My wife and I took a 2-up ride a month or so ago, first time since college (you might remember this from the "holy crap there's a body in the road" thread. Anyway, the next day she's wanting a bike of her own.
I've been looking every day, missed a few good ones on off of craigs list.
This one pops up yesterday and I bought it this morning for $450 with some spare parts. I'm thinking I got a good enough deal, but time will tell. Should the engine number be a 550 series or a 500 series? Mine starts with a cb550, so I'm making a wild assumption that someone dropped a 550 in a 500 frame.
Anyway, it appears that the classic wiring meltdown occured due to dirty contacts (they were severely oxidized); the wiring to the rectifier was compeletly melted, as was the ground to the headlight bucket. There was a bit of half-ass repair done by someone, probably the previous previous owner.
Bike came with the subharness for the electrical panel, so I replaced it, re-built the melted wires and cleaned up most of the connectors. Rectifier check out according to the dmm.
Tomorrow is cleaning the layers of grease and barn off the thing (seriousy, hay and spider egg sacs) under the sprocket cover and in the headlight bucket). I still need to put the right side controls back together, and hopefully I'll have time tackle the carbs.
So, so far I'm looking for a right side cover in metallic orange. anyone? Oh, and the exhaust is going to have to go. I'll probably just pony up for something decent.
Since pictures are the first order of business, and if you've read this far you deserve to be rewarded. Here's what I've got so far.
spwg
