Author Topic: 1971 CB500 rebuild..... (Read 18654 times)

oldhondarider · « **on:** October 01, 2008, 04:24:59 PM »

This is gonna be a first for me... I have a few cb's.. but my normal operation is to do basic cleaning...run it over to the shop to get tuned up... etc...

But after reading throug FAQ's... and hitting the search boards... I've mustered up enough ( I hope) courage to tear down one of my cb500's...

Winter's comin....and I want to have something to do during the rainy season...

So I'll put my pics on here...showing my progress..and what I have run across.. This forum is a bit late as I already have torn it down... but I'll try to get on point with the rebuild.

If you see anything I'm F***'n up.... please sound off...'cause i'd hate to put it back together and regret something...

Thanks in advance for your help. Hopefully after this endeavor...I gain enough experience and confidence to tear down my 74 cb550.

I've put these pics up before.. but here's the lifespan this CB's already had....

then..

then I got bored again..

finally resting on a cafe-ish bike

now a complete tear down.... I'm hopefully turning it into something like....

Here's a seat I just recieved (mocked up spare tank)..... I'm working on how to relocate the battery and e-panel. I'll search through the "search" option.

oldhondarider · « **Reply #1 on:** October 02, 2008, 07:13:45 AM »

I've removed all the body parts..labeled the wires and disconnected, removed the brake and clutch lever, handle bars,etc....

***edited to save bandwidth***

I followed the manual on removing the clutch cable... but after I got the casing of... I looked like something had been caught in there and died... looks like I have a lot of cleaning to do.

***edited to save bandwidth***

so then I was ready to tackle removing the engine.

I followed the manual...as well as view pics from the forums...which were very helpful:
A Noob's 75 CB550 Cafe Project Thread ------- Stick a fork in it... ;-)

SO out came the bolts...

***edited to save bandwidth***

after some wrestling with the enginer.. ( damn that's a bit heavy ) out it came.

I'll post some pics of my attempt at the carb teardown next. Unless this was incredibly boring...then I can spare the avid readers... LOL

comp · « **Reply #2 on:** October 02, 2008, 12:51:36 PM »

ya pics of carb work

oldhondarider · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2008, 08:17:18 AM »

**edited to save bandwidth**

Ecosse · « **Reply #4 on:** October 03, 2008, 10:59:55 PM »

Great detail pix and good references for my 550!

As for the header(s); very unique looking and wonder what you know about it/them.

rachet · « **Reply #5 on:** October 04, 2008, 08:33:21 AM »

Quote from: Ecosse on October 03, 2008, 10:59:55 PM

Great detail pix and good references for my 550!

As for the header(s); very unique looking and wonder what you know about it/them.

I Love the look of those headers as well and would appreciate any additional info on them as well.

Rachet~

walkingchaos · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2008, 09:36:02 AM »

if you have any interest in selling your exhaust let me know

oldhondarider · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2008, 07:28:19 AM »

Re: the exhaust.. I've seen quite a few around here like this..( Wash State)

This set was marginal in regards to rusting. the ends were a tad bit beat up.. so i put on the sleeves and wrapped the whole set to clean up the look. I have another set but the rusted powder was pouring out of them... no holes ( if I remember correctly)

rachet · « **Reply #8 on:** October 06, 2008, 08:33:07 AM »

Great Detail shots! I've been a little shy about disassembling my carbs so this is very helpful. Is that a gold mining dish you are working over or a church offering plate!?!

both are fitting!

Rachet~

oldhondarider · « **Reply #9 on:** October 06, 2008, 10:30:54 AM »

yeah it's a panning dish... I had it up on the shelf.... and as I started to tear the carbs down... I thought.. crap..it would really suck if I lost something.. worked great!

Ecosse · « **Reply #10 on:** October 06, 2008, 10:59:02 AM »

Again, great shots. The pan is a good idea as I've had the occasional small part bounce from the table onto the floor and into oblivion. What's worse is only hearing the *plink* sound of something metallic hitting the floor but not seeing where it went or what it was!

Looks like those rectangular bins are working out too.

oldhondarider · « **Reply #11 on:** October 06, 2008, 11:45:00 AM »

I thought the bins would work well... but you end up using a lot of Simple green... I later found that coffee bins ( like everyone says on the threads) work the best... just the right size for the carbs...

I have more pics coming... especially the pics of the front fork removal... talk about a bad way to remove the forks... I should have put a bag on the bottom of the neck... little plink..plink..plink... as ball bearings fell.. most just hit the ground and stuck due to the grease...LOL

oldhondarider · « **Reply #12 on:** October 07, 2008, 07:02:34 AM »

**edited to save bandwidth**

oldhondarider · « **Reply #13 on:** October 07, 2008, 10:01:55 AM »

before I get to my carb rebuilds... I wanted to take a peek at the frame...

oldhondarider · « **Reply #14 on:** October 07, 2008, 10:30:04 AM »

I hadn't noticed this before.... but it looks like the PO sawzalled my pipe brackets off... guess i never missed them...after a liberal dousing of simple green and a scrubber.. the paint came off.. Looks like I have some grinding to do...

oldhondarider · « **Reply #15 on:** October 07, 2008, 10:36:36 AM »

through the washing of the frame and getting the crud off... this rod connection came out of the frame... How does this get lubricated? there didnt' appear to be gaskets or a zerk fitting?

Ecosse · « **Reply #16 on:** October 07, 2008, 11:05:35 AM »

I'm wondering what you're using as a manual; and how do ya like it?

oldhondarider · « **Reply #17 on:** October 07, 2008, 11:26:43 AM »

I'm using a Clymer ( I think ) as well as a patchwork manual the PO had... and some misc manuals downloaded from the net...

Actually... it's weird.. each has it's deficiencies.. for the carb rebuild...the clymer was pretty good.. but the threads from here helped out when there were not pics...

I think that's why I took so many pics... that way I could go backwards on the carb rebuild.

I wish there was a manual with pics of every step ( but that would be extensive and probably too costly to produce)

I got a lot of inspiration from Noob guy and his 550... great thread....

Ecosse · « **Reply #18 on:** October 07, 2008, 11:51:39 AM »

When I was working on my cars (MOPAR Muscle Cars) there were several books just on Carter AFB, AVS, and Thermoquad, carburetors. Likewise for Holley, Motorcraft (Ford) and Quadrajet's (sp) so I wonder if there are publications for (our) bike carbs. Seems appropriate don't ya think?

Here's a grand opportunity for the master SOHC owners among us to cash in!

oldhondarider · « **Reply #19 on:** October 09, 2008, 07:14:50 AM »

Gonna start cleaning this up and grinding on the frame..so I thought I'd start figuring out colors... anyone have any cool ideas for the frame?

Blue?

Silver?

Charcoal?

rachet · « **Reply #20 on:** October 09, 2008, 08:07:28 AM »

I don't think I've seen a blue frame yet... that could be cool. What color for the tins though? Did you rattle can your frame 3 times for that illustration?

It's looking great!

Rachet~

oldhondarider · « **Reply #21 on:** October 09, 2008, 08:25:26 AM »

yeah... I figured I'd be grinding and sanding anyways... and I had 3 cans sitting around... so I started spritzin.... got a bit of a head rush... I have a clean gas tank..with no apparent dings... So.. I'm hopeful that I can get it down to metal and clear coat the tank...

kind of like this...

Ecosse · « **Reply #22 on:** October 09, 2008, 09:22:18 AM »

With the tank (and covers?) a neutral color like silver, or 'metal' colored that really frees you up with the frame; I was leaning towards the charcoal frame until you mentioned plans for the frame. Blue does look good.

oldhondarider · « **Reply #23 on:** October 09, 2008, 02:42:33 PM »

yeah.. I'm liking blue too.... Blue with metal skins and black rims.... yeah...that's sounding nice..real nice....

cadaver · « **Reply #24 on:** October 09, 2008, 02:46:20 PM »

taken apart the carb pics looks really good...but what i didn't see in one of the pics is the little cloth looking gasket that fits in the out side of the linkage that you pulled from the side of the carb if that makes any sense ? looking good !!!

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Author Topic: 1971 CB500 rebuild..... (Read 18654 times)

comp