Author Topic: 500/550/650's that followed me home (Read 106527 times)

rb550four · « **Reply #825 on:** June 26, 2021, 12:24:17 pm »

Put it all on. It's a cloudy day today so it looks a little flat but way better in person.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #826 on:** June 26, 2021, 12:42:06 pm »

What kind of reaction from others is the new paint getting?

Kelly E · « **Reply #827 on:** June 26, 2021, 04:46:45 pm »

I like it, I would like to see it out in the sun.

Jimcg · « **Reply #828 on:** June 26, 2021, 10:19:46 pm »

Quote from: rb550four on June 26, 2021, 12:24:17 pm

Put it all on. It's a cloudy day today so it looks a little flat but way better in person.

That paint came out looking really great!

Having painted a tank for the first time myself a few months ago and struggled a lot with the entire process, I'm impressed with many aspects of the way you did it - the fact that you did it outdoors, the masking job, how you handled things when it didn't turn out well and of course, the very nice looking end result!

Looks super and I too look forward to seeing outside pictures! 👍😎

/Jim

rb550four · « **Reply #829 on:** June 27, 2021, 12:26:06 pm »

Thank you. I'll get a sunny day picture when I can and post it soon.

rb550four · « **Reply #830 on:** August 22, 2021, 08:14:51 am »

Another hurricane threat for upstate NY, spent yesterday moving bikes to higher ground and battening down the hatches. I would be happy if I didn't have to do this stuff but even happier to safe motorcycles. 8 are at home now and the rest that I've moved off the stage to polish on the main floor are back up on the stage now. We would have to get almost 7 feet for the intakes to take on water this time. The State has poured millions into the dams since Irene ...... and are almost finished .This could be the test.Hope it doesn't flood.

MauiK3 · « **Reply #831 on:** August 22, 2021, 08:27:33 am »

Best of luck, stay dry and safe.
Don't drink the flood water

RAFster122s · « **Reply #832 on:** August 22, 2021, 08:58:58 am »

Hope things stay dry…good you are amongst the bikes if only to relocate them ….

rb550four · « **Reply #833 on:** August 22, 2021, 09:48:53 am »

Flood water is never on the menu... no matter how much it looks like chocolate milk.
There is no occasion that doesn't feel better with a Honda.

rb550four · « **Reply #834 on:** August 23, 2021, 03:58:45 pm »

The rains have stopped. The creeks are getting higher . and we are all hoping that there won't be a sudden surge of water from mountain runoff. We'll know better by nightfall . I'm leaving sand bags up for the overnight and hoping for the best.

rb550four · « **Reply #835 on:** August 24, 2021, 04:23:11 pm »

We got lucky( For a change) , the waters were high but didn't get above the banks of flood stage.
The bikes are all safe, my wife's store is safe and everything was placed neatly back in position....took 6 hrs. to do it but, I'd rather move everything to safety and not have a flood, then to leave it in peril and have one....keeps me sharp on emergency bug out procedure I suppose.
But the main thing is ,the bikes are safe.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #836 on:** August 24, 2021, 04:46:11 pm »

Glad to hear you guys were spared, flood waters are one of the worst things to deal with...

rb550four · « **Reply #837 on:** October 02, 2021, 01:22:08 pm »

I had some paint to use up before winter. Ended up painting a worn out South of the boarder tank, complete with all of the 70's air brush techniques, a Mexican mouse with sombrero and senorita dancing with castanets, that has been in the rafters for years , was saving it for some day. guess that someday is here.

rb550four · « **Reply #838 on:** October 02, 2021, 01:29:48 pm »

This is the 2nd school bus yellow tank in the last couple pics and these pics. have maybe twice the amount of flakes and clear coat than the first one I did this summer. In daylight it looks more like gold costume jewelry than school bus yellow. I think I like it.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #839 on:** October 02, 2021, 02:28:30 pm »

Those are definitely different...glad you could save the one tank.
Gee you tell us about the sombrero wielding mouse but don't show us...

rb550four · « **Reply #840 on:** October 03, 2021, 12:26:19 pm »

This old tank has been in my rafters for years, and the last owner of this tank had it on his shop wall for years as a conversation piece...interesting enough to talk about but not good enough to use. Well , not the way it was but it's being used again now. It's the red one in bad condition ,next to the others that are also in bad condition. This is the only picture that I could find of the tank before sanding.

rb550four · « **Reply #841 on:** October 07, 2021, 03:58:42 pm »

My favorite 500, my first one. In the beginning this poor bike was sporting a peanut tank that was painted with an old lady's doilie design stencil that wasn't may favorite. but it was the peanut tank that sat so high on the frame up past the handlebars and the coils and all those wires that were showing that really bothered me so I changed it to this mustang tank and always liked it . During the last paint, when I upgraded the engine to a 550 just because , the tank sported ghost flames, it was cool then, but recently I thought that I might like them better outlined in black like old school. I've been liking it much better that way , and feel even better about taking my fave 500 with a fresh 550 in it out for a ride. I wonder if I should start looking for a 650 engine for the next time it needs freshening.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #842 on:** October 07, 2021, 04:04:09 pm »

RB,pic is grainy if I select it to view it larger. Got a better photo of it.
Looks good and sounds like a fun one too...

rb550four · « **Reply #843 on:** October 07, 2021, 04:13:35 pm »

You were right, that 1 st pic made me dizzy just looking at it, so I switched it out, this one any better? Or maybe this one.

rb550four · « **Reply #844 on:** October 07, 2021, 04:43:07 pm »

It's that one, looks like I better get to some polishing on it. Looking at the blown up picture...I wonder if I can re route all those wires behind the ignition switch and up through the frame behind the horn then into the headlight bucket without pinching or stretching the wires, or interfering with the steering? It would look so much cleaner wouldn't it?

RAFster122s · « **Reply #845 on:** October 07, 2021, 04:43:24 pm »

That is unique and unusual how the frame has been covered and flows into the tank. Photo much easier on the eyes...

rb550four · « **Reply #846 on:** January 10, 2022, 08:26:35 am »

So it's winter and it's really cold and I don't work when it's really cold so I have taken a little time off . I've been looking through the barn at some 500 engines that I should rebuild this year before I get too old to do it anymore.
I have a few complete gasket kits , but not really. Have you ever dropped or misplaced those head 2 Orings or put them in that "safe place" that you'll be sure to find them again and can't. They have been more elusive than a 10mm socket . Anyways I was looking at this site
https://www.theoringstore.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=368_1023_2347
for a possible replacement . The closest I can find to the original 2.4mmx 11 is a 2.5 mmx11 v90fkm fluorocarbon 90 durometer , I have read about today's replacement kit Oring problems maybe not being big enough or the right compound to squish properly and cause premature failure, I would like to avoid that . does this sound like a good altenative?

RAFster122s · « **Reply #847 on:** January 10, 2022, 08:51:42 am »

I think so, Mark Paris might be interested in the discussion as he researched and finds things like this for his rebuilds...

Would it be possible to break down a messy motor, run it through the parts washer, and bring it inside to a place prepped for working inside in the warmth? Might make life more enjoyable in the winter ❄️❄️❄️.

rb550four · « **Reply #848 on:** January 10, 2022, 09:32:15 am »

Yes, bringing in already cleaned engine parts and rebuilding it in the house would most certainly be more enjoyable, but, although my wife will let me get away with allot of things.....motorcycle stuff in the house is no longer one of them.
I was toying with the idea of rebuilding them (there is only 3 half decent 500 engines left on the shelves to rebuild) in a enclosed cubby with an electric heater when it warms up a little,and just getting them done. Tomorrow will be in single digits so this week shows little promise . That's why I'm trying to hunt down some parts that are missing, like those Orings ...and all those 10mm sockets.

Gurp · « **Reply #849 on:** January 10, 2022, 02:59:43 pm »

The dreaded missing 10mm, for me it seems to be the 13mm is always gone.

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Author Topic: 500/550/650's that followed me home (Read 106527 times)