Topic: Another One?? I Must be Nuts!

[Dr. Frankenstein]

I snagged this bad boy yesterday in Richmond - for $100 I couldn't say No...
DSCN2712 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr
DSCN2713 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr

Here's a couple of pics of the bike. Yes, it's kind of rusty; the owner said he found it under a shed that was falling down, and it Was! When I showed up to pick up the bike I could see it had dang near collapsed on everything inside it when he rescued it. Didn't find the right sidecover, but that's not really a big deal; he said he's let me know if he finds it.

It has a key, though, 10K on the clock, and it still turns over and seems to have compression - and the upper triple tree is Uncracked!
DSCN2701 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr
 
The points look nice...! And check out the gas tank!
DSCN2717 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr
DSCN2716 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr

I even found this under the seat!
DSCN2703 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr

...along of course with the usual debris in the filter and mouse nest above it...
DSCN2709 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr

The clutch perch is busted where it attaches at the lever; probably happened when the shed collapsed, along with a small dent on the top-right of the tank, which looks fresh - probably the same collapse - and the front fender and wheels are badly rusted, but overall, it's not too bad.
DSCN2710 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr
DSCN2711 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr

Bit of a story here - so at the owner's house, I tentatively put some air in the flat tires, and they hold, so we get the bike loaded up, I get home and didn't really have much of a chance to clean it up; I put some PB Blaster and Kroil on the nuts and bolts, etc etc. and leave it in the garage. I go out this afternoon and I'm getting some stuff to hang a picture and BAM!!  It sounds like a shotgun going off in the garage! Scared the living crap out of me!

"WHAT THE EFF WAS THAT??!!?"  It was 'extremely loud and incredibly close,' to coin a phrase...at first I thought my little compressor might have given up the ghost, but No, so I'm looking, and looking (with earmuffs on this time, Just In Case...!)...and I see some water on the floor and the telltale blast-pattern of a tire that has blown out. You may have already guessed - apparently the tire blew out! It held all the way home, got it into the garage where it sat until BOOM! I didn't fill it up all the way, maybe 10 or 15 lbs...? It IS pretty old, though, so I guess it is to be expected, but still - I jumped so high I damn near touched the roof (And I deflated the rear tire - just in case!  )!

So anyway, that makes TWO that have followed me home in as many weeks! And wouldn't you know it but somebody on FB has THREE CB554's for sale for $1200...! (I like my 500's better though, I just think they look cooler).

But Man - where do I Start??

[CycleRanger]

Nice.
No title?
I'd spend $100 on that.

[bryanj]

I spotted one very rare part on there, the little rubber fuse holder in the air cleaner cover!!

Would you be prepared to send me frame and engine number plus the build date for a database i am compiling on 500's as in uk we didnt get vin plates till 77, i will happily send you a copy of what i have.
Cheers
Bryan

[craz1]

Well the inside of the tank looks very nice.

[grcamna2]

  a diamond in the rough 

[Don R]

 Well, anything you do will be an improvement.

[drodg33]

Well the inside of the gas tank does look good as someone said and it looks like a nice owners manual.  You are brave I must say!!!!!

[MauiK3]

Lots of potential there!

[Stev-o]

But Man - where do I Start??

Clean clean clean!!   Should be a fun project...

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Oh yeah - I actually like doing this stuff and trying to save the bike; rust doesn't scare me much anymore. It gives me a chance to experiment with different cleaning techniques, painting, "colorful metaphors",etc. Old bikes - like people - always have a story to tell.  The payoff is when I hit the starter button, hence my username. 

[grcamna2]

Oh yeah - I actually like doing this stuff and trying to save the bike; rust doesn't scare me much anymore. It gives me a chance to experiment with different cleaning techniques, painting, "colorful metaphors",etc. Old bikes - like people - always have a story to tell.  The payoff is when I hit the starter button, hence my username. 

Do you have a blast cabinet  or Evaporust ?
I like Evaporust.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Yes, I actually have two 5-gallon containers of Evaporust, and I'm in the process of installing a vapor blast cabinet, I just have to have my 60-gallon compressor wired up and do all the plumbing. It's a little crowded in the garage at the moment. I have a '89 VTR250 on the table I need to get running before I get the 500 up on the slab.

[grcamna2]

Yes, I actually have two 5-gallon containers of Evaporust, and I'm in the process of installing a vapor blast cabinet, I just have to have my 60-gallon compressor wired up and do all the plumbing. It's a little crowded in the garage at the moment. I have a '89 VTR250 on the table I need to get running before I get the 500 up on the slab.

  !
Do you have a twin cyl., 2-Stage 10HP compressor of roughly 10 CFM and 175PSI Working Pressure?          I'm actually describing what I want 
A compressor like I'm describing will operate most any shop equipment  and run a full Service Station;you don't need that big of a compressor(it will run cooler if you do..),but if you have one at least 5+ HP, 150psi WP and 8 CFM,it will be enough & best to wire it for 230 Vts. to save your pressure switch contacts.

[dave500]

that bike would get bout 2000 here in australia,no #$%*!

[Dr. Frankenstein]

grcamna, I Wish! I don't think your compressor can ever be too big...Actually it's a Puma PK7060V single stage, 6.5 HP producing 21 CFM @ 40PSI, and 19.5 CFM @ 90PSI; I'm thinking it should be sufficient. I've had a little HF 21-gallon 2.5 HP compressor for years that did some light duty around the shop, but I saved all my soda bottles for a while and upgraded just recently.  Now that winter is finally on the way out, I'm looking forward to getting out in the shop as much as I can and seeing what I can do with it.

[grcamna2]

grcamna, I Wish! I don't think your compressor can ever be too big...Actually it's a Puma PK7060V single stage, 6.5 HP producing 21 CFM @ 40PSI, and 19.5 CFM @ 90PSI; I'm thinking it should be sufficient. I've had a little HF 21-gallon 2.5 HP compressor for years that did some light duty around the shop, but I saved all my soda bottles for a while and upgraded just recently.  Now that winter is finally on the way out, I'm looking forward to getting out in the shop as much as I can and seeing what I can do with it.

That one looks like it will move plenty/volume of air; I'm with you on a powerful compressor.
I like the 'old school' Kellogg,Quincy,I-R,etc. USA made ones and would love to find a used one(w/ a good tank)and rebuild it,as the parts are certainly available.  I Need a SHOP to put it in first. 

[reddyvv]

Dang, I always wondered what that raised bit of plastic was for?!! I guess they stopped including the fuse holder with the 550s.

If anyone has a spare fuse holder or one in decent shape have a chat with Clauss Studios. He'll make a replica so that it's available to others in the future and send you back the original.

One of the members on here loaned me a part and I got Greg to start making it about 10 years ago...

https://www.claussstudios.com/store/p212/Honda_Air_Cleaner_Rubber_Cover_CB500_K0_K1_K2_CB550_K0_CB550_K1_.html

I spotted one very rare part on there, the little rubber fuse holder in the air cleaner cover!!

[bryanj]

A member on the uk forum had some made years ago but they came out too pricey

[HondaMan]

For $100 that was a STEAL! I wonder if the 'paintless dent repair' guys could un-bend the tank's dent? I've seen some amazing stuff from them lately around here.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

HondaMan, I'm sure they could but from what I've read about paintless dent repair it isn't cheap. It's not TOO bad, probably about the size of a 50-cent piece, but noticeable if you 'look' at the tank. You can kind of see it here in the upper right:
DSCN2716 by Dr. Frankenstein1, on Flickr

I was just thrilled to see the tank is pristine inside, as well as the points. The PO must've stored it right when he put it away. It's too bad the shed collapsed on it. I'm mostly trying to figure out how to bring back the pipes and front fender...I'll probably replace the fender, but I like the mufflers, not to mention them being hard to find. I'm thinking of replating them if I can, or maybe high-heat silver or chrome paint - but all those decisions are down the road. 

[calj737]

PDR wouldn’t be the best solution for that dent as it’s creased the metal. It can push it out, but there will be pretty significant evidence of the repair unless you strip, fill, bodywork then repaint.

The hardest part about PDRon these tanks is having a strong enough leverage point to lever the rod against. Where that crease is, it’s likely they would go through the gas filler and then prying against it will cause different depressions on the top that need to be pushed out from below (that requires drilling a hole in the bottom then patch-paneling a welded in repair.

Tricky work. Doable, but not for a DIY or less than motorcycle tank experienced PDR guy.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Exactly; and 'skill' means 'money'.  Reminds me of a story I read...


A giant ship’s engine failed. The ship’s owners tried one ‘professional’ after another but none of them could figure out how to fix the broken engine.

Then they brought in a man who had been fixing ships since he was young.
He carried a large bag of tools with him and when he arrived immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.

Two of the ship’s owners were there watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away and the engine was fixed!!!

A week later, the owners received an invoice from the old man for $10,000.

What?! the owners exclaimed. “He hardly did anything..!!!”.

So they wrote to the man; “Please send us an itemized invoice.”

The man sent an invoice that read:

Tapping with a hammer………………….. $2.00

Knowing where to tap…………………….. $9,998.00

Effort is important but experience and knowing where to direct that effort makes all the difference.

[Johnie]

Doc you really fall into some nice finds. I can't believe how clean that tank is. And to find the owners manual...come on! Good luck on that one. It will do it good to see the sun again.

[CycleRanger]

Doc you really fall into some nice finds. I can't believe how clean that tank is. And to find the owners manual...come on! Good luck on that one. It will do it good to see the sun again.

That owner's manual is worth half the purchase price!

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Based on the condition of it when I got it I was wondering how the rest of it looked but didn't have a chance to really look it over until I got it home. When I popped the tank and looked inside I was rather stunned to not see a geode in there, and then the points looked clean too. It turns over with the kick starter and has that nice 'thump-thump-thump' sound, and the throttle is free and moves freely up and down, but I haven't had a chance to put a battery in it yet to see what's what as far as the electrics go, hopefully the lights will come on and it cranks. If it does, heck I'll be halfway there!