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

[cheftuskey121]

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

hahahah that gave me a good chuckle cal!

[calj737]

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!

[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.

[calj737]

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.

[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?

[calj737]

http://www.arkportcycles.com/default.asp?page=parts

Use  the Parts Request form on this page. Enter the Honda part #, and they'll reply with availability and price. Lots of the vintage honda stuff is not in their inventory on the computer, so they go look physically to verify availability.

Also, they'll query nationally for you and let you know who has it where.

[cheftuskey121]

hey this is great info! thanks guys. I went ahead and ordered my rear spokes from cms already, and have front ones on their way too. sending back these cheap thin spokes, I don't have the time to deal with them. garbage.

[grcamna2]

Do you members know any place that'll send you spokes to spec.? I can figure out the length and the correct gauge diameter on many of the ones I need and just wanted to know of a Quality spoke maker anywhere who has spokes of different sizes for MC's and older mopeds,etc. ?
I know about Buchanan's out in CA.,but are they the only ones ??  

                                Bill

[DH]

I've not used them, but buchanans comes to mind.  Others say they're very good to deal with and sending samples of your old spokes with your order is the way to go.
fwiw

[Bill/BentON Racing]

They the best, not cheap though, but thet will lace and true your rim and install the new spokes for only $80.00. Now that's a deal! So why do I do my own? Cheap bast&rd! They been around forever. Bought from them since mid '70's! Bill

[grcamna2]

They the best, not cheap though, but thet will lace and true your rim and install the new spokes for only $80.00. Now that's a deal! So why do I do my own? Cheap bast&rd! They been around forever. Bought from them since mid '70's! Bill

Bill, does that include the price of the spokes ?
I've bought quality spokes from an overseas company called Sapim before..,but they sold me bicycle spokes,I should check them to see if they also sell other larger ones.Their prices were excellent for Stainless Steel double butted spokes. 

[Stev-o]

They the best, not cheap though, but thet will lace and true your rim and install the new spokes for only $80.00. Now that's a deal! So why do I do my own? Cheap bast&rd! They been around forever. Bought from them since mid '70's! Bill

Bill, does that include the price of the spokes ?

Of course not.   A good set of SS spokes from Buchanan's is $114, worth it in my book. I just replaced my K4's front wheel. 

[calj737]

Buchanas charges $2/spoke. Plus labor to lace and true. I just spent $1200 on two new Sun rims, anodized, plus spokes and labor. Ouch! But the quality is worth the money for safety and longevity.

[sineti8]

nice vid!

[Stev-o]

Did you go to bill's shop?

[Bill/BentON Racing]

   The engines on my bench, stay tuned , going to probably split BE today! Bill

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Chef, I took it apart, you putting back together? 
Yeh, the longest cam chain around! 

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Another, the culprit!
4 bolt mains! Haha!

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Bedtime for it and me, Paducah in the morning for automatic old school Dragbike! 

[fendersrule]

Man, that's not fair. You have an EX Honda service manager re-doing your engine?!

My CB450 is finished…well not quite so yet. The transmission is slipping in first when the RPMs get up there under aggressive driving. Since my father went through the tranny parts and replaced anything that looked worn, he didn't pay attention much for the clutch. So I'm repacking the clutch right now with new plates and springs. New NOS springs and the old springs show a 2mm height difference...I'm hoping this is the problem.