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

[Doctor_D]

Very nicely done.  Too bad about the pin hole in the tank.

I've used POR 15 with success. I'd tell you to be careful to protect your finish and to be sure to follow the instructions to a "T", but your work seems so meticulous that I doubt you'll have issues.

Good luck.

[traveler]

Damn!  Bad luck.

The bike is about done....now have to go back and fix this area and retry.

The bike looks new!

~Joe

[big blue]

Don't feel too bad. I had almost the exact thing happen to me. I got most of the way done and had a bubble. I still lie awake at night thinking about it.

I love that color BTW. All you need now is gold chains and an open shirt.

[Scott S]

 This project is very slightly stalled.
 I treated and lined the tank with RedKote in hopes of stopping the seam leak and saving the paint. One interesting aside: the blisters on the paint went away when I drained and aired out the tank. I've been setting it outside to help cure the RedKote (it's been between 93-99 degrees here in SC). That seems to "dry up" the blister spots in the paint even more. If the RedKote works, I can save the paint and you'd never notice the damaged spots.

 I also had to order new rear brakes shoes. Mine were within spec (barely) but I just couldn't get the brakes adjusted like I wanted. Very weak rear brakes. I still need to bleed the fronts one more time, too. I'm no longer getting air, but they seem a little weak as well and the lever is spongy. Yes, I bench bled the M/C, new stainless hoses, rebuilt M/C, etc.
 What really sucks is that I ordered the wrong rear shoes....who knew there was also a '93-96 CB500? (Not me!)

 Get all that done and the bike back together and I'll give it another shake down run. I'm gonna try to tune the carbs for pods since I have them, but I've been able to source all the parts to run the stock airbox (except a new filter). So, if I struggle too much with the pods, I'll remove the carbs once again and try the airbox.

 Stay tuned!

[Scott S]

 One whole month since any updates....notice anything different in this pic?


 I wasn't able to save the gold tank.  Even after sealing with RedKote, I had a small weep at the seam and it started bubbling up the paint again. Oh well, new piece of wall art for the garage.
 Luckily, I had this tank and was able to keep the project moving. I also installed new rear shoes and a new master cylinder from David Silver Spares. Boy! Do I have brakes now!
 I also replaced the shift shaft seal. There's still a slight oil leak somewhere. It didn't drip when I first parked it, but when I went back a couple of hours later  there was a tiny drop on the garage floor. Not sure if it's from the funky oil pan bolt (and running back down the fins on the oil pan, then dripping) or if there's still something under the left side cover. The output shaft seal looked good and didn't seem like it was leaking. Maybe I'll take the cover off again in a few hundred miles and see what I can find. It's very minor and mostly just keeps that lower side of the case/oil pan a little moist. Not a major leak/drip.
 The old girl is running good. I'm going to address the timing/points plate next. I plan on doing an electronic ignition...but something you guys haven't seen before. I'll be a guinea pig of sorts. Stay tuned....

[Scott S]

 I'm also seriously considering having a pro redo the paint, using a kit from Vintage Honda Paint.
 I like the idea of keeping it original as far as having a scheme that it might have come from the factory with. That would most likely mean Candy Jet Green or Flake Sunrise Orange. (Nabbed this pic from the forum) I do like what's left of the orange on the new tank...


 But man, oh man, I just can't get past the Candy Jade Green. LOVE that color. I'm also a little more fond of the CB550 tank graphics.
 I know it's a personal choice and one I have to live with, but what do you think? Green or Orange? CB500 graphics or CB550?

[Greggo]

I like the sunflake/black, but I'm a Giants fan, so that's probably why.  I'm going for gloss black/white piping when I get my nicer(undented) tank repainted.

[fastbroshi]

I have a faded green tank and I look forward to the day when I have mine redone.  Until then I'd like to live vicariously through yours.

[dave500]

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.

we get those wasps aswell here,you have to stuff a rag in exhaust outlets of lawn mowers and other stuff like that,,hey looks like good fun.

[traveler]

Both colors look great, but I'd go green.

(Greens my fav color anyway )

~Joe

[Captainkirk]

Personally.....I'd go with the green.
This is the first I've seen of your project, and let me tell you, your work is outstanding!
I was very impressed with the gold; I'm sure the green will turn out as good or better!

[Scott S]

 Long time no update, but....
 
 I decided to go in  completely different direction on the paint. After seeing a Japan market only CB750 in silver-blue, I knew what I wanted to do. It really was a toss-up between that and the gold, but the silver won out. I used Super Sport stripes from a CB450 twin (I had to trim them just a bit for length) and made my own "phantom" CB500 SS. Ignore the black emblems; they were some old emblems I had that I spray bombed. New emblems are on order.

[Scott S]

 I finally got the carbs all sorted and I've been chasing down oil leaks/drips (I hate oil leaks). All minor stuff, but enough to drive me nuts. I also had the engine covers polished.

[Scott S]

 Competition Accessories has a warehouse/outlet in my hometown. I picked up these Fieldsheer saddle bags for less that $70. Just the right size for the CB500, IMO.

[Scott S]

 I've started collecting parts to build the "phantom" CB500 SS that I mentioned earlier. I have 400F rear sets and pedals, 400F bars (and a couple others to choose from. I'm undecided right now), and even a cool idea for a cafe' style tail section using an original seat. It will be bolt-on. No cutting or drilling required and I can easily swap it out for the stock seat.
 Basically, use as many stock Honda parts as possible to build a Super Sport, had Honda built a CB500 SS in 1971. In silver. With SS stripes. 

[The_Crippler]

Competition Accessories has a warehouse/outlet in my hometown. I picked up these Fieldsheer saddle bags for less that $70. Just the right size for the CB500, IMO.

Those look like they're easy on/off...are they?  My project won't have bags, but I know that there will be times that I want them...something I could slip on and off when I needed to would be great.

[Scott S]

Competition Accessories has a warehouse/outlet in my hometown. I picked up these Fieldsheer saddle bags for less that $70. Just the right size for the CB500, IMO.

Those look like they're easy on/off...are they?  My project won't have bags, but I know that there will be times that I want them...something I could slip on and off when I needed to would be great.

 Well, yes.....sorta. They're designed to fit under the seat. The hinge on the CB500 seat is right in the way of one strap.
   They'll throw right over the seat, no problem, but I'm a little concerned about how securely they fit that way. They'd probably be just fine, but what I do is put one strap over the seat and one under. There are quick-connect clasps that go on the frame to help secure them. The more I think about it, they would probably be just fine OVER the seat, but having one strap underneath DOES help prevent theft, I guess.

[The_Crippler]

Cool!  Thanks for letting me know...now I just need to find them for a $70 steal like you did.

[Scott S]

 They have a "back room" with clearance items in it. These were originally ~$169, on sale for, I think, $64.99. There was about half a pallet of them.

[dave500]

i like it well done,im not a saddle bag guy,i dont carry freight.back pack maybe/rarely.

[Scott S]

 Same here, actually, but I plan on taking the bikes for some short road trips next year. The saddle bags will also fit my '75 XS650, so I felt they were a bargain. They're easy enough to take off once I get where I'm going; even have handles to use as luggage.

[Stev-o]

I don't normally like silver, but yours looks really good! Gold is nice, but there are so many...you made the right choice.


Nice job!!

[Duanob]

Wow looking great scott especially for what you've been through with the paint. Where did you get those decal sets? I like your look I was thinking white for my 550. Keep posting! it gives me motivation to keep plugging away with mine.

[Old75_ratafe]

Should go dual discs and air forks.  Project looks awesome to bad that paint didn't work out the first time.

[Scott S]

Where did you get those decal sets? .

 The first time, I got them through Z1 Enterprises, but they just order them from Reproduction Decals. I called them directly the second time. They're for a CB450 and we had to trim a bit off the front.