Hello. been rebuilding my new to me 71 CB500 with 23000 miles. the bike had sat for 15 years.
had gone through every system but the motor. and was done cosmetically and what i thought was mechanically as well. was just into tuning, which had been giving me trouble with sooty plugs. which turn to be bad o'rings, leaking gas into the carbs regardless of float height. then while waiting on the carb kits thought I'd pull the oil pan. found aluminum bits which has lead to a stretched primary chain eating away at the casings. have now pulled the motor and teared it down. replacing cam chain / cam chain guides and primary chain and new piston rings.
the bike had been past around for some time. living it's life in peoples garages. but never being registered or used. I came to own it through a final payment on a loan owed to me which was down to $200. The bike had no paper work but was not stolen just never registered. it's rural around here...
The story gets interesting when the original owner recognized the old rear fender at a body shop, while it was in getting bead blasted. The body shop owner gave me his number. Which gave me access to the bikes history and who was the last legal owner. Who turned out, was kind enough to come down to the department of motor vehicles with me and sign off on the paper work. making it mine legally and officially licenced.
One of his first questions from the original owner was if i had be able to get the bike running on more than three cylinders? He had driven the bike around on three cylinders for most of the time he had owned it. for he couldn't get it to work on four. Turned out to be bad resistor caps. Which is what i think is the reason I'm playing with a primary chain right now.
Here's my progress to date. Have the gear shift mechanism section to remove today then into the heart to replace the primary chain and rebuild the motor. Would like to get the bike out on the road before the snow starts. lest to get some satisfaction from the long process of rebuilding these old bikes.
all the best to all of you.
