Topic: CB500/4 racer to roadie conversion/Australia

[bill440cars]

I think updating this thread is the right thing to do. It allows people to follow your progress along from the beginning. Well done.

     Totally agree on that, makes it a lot easier to take it all in, about the build of this one. And what a build it is. 

[ziokahn]

This is the video of the initial ride. I am hoping this link is able to be viewed.

http://vid1152.photobucket.com/albums/p482/ivs46/20161223_153520_zpshgjxzgvu.mp4

[bill440cars]

This is the video of the initial ride. I am hoping this link is able to be viewed.

http://vid1152.photobucket.com/albums/p482/ivs46/20161223_153520_zpshgjxzgvu.mp4

           Video worked very well and that one sounds really nice! Thanks for sharing. 

[neevo]

Damn you with the vapour blasted carbs. Now I'm going to have to send mine out to Dave too!

Need the hubs done anyway so what's a few more parts and a bit more money?

[ziokahn]

Thanks guys for your positive feedback, Cheers.
G'day Neevo, long time.
Yes Dave does amazing work and really I should've hit the whole engine.
Don't worry about the coin, you'll get over that, but you'll continue to get great pleasure every time you look at your bike.
Cheers

[neevo]

You and I did the opposite with Dave:

[bill440cars]

You and I did the opposite with Dave:

        Now THAT gives the motor a "Whole New Look"!!!! 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

So clean its on the dining table!

[ziokahn]

You and I did the opposite with Dave:

Yes, that does look amazing. How good is that. Most definitely

[ziokahn]

I sent that last reply from my phone and my dick fingers hit post.
Yes, most definitely give the carbs a hit.
Dave does a stirling job with a price to match.

[ziokahn]

This is the video re sent with a different setting hoping it can know be viewed as for some reason I can not upload it through Photobucket.
Could somebody please let me know if they were successful.
I may re name the bike Smoke Stack Lightning!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/151297358@N08/shares/68312P

[bill440cars]

This is the video re sent with a different setting hoping it can know be viewed as for some reason I can not upload it through Photobucket.
Could somebody please let me know if they were successful.
I may re name the bike Smoke Stack Lightning!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/151297358@N08/shares/68312P

           I just watched the video and that motor sounds "Wicked"! 

[ziokahn]

Awesome.  Glad it's able to be viewed.
Bike is yet untimed and unbalanced.
Your opinions on the smoke screen will be greatly appreciated. Cheers

[Elvarko]

What a great looking engine.  I am impressed it is on the dinning room table, my wife is not happy with me have the frame plus a few extra bits in the lounge.  She will freak if I try the table, especially with the engine.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Well, that motor won't get much cleaner going forward.  That said, I'd catch hell if I put a brand new motor on my dining table.  The guys who used their kitchen ovens to cook powdercoat or dishwashers to wash parts have a whole other toxic thing going on.

[ziokahn]

Update, we have done a comp test and cylinders from left to right are at 160,170,170,160
There is good oil pressure
We have found a minor air leak at the head gasket in the front, the head bolts will be re torqued after removing the motor for paint
We are having difficulty balancing the carbs, as too lean she begins hunting and too rich will cut out as the idle drops
We are hoping the air leak is responsible
The bores were lightly honed and the rings still need bedding, so the plan is to rack up some kms and hope this settles the smoke
We have decided to block off the crank breather which is located above the gears.
Also the battery is charging at 13.1 volts. This is a little low and I have been advised to run a larger battery in terms of amperage. I am currently using lithium ion, 220 crank output, 7amps. What are your opinions?
Lastly a big shout out to Dave500. Happy to always share his wealth of knowledge
He advises "He Will Be Back" when he gets some bloody decent internet reception and here is a street sign sighted in his Barrio
Cheers

[scunny]

nice sign.

[ziokahn]

Several weeks ago some further fabrication was completed, crank breather cap, taillight bracket, rear indicator spacers, rear set spacers, side stand modified, choke lever adjusted to clear filters, rear brake lever lowered. Hats off to Mat from Walters Engineering who pulled a rabbit out of the hat and completed it in a week in between work and family life. Cheers

[ziokahn]

Last week I managed to get the bike passed for inspection by the gentleman whom I purchased the bike from some 16 years or so earlier!
Again it was a mad rush to get the bike to him as the following day Bob was going in for two new knees, so a big thank you and good luck with the recovery.
The plan being register and ride to uncover any gremlins before break down and paint.

[ziokahn]

The bike now officially club registered the break down complete in preparation for paint and detail.
The hardest part finalizing a design.
The tank and fairing are prepped and in primer.
Today the chassis, swing arm and triple clamps plus brackets were dropped off for blasting.
Mufflers dropped off for ceramic coating.
Bits and bobs dropped off for zinc plating.
The plan is to be ready for The International Festival of Speed, formally The Barry Sheene Festival at Eastern Creek on the 26th of March.

Now the gremlins
Re torque head bolts.
Inspect valves and seals etc as cylinder 2 has some oil around the exhaust port and there was slight puff of smoke exiting the muffler.
The header pipe leading into the muffler from cylinder 2 is discolored due to heat which could be a result of a blockage in the muffler and I'm hoping not due to corrosion, they were fabricated roughly 25 years ago.

[Darren Jakal]

I just caught up on your build and I love it.

I want one of those full fairings. Great look.

Thanks for sharing, Darren

[ziokahn]

Cheers Darren

It's a Churchgate fairing, The inspiration came from the Read Titan kits supplied back in the day.

[ziokahn]

Forum members G'day,

For those interested, last post I had body work and chassis in primer. And as they say "if you think it's expensive hiring a professional, just wait until you hire an amateur" well let's just say I lost time and coin trying to save some.

Over spay in the tank. Bog,nicky,filler over the breather and fuel cap thread. And other general poor prep work.

John at Mototech an Ol friend and boss gave me the opportunity to use his work shop to prep the body work and to help save a few bob. Over 35hrs of sanding, glassing, linishing and bogging. Lets just say the chassis has had more hits and work than Micheal Jackson.

John also advised I should take the chassis down to The Great Laurie Alderton to have it inspected for alignment and thankfully only the swing arm needed some massaging. Laurie also re did some welding on the rear set mounts and tidied up some other dodgy welds. I did loose several weeks, as Laurie retired 10 years ago and only works several hours a day. But still he is the master.

The chassis, swing arm, etc is now done in semi gloss 2 pac and is not as shiny as in the photo. Jake, John's painter has done a fantastic job.

I have had a brain fade and have forgotten the gentleman's name at Ultimate Shine Liverpool but he was very generous in providing me with some products and tips in order to polish up a few bits and bobs. Cheers

This Friday I plan to have it back to a rolling chassis so John can mount the bodywork to complete the design before paint.

Until then Cheers.

[ziokahn]

G'day, A few images and an update. Curva as she's affectionately been christened, has been painted, upholstered and finally assembled.

The final shots of assembly are on their way.

I have completed around 100kms and have a few teething problems unsurprisingly.

Although it runs like the clappers and doesn't suffer from lack of power, 2 of the pipes are smoking fairly excessively. Smoke exiting the head breather is expected and and no smoke from crank breather but oil is splashing out. Roughly 25-30mls. This again is to be expected so I have been informed due to placement of breather being directly above the gears. Balancing of carbs has also been a headache so she stalls upon coming to a stop.

Option 1- have head leak tested as all four exhaust ports have welding, one opinion is that porting was too aggressive therefor blowing through. Weld possibly pores?

Rings could be upside down therefor creating blow by?

Option 2- I have a spare donk, so rebuild top end back to dead stock as bottom end is totally stock. Currently she is running a hot cam, 4mm oversized domed pistons, larger valves and porting so maybe I'm pushing #$%*e up hill expecting her to behave as road bike....







The photo doesn't pick up that it is more oxblood red and there's more black through the grain.


These are revised side covers that will be facing opposite direction as the originals. They have currently been painted black as the polished finish didn't work with the rest of the bike.

[seanbarney41]

oh my...that paint