Topic: A glutton for punishment... 1973 CB500 resto-mod

[Scott S]

 That's the good news. The bad news is that while fitting the fender I noticed that the front tire is on backwards. GRRRR!!!
 I tried just flipping the wheel around, but the spacers are side specific to center the calipers over the rotors. Guess I'll drop off the tire this afternoon to be swapped around.

[joeyvans]

That's the good news. The bad news is that while fitting the fender I noticed that the front tire is on backwards.

Damnit, I meant to mention that last week, Scott. I wonder what, if any difference, it would make running the tread like the rear tire? Maybe somebody much smarter than I will chime in?



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[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Bummer.  This just happened to friend of mine who bought a bike with the rear tire facing the wrong way.  Probably not unsafe but designed for channeling water the other way.

[calj737]

Aren't those Avons? I believe the fronts can be run either way on the AM26. Or does the sidewalk have the directional arrow?

[bwaller]

It might de-laminate

[Stev-o]

Aren't those Avons? I believe the fronts can be run either way on the AM26. Or does the sidewalk have the directional arrow?

AM26 can be run front or rear

[joeyvans]

Aren't those Avons? I believe the fronts can be run either way on the AM26. Or does the sidewalk have the directional arrow?

My front AM26 has a directional arrow..... running the opposite of Scott's installed front.


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[Scott S]

 You are all correct in a way. The front is uni-directional, but different for rear use or front use. The old tire was one of those ribbed tires from 1973 and the shop didn't notice or, more accurately, know that the Lester is now directional because of the spacers.
 No biggie, it's fixed now and back on the bike.

[Scott S]

 Got a package from 4into1.com AND from Slingshot today and kept plugging away at more of the little things. Or, as Fezzler is fond of saying, "eating the elephant".
 Got the new bulb in the headlight ring, started assembling the brake hoses, and made a center stand stop. The chrome bracket was from my parts pile, probably a leftover exhaust hanger of some sort. The bumper is a Honda part. Drilled out the hole a little bigger and pressed it in and gave the hanger a bend.




 And now the center stand doesn't hit the chain or brake stay anymore!

[Scott S]

 Slingshot lines installed and routed to the Goldwing splitter.




 Reproduction master cylinder installed. I started the bleeding process, but I'll have to come back to that when I have some help in the garage.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That GL splitter is pretty cool.  I didn't have one for my GL front that I grafted onto my 750.  I like how it neatly hides the lines rather than having to do a long run, or a piggy back loop.

[Scott S]

 Took a couple of 400F brake pedals....



 Heated and bent them and welded on a tab for the brake switch spring...




 ...had one powder coated "chrome" for my project...



 ...and got it on the bike today. Yes, I know the lock nut needs to be underneath. And I'll fold down the spring once everything is adjusted.

[Scott S]

 Got the Pamco wired up today, and I adjusted the clutch. Gratuitous progress pics.

[Fezzler]

Wow.  Looks really nice.  Those wheels!  Nothing like shiny chrome with glossy black. 

[calj737]

Wow.  Looks really nice.  Those wheels!  Nothing like shinny chrome with glossy black.

Shiny chrome looks even better 

[Stev-o]

Looks great Scott!  Exhaust now?

[Scott S]

Looks great Scott!  Exhaust now?

Very soon..

[flatlander]

interested to see how you will get on with the exhaust. you should have a much easier time, looking at the configuration of your stands.

what made you go for pamco, in the end?

[Scott S]

 I noticed in the pics of your exhaust while they were at the coater that they had different bends than mine. Maybe something they were trying to do for the F frame?

 I've had good success with the Pamco. I'm familiar with it, Pete is a friend of mine, I can pick one up locally, and they've never let me down.
 I once rode an XS650 home with less than 6 volts on the battery because the Pamco kept firing! The brushes on the alternator were worn out. I had to turn of the lights and have someone run interference for me, but the Pamco got me home.

[flatlander]

yeah whatever they were trying to fit the F, it failed miserably. they should have just said upfront that they have no clue, then i would have known what work was awaiting me.

that is cool about the pamco. it does use the mechanical advancer, doesn't it?

[Scott S]

 Yes, it does. I didn't really get any pics, but I cleaned and lubed the advancer. I used heat shrink on the Pamco wires to make it just one wire along the frame like stock. I soldered on stock bullets ( I have a BUNCH of old wiring I saved when scrapping bikes.....perfect for getting stock connectors. This time I used a crappy old aftermarket points plate and robbed the Yellow and Blue bullet connectors. That way, even the wire color is correct at the end!).I used the stock points wiring connectors at the rear brake switch area. I also made a Y splitter and picked up keyed power at the brake switch. I soldered on an eyelet and use a hanger bolt at the battery box for ground. It's a nearly invisible installation and will look stock to the casual observer.

[Scott S]

 Took a couple of hours, but they're on! It really wasn't that bad. I took a hint from Flatlander and bought some exhaust paste. The holes on mine weren't quite as bad as the one he showed, but I figured now's the time to do something about it. And I snapped one little 10mm bolt that holds the two mufflers together. It must have been soft or something, because I wasn't even really torquing down on it.
 Anyway, they're on! I still need to clean off a little exhaust paste and finger prints. I have to make a new center stand stop, as the one on the bike isn't quite long enough. And for whatever reason, my kick stand wants to foul the #1 pipe. I think I'll pick up another one and heat and bend it ever so slightly to clear. It won't take much.

[flatlander]

nice one, scott! congratulations!
glad to hear that they bolted on without problems. clearly, it was trying to make the 550f frame fit that got enrique thrown off with mine.

do you mind taking some more pix of how they fit on the left hand side? interested to see how it compares to mine.

[Scott S]

 Got the Speedhut gauge wired up today. I have a couple of old, sacrificial harnesses and I used the connectors to make it plug-and-play. I did this on the Pamco and the idiot lights as well. Everything on this bike is soldered and shrink wrapped...not crimp on connectors anywhere on the bike...and I'd say that more than 90% of them are the correct color wires and all of them are genuine Honda bullets or female connectors.




 The Speedhut has built in turn and high beam indicators. I really wanted an oil and neutral light, too. Picked up some mini LED lights and mounted them here. I played around with making a bracket to mount them on the top triple or next to the Speedhut gauge, but nothing looked clean. This is all stealthy and right in my line of sight when sitting on the bike.




 I'll probably move the whole headlight assembly up a few mm's, once the seat and tank are on. Just waiting to get everything lined up before tightening it down.

[Scott S]

do you mind taking some more pix of how they fit on the left hand side? interested to see how it compares to mine.

 I ordered a new kick stand today. I'm going to follow your lead and tap it for a set screw. That will keep it off the pipe, and with the ball on the end I'll be able to put it down easier. I can do it now, but it's just a matter of time before I melt my boot on the pipe with it the way it currently sits.