Topic: 71 CB500 - this will be work

[MauiK3]

Wow, great find. I'm looking forward to where you go with this.
Snap up some carbs and make it run!

[cheddarGoblin]

Started checking some more things out.

I expected more rust in the petcock.


Since I had compression, I wanted to check for spark. I am going to have to do some stuff the hard way since all the controls were cut off the handlebars.


Found this gem on the key cylinder.


After a bit of troubleshooting, I managed to get spark.

I checked all the electrics that I could and managed that it seems like everything will work once I get some controls.

I started the process of getting a title, once I get that, I will be more inclined to spend the money for carbs. Until then, I will just work with what I have.

Like...getting the water out of the speedo. It;s pretty rusty, not sure if it is savable.


Parked back here while I work on a few small pieces like the gauges and tank. I am gonna try electrolysis for the first time on the tank, so that should be fun.

[34barab]

That's a spectacular find for $100!

+1

[RAFster122s]

Definitely a candidate for one of the cheap new aftermarket harnesses…I wouldn’t recommend trying to save that one.

[newday777]

Electrolysis works. I've done a dozen tanks in the past year and more in the past 10 years.
Now I follow up with a full tank of Evaporust for a couple days, then rinse 3 times with diesel fuel rather than using water, the oils in diesel fuel protects from flash rust, then pour in a pint or more and coat the tank with 2 stroke oil to preserve it. Roll it all around to coat it good.

BTW your video doesn't work.

[grcamna2]

Good bike for a great Deal 

[cheddarGoblin]

Have done a lot of work on this but haven't updated the thread in awhile, will work on getting it current.

The gas tank had a light coat of rust but was really wasn't bad and didn't have any holes in the wrong places. The latch was broken though.



I got a new latch. Probably should have just gotten a new cap too but will leave the patina for now.

[newday777]

Have done a lot of work on this but haven't updated the thread in awhile, will work on getting it current.

The gas tank had a light coat of rust but was really wasn't bad and didn't have any holes in the wrong places. The latch was broken though.



I got a new latch. Probably should have just gotten a new cap too but will leave the patina for now.

You will get rust particles from your tank into the carbs causing leaks and poor running. Clean it out as outlined above.

[grcamna2]

Electrolysis works. I've done a dozen tanks in the past year and more in the past 10 years.
Now I follow up with a full tank of Evaporust for a couple days, then rinse 3 times with diesel fuel rather than using water, the oils in diesel fuel protects from flash rust, then pour in a pint or more and coat the tank with 2 stroke oil to preserve it. Roll it all around to coat it good.

BTW your video doesn't work.

Stu,your rusty tank came-out spotless 

[newday777]

Thanks. It was pretty grody to begin with. Flaky rust in old, stinky gas.
I've done a few

[cheddarGoblin]

Have done a lot of work on this but haven't updated the thread in awhile, will work on getting it current.

The gas tank had a light coat of rust but was really wasn't bad and didn't have any holes in the wrong places. The latch was broken though.



I got a new latch. Probably should have just gotten a new cap too but will leave the patina for now.

You will get rust particles from your tank into the carbs causing leaks and poor running. Clean it out as outlined above.

I cleaned it already. I thought I had taken some pics of the electrolysis setup that I used but it seems like I didn't.
I definitely like the electrolysis better than any other method I have used so far. It cleaned up the rust really well. I still had to put some aggregate in the tank and shake it up to clean up the varnished gas that was at the bottom but it got pretty clean and no leaks have turned up since doing so.

[cheddarGoblin]

Once I got the title for it, I found a set of carbs on eBay.





It took a lot of work to get them cleaned up. The slides and floats were all seized. I have found my favorite method of getting things unstuck is just hot water. Most of the time it just seems to be varnish keeping things stuck and a few times of applying near boiling water on it and letting it sit awhile usually loosens it up enough to get things moving. I was able to get everything unstuck with this method.

After that it was just the normal cleaning everything, unclogging the jets, and clearing all the massages. I got everything back together. One of the jet retaining clips appears to have completely rusted out, so will need to source a replacement.


Got them reinstalled. I do not intended to leave the pod filters. Just wanted to stick something on there until I source the missing intake plenum parts. Also put some new throttle cables on it.

[cheddarGoblin]

Later I found one of the carbs leaking. I assumed it to be a float or needle at first but couldn't find the issue. Eventually, I found that the overflow tube was cracked.

I soldered for a fix. It isn't pretty but seems to work.

[cheddarGoblin]

I needed to work on the controls. Figured I would start with the waterlogged speedometer.

I was tempted to just buy a replacement speedometer but figured I would at least attempt a repair first. I had never cracked one open but had to even try to fix this.


I carefully pried to ring open and got it opened up. I used my sketchy electrolysis setup on the base.


Sealed up the hole with JB weld.


The hole was on the bottom, so I am not sure if this was how water got into it or maybe someone made the hole to try to drain the water.  I couldn't see how else water would have gotten in though.

I managed to get it all cleaned up, re-greased what I could inside the speedo, gave the outside bezel some paint and got it put back together.

The process of cleaning the inside glass ended up removing some of the white paint on the inside bezel. I thought about trying to touch it up but thought that I would end up just mucking it up.
Figured that it would just serve as a nice reminder of which one I had to fix.

[cheddarGoblin]

The handlebars that came with the bike were not stock and whoever installed them only bolted them on and never wired them.

I figured I would try to make them work. I did want to keep the wires inside the bars but it did not have the holes so needed to add them.


Stuff started coming out when I started drilling, looks like something was living inside them.


The bars had a nasty spot of rust on them. The rust dessolver does work pretty well


I started getting them wired. I had to but aftermarket controls for both sides as what came with the bike was not usable.


The guts were missing from the left control. I looked at swapping the internals from the aftermarket but they would not fit.


The aftermarket control did not even have a locator pin but I was able to add one.


I eventually got everything wired and functional. The right control kept shorting due to too much exposed copper in the headlight switch but I was able to resolder it and get it working.

[cheddarGoblin]

These coils were working but the plug wires were incredibly brittle and very short, so I decided to replace them. Not sure why the replacements had a different form factor but they seem to work fine.



Made this video of the electrical troubleshooting before replacing the coils though.

[cheddarGoblin]

I wanted to get the front brakes going next. I tried just wiping the goo out and filling it with fluid and seeing if I could build some pressure to unstick the caliper but there was nothing happening.


I could not get any fluid to the bleeder screw. Eventually I took the master cylinder apart. Though I had heard of brake fluid crystalizing, I had never seen it until now...


I rebuilt the master cylinder instead of replacing the entire thing. Wanted to keep as much stock as possible.


Even after rebuilding the master cylinder, I could not get any pressure, so the lines must have been totally crystalized as well. Decided to just take it all apart and check everything. Will probably just start with that next time.

I replaced the lines and then focused on the caliper.


I made sure to get all the crud out of the seal groove.


I replaced this seal and painted the caliper while it was apart.


After reassembly and filling the brakes from the caliper, I had some functional brakes!

 

[cheddarGoblin]

Was glad to finally get to this point...

[cheddarGoblin]

It was not going anywhere though with the front end in the shape it was in.

It was going to be a ton of work so I saved it for winter. I spent almost all last winter working on this...

I had to source some new forks. They were easier to find then I thought they were going to be.


And a lot of cleanup...



It is going to be in this spot for awhile...

[cheddarGoblin]

I started getting the forks all apart.


The rust on this fender was really thick, so did some electrolysis to remove it.



Forgot to get a pic but it get it cleaned up nice and put some clear on it to keep it that way.

[cheddarGoblin]

I ordered new fork tubes but there was a lot of cleaning to do before doing anything with them.
So just cleaning an polishing for a bit.


The cleaned the fork ears up with electrolysis, rust dissolver and brushes and aluminum foil. I then shot them with clear coat as well.



I learned my lesson from my last project and since it was already this far, I removed the triple tree and steering stem so I could replace the bearings.


Something seemed to have a nest in here as well.


I am not sure what is going on here. It looks like the VIN was ground off but the plate is still on the other side. My 75 CB200 has the plate on the right side but still has the VIN stamped on this side.

[newday777]

"Once I got the title for it"

Hmmmmm. That "ground vin" (looks more like someone took a punch to it to mess the vin stamp) I've never seen any messed with like that. That could be a problem for registering it and transferring to someone else who you sell it to later on....
How did you get the title?
(I ask this because further up a couple replies with the carbs I saw you just added that you got the title, "Once I got the title for it", but didn't give details and then in the last reply you posted the picture of the tampered vin stamp)
Is the vin plate on the other side affixed with the original rivets or screws or??
Have you had a vin inspection on it yet?(I do that first thing on any bike I get to verify it has a clean vin in the system before doing any major work and investing 💰) Here in NH the local police will come to the house and run the numbers to verify it has a clean vin.

[Stev-o]

Nice work!   

[cheddarGoblin]

"Once I got the title for it"

Hmmmmm. That "ground vin" (looks more like someone took a punch to it to mess the vin stamp) I've never seen any messed with like that. That could be a problem for registering it and transferring to someone else who you sell it to later on....
How did you get the title?
(I ask this because further up a couple replies with the carbs I saw you just added that you got the title, "Once I got the title for it", but didn't give details and then in the last reply you posted the picture of the tampered vin stamp)
Is the vin plate on the other side affixed with the original rivets or screws or??
Have you had a vin inspection on it yet?(I do that first thing on any bike I get to verify it has a clean vin in the system before doing any major work and investing 💰) Here in NH the local police will come to the house and run the numbers to verify it has a clean vin.

I am in VA and there is a process for getting a title for abandoned vehicles. So I followed that and was able to get a title. It takes awhile and costs a little extra but isn't anything crazy.
Yeah maybe it is more of a punch than a grinding operation. Either way, the plate on the other side is intact so not really sure what the goal would have been. I am not gonna lose any sleep over it.

[cheddarGoblin]

It was a ton of work and I guess I did not get pics of everything but was now at the point where I could start getting things reassembled.

• Rebuilt forks with new tubes and seals
• Replaced the steering neck ball bearings with tapered bearings
• Painted the triple tree, even replaced the fork lock
• Cleaned up the fender
• Replaced the fork gaiters
• Polished the fork sliders

I am leaving some things with patina but I couldn't stand to look at the light cluster the way it was so had to totuch it up.



Neither beam on the headlight worked. Probably because something was rattling around inside...


I thought about swapping it to an LED but just got a sealed beam for now. I stay home at night anyway. One of those yellow ones would go well with the gold color though...