previous owner of the bike and I am looking forward to watching Chef bring this bike back to life.

Just as Chef stated, I passed on everything I know about the bike, which is not much.  I am waiting on Chef's return email with his mailing address so I can mail him the title.  I did anywho the name on the title and it matches the current residential listing.

That may or may not help.

[ekpent]

Hello All,

I am going to make this short, since my previous, longer post didn't make it.

I am the previous owner of the bike and I am looking forward to watching Chef bring this bike back to life.

Just as Chef stated, I passed on everything I know about the bike, which is not much.  I am waiting on Chef's return email with his mailing address so I can mail him the title.  I did anywho the name on the title and it matches the current residential listing.

That may or may not help.

Welcome aboard Vmass. Have you caught the SOHC bug yet ? If not better watch hanging out around here      See a new project in your future   

[vmass]

Hello All,

I am going to make this short, since my previous, longer post didn't make it.

I am the previous owner of the bike and I am looking forward to watching Chef bring this bike back to life.

Just as Chef stated, I passed on everything I know about the bike, which is not much.  I am waiting on Chef's return email with his mailing address so I can mail him the title.  I did anywho the name on the title and it matches the current residential listing.

That may or may not help.

Welcome aboard Vmass. Have you caught the SOHC bug yet ? If not better watch hanging out around here      See a new project in your future   

Thanks ekpent,

Not sure I have the SOHC bug, but I definitely have the bike bug and know of no cure, not that I looked real hard for one!

I have a couple of Suzuki's in line for some work.  I also have a 74' CB450, which I think I can post some pics of after this post #5!

[cheftuskey121]

Swear I replied. Probably in my head. Anyway nice of you to drop in Rich, I sent you my address

[cheftuskey121]

this engine is going nowhere. shift drum is seized. pistons are seized. heat and lube aren't doing anything. looking into parts of the lower case all I see is rust. the clutch basket isn't even in the engine, so I am feeling there is no redemption in trying to revive this engine. am currently looking for a complete engine that turns over. running if possible. gonna throw an ad up in the parts section. bummer

[calj737]

Try the kerosene fire trick in the cylinders. Gotta pull the engine anyway to replace it, might as well pull the head and give it a go while you look for a replacement. Worst case, this one comes loose, or you get are placement and you have a friendly bonfire to take the chill off.

[ekpent]

Try a wanted add in Craigslist also for your area,never know what you may turn up,maybe a whole parts bike even or a better candidate.

[vmass]

That sucks to hear.  I am still hopeful that you find a solution to free the engine.

[cheftuskey121]

I figure I'll at least post an update. when the bike arrived I pulled off the tank and checked out the ignition since there was no key. what do you know it was the same wiring as my cb750, and I had a spare key ignition lying around. plugged it in.



got a better hooked up. the battery I have is for the 750 and it's too big so I made some wire extenders to get to the battery. not the safest but I wanted to make it work. turned and key and bam! electricity. the horn did not function, and the flasher took 10 seconds to cycle once, but the lights work! so there's that. tried the starter and obviously nothing considering its frozen state.

[cheftuskey121]

started getting covers off.







here is the right side cover. you can see the gear selector arm is out of whack. I took it out and lubed it up so the arm would actuate but the shuft drum is still frozen. won't go into gear. really puts a damper on the whole leverage thing to free the engine. I am also missing the entire clutch basket assembly. bummer.

[70CB750]

Thats pretty cool with the key!

[MoMo]

 3 or 4 Years ago I sold five 450 motors and a trailer and pick up bed full of parts to a gent from Northern NJ.  Don't have the contact info anymore but maybe if you tried posting a wanted 450 motor on that area CL you may hit a winner...Larry

[cheftuskey121]

3 or 4 Years ago I sold five 450 motors and a trailer and pick up bed full of parts to a gent from Northern NJ.  Don't have the contact info anymore but maybe if you tried posting a wanted 450 motor on that area CL you may hit a winner...Larry

Thanks momo that's a good suggestion. I am keeping sharp for a motor. Going to start tear down tonight. Easier to start restoring small parts than fixate on the engine and get caught up worrying

[fendersrule]

The greatest feeling in the world is picking up a bike for a couple hundred bucks that "seems" like it should run (no sign of rust, engine turns over, carbs don't look terrible etc) only to fill it up with gas when you get home to find that it breathes.

You can get CB450s for cheap. Not from eBay or restored ones (they fetch a good amount), but you can certainly find them.

CB450K5: Paid $600. Didn't "run", but seemed otherwise healthy. Got it home to find that it didn't run because the fuel tank was empty. Compression was "fair", but still pulled good. Eventually did a ground up resto because it would slip out of first gear, and it leaked some oil. Check out my "Sunrise" thread.

CB450K7: Paid $400. Replaced the forks, handlebars, and a couple various other parts, and now have something that could be shown at a show. Check out my "Brownie" thread.

So don't think what you have is what you have to stick with. Post a wanted ad for a CB450 and that's how you will find the amazing deals. If it's posted on Craigslist, it's fair game at a fair price. The wanted ads is what gets the stupid-deals. Oops, let out my secrets.

[calj737]

Chef - saw this earlier and thought of you...

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=133208.0

[cheftuskey121]

The greatest feeling in the world is picking up a bike for a couple hundred bucks that "seems" like it should run (no sign of rust, engine turns over, carbs don't look terrible etc) only to fill it up with gas when you get home to find that it breathes.

You can get CB450s for cheap. Not from eBay or restored ones (they fetch a good amount), but you can certainly find them.

CB450K5: Paid $600. Didn't "run", but seemed otherwise healthy. Got it home to find that it didn't run because the fuel tank was empty. Compression was "fair", but still pulled good. Eventually did a ground up resto because it would slip out of first gear, and it leaked some oil. Check out my "Sunrise" thread.

CB450K7: Paid $400. Replaced the forks, handlebars, and a couple various other parts, and now have something that could be shown at a show. Check out my "Brownie" thread.

So don't think what you have is what you have to stick with. Post a wanted ad for a CB450 and that's how you will find the amazing deals. If it's posted on Craigslist, it's fair game at a fair price. The wanted ads is what gets the stupid-deals. Oops, let out my secrets.

oh I've been soaking up your threads like a sponge. I know what you mean. I won't fixate on this bike. it is nice to have all the donor parts to start. on the hunt for a motor. can this motor be taken apart while its stuck. is that even possible? if so...what do I have to lose?

[cheftuskey121]

Chef - saw this earlier and thought of you...

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=133208.0

I checked that. no 450 stuff though

[Bankerdanny]

So don't think what you have is what you have to stick with. Post a wanted ad for a CB450 and that's how you will find the amazing deals. If it's posted on Craigslist, it's fair game at a fair price. The wanted ads is what gets the stupid-deals. Oops, let out my secrets.

That's how Tewes finds all of his bikes too. Ekpent on the other hand seems to just stumble on amazing deal after amazing deal via divine providence.

[Carver]

If you're looking for a new engine a cl450 is exactly the same except it will say cl on the VIN, so it will work as well. If it has the cl exhaust you can also sell it to subsidize your build a little bit. They go for a pretty penny.