Author Topic: 500/550/650's that followed me home (Read 111401 times)

Stev-o · « **Reply #475 on:** September 09, 2015, 07:33:10 PM »

The old laundry trick, worked for me as well but was with my Mom shortly after I moved out when I was 20!

RAFster122s · « **Reply #476 on:** September 09, 2015, 09:15:55 PM »

What? You have to separate clothes when you wash them? What happens if you get caught in the rain?

David

RAFster122s · « **Reply #477 on:** September 09, 2015, 10:25:48 PM »

Is she buying antiques that need work or pieces she wants you to refinish?
Some hobbies or stress relief activities you choose are for that purpose. I have enjoyed woodworking and am good with my hands as I have an eye for detail. But, my ex sucked the joy out of woodworking for me by adding her list of honey-do-s to my hobby that were things she imagined could be done. It is fine if that is every now and then but if it is the only thing that you get to do, then it isn't enjoyable, it is turning into a task like work.
I have decent artistic skills but, I didn't compete with my ex who was a graphic artist by degree.
I can do a nice watercolor painting or pencil drawing or even pastel drawing, but, I haven't had the motivation and desire to do so in several years. I have done drawings and paintings as gifts before and they were not something displayed merely because I did it, they had depyh and perspective and focus as well as lighting and shadow as any good painting would. Not that I am that great...you won't find my work in a museum.

So, RB...it could be worse than just the Sunday antiques but, it could be refinishing pieces or restoring pieces. Most antiques are worth more original than refinished in most cases...
David

rb550four · « **Reply #478 on:** September 10, 2015, 05:34:27 PM »

The 650 is basically all back together. I had some spare coils on the shelf , so that's good. The wiring harness had blades rotted apart in the connectors, smoked wires and generally in poor condition...if it was the last one on the shelf I would be soldering but , as luck would have it, the shelf had a nice '80 650 wiring harness on it,so I went for that ,there are some lighting wire differences but easily fixed, so I used that. The CDI boxes that I thought were on the shelf wasn't. Booo. Turns out only a fresh regulator.
Waiting for carb parts.

Restoration Fan · « **Reply #479 on:** September 10, 2015, 06:00:01 PM »

rb,
I'm having an issue with the triple tree on the 500 I'm working on. I received 3 different ones in the boxes of parts with the engines and I'm not 100% sure that I'm using the proper one.

If you have a triple that isn't in a bike, can you measure the height of the stem and the thickness of the stem at the widest part?

Thanks,
Ron

rb550four · « **Reply #480 on:** September 11, 2015, 09:24:45 PM »

I'm sorry , I couldn't get back to you sooner.
It seems the stem height above the tree is 8 1/2"
Plus 1 1/8 worth of tree, stem height oal 9 3/4 is depending on weld.

8 15/16" across the outside of the trees (width).... after thought, I may have inched that, so it could be 7 15/16. I'll recheck tomorrow. Sorry.But I think 8 15/16 is right.
3 19/32" from the back of the stem o tree to the front of the stem in front of the lock.

26 mm at the top of stem below the lower threads
30 mm at the bottom at bearing race

You know that the 500 /550/650 and I think but not sure the 750 have the same stem and all balls bearings will be interchangeable,
the 500 and 550 are interchangeable with 500 and 550 forks and possibly early 750 too (and again not sure on the 750 .)
the 650 has thicker forks ...trees are not interchangeable if you are using 500 forks.
There , that sounds confusing enough, hope it helps.

Restoration Fan · « **Reply #481 on:** September 12, 2015, 05:56:53 AM »

Thanks, rb...that is actually very helpful.
I believe you're right that the 750 and 500/550 have the same stem; Bill Benton & I are going to confirm or refute that this morning by comparing it to a couple of 750 ones he has.

The issue I'm having is that the top roller bearings don't go down very far onto the stem I have and it's stopping about 10mm above the threads from where I need them to go. I'm wondering if All Balls sent me the wrong part or something. Bill also has a set of 750 bearings from All Balls so we're going to compare those today as well to see.

Again, I really do appreciate you taking the time to measure all of that for me. Very much appreciated.
I owe you a beer or three if you ever make it down to God's Country, err...I mean Georgia.

Ron

calj737 · « **Reply #482 on:** September 12, 2015, 08:10:56 AM »

The 750 stem is longer by about .800 but has the same profile and threads on top.

rb550four · « **Reply #483 on:** September 12, 2015, 09:23:23 AM »

So the carb parts aren't in yet and there's still ignite boxes to get so I'm waiting....got bored and put stripes on the tank last night.
This is the poor beast when it came home from the scrap yard.

This is unfinished but looks like this today

It's getting close.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #484 on:** September 12, 2015, 09:39:28 AM »

RB,

You sure made that 650 look pretty. She's all dressed up for the dance! Great job on the paint and the pinstriping.

I do like the frame on the 1979 model much more than the 1980-82 years -- less cruiser, more standard.

Restoration Fan · « **Reply #485 on:** September 12, 2015, 01:00:22 PM »

rb,
Do you use pinstripe tape or do you tape off the rest of the tank and spray the stripes?

And I agree with Don. That's really nice.

Ron

oldhatt45 · « **Reply #486 on:** September 12, 2015, 02:22:09 PM »

rb,

Really Looking Nice!!!
And never on a Sunday!!!!!

Charlie

rb550four · « **Reply #487 on:** September 12, 2015, 02:45:37 PM »

Thanks guys.
Ron I used pinstripe tape . I'll give it another clearcoat when I can, to keep the edges sealed.
and never on a Sunday.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #488 on:** September 12, 2015, 04:47:54 PM »

All dressed up and no where to go...

She's looking 100s of times better than she did. Plus, she was not cursed with a ugly seat.

Good job, you can drop her off at my place any time, or I can come pick her up.
David

P.S. the one thing that would make her look better is a set on non-reverse Comstars in silver with a nicely polished rim.

rb550four · « **Reply #489 on:** September 20, 2015, 01:26:26 PM »

So naturally I'm always on the search for a couple of 550's, no luck this week. But I did bring home an 1100, that's kinda like a couple of 550's. Just got it in the garage, need to get a shop manual, find out what I can about it before digging in.
So it's an 81 with 30k on it original owner bike, he had nobody to ride with so it sat for a couple years with gasohol in it , carbs and tank needs cleaning, and probably some other stuff. I'm so excited. I'm going out to the barn to inspect it now.
Pics or it didn't happen.... here she is.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #490 on:** September 20, 2015, 01:46:53 PM »

That's a hefty sucker, but I bet that's a workhorse of a motor.

oldhatt45 · « **Reply #491 on:** September 20, 2015, 02:48:17 PM »

rb,

Nice Pickup!!!!!!!!
The number one thing everyone talks about the GL1000 & GL1100 are the timing belts from what I have read!!!!!!!!
From what I understand, you do not tempt fate and even think about going more than 40,000 miles without changing them.
Since yours is nearing that mark, I would replace them sooner rather than later.

You probably want to subscribe to goldwingdocs.com
Probably also want to take a look at http://www.goldwingfacts.com/used1000.htm this will show you what things will likely need attention.

Keep us posted on your new Find.

Charlie

RAFster122s · « **Reply #492 on:** September 20, 2015, 03:25:11 PM »

Nice thing is that the belts can easily be purchased at the local auto parts store.
carbs are the CV type and need a good ultrasonic cleaning. The air cutoff valves need pulled before you hit them with carb cleaner. The jets can be cleaned with ultrasonic and a numbered drill through the holes or a piece of wire that is small enough.

Stev-o · « **Reply #493 on:** September 20, 2015, 03:47:05 PM »

Now what will you do with that? He pay you to take it?!

rb550four · « **Reply #494 on:** September 20, 2015, 05:59:19 PM »

No , he didn't pay me to take it, but I got it so cheap that it would be embarrassing to say how little I paid for it.
I got to liking these wings only recently. I always considered them an old man's machine. Perhaps , I have come of age.
Thinking that I'll leave it dressed and do some riding. Although a naked wing looks wicked , that could always happen later.

Restoration Fan · « **Reply #495 on:** September 20, 2015, 09:10:23 PM »

Leave the saddle bags on it and start riding it south. Don't stop until you get to Atlanta.

Once you get here, I'll put you up in a nice clean room and give you all the good food you want to eat. And you can make yourself useful by helping me rebuild this 550 engine.

rb550four · « **Reply #496 on:** September 26, 2015, 04:15:51 PM »

While putting the overflow tubes back on the cleaned 650 carbs, I realizwed that the last genius that owned this machine had an overflow issue. He solved the issue with sheetrock screws in the bottom of the offending tubes. Just genius. And I wasted all that time cleaning them up and adjusting the floats.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #497 on:** September 26, 2015, 08:08:58 PM »

He just put screwa in the overflow screw or he blocked the overflow screw with a drywall screw. I am having trouble picturing this. Can you post a photo of the damage? Is it the carb body or the overflow screw?

Could it be bushed with a section of brass tube that is then cross drilled for the overflow tube and tapped for the overflow screws?
Or, can just the bowls be replaced?
David

Restoration Fan · « **Reply #498 on:** September 26, 2015, 10:22:25 PM »

I think he's saying that the PO put drywall screws into the end of the rubber overflow tubes.

rb550four · « **Reply #499 on:** September 27, 2015, 11:35:00 AM »

Restoration Fan got it. That's what I was saying.
He put the drywall screws in the ends of the rubber tubes on them carb o rators so's it don't leak no more.
Shear genius right?

The pan was very clean when I drained the oil, now I know why. Can hardly wait to fire it up and see what it does...and for how long.

It's all fun and games you know.

News:

Author Topic: 500/550/650's that followed me home (Read 111401 times)