Author Topic: 500/550/650's that followed me home (Read 117043 times)

rb550four · « **Reply #525 on:** April 23, 2016, 10:53:59 AM »

Thanks for the info David, I haven't heard anything about alt brushes before...and you're right , might as well change those out while I'm there too. That'll go on the list.
Ron, summer is on the way, I took 2 out for a ride so far and it really renews the excitement about all this stuff. Even with an easy winter this year, it's too cold to ride, takes a long time to get heat in the shop, gets dark early ...all those excuses one can use not to just go to the shop and play, I feel it just robs us of time that could be enjoyed playing with bikes. It's been since December that I've played in the shop. Was out there the other day , good to be back.
And I haven't picked up a " new to me Honda" since I don't know when. Well, yeah the Wing, but that was by accident. The owner lost his riding buddy and didn't want to ride...since 2009. He was gonna scrap it , but asked me if I'd be interested, cause he'd rather see someone else get some use out of it. I paid him twice the scrap value and took it home.
Oh yes , I've been real good about that 12 step program here for hoarders and over collectors ( if there is such a thing). Haven't gotten too many steps up the ladder but, I haven't bought a machine in a long while...until now anyways. You know, gotta take one day at a time .
So this week I went up north to my daughter's and set the trusses , perlins and decked the 2nd floor ... anyways I went a different way for coffee and leaned up against a house was this 77 550. Knocked on the door and talked about it for a while, and it will be coming with one of those Ural sidecar frames, it's all set up for each other. Yay! Just the carriage not the bucket , but that's okay, we'll find other things to do with it. Scheduled to pick it up in 2 weeks when I go back north to put on the metal roof.
Okay , maybe I fell off the wagon with the 12 step program a little, but I watched an awful lot of bikes that I could have gotten go by, and it's a stinging feeling when you missed the sale. You know Should of , Would of, Could of ...Didn't.
I'll be more careful next time. Whatever that means.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #526 on:** April 23, 2016, 06:56:09 PM »

As the saying goes...pictures or it didn't happen...
Glad you have some thing to keep you out of trouble... I have started a few RC models to keep my hands busy lately.

Looking forward to your fun in the shop. Congrats on the new '77. Saves you having to track down a cam cover, as the earlier design likes to eggshape the rocker shafts making the cover a piece for recycling.

David

rb550four · « **Reply #527 on:** April 29, 2016, 06:02:19 PM »

Pictures will be coming when I actually start something.
This afternoon I had a little time, so I have this nighthawk 650 that 's been sitting around here for a while, it had a case of the uglies when I got it so I changed out the stock bars to superbike bars with some low rectangular mirrors.... made it look decent enough so it didn't bother me when I caught site of it. Anyways, while the garage is pretty empty I have that and the Wing to look at. Then I caught site of a flat spot on the front rim of the 650.Someone hit something hard. Okay, now that's all I see when I open the door. Even if it's covered, it's still the elephant in the room. Haven't decided what to do with it at this point. Get another one for parts or sell this one for parts? then there's always" who the hell wants a nighthawk "anyways?
The other side of the room has the Wing ...minus all the Vetter stuff, but it still has the uglies, it was the bars.... they are almost as bad as stock 81 650 bars. I think they made me sick a little bit , so I put the superbike bars on the Wing. What a difference! So much better looking than stock , and it feels better too. Now that I'm getting to like this machine, I'm almost ready to tear it apart , just got to get the headlight and ears for it , then I think I'll be ready .
Thought about the paint. so far the body is still okay. I was thinking of painting the engine cast iron color, changed my mind, it'll be fine in cast aluminum. But the frame is so large and dark in black...that perhaps that should be painted the cast iron color instead of black. Think I want to do that.
I'm a week away from picking up the 550, the steel roofing should be in on Friday.

Restoration Fan · « **Reply #528 on:** April 29, 2016, 09:15:19 PM »

I understand, rb. I've been working these insane, crazy hours but I'm finally within the last 2 weeks of this project.
It's killing me every time I go outside and see that it's in the 70's or 80's and sunny and I'm stuck inside and missing all of this great riding weather.

Oh well...very soon, I'll get to finish up this 500 and put some miles on her. Then, I get to work on the 550..which is the one I'm really anxious to play with.

Glad to hear you're looking at a new one. I think we'd worry if you stopped buying them.

bryanj · « **Reply #529 on:** April 30, 2016, 01:19:19 AM »

Wings don't have alternator brushes, the generator runs flat out and excess power is "Dumped" by a control box that works like the zenner diode on 70's brit bikes. careful with belt timing as its very easy to get it 1 tooth out and it you drain the coolant you need a 50% Glycol antifreeze and 50% DISTILLED water mix or the waterways will corrode. Replace rear wheel bearings if there is even the smallest play or you will total the crown wheel and pinion plus there is/should be a grease nipple to lube the spline drive on the top of the swing arm at the diff end grease every 1500 I think. Complete strips and rebuild are a pain unless you have small wrists due to the way you get the second set of pistons in. Any gasket surface needs to be super clean to seal and check for rot in the frame section that unbolts to get the engine out.

We had a "shop" wing when they first came out and apart from a new rear tyre every 5,000 and servicing it did 40,000 in 3 years with no real problems

dhall57 · « **Reply #530 on:** May 01, 2016, 03:01:56 AM »

Quote from: RAF122S on April 20, 2016, 07:40:12 PM

Dhall57 is a member with a 77 GL1000, Naked Wing.

Yes I am

Really fond of my 77. The Naked bikes are the way to go. By know means am I a expert on these Wangs and don't claim to be. Member chickenman_26 (Stu ) is the real expert on these GW's. Doesn't visit this forum much any more, but he could answer just about any question you have. He helped me a lot. Little more complex than the CB750's I'm use to tinkering on and it can be a little intimidating I know it was for me. I know during the project I used some four letter words that hadn't come out of my mouth in a long time. I thought the carbs might give me more trouble then anything else but actually I enjoyed rebuilding them. The bike idles & runs quite well so I must of done something right. A word of advice go with the carb kit from Randakks Cycle. http://randakks.com/. Not cheap but high quality stuff and has everything you need to do a rebuild and well worth it IMO. Good luck with your 83 GL1100.

rb550four · « **Reply #531 on:** May 01, 2016, 01:26:12 PM »

dhall57, You're right, my mistake, it's an 81 1100 not an 83.

rb550four · « **Reply #532 on:** May 07, 2016, 04:29:53 PM »

Okay,so The guy who shook my hand and said he'll wait the 2 weeks that it would take me to get North again to pick up the 550 and side car, because it wasn't a for sale bike until I asked him about it , tells me " Some bad news man, I needed some money and I sold the bike to someone else last week" Hope You're not mad". Then this ahole wants to shake my hand again.....Like it freakin means something. Dkhead. Told him to piss off , got back in the truck and drove 2 hrs back home.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #533 on:** May 07, 2016, 04:36:43 PM »

Quote from: rb550four on May 07, 2016, 04:29:53 PM

Okay,so The guy who shook my hand and said he'll wait the 2 weeks that it would take me to get North again to pick up the 550 and side car, because it wasn't a for sale bike until I asked him about it , tells me " Some bad news man, I needed some money and I sold the bike to someone else last week" Hope You're not mad". Then this ahole wants to shake my hand again.....Like it freakin means something. Dkhead. Told him to piss off , got back in the truck and drove 2 hrs back home.

What an a-hole!!

rb550four · « **Reply #534 on:** May 07, 2016, 05:40:55 PM »

It's a curious thing, I always meet the nicest people on a Honda .... but then, there are those that just sell a Honda, not always the same crowd.

I've had time to chill and figure the 550 would only be a distraction and the excuse why I didn't get cracking on the Wing. (breathing in slowly and deeply, finding the center of my being, shedding negative energy) ....and I'm okay with that ....dammit.

Stev-o · « **Reply #535 on:** May 07, 2016, 06:24:25 PM »

I trust no one, thats why I always insist on giving a deposit when buying a bike [if I am unable to cash and carry that day]

RAFster122s · « **Reply #536 on:** May 07, 2016, 06:45:55 PM »

Guess there is another reason we refer to them as POs...
Sorry to hear of the waste of gas and time...hope the drive wasn't too bad and the scenery was nice enough. Just need to build a cart for the GL when you get it finished to fetch the next project.

Then you have a decent ride getting there...

2nd bike I owned I didn't know enough about the model and the owner couldn't find the title matching number. So, I researched and found out where they hid the chassis serial number, we were looking at the engine serial #. That solved, returned the next day and the guy gave me my check back (held it with a check) and he sold it for $25 less than originally agreed to... There were several people interested in it. It ran so I figured it was good enough. right muffler has flaked off all the chrome...crazy to see. Left side is intact other than a few dents.
It's a project waiting for me...

David

rb550four · « **Reply #537 on:** May 07, 2016, 08:51:41 PM »

StevO, I have always lived by " a man is only as good as his word" and a handshake seals the deal. It's not the loss of another project as much as the fact that some people can't control themselves enough to honor their word. I'll go out of my way to be sure that any deal that I agree to will be carried out, even if I could have made a sweeter one with someone else. I understand not trusting people, but I really want to believe that there is still honor (dreamer). Sometimes I'm wrong although most of the time I'm right about people and if I look hard enough at those who don't act honorably I can see why they are in a situation that they may have made mentioned of, you know , because they talked about it in our short meeting. It's just sad. In the days of old , even a man who had nothing else, knew he had was his word. Sad but true.
It was like David said, it was a beautiful day for a ride. So I'm all done #$%*ing and it's time to move on to the Wing project.
And a project in waiting is always something to look forward to.
Thanks guys, I can always count on being refocused here.

Stev-o · « **Reply #538 on:** May 07, 2016, 09:15:40 PM »

I agree, you are only as good as your word. But greed gets in the way, have seen it many times. When money is involved, it can destroy relationships...sad but true.

rb550four · « **Reply #539 on:** May 24, 2016, 08:25:37 PM »

So there's not an extra 550 in the shop....I'm over it.
It's riding time finally,and my fave 500 and fave '80 650 are the first two to get registrations and inspections for the season. The 500 got through the winter and fired up strong this spring , I'm happy with that one.
The 650 could use a carb cleaning, it was never quite the same after running gasohol in it for a couple years before we could get alcohol-free high test back into the area . Even regular usage of k1000 didn't clean it up ,so carb cleaning was on the list. I was thinking of changing the back brakes for this season , so that's on the list too.
So I take the 650 out for a ride,it's running good but could run better, when 20 miles from the house it suddenly looses power. Like 2 cylinders aren't firing kind of power loss. So I'm on the wrong side of the white line feathering the throttle, trying to keep enough speed so it doesn't die on the road.Nobody wants to walk 20 miles back home ....especially pushing a machine. And I did ride it all the way home.
I picked up this 650 5 years ago when all my other bikes got flooded, it ran okay, needed some maintenance and away we went, haven't done anything but a light cleanup , regular oil changes ,plugs, and tires . And at a glance it looks nice.
Anyhow , long story short , if that's possible, Turned out a cdi box fried, took it out. I have new clutch plates for it on the shelf, maybe I'll put them in cause the clutch cable is fully adjusted . There's new back brakes, fork seals, fresh oil filter,wheel bearings, plugs and caps on the shelf too. Might as well put it all on now ,right?. So I pull the seat and tank off ,boy is it dirty...you know...the two outside carbs look clean and bright just under the lip of the waxed tank, but the ones in the middle just seem to blend in with the grunge that starts at the neck and works it's way down to the airbox. Then I see it , surface rust in the hard to get at places on the chrome,surface rust on the chipped /scratched areas on the frame ....and it even has an inconsistent black frame paint and rust! This 650 got old on me ! It's time for a sprucein up...and everything else! I was in the shop for a few hours removing parts and polishing them up....The only thing left on the frame is the wheels and engine now.
So it's a strong running 37k engine, no issues yet ,don't feel the need to rebuild it yet. That'll be getting some new paint, clutch, filters, valve adjustments....3000mile checkup
Frame gets sand blasted and painted. Grease everything ...I forgot if the 80 has ball bearings or tapered in the neck, but there is a set of all balls tapered on the shelf just in case. New brakes and wheel bearings, the swingarm feels great so just a good cleaning and grease for that. all chrome or any part that looks like it'll take a shine gets polished any dingy black paint anywhere else will get sanded and repainted. Seeing a little rust in the tank, time for a good vinegar bath and POR15 inside too.The outside has a couple of scratches on the tank and two different year covers that only bother me when I look at them , so I'm considering painting that stuff too. And it has too happen before I'm up to my armpits in Goldwing. Goldwing parts are dribbling in, so it won't be long. So it's a cleanup (as described above) for the 650 not a total rebuild this time.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #540 on:** May 25, 2016, 08:35:38 AM »

Well, the side benefit is that we (hopefully) get to see photos of the 650 re-fresh. I hear that the CDI boxes (or was it the stator or both) are sometimes problematic on the 650s.

rb550four · « **Reply #541 on:** May 25, 2016, 06:21:14 PM »

The stator on 650's are known to be deficient , something about the coating on the wires not being able to stand up to temps , get brittle , and get to be a problem. There are a couple different ways to attack that if its the problem.
As for the CDI boxes, I have never picked up a 650 where the boxes weren't burned up, Most times I hear the PO has been charging and trying to start the bike from jumping the battery from a running car. I asked Pamco Pete if he could make a set up for us 650 guys so that we could run them off a 550 harness....no cdi boxes....no bs,it would just make life less expensive and easier without all that junk, and it's getting hard to find decent 650 harnesses that haven't been cut or burned so the aftermarket 550 harness and the Pamco set up would kill allot of the unnecessary issues.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #542 on:** May 25, 2016, 08:41:47 PM »

That would be a great solution. I remember trading messages about this last year. Pamco Pete will hopefully come around to doing it!

RAFster122s · « **Reply #543 on:** May 25, 2016, 11:29:57 PM »

Glad the bike got you home ok...I always worry about doing more damage when things like that happen.

Well, the 650 will be nice when you are done. The Pamco units will be a nice addition if you can talk Pete into running a batch of them, or adding them...could always offer to serve as the test bed for them...he might give you a price cut if you help him develop it that way.

David

Cityscapedview · « **Reply #544 on:** May 25, 2016, 11:55:09 PM »

Subscribed

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #545 on:** May 26, 2016, 09:18:09 AM »

Then we'll have even more folks swapping in 650 engines into their 500/550 frames!

rb550four · « **Reply #546 on:** May 26, 2016, 02:33:27 PM »

Good! More spare 500/550 engines for everyone with 500/550's!
Just the idea of being able to get a fresh aftermarket wiring harness for a 550 frame is appealing enough, but throw in a direct 650 upgrade to the 550 frame, with a stock harness, and electronic ignition, well , who could resist.

This is a pic of my fave 650. Bone stock ( except for the bars, 650 bars always suck /headers and replacement sidecover)
It looks alright for a machine it's age( And the picture doesn't show many flaws) but it showing the signs of age and wear. This is a roller now, soon to be freshened. I'm buffing out the chrome and some aluminum parts as it comes off so it can all go back together without much foolin around.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #547 on:** May 26, 2016, 02:42:39 PM »

My not as pretty 1982 650. Check out the drag bars (a piece of pipe) that was on it when I picked it up.

The engine was pretty much shot, except for the lower end. Even the crankcase had damage from over torqueing the cylinder bolts.

What's left:

rb550four · « **Reply #548 on:** May 26, 2016, 06:43:48 PM »

I remember that motor. What a mess that top end was. And there's nothing like that bottom end gravy.
We take things apart to access damage.The more you took it apart the worse it got and the hits kept coming .
I saw that nicely machined head on your build thread. From top to bottom you did a first class job.Beautiful finish on that engine too. Guess it won't be too long before it's back in the cradle. Exotic parts throughout. A high end build for sure, when you pull out all the stops,you're not just fooling around.
Doesn't matter how pretty it was when you got it, there will be lines of guys looking at every time you stop (when it's finished) for sure.
I can see it already, a crowd appears , the guy in the front of the crowd will always say " I remember having a bike like that" . Most days you can deal it but, some days you may find it hard not to say "NO YOU DIDN'T". Couldn't blame you if you did. This is your signature piece. Excellent work.
My 650 freshening is a little surprise project that just needs doing, nothing special, and couldn't compare to your project...And that's one of the things I've always liked about this site. Members here aren't afraid to take projects to the next level and are still interested in any project that any member has ,no matter how standard. This is just another example of why this site , with it's members, is really such a great place to be.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #549 on:** May 26, 2016, 09:47:22 PM »

Quote from: rb550four on May 26, 2016, 06:43:48 PM

Doesn't matter how pretty it was when you got it, there will be lines of guys looking at every time you stop (when it's finished) for sure.
I can see it already, a crowd appears , the guy in the front of the crowd will always say " I remember having a bike like that" . Most days you can deal it but, some days you may find it hard not to say "NO YOU DIDN'T". Couldn't blame you if you did.

I don't think I could ever say that -- maybe think it -- but ever say it!

I need to turn my attention to it again. I've been distracted by modern in-line triples.

News:

Author Topic: 500/550/650's that followed me home (Read 117043 times)