Topic: The Lost Socket Garage

[seanbarney41]

Gotta take 'em apart if you want to put them together....



 I was VERY careful when removing the steering stem and I STILL had ball bearings go everywhere. Probably because the grease had turned into a paste of some sort. There are 42 ball bearings in all. I found 36...then 37....then 38....then 39. Hell, the way this project is going, there may not have been the correct amount to begin with!
 After spending WAY too long looking for 52 year old ball bearings, I ordered a set on eBay; $12.94 shipped. Approximately 90 seconds after returning to the garage I found #4o stuck to a ratchet handle and  #41 on the work bench. Figures. 

ha ha...messed up thing is when you continue finding them for years to come

[MoMo]

Scott, have you heard of Dri-Slide?   Best cable lubricant I've used for old cables....Larry

[Scott S]

Gotta take 'em apart if you want to put them together....



 I was VERY careful when removing the steering stem and I STILL had ball bearings go everywhere. Probably because the grease had turned into a paste of some sort. There are 42 ball bearings in all. I found 36...then 37....then 38....then 39. Hell, the way this project is going, there may not have been the correct amount to begin with!
 After spending WAY too long looking for 52 year old ball bearings, I ordered a set on eBay; $12.94 shipped. Approximately 90 seconds after returning to the garage I found #4o stuck to a ratchet handle and  #41 on the work bench. Figures. 

ha ha...messed up thing is when you continue finding them for years to come

 I'm still looking for a CB550 wrist pin clip that went flying across the garage......eight years ago.

[Scott S]

 Oh yeah... I also installed a used, $12 relay from a GL1000 into the VF500. Rerouted the fuel lines back to stock and now the fuel pump works as it should!

[Scott S]

Forks disassembled and cleaned. Ready for new seals today. I'll probably wait to add the oil until just before I slip them into the triple tree. This style uses the fork bolt to attach to the triple tree and I don't want to spill any (more) oil.
 It also took me a while to figure out how to get them apart and what, exactly, holds the seal  in place. My manual and everything I found online mentions a circlip. This "screw together" style doesn't use one.




 As far as I can tell, the oil seal is seated in here and there's a washer and then the external spring pressure holds it in place.

[Scott S]

Oh, and I cleaned up the wheels the best I could, tightened the spokes and dropped them and the tires off for mounting/balancing. When I went to pick them up, I was informed that I had a 17" rear wheel and not the correct 18" wheel.
 The P.O. told me that it was replaced eons ago when the cush drive failed and they couldn't find parts, so they swapped out the wheel. I actually have the 18" wheel and took a look at it before cleaning up the wheels, but it's pretty damaged inside and on the brake backing plate; like something came apart and banged around in there or someone went crazy with a hammer and a punch. So I cleaned up the one that was on the bike. Not once did I ever think to check to see if it was a different size!

 The shop ordered me a Pirelli rear tire in 2.75-17, since Michelin doesn't make anything in that size that isn't a dual sport or offroad style. Should have the wheels and tires back by Friday. Now I need to go count the teeth on the sprocket and see what it came off of, too!

[Scott S]

 The plan has always been to NOT restore this bike, but preserve it. I want it to look like I pulled it out of my granddad's shed and put it back on the road.
 I'd previously cleaned up the frame and sprayed it with rust converter. Yesterday, I went over it quickly with some 1500 grit, followed by 2000 grit. That was AFTER using lacquer thinner to get off the silver overspray from the fenders.
 Then I clear coated it and the tank.




 The fenders looked particularly bad. I just couldn't stand it. Cracking, peeling spray bomb paint with runs, etc. Cleaned them up and sanded them down...



 ....used up the half a can of high build primer I had leftover...



 ...and sprayed with DupliColor wheel paint in silver, followed by clear coat.



 I'm really happy with the way it all turned out. It's still a 20-footer, but looks way better than before while still retaining the "barn find" look.





 I had every bit of this material in my shop. Didn't cost me a thing, except for some time and some elbow grease. I have new tank badges and petcock for the tank to be installed later.

[Scott S]

 Got the fork seals installed and new rubber fork gaitors. I'll wait to add oil since the top bolt passes through the upper triple tree on this model.
 I even save the 1973-1974 South Carolina inspection sticker and cleared over the fork lowers. That was probably the last time this bike was on the road.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That's a great touch preserving the inspection/license tag on the fork leg.  This is coming together way "mintier" than a preservation. 

[Scott S]

 Got the S90 up on the lift. From the rear shocks forward, it's mostly done. Got all the bulbs changed, forks, front end, steering stem bearings, cables, brakes, etc., all wrapped up.
 Got the engine in and the carb on. Exhaust will probably go on later today after I clean it up some more.
 I'm waiting on some rubber bits and i need to put the new petcock on the tank.

 Out back, I need a washer/spacer for the luggage rack/shocks. Not a biggie; about five minutes work. But that 17" rear wheel.... 
 I swear, I don't see how that ever had that wheel working on this bike. There's evidence that  the sprocket was hitting the chain guard. Even adding a couple of thick washers, there's still slack between the swing arm and the cush drive doesn't seat properly.
 And did I mention that the sprocket itself is bent? It wobbles like a wheel that needs truing.
 I found a good used rear wheel and it's on the way. I'll keep picking at the little things until it shows up.

[Fezzler]

Cool project!  Your unsurpassed stick-to-it-ness will prevail. 

[Scott S]

 Rough as a cob, but for $40, I couldn't resist. I have plans.....

[flatlander]

cool! a neighbour of mine has one of these, in orange (and a bit less beaten up). my girlfriend calls it his clown bike 

[Scott S]

 I see USD forks, extended swing arm, 12" wheels and 160cc in it's future.

[calj737]

I see USD forks, extended swing arm, 12" wheels and 160cc in it's future.

Get off the 'shine and get thee to Betty Ford! 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Those little Trail 70 bikes are good fun.  That seat is ready for upholstery!

[MauiK3]

The little Honda's are great. The Trail 70 has potential. They run forever.
Not the same thing but I have a 2009 Ruckus which is a wonderful little machine. It tops out at 45mph with the tach saying about 10,000 rpm. It just hums along, no fuss, little noise. Water cooled. It will last forever.

[Scott S]

Those little Trail 70 bikes are good fun.  That seat is ready for upholstery!

 That seat is ready for the trash pile!
 All I really want is the frame and some random hardware. The engine is stuck tight and missing parts. As are the wheels/brakes.
 But I've spent more money on wings and beer before, so it'll be fun.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Those little Trail 70 bikes are good fun.  That seat is ready for upholstery!

 That seat is ready for the trash pile!
 All I really want is the frame and some random hardware. The engine is stuck tight and missing parts. As are the wheels/brakes.
 But I've spent more money on wings and beer before, so it'll be fun.

My buddy built one with his daughter that was actually displayed at the One Show a couple of years back.  I road it on his mini-flat track.  Not much in the way of suspension and I managed to burn the bejeezus out of leg as there was no exhaust shield no his new pipe (okay for street, but not for sliding it around dirt!), but it was a ton of fun.

[Fezzler]

No fear!

[Fezzler]

I see USD forks, extended swing arm, 12" wheels and 160cc in it's future.

Get off the 'shine and get thee to Betty Ford! 

 

[Scott S]

 Stripped down the CT70 yesterday. There's ALWAYS a rat's nest inside old bikes somewhere. And I probably got 5 lbs. of loose rust and dirt out of it.



 It's really not as rough as it looks. Pretty solid. I ended up with a few usable parts from the carcass, but most of it's going to be replaced with aftermarket stuff anyway.

[calj737]

It would be really nice to have a tank large enough to soak that in MetalRescue or such to prevent destruction of the stickers and stripes. But that frame needs to be derusted to be salvaged long term... 

[Scott S]

 It will be. It's mostly surface rust. And I'm not worried about saving the decals.

[tweakin]

It will be. It's mostly surface rust. And I'm not worried about saving the decals.

Sweet!  I have a small stable of rebuilt, "overbuilt" ct 70's.  Most recent is a 108 stroker on 12 inch wheels that will do 70mph.  New decals and almost any other part you need is readily available.