Topic: 500/550/650's that followed me home

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

One day at a time.

[RAFster122s]

Isn't Step 1 admitting you have a problem... no problem, right RB? As long as the mortgage is paid, bills are paid, retirement acct is growing, spouse is (reasonably?) happy, kids if you got'em are well adjusted (or you did the best you could), then what's to worry about? The hobby is a hobby and it directs your hands and keeps your brain active and the creative side stimulated...all good for your health and well being.
You aren't hoarding and putting yourself into credit nightmare over an out of control issue, so, you are OK, right?

David

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Isn't Step 1 admitting you have a problem... no problem, right RB? As long as the mortgage is paid, bills are paid, retirement acct is growing, spouse is (reasonably?) happy, kids if you got'em are well adjusted (or you did the best you could), then what's to worry about? The hobby is a hobby and it directs your hands and keeps your brain active and the creative side stimulated...all good for your health and well being.
You aren't hoarding and putting yourself into credit nightmare over an out of control issue, so, you are OK, right?

David

I like the "so, you are OK, right?"  Because you never know!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I'll be there to take what doesn't fit in Cal's trailer.

[rb550four]

 
    Oh oh,  I'm gonna have to check that 12 step program agreement.
Chapter 1  Could I be a Hoarder,
Chapter 2 How to Stop New Purchases and feel good about it,
Chapter 3 Get All Your Parts Together and ..... , 
    there it is,  in Chapter 4  " Sponsor's Agreement " pages.
          Hmmm, it's pretty thick.
                 Wait a minute, what's all this small print about?
 And chapter 5 and 6 are just blank pages!
   Hey,
 I'm starting to think there is no 12 step program here at all.

[rb550four]

Just when I was going to call Cal about this "12 step program", he pull's in the driveway!
No problem.    I was getting all upset about nothing.
I thought I should share the good news!
Cal just pulled out of the driveway and relieved me of 3  excess 550's,   as described in Chapter 7 " Weening" ,  just when I was starting to worry about failing the "program".
Says I'll be feeling effects  later.
 What a good sponsor!
 and,     just think,     after only a few more visits I might be cured!

[rb550four]

 The Family Traditional  Easter Dinner ,  Rabbit. 
Stuffed with what seems to be his favorite vegetables that are constantly disappearing from our garden.
                               One can either get upset when visiting the garden, or just get even.

[rb550four]

David ,
 These motorcycles are what I like to call the rolling IRA account.
 Real estate can come and go and it's always being taxed, having to be maintained. and values  fluctuate.
I 'm  old school, no credit cards, no mortgages . both kids out of college, never did gangbusters largely due to demographics, but I own what I have, and I don't expect to fully retire....that's when most guys kick the bucket anyways.
I'm restless, need something to do all the time. Bikes fit the bill and keeps me out of trouble. So, I think I'm okay.
But hey you never know, I could be sitting on a bunch of Hondas in my dark theater sharing my cat food with everyone that lost it all in the next stock market crash.
                                                                               The great depression was less than 100 years ago and we learned nothing
                                                                                                  WW2 was less than 75 years ago and we didn't  learn much from that either.
                                                                                                             Nothing is sure in this life so I live for today.
                                                                                                                    And today has been good.

[rb550four]

  Just got back from San Diego . What a great place . The coast just goes on forever and each beach is as nice as the last. I drove up to Carlsbad like 4 times and I stayed at Mission Beach. Just hung out and carved sand all week. Didn't go to Sea World, Old Town or Balboa Park (though now I wish I did Balboa Park).  Did find a couple Motorcycle shops and a chopper shop up in La Hoya , and I didn't come home with any of them. But it's still fun to look.
I did see a guy on a black 400-4 on Mission Blvd at a light, but I was on foot and couldn't catch up with him, wondered if it might be a member here.
 Got back this afternoon and strolled through the shop planning out what's gonna happen next, didn't get to pick up a wrench when the phone started ringing. Looks like vacation is over.

[Stev-o]

I like San Diego to visit, Gaslight District is cool, great beaches and awesome sunsets. 

[Restoration Fan]

I like San Diego as well but the area around Laguna Niguel is my favorite spot in all of the US for beauty.  I could very easily live there.

[Stev-o]

I like San Diego as well but the area around Laguna Niguel is my favorite spot in all of the US for beauty.  I could very easily live there.

Werent you there recently, Ron?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I like San Diego as well but the area around Laguna Niguel is my favorite spot in all of the US for beauty.  I could very easily live there.

That's funny. I own a house in that area.

[Restoration Fan]

I like San Diego as well but the area around Laguna Niguel is my favorite spot in all of the US for beauty.  I could very easily live there.

Werent you there recently, Ron?

No, I went to LA to pick up my Jeep.  But we spent a week at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel last February.  Prior to that, I had always said that Maui was the most beautiful spot I've ever been in the US but I ended up liking the scenery and makeup of the small towns around Laguna Niguel even better than any place in Hawaii.

[Restoration Fan]

That's funny. I own a house in that area.

Now you talk about some beautiful roads for riding a bike.  There are some great twisties on the roads in that area!

[Stev-o]

I like San Diego as well but the area around Laguna Niguel is my favorite spot in all of the US for beauty.  I could very easily live there.

Werent you there recently, Ron?

No, I went to LA to pick up my Jeep. 

Ah....that's it.

[rb550four]

  I really like the place allot but I don't think I could ever feel at home there, you know, I feel like I would always feel like a visitor even if I moved there. It sure is a nice place to visit.
   Anyhow, I have today to play in the shop. For Christmas I gave my wife a new bar b que grill, it came in a giant box and has been taking up space in the shop until the snow disappeared and I have time to assemble it , well today was the day.
I was hoping to make space as I decide what project to go for first. the choices are freshening up my fave 81 650, the ex junk yard  79 650, the 84 650 or one of the 3 500s that are sitting there lookin ugly

So after spending 2 hours on the grill, finding out it takes up twice as much room out of the box than it did when it was in it, then realizing the solid cubic yard of packing foam that also came out of that same box will be with me until trash day next week....I decided to go with the 500s.   All of the 500s at once. It's just easier, I can strip them all at the same time, prep and paint the frames at the same time. I have a good 2k mile motor on the shelf ready to go and  2 engines to rebuild  , 3 racks of carbs are ready to go , and that tank that was all brazed up and finished now ready to go.  And when they are completed and moved to the other location. That should get some elbow room around here to work on the 650's,the 175, or whatever else shows up on the trailer.  So that's the plan... heading out to the shop to start breaking them down now, can't wait. Let the fun begin.

[Restoration Fan]

Man, I SO wish you lived in Atlanta.  I like the way you roll.  No fear...it's a FOURSOME baby!   

[seanbarney41]

RB, when I open my CB500/550/650 restoration factory...will yo be shop foreman?

[Stev-o]

A triple 500 resto - that's a new one 'round here!

My Triple 500 resto is only 1 bike but has 3 cylinders!

[rb550four]

I don't know, i"m sure a bunch of guys have multiple projects happening at the same time and just don't write about them, or write up separate builds in  project shop, perhaps they aren't 4's. There's thing one and thing 2 going on now.
  I just figured it might be easier and time saving to start with all the finished rollers at once. That way I can use the best parts harvested from the others first and have something to do while replacement parts are on the way. One of these critters are only a step or two away from what Cal started of with on his going project, there will be parts needed and waiting time.
      I was thinking,  that by the time I get to #3, who will probably need a bore job and everything else anyways, perhaps I should just start that one with a 550 engine?  There's a candidate here already. Gosh I'm really wanting to try out a big bore kit but not wild about the finicky 500 tranny , I'd feel better with a more solid 550 tranny and would like to go that route if I can.   Just want to be sure it doesn't start a #$%* fest like the one Noddy got through. Yes, I know it will no longer be pure, but it's already junk. So I'm gonna hang it out there now and get it over with.
 Does anyone find fault with this plan? 

[Restoration Fan]

Not at all.  Just take plenty of pictures! 

[rb550four]

This is what 3 dismantled 500s look like together, seems like they're taking up less space already.



Let the games begin.

[rb550four]

   Did an initial frame clean on all 3 this afternoon. Started off with micro brass brush , paint brush, parts cleaning brush , some compressed air and paint thinner. That takes the oils, dirt, and stubborn chain lube right off. Then the degreaser spray and a trip to the car wash with the 3 of them. Now they 're clean and I can see how much rust I have to deal with.  ! and 2 is the usual suffering from being outside for a while without cover, #3 has allot more rust....all over, not just the hard to reach places....Think I might sandblast the entire frame. I usually wont do that because I don't like having the blasting material in the joints or inside the frame so I'll cork and tape off the weep holes and get close, then wire brush on a grinder the spots I skipped. That way no material will be left behind to hold moisture or show up in the paint while painting. All the frames will be taken down to bare metal , so the prep might take me a while.

[rb550four]

So we haven't had any sunny days over 45 lately.  The last two days were snow flurries and chilly. Today was the day, so I sandblasted the worst frame first in case I ran out of time, can't have a bare frame laying around in case it gets the humidity wanted to flash rust the whole thing. It took a long time to blast it clean and wire brush it just to be sure, so I painted it even though I wanted to paint all of them at the same time, I didn't want to do this one twice. So it's hanging up to dry now and the rest will be blasted soon.