Author Topic: Iain's 1979 CB650 project log - 118 Pictures (Read 31554 times)

IainC · « **Reply #50 on:** May 07, 2010, 04:05:42 PM »

Got an order of parts in a couple days ago. Ordered headlight ears, fork clamps to mount turn signals, I also got turn signals for the front which turned out to be a little small so I'll use them in the back, and also go 2 bar end mirrors. One of the mirrors has a bad warp in it so it will be returned when the replacement comes in.

Brandon and I spent a bit of time working on it on Wed, got the broken bolt fixed and the bike running again without oil pouring out. We also took the front end off so we can rebuild the forks, but quit when my clymers manual told me to get them done at a shop. Guess I'll just have to figure out how to do it without instructions.

So now to wait for my new handle bars and to pick out new turn signals to order.

IainC · « **Reply #51 on:** May 08, 2010, 12:28:49 PM »

A couple more pictures I uploaded but neglected to post.

This is how my brake calipers sit now. Got most of the black paint stripped off. I initially planned to paint them blue, but I'm not terribly fond of the blue paint I bought so may just do them black again, or paint them with the same aluminum colour I've been using on other parts. I've considered polishing them, but doubt they would keep clean and shiny very long.

It's prepping and painting all the little parts that seems to be what takes up so much of my time. Not to mention stripping paint and cleaning is not a very fun job. I really wish I had a blast cabinet of some sort, I think for my next project I'll be building one and saving myself all this work.

I don't think Brandon wanted me to take his picture, hahaha.

IainC · « **Reply #52 on:** May 10, 2010, 03:53:24 PM »

More Pictures!!

Bar end mirrors installed, this one needs to be replaced because the mirror has a warp in it.

Pretty standard after market fork ears but they look pretty clean and simple.

This is the blue I was going to do my brake calipers in but I think I'll stick with silver or black.

Dad and I adjusting the valves.

theofam · « **Reply #53 on:** May 13, 2010, 12:50:30 PM »

The paint job looks great, as does the entire bike! What paint did you use on the headers? Was it for high temp? How did you and Brandon prep the metal prior to shooting the paint?

IainC · « **Reply #54 on:** May 15, 2010, 08:05:25 AM »

The pipes were bead blasted, then blown clean, and wiped down. The can of paint is labeled specifically that its produced for painting headers and I don't recall it mentioning anything about a primer in the directions. Maybe we ran the bike too hot at first, or the paint just sucks. Either way I think I may just pay to have them coated properly.

theofam · « **Reply #55 on:** May 15, 2010, 05:03:58 PM »

Hmm. Seems like you did everything right, unless, as you said, primer was called for. Gotta get close up to notice anyhow. It's looking good! Off to the garage to try to finish up the front end tonight.

IainC · « **Reply #56 on:** May 16, 2010, 08:29:42 PM »

Old news first

The steering head bearings were in need of an upgrade. I bought some roller bearings, pretty standard upgrade.

One big bolt....

....And a hammer

Went around the perimeter of the old races slowly knocking them out.

Using the old race to knock it in evenly, we carefully installed the new races into the top and bottom.

New race installed and ready for the bearings.

IainC · « **Reply #57 on:** May 16, 2010, 09:47:34 PM »

Current news:

Today Craig came by and we got the decals applied. The process is super simple. First we positioned the vinyl where I wanted it, and taped it in place with some transfer tape.

Then over top of it we applied a piece of transfer tape and smoothed it onto the vinyl.

Flip it up like it's hinged onto the surface, peel off the backing, and carefully smooth it back down.

Off comes the transfer tape and its on. Then repeat with a clear piece over top.

I think I'll do a dark stripe along the cut out edge of the side cover as well. Any suggestions?

Craig even hooked me up with 3 extra so I can stick them on my tool box or whatever.

Pinhead · « **Reply #58 on:** May 16, 2010, 10:26:55 PM »

Absolutely outstanding!

IainC · « **Reply #59 on:** May 16, 2010, 10:29:25 PM »

And a few extra pictures for the fun of it.

The master cylinder is rebuilt and ready to be installed. Now if only I was done the brakes....

Ugh... water got into my tach while it was hanging. I hope this dries out fine. Maybe a heat gun will help.

New turn signal I'm having difficulties wiring in. The old ones had three wires, this has two.

IainC · « **Reply #60 on:** May 16, 2010, 10:32:52 PM »

Thanks Pinhead

My project is not nearly as ambitious as your's is however.

IainC · « **Reply #61 on:** May 21, 2010, 09:49:38 AM »

I picked up my new handlebars a few days ago, and also got brake pads ordered. Instead of buying new turn signals, my friend has some off his 82 CB650 I'm going to try to use untill I find the perfect turn signals. Also got a replacment for one of my mirrors as the first I bought had a warp in it that distorted the reflection.

A bit left to get done this weekend, waiting on paperwork from the insurance company before I get it safety inspected, then I'll be on the road. Can't wait. More pictures to come

nitroeagle · « **Reply #62 on:** May 21, 2010, 08:57:24 PM »

If you haven't seen the signals from your buddy, they might not work. I have a '82 cb650 & it has TWO wires cor the signals. It uses the headlight brackets as the ground, found out the hard way. I just got my signals working after painting everything, causing bad contact.

anthony · « **Reply #63 on:** June 24, 2010, 05:37:30 PM »

Quote from: IainC on May 15, 2010, 08:05:25 AM

The pipes were bead blasted, then blown clean, and wiped down. The can of paint is labeled specifically that its produced for painting headers and I don't recall it mentioning anything about a primer in the directions. Maybe we ran the bike too hot at first, or the paint just sucks. Either way I think I may just pay to have them coated properly.

after blasting did you sand the headers. blasting leaves deep sharp pits that cause a air bubble under the the paint as the air heats it expanses witch causes the paint to lift. that is how it was described i trade school.

IainC · « **Reply #64 on:** July 27, 2010, 06:11:26 AM »

I feel like I've negelected my project log too long, but until yesterday the project had seriously slowed down.

The bike went in for safety inspection, and besides a few minor but easily fixable problems, it passed and should be ready to hit the road this evening assuming my insurance is all worked out.

I'll make sure to post some more pictures of the last bits of work I've done, but it's mostly been a matter of tightening the last few nuts and bolts and going over everything to make sure I haven't missed any details.

Hopefully you will all be seeing lots more pictures on the road and a lot less in the garage.

IainC · « **Reply #65 on:** July 27, 2010, 07:52:09 AM »

Quote

after blasting did you sand the headers. blasting leaves deep sharp pits that cause a air bubble under the the paint as the air heats it expanses witch causes the paint to lift. that is how it was described i trade school.

Anthony, you bring up a really good point, something I never considered. After bead blasting the pipes I didn't take any sand paper to them as I figured the surface would be rough enough to hold paint, I never considered it may be too rough. For now I'll leave them as is, see how the rest of the paint holds up. If they flaking stays isolated to the few spots it's in I'll strip them down and shoot them with another couple cans, if however it continues to get worse, I'll probably go the professional route and get them coated. PS, love the paint graphics, sometimes theres no better way to explain a concept than with a simple picture.

IainC · « **Reply #66 on:** July 27, 2010, 10:19:57 AM »

Just finished up the paperwork for the insurance over my lunch break. Now I wait to go home and jump on the bike for the first real ride since the rebuild. This is going to be a long 3 hours at work.

Frankenkit · « **Reply #67 on:** July 27, 2010, 10:40:26 AM »

CONGRATS!!!

IainC · « **Reply #68 on:** July 28, 2010, 06:31:32 AM »

So got a few things sorted out last night. Lots of little adjustments are popping up, but as I work this stuff out it should all come together.

I am now having the opposite problem that I had when I took it off the road. Before my clutch was just slipping, now the clutch is not completly engaging so even with the clutch lever pulled in it wants to pull itself forward just a little. I think with the last tweak of the clutch cable I got this sorted out but I'll know for sure when I get it out again.

My rear brake pedal needed adjustment as there was too much free play, this was a simple fix once I found the adjustment screw hiding under the pedal/frame.

In terms of running its still pretty rough. I'm getting a lot of back fires but I think this is pretty much down to the fact that the carbs need to be synced. I'll pick up a long length of fuel line so I can do this ASAP (my Morgan Carbtune is feeling like a good investment).

I adjusted the cam chain and that made a huge difference in the sound. It was obviously way too loose before and making all kinds of loud noise.

Question:

The other thing I noticed is the forks are really soft. I have what I'm pretty sure is an 81 CB650C front end, I don't remember exactly, but the manual called for approx 230cc of fork oil. I used 10w fork oil and also topped them off with about 13psi of air. I'm worried that if I hit the brakes hard the forks are going to bottom out far to easily, they really are quite bouncy. Any suggestions? Maybe I should try some heavier oil?

Frankenkit · « **Reply #69 on:** July 28, 2010, 06:52:48 AM »

I think I went with 20w oil and new progressive springs. The springs were $60 and dead easy to install, worth every penny, too.
I'd try heavier oil, first, perhaps.

IainC · « **Reply #70 on:** July 28, 2010, 06:58:17 AM »

Springs are the next step, the important thing for me now is to get the forks feeling a little safer before I resign myself to waiting for parts to arrive. I think draining them and going to 20W is a good idea, does anyone else have experience with these forks and what type of oil are you using?

I just read a manual that suggests ATF but I'm not sure what the viscosity of this is so it's hard to compare to what I'm currently using.

Frankenkit · « **Reply #71 on:** July 28, 2010, 07:04:44 AM »

ATF, I think people compare it to a 5w or possibly something like '7'. I'd try the oil but when you go to 20, buy another bottle because a healthy amount will come out of the fork when you pull the old springs out. You could try to add some preload by cutting some pvc pipe spacers in the meantime. When I pulled my old springs, they sat almost an inch below the fork caps. :-/

Same feel, too. I'm 115# and felt like I was almost sitting on the tank sometimes, the front end dove so hard.

IainC · « **Reply #72 on:** July 28, 2010, 07:17:24 AM »

Yeah, I'm a small guy, about 145lbs and the forks are compressing enough that I'm likely going to need to move my horn before it dents my fender worse. If ATF is only ~7, the recommended set up is way off unless my springs are so old they are just not working right at all. Do you know if it is typical for fork springs to wear out this drastically?

Frankenkit · « **Reply #73 on:** July 28, 2010, 07:19:53 AM »

Now, that I don't know about. I only know how badly mine wore. Paulages took my bike for a spin and was able to repeatedly bottom it out (I wasn't quite heavy enough to do that, but maybe if I'd slammed on the brakes harder?)

scunny · « **Reply #74 on:** July 28, 2010, 01:09:11 PM »

there is a free spring length in the manual but prob not much use if you don't know what you have. I use 20 weight oil

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Author Topic: Iain's 1979 CB650 project log - 118 Pictures (Read 31554 times)