Author Topic: 72 CB500 Restomod - Update Sold! (Read 54276 times)

DurangoCB · « **Reply #51 on:** March 29, 2018, 01:16:24 PM »

I can relate to that feeling. I think that feeling of not knowing exactly how to plan the project steps and then the issue of having money for the parts you need for the next step... those two things are why so many projects take people 2-3 years to complete.

Gotta stay organized and keep revising your plan. And you have to keep the momentum.

All it took was for one friend of mine to say, "Your CB is going to sit in pieces in your garage for 4 years just like my KZ did and in the end, you'll give the pile of parts away to someone because you want them out of the way" for me to decide that there was no way in hell I'd leave a bike unfinished.

Scramps · « **Reply #52 on:** March 29, 2018, 01:56:22 PM »

The failure stories were definitely a large source of inspiration to me as well.
I have a tendency to get emotionally attached to my projects, and it makes me very sad to think about all those machines out there that people started working on, then abandoned when they lost interest. These bikes are amazing pieces of engineering and they deserve better than to rot away in somebody’s shed for decades on end!

Stev-o · « **Reply #53 on:** March 29, 2018, 06:51:20 PM »

When a project has stalled, for whatever reason, I find it helpful to do at least 1 little thing a day, no matter how small. Clean, polish, paint or order a part, there is always something that can be done daily to keep the project moving.

Scramps · « **Reply #54 on:** March 30, 2018, 09:55:24 PM »

So, this evening I did some things. The first thing was polishing up my rear fender with some steel wool, and painting the underside of it to give it a little bit of protection from the elements.

Then I painted some other things.

Then I put my switches and levers on my handlebars, which seem to fit just fine. Some tucking and routing will need to be done once they're clamped, of course.

Then I took a whole bunch of pictures of my engine because that was what I wanted to do at that point.

Afterward, I came back inside and played video games and ate pizza and had a grand old time.

Scramps · « **Reply #55 on:** April 01, 2018, 05:21:52 AM »

I painted the underside of the fender with rubberized undercoat, which seems like a no-brainer. I guess the grit and whatnot that your tires kick up could chip away at it over time, but not any worse than conventional paint, right?

I mainly wanted to cover up the rusted part and try to stave off future rust a little.

Scramps · « **Reply #56 on:** April 01, 2018, 06:35:56 AM »

They are new gaskets, and I had planned on painting the engine, but the paint I bought wasn’t adhering very well. I should probably try again, eh?

Scramps · « **Reply #57 on:** April 01, 2018, 07:38:14 AM »

Looks better already

Scramps · « **Reply #58 on:** April 01, 2018, 09:00:45 AM »

This first coat of yellow is looking pretty okay, too.

DurangoCB · « **Reply #59 on:** April 01, 2018, 10:31:26 AM »

Quote from: calj737 on April 01, 2018, 08:35:43 AM

Paint needs both mechanical adhesion and chemical adhesion to the surface. If you polished the motor surfaces, you'll struggle to get mechanical adhesion. Self-etching primers can help overcome that, but a max of 320 grit sanding is my go-to.

cal- do you go to 320 grit though? Or is your preference something even more course for engine painting prep?

Scramps · « **Reply #60 on:** April 03, 2018, 04:27:41 PM »

A little bit of paint did more to spiff this engine up than all the hours of laborious cleaning I’ve spent over the past few months.

It’s exactly the look I was hoping to achieve, and the polished points and starter covers will make it look very snazzy.

Stev-o · « **Reply #61 on:** April 03, 2018, 08:10:28 PM »

Quote from: Scramps on April 03, 2018, 04:27:41 PM

A little bit of paint did more to spiff this engine up than all the hours of laborious cleaning I’ve spent over the past few months.

But it must be clean before it is painted. Looks good...

Scramps · « **Reply #62 on:** April 04, 2018, 01:31:47 PM »

Got my braided nylon wire loom in the mail today

I had used that corrugated split-loom stuff, but it’s so bulky, I wanted to use this instead.

Scramps · « **Reply #63 on:** April 04, 2018, 07:54:47 PM »

I don’t believe that it is self healing, but I’ve had good success heat-shrinking the ends

Scramps · « **Reply #64 on:** April 12, 2018, 01:43:57 PM »

Pulled my oil pump out today, and if it’s not a brand new one, it’s awfully clean for its age.

I feel pretty confident that this was likely replaced sometime not long before I got ahold of it. The o-rings are super soft and pliable, the motion is very smooth, and I can hear the telltale slorping sounds of the chambers opening and closing and pushing oil around.

Should I go any further? Or do you think I’m good?

Scramps · « **Reply #65 on:** April 13, 2018, 09:56:50 AM »

*crickets*

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #66 on:** April 13, 2018, 12:33:31 PM »

It looks and sounds (from your description) as being in good shape. I'm not sure if anyone wants to feel responsible for a cosmetically good looking pump that may crater later - hence, the crickets!

Scramps · « **Reply #67 on:** April 14, 2018, 12:13:58 PM »

That’s fair, I would only hold myself responsible if that were to happen. I’ve elected to let it ride.
I’ve got the engine back into the frame, and I’m gonna shoot for having this puppy running before the middle of next month. There’s still a lot to do, and I’ve been getting less and less time to do it, but I’m determined to see this bike all back together and on the road