Author Topic: 79 CB650 The Mayor - Revive and Freshen Up (Read 12697 times)

DaveBarbier · « **on:** October 10, 2020, 09:15:42 AM »

I did NOT want to make a project out of this thing, but it ended up this way. Bought this bike from a mayor for $800, like an actual mayor.

I’ll post more later but the head gasket needs replacement. It’s not weeping, it’s bubbling out and both pipes are blowing out blue smoke. So weird because when I first got it running it ran nice and I saw only a few leaks from the pucks and some oil gallery plugs. Now after replacing that stuff and putting in fresh oil the head gasket is bubbling out oil. Going to do head gasket, base gasket and oil gallery o-rings. Fun fun fun.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 10, 2020, 10:41:40 AM »

Good looking original bike Dave

DaveBarbier · « **Reply #2 on:** October 10, 2020, 01:39:58 PM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on October 10, 2020, 10:41:40 AM

Good looking original bike Dave

Thanks, and it’ll stay original.

rb550four · « **Reply #3 on:** October 10, 2020, 02:24:45 PM »

That bike looks very nice. It's the first bike with those wheels that I' ve seen with the Honda Comstar still on it. Looks like it may have spent allot of time in the garage...an unheated garage according to the lower cases. Tank and paint look great, my favorite color combo for the 79. Nice find. Doesn't look like many miles on it either except for the center stand, how many miles are on that little beauty?

DaveBarbier · « **Reply #4 on:** October 10, 2020, 02:38:57 PM »

Quote from: rb550four on October 10, 2020, 02:24:45 PM

That bike looks very nice. It's the first bike with those wheels that I' ve seen with the Honda Comstar still on it. Looks like it may have spent allot of time in the garage...an unheated garage according to the lower cases. Tank and paint look great, my favorite color combo for the 79. Nice find. Doesn't look like many miles on it either except for the center stand, how many miles are on that little beauty?

It’s actually got over 25k miles on it. And yeah, unheated garage. Tank has a couple dents and some rusted scratches but all in all it’s in great shape. Both side covers also in good shape. Apparently it went down at least once. Brake lever and exhaust on right side are scraped a little. Must have been low speed. The guy was super safe when he road. I can tell because he had two car horns, two tail lights and a crash bar/foot rest thing that I took off of it. And I found a handful of good lunch charm things hanging in various parts of the steering neck and frame. Must have been superstitious, haha.

scunny · « **Reply #5 on:** October 10, 2020, 02:46:09 PM »

I wonder why they only came out with the single disc, looks the same as our Z model.

DaveBarbier · « **Reply #6 on:** October 10, 2020, 02:50:41 PM »

Quote from: scunny on October 10, 2020, 02:46:09 PM

I wonder why they only came out with the single disc, looks the same as our Z model.

For this year I don’t know. Later years we had them with dual disk of course. Not going to put on dual disk but it would have been nice to have. But after I rebuilt the brakes with stainless lines and a new DSS caliper it’s not a bad stopper.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 10, 2020, 03:09:54 PM »

Quote from: scunny on October 10, 2020, 02:46:09 PM

I wonder why they only came out with the single disc, looks the same as our Z model.

I would like to get one of those,a Z model in blue:someday..

RAFster122s · « **Reply #8 on:** October 10, 2020, 04:14:54 PM »

Would love to own this year 650...

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2020, 04:54:10 PM »

Those 1979 CB650s are getting hard to find. Great looking bike, Dave!

DaveBarbier · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2020, 06:27:13 PM »

Quote from: RAF122S on October 10, 2020, 04:14:54 PM

Would love to own this year 650...

I had it in mind and honestly within a few weeks I found one about an hour and a half away on Craigslist. Same year and color I wanted.

DaveBarbier · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2020, 06:29:08 PM »

Quote from: SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan on October 10, 2020, 04:54:10 PM

Those 1979 CB650s are getting hard to find. Great looking bike, Dave!

Thanks Don! Now just trying to find an OEM head gasket. Nothing is available anywhere, I might have to go aftermarket and not many people make them for factory displacement.

DaveBarbier · « **Reply #12 on:** October 10, 2020, 06:49:42 PM »

Ugh, yeah I can’t find any OEM head gaskets for the 650. I even went to a third page in google and ended up on some Italian site that said they had them in stock but at the bottom of the page it said it was actually made by Athena, mama mia!

I’m thinking I might deck the gasket surfaces and go MLS. If I can get one in stock displacement...

RAFster122s · « **Reply #13 on:** October 10, 2020, 07:01:06 PM »

Why mess with the head gasket if it doesn't have an issue?
Nevermind, leaks at pucks and oil galley...

DaveBarbier · « **Reply #14 on:** October 10, 2020, 08:13:52 PM »

Quote from: RAF122S on October 10, 2020, 07:01:06 PM

Why mess with the head gasket if it doesn't have an issue?
Nevermind, leaks at pucks and oil galley...

Yup, head gasket is a sieve.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 10, 2020, 10:41:35 PM »

Dave,When you get it all fixed-up,will that be your touring ride ?

DaveBarbier · « **Reply #16 on:** October 11, 2020, 04:22:37 AM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on October 10, 2020, 10:41:35 PM

Dave,When you get it all fixed-up,will that be your touring ride ?

Yes exactly. Although I’m not a long trip kind of guy. But my original plan was during the covid thing to just have a project to fix up and sell. After getting this running and I slapped a plate on it and took it around the block is SO easy and comfortable to ride. It’s really a joy.

DaveBarbier · « **Reply #17 on:** October 11, 2020, 05:55:08 AM »

If I have to go aftermarket are there any preferences between NE and Athena for head gaskets?

grcamna2 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 11, 2020, 09:55:02 AM »

Quote from: DaveBarbier on October 11, 2020, 05:55:08 AM

If I have to go aftermarket are there any preferences between NE and Athena for head gaskets?

I've been looking online for you,for a complete Vesrah gasket set,nothing yet.
Do you know of an old Vesrah kit #,maybe I could search it that way ?

RAFster122s · « **Reply #19 on:** October 11, 2020, 10:07:05 AM »

Would not go NE, mixed reviews of Athena from years ago...

Victor is also an option for the head gasket...

rb550four · « **Reply #20 on:** October 11, 2020, 10:55:56 AM »

In the past, I have had very good luck finding Vesrah gasket kits at a Parts Unlimited dealer at a snowmobile shop many times , I couldn't find them anywhere else (Top end gasket kit also included the head gasket, not pucks). The only gasket that has failed me with any of their kits have been the pan gaskets on the 500/550 , maybe from lack of use? Perhaps they need to be run more to expand and seal ,don't know, for some reason, but everything else on the 650 s were good. I used an Athena gasket kit on a 550 once, felt cheap to me, like the O rings and other non paper gaskets were made of a different compound that just didn't " feel right" compared to Honda or other makes...did not instill confidence.

DaveBarbier · « **Reply #21 on:** October 11, 2020, 05:05:16 PM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on October 11, 2020, 09:55:02 AM

Quote from: DaveBarbier on October 11, 2020, 05:55:08 AM
If I have to go aftermarket are there any preferences between NE and Athena for head gaskets?

I've been looking online for you,for a complete Vesrah gasket set,nothing yet.
Do you know of an old Vesrah kit #,maybe I could search it that way ?

Oh man, I looked and can’t find any info that confirms they even made one for the 650. Thanks for looking though! And to confirm, I don’t need a whole kit, just the head gasket. I have everything else needed in NOS Honda parts

DaveBarbier · « **Reply #22 on:** October 12, 2020, 06:38:35 AM »

Quote from: rb550four on October 11, 2020, 10:55:56 AM

In the past, I have had very good luck finding Vesrah gasket kits at a Parts Unlimited dealer at a snowmobile shop many times , I couldn't find them anywhere else (Top end gasket kit also included the head gasket, not pucks). The only gasket that has failed me with any of their kits have been the pan gaskets on the 500/550 , maybe from lack of use? Perhaps they need to be run more to expand and seal ,don't know, for some reason, but everything else on the 650 s were good. I used an Athena gasket kit on a 550 once, felt cheap to me, like the O rings and other non paper gaskets were made of a different compound that just didn't " feel right" compared to Honda or other makes...did not instill confidence.

It’s funny, I bought a vesrah kit for my 550 when I was rebuilding that a few years ago. I ended up only using the oil pan gasket and it leaked after 6 months, haha. But the kit as a whole felt pretty good.

onepieceatatime · « **Reply #23 on:** October 12, 2020, 06:27:00 PM »

Not just the head gasket, but NOS Genuine Honda Top End Gasket Kit A CB650 1979 on ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Genuine-Honda-Top-End-Gasket-Kit-A-CB650-1979-061A1-426-S02/353180338595?fits=Model%3ACB650&epid=1211841349&hash=item523b3049a3:g:bNcAAOSwBtNfQ9R5

DaveBarbier · « **Reply #24 on:** October 12, 2020, 06:32:51 PM »

Quote from: onepieceatatime on October 12, 2020, 06:27:00 PM

Not just the head gasket, but NOS Genuine Honda Top End Gasket Kit A CB650 1979 on ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Genuine-Honda-Top-End-Gasket-Kit-A-CB650-1979-061A1-426-S02/353180338595?fits=Model%3ACB650&epid=1211841349&hash=item523b3049a3:g:bNcAAOSwBtNfQ9R5

Wow, brother, you’re amazing! I just bought it. I looked for full kits first but not sure why this didn’t come up...crazy.

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Author Topic: 79 CB650 The Mayor - Revive and Freshen Up (Read 12697 times)