Topic: '72 CB500/4 : Project WTF was I thinking!? ...Time for some updates!

[Scott S]

 Lots of work done on the old gal. You can't always tell it from looking at it, but...

 Frame
 Got the frame all cleaned up and painted. I sourced out a center stand and chain guard since mine were missing. Yeah, I'm a center stand kinda guy...can't beat 'em for servicing the bike. Plus, it helps with storage options in my cramped garage.
 I also polished the fork lowers, changed the fork oil and installed gaiters. I had new tires mounted and my goal this weekend was to make it a roller again. Unfortunately, the front tire is flat. I guess they pinched the tube when installing the tire.
 (Please disregard all the greasy fingerprints all over the forks, etc.)

[Scott S]

 Electrical
 I got the wiring harness all sorted out. The P.O. told me the original harness was scorched and the one in the bike is a replacement harness. I can tell it is because it still has the tag on it!
 The bike was missing turn signals when I got it and the controls were severely hacked up. I was able to trace out and test nearly every wire on the bike and they're all marked now. All I'm waiting on are for my handlebar switches and turn signals to show up so we can install a battery and test everything.
 I also mounted new 4 ohm coils from Z1 Ent. The mounting holes are slightly off center from the stock coils, so we made up these little tabs. I also had to slightly elongate the holes in the frame, then they mounted right up.

[Scott S]

 Since the bike had been off the road and out of the system for so long, the P.O. had to send off for the title. When it arrived and he delivered it to me, he informed me that the bike had transmission problems when he got it (way back in ~1980-ish!). He had a local shop rebuild the trans, install fresh rings and do a valve job. The bike has had very low miles since then....mostly sitting since the top triple tree clamp broke. So I should be good to go engine/trans-wise once I get her running again!

[Scott S]

 I also got the engine all cleaned up and de-greased. It took me FOREVER to get all the dirt and mud out from between the fins. Down here in the South, we have "dirt-dobbers"; wasp like insects that build nests from dirt and clay. They like any open hole and had taken advantage of all the nooks and crannies between the fins.
 I polished up the side covers and installed some finned tappet covers. The engine is painted with Dupli-Color engine paint.

[Scott S]

 Got the engine in the frame and the front end all back together. I had to send my master cylinder off for a rebuild. Hope to have it back soon and get the brakes bled.

[Scott S]

 I also decided to try my hand at a rattle can paint job. I intended to use the paint on the tank as a base coat, but it started pealing up when I tried to wet sand it. That left me no choice but to strip the tank.

[Scott S]

 Got it in primer and body worked a few BB sized dings. I also sanded down the side covers and prepped them.

[Scott S]

 Did a base coat of silver over the primer, then shot everything with "Inca Gold" Testors model paint.

[Scott S]

 Here's a sneak preview of what it looks like on the bike. I'm waiting on a decal set to get here. I plan on letting the paint bake in the sun and cure for at least another week, then installing the decals. After that, I have some of the two pack clear to cover it all.

[cosmo]

Looks good, that is also a Honda Civic factory colour. 

[Scott S]

  Got the decals on yesterday and the clear coat on today. Went pretty well. I ended up buying a second can for better coverage and depth. And wouldn't you believe it....right before the last coat the worlds smallest gnat flew into the clear. I think I can rub it out when it's good and dry.
  I was hoping the sun would be out for better pics. I'll get some when I get the cap and emblems installed.



 Yes, that's my car in the driveway you see in the reflection! Not bad for a garage paint job, huh?

[Scott S]

 More:



 Total cost: $109, including the decals, sandpaper, high build primer, base color, color coat and clear coat.

[Scott S]

 I'll see if I can sand the gnat out...

[traveler]

2000 wet paper and patience.  if you can stay out of the color, it will be fine....just have to reclear that area.

~Joe

[fastbroshi]

What's up with this gas cap? It's a vented cap and everything's in great shape except for the plastic center. What was there originally and is there a way to replace or restore it?

  That was one of those gas caps that doubled as a guage, you'll see them pop up on ebay from time to time.  That gold paint looks GREAT by the way.  And that decal is exactly what I would've picked with that color, reminds me of the early 750 tank graphics.   

[Scott S]

 Getting SOOO close to firing this bad boy up!
 I tried the other day, but those carbs still have some gunk deep inside. Not getting gas to the engine. I did hear it try to run on starter fluid, though. I have a local guy that can do a deep cleaning on the carbs.

 I also sorted the clutch, installed the blinkers and got them working and put the correct chain on it. The master cylinder needs a kit. I had it cleaned out and reassembled, but it's weeping around the plunger. Maybe by next weekend all the parts will be in and I'll see if I can breathe some life into the old girl.

[fastbroshi]

  Check those idle jets and the emulsion tubes, those things have teeny tine holes and usually the cause of everyone's not starting issues due to carbs.  Again, that paint looks great.

[Scott S]

 Thanks, man. It looks even better with the cap and emblems installed. I bought a whole stack of Honda emblems off ebay for ~$15. Picked the best two and paint detailed them with model car paint, touch up paint and a small brush. Not perfect, but WAY cheaper than NOS emblems. The 500Four emblems came with the side covers.
Before:

 
 And after:

[Stev-o]

Impressed on the detailed paint work you've done.
Stayin' tuned to see it run...

[B.O.X.N.I.F.E.]

How many cans of each paint step did you use? Looks excellent

[FunJimmy]

Lookin really nice.
Love the color.

FJ

[Scott S]

How many cans of each paint step did you use? Looks excellent

High build primer Three to four coats with wet sanding between each coat. This was primarily to get the areas around the bodywork like I wanted. If you had a pristine tank then I suppose one coat should do it.

Base coat This was the silver. Two coats; one light coat initially, then a coat for coverage

Color Almost three 3 oz. cans of Testors "Inca Gold" model paint. I say almost three because I had used some of one can on a test tank to see if I liked the color. These cans are small and don't last very long. If I did it over, I'd have 4 or 5 cans on hand. There are a couple of spots (that only my critical eye can see) that I would have liked to floated a little more color into.

Clear Two cans of SprayMax 2K clear coat. The first can left it dull in some spots. The second can made it go POW!

 I think it would have looked even better had I wet sanded the color coats but, with the coverage being a little light, and it being model paint, I didn't want to get too aggressive.

[manjisann]

Clear Two cans of SprayMax 2K clear coat. The first can left it dull in some spots. The second can made it go POW!

Haha, sorry I love the description here, just awesome.

I think it would have looked even better had I wet sanded the color coats but, with the coverage being a little light, and it being model paint, I didn't want to get too aggressive.

My experience with candy colors is limited to the spray job I just did on my bike, however it's my understanding that you really want to try and avoid sanding the candy coat as it may (will?) produce a mottled color due to uneven coverage. I have no experience with this, having not sanded the color coat, but seems I read it in a book on painting.

As for the gnat, I'd pick up a nib file and lightly go at it with that and then some wet sanding.

I'm with everyone else though, I think that the color and paint job is FANTASTIC, it looks like the vintage paint jobs. Just another example showing that with proper prep work and care, a spray can is capable of a nice paint job as well.

Brandon

[Scott S]

 Here are some 99% complete pics. I was waiting on the master cylinder rebuild kit when I took these.

[Scott S]

 I actually took her up and down the neighborhood a few times. I still need to sort the brakes a little better. The rear needs adjusting...I think I need to move the pivot a little farther forward....and the front has a soft pedal. I bench bled the m/c and I'm not getting any air out of the bleeder. Still, it's sort of soft.

 The carbs idled fine, but the more I rode it, she started to act up. Wouldn't idle without the choke being nearly closed. Stalling, high rpm idle unless I fiddled with the choke. She's definitely rich. The stalling may have something to do with the routing of the fuel lines/filters. I'll address that and I plan on changing the plugs and trying again, but.....

 I woke up the next day to find this. Crap, crap, crap! I have the tank drained and will try RedKote on the inside. If that works, I can hide most of this with one of those chrome strip kits. Still, this really sucks. I go from being done with just some minor fiddling left to taking a couple of steps backwards.