Author Topic: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler  (Read 23262 times)

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Offline DurangoCB

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #150 on: May 14, 2018, 05:11:11 pm »
Get the front bracket sussed out first, then fit up the arched bracket for the rear bolts.  The way the front bracket fits is going to determine the fore/aft position of your seat, which is of course what will determine the rear arch position. 

The front bracket placement is somewhat important if you're concerned with how well the front of the seat fits up with the tank, so get that where you want it first, then figure out the length of the seat hoop and the position of the arched bracket. 
1971 CB500 Four- current project http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170622.0.html
1978 CX500- next in line

Offline calj737

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #151 on: May 14, 2018, 05:57:02 pm »
Thanks again, cal.  It's pretty impressive what you guys can do to straighten out tanks.  I reached out to a local PDR guy who said he would "give it a shot" and it would be $150.  I need someone with more confidence than that.  That sounded like a potential rabbit hole of both time and money. 

I was able to make my own tool with a 1/2" mild steel rod and got the dent to pop out about halfway, then used body filler to get where I needed it to be.
If you got it half way out, then you only need to work the debt from the outside in, to get the rest of it. Don’t start in the middle, start at the edge.
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline DurangoCB

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #152 on: May 14, 2018, 08:46:41 pm »
Just to be clear... from the *inside* of the tank... work the dent from the *outside* of the dent (i.e. the perimeter of the dent) toward the center of the dent? 

The dent is so shallow that I'm not sure I can work it that precisely without a scope inside the tank.  Trick to that without a scope? 
1971 CB500 Four- current project http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170622.0.html
1978 CX500- next in line

Offline calj737

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #153 on: May 15, 2018, 05:03:19 am »
Yes, work the edges of the dent first. Don't go for the "center" of the dent. Work the edges around the dent, pushing up slowly. By the time you reach the center, the metal is already stretched and may "pop" back out. Just push, relax, push, move, push again. Don't try to move the metal in a single movement the entire way.

This will leave small low and high spots from your pushing. Use a small brass drift, a small rubber mallet and TAP the high spots down. And I mean TAP, not hammer.

Orient a light along the panel of the tank. Use the light to identify shadows that reveal the lows and highs. Its like looking down the quarter panel of a car and seeing small dings and dents. Got to get your eyeline just right to see the shadows.
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline DurangoCB

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #154 on: May 16, 2018, 09:57:39 pm »
Great info- makes sense.  Except I'm not sure I'm talented enough to feel out the dent from the inside with such precision without the use of a scope.  You PDR guys are impressive. 

I'm just a few days from sending the frame to paint and picking out my colors to shoot the tank soon. 

Then I'll dig into the engine and see what it needs in order to be strong for another 20,000 miles.  That makes me nervous but this entire project is about learning as much as possible and picking up as many new skills as possible.  An engine rebuild would be a rich source of learning. 


1971 CB500 Four- current project http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170622.0.html
1978 CX500- next in line

Offline calj737

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #155 on: May 17, 2018, 03:04:48 am »
Great info- makes sense.  Except I'm not sure I'm talented enough to feel out the dent from the inside with such precision without the use of a scope.
That's what the light source is for. You will see the rod push on the exterior of the tank if the lighting is correct. Just grind a tapered tip into the rod, a blunt nose, and use it to feel your way around and as you push, you'll see the shadows change.
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline DurangoCB

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #156 on: May 26, 2018, 02:18:16 pm »
Thanks again, calj737.  You're a Motorcyclopedia. 

I am finally ready to take these bits down to talk to the powder coater and then start on the top end rebuild. 
1971 CB500 Four- current project http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170622.0.html
1978 CX500- next in line

Offline Pin2Hot

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #157 on: May 29, 2018, 07:30:46 am »
Ha funny how we're basically at the same place.  Lookin sharp, can't wait to see it nice and coated.

Offline DurangoCB

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #158 on: May 29, 2018, 10:34:08 am »
Ha funny how we're basically at the same place.  Lookin sharp, can't wait to see it nice and coated.

I've been noticing that and keeping an eye on your build.  I visited the PC today, got a quote ($200-250 because I've done so much prep on everything already), chose my color and ordered the powder.  Drop it off later today and should have it back by Friday.  It's silly how pumped I am. 
1971 CB500 Four- current project http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170622.0.html
1978 CX500- next in line

Offline Stev-o

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #159 on: May 29, 2018, 02:35:10 pm »

  You're a Motorcyclopedia.   

That word should go in the SOHC4 dikshunary!!

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,84697.0.html
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline DurangoCB

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #160 on: June 08, 2018, 10:47:20 am »
Back from getting a fresh coat of industrial grey.  Now to finish cleaning and painting the engine, so we can start putting it back together. 

1971 CB500 Four- current project http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170622.0.html
1978 CX500- next in line

Offline calj737

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #161 on: June 08, 2018, 11:00:42 am »
Inside your frame (right side, where the upper motor hangar connects to the frame/engineneeds to be bare metal for the battery NEG connector to perform properly. The same is true on the motor, on the boss where the spacer contacts the motor. Both ends of the spacer need to be clean, bare metal.

You can apply a thin smear of dielectric grease on all those surfaces to prevent corrosion.
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline DurangoCB

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #162 on: June 08, 2018, 11:55:06 am »
Inside your frame (right side, where the upper motor hangar connects to the frame/engineneeds to be bare metal for the battery NEG connector to perform properly. The same is true on the motor, on the boss where the spacer contacts the motor. Both ends of the spacer need to be clean, bare metal.

You can apply a thin smear of dielectric grease on all those surfaces to prevent corrosion.

Right on.  There are actually a few places where I want to clean up the PC a bit.  I found it really tough to micro-manage the folks at the PC with regard to the masking. LOL They do MC frames regularly but naturally aren't as OCD as me. Overall their work was a 9/10- I'm pleased. 

Do you happen to know the easiest and most pro way of removing PC?  Clean lines etc. 
1971 CB500 Four- current project http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170622.0.html
1978 CX500- next in line

Offline DurangoCB

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #163 on: June 08, 2018, 12:14:35 pm »
Sounds like others here have used Permatex Gasket Remover on a q-tip to remove small patches of PC. 

What about a ground spot at the coils? 
1971 CB500 Four- current project http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170622.0.html
1978 CX500- next in line

Offline calj737

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #164 on: June 08, 2018, 02:38:04 pm »
Aircraft Stripper, or grind it off with an air-driven angle grinder and a red scotchbrite.
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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Scramps

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #165 on: June 08, 2018, 06:05:44 pm »
I just used a file, cleaned up okay

Offline Stev-o

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #166 on: June 09, 2018, 03:05:21 pm »
A Dremal tool easily grinds off PC with precise control.

Nothin' like fresh powder!    Looks good...
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Scramps

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #167 on: June 09, 2018, 06:59:28 pm »
I love that color, it’s a fine choice

Offline Stev-o

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #168 on: June 11, 2018, 03:41:48 pm »
Hey Durango....are you ok as far as the wildfires up there?
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline DurangoCB

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #169 on: June 12, 2018, 11:44:35 am »
Hey Durango....are you ok as far as the wildfires up there?

Yes, though it's a tough question to answer.  There was a mourning process and this sort of false hope that the fire would be put out quickly, but these conditions are unprecedented in SW Colorado and there was no stopping this fire.  That said, nobody has been injured and no structures have been lost and without knowing the exact topography and layout of the area that is burning you'll have to just trust me when I say that these firefighters and absolute fkn WIZARDS.  The response has been incredible.  A very successful firefighting effort.  So eventually you surrender to the inevitable and just enjoy the show... Mother Nature is putting on a show, as are the firefighting wizards.  (Which, I have to point out, is Socialism in action.)

But we are losing a huge portion of some spectacular, pristine old growth Ponderosa forest.  The fire was started by the coal-fired narrow gauge RR and given that there has always been a tug-o-war here between the sort of sedentary people (who ride the train and shop for souvenirs downtown and complain if they can't park ON the main drag or when the city spends money on bike lanes, etc.) and the active people (mountain bikers, hikers, river runners, who want the river trail and bike paths and trails), it sort of feels like the train having burned down the forest and ruined the trails has left us with heavily impacted outdoor recreation and virtually no impact on the shops and hotels downtown.  The couch potatoes win.  LOL

Anyway, all the evacs have gone smoothly.  No injuries, no deaths, no lost homes.  I just returned to work from a 2-week staycation so I've gotten a ton done on the CB500, plus a lot of riding both bikes and motos. 

1971 CB500 Four- current project http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170622.0.html
1978 CX500- next in line

Offline DurangoCB

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #170 on: June 12, 2018, 11:51:05 am »
Current Status:
 
Painting the engine and replacing shift shaft seal aka SSS
Replacing wheel bearings and polishing hubs
Rebuilding and repainting front caliper

This bike should start looking like an actual motorcycle again in the next week.

The final hurdle both in terms of $$$$ and knowledge is wiring the entire bike from scratch around an m.Unit.  I'm actually looking forward to that both in terms of learning (sorry in advance calj777) and because it seems like the clean portion of the rebuild. 

1971 CB500 Four- current project http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170622.0.html
1978 CX500- next in line

Offline Scramps

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #171 on: June 12, 2018, 06:20:46 pm »
Glad to hear you're okay. Those pics of the smoke plume are pretty impressive!

Offline DurangoCB

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #172 on: June 25, 2018, 05:52:35 pm »
Glad to hear you're okay. Those pics of the smoke plume are pretty impressive!

Thanks for the comment.  If it weren't for you, I'd be replying to myself.  LOL

Engine painting and polishing happening now.  Ready to hoist this noise-maker into the frame. 
1971 CB500 Four- current project http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170622.0.html
1978 CX500- next in line

Offline Scramps

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #173 on: June 25, 2018, 06:01:16 pm »
That’s a beauty of an engine!

These forums can be pretty quiet, I’ve noticed. It’s nice to get a little recognition from time to time, though.

What sort of stuff are you using to polish?

Offline mook32540

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Re: '71 CB500 Four Scrambler
« Reply #174 on: June 25, 2018, 06:18:54 pm »
I've been watching your build man. Just put mine into the frame this past weekend. I figured I'd start a build thread once it's all done. I also wondered how you got it all shined up. Looks nice.


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