I've been working on this project very slowly for quite a while....I've been planning on starting this thread for about as long as I've been working on it.
My good friend Jessezm helped me tremendously in his free time when not working on his awesome 77 CB400 Cafe build, so I gotta give him a shout out on my project thread...
His build thread is here:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=70938.0 And here he is:
I'd also like to gives a shout out to Dime City Cycles - awesome guys and they've got just about anything you need....DCC is gonna be my go-to place when I decide to go cafe on this thing.
http://www.dimecitycycles.com/Backstory:
Picked up the bike a while back...it hadn't ran in about 13 years and had set outside for a while. With a Clymer, a printed pdf of the Honda Service Manual, and a ton of help from these forums, I rebuilt the carbs, the master cylinder, and petcock, cleaned/coated tank, replaced some of the ignition, corrected some bad wiring, and bought a battery. I got it running but the carbs were difficult to sync...I rode it a bit but it was rough and then started dieing.
About this time I was preparing to leave my job and move to Tampa for grad school and then (after a year in school) overseas in the Peace Corps. I decided to bring my project with me to Tampa and try to finish a rebuild and partial restoration so I could ride for a bit before I left for Peace Corps - which is approaching quickly (late summer 2011). It's ironic that this bike is in Tampa now...I bought it in Warner Robins GA and it had Mass tags (from 98') but the chainguard has the original "Honda of Clearwater" dealer sticker!
I've had very little spare time while taking a full load of grad engineering courses and working as a research assistant, but I've managed to slowly get some work done. My brother-in-law is going into his family's business of paint supplies and has been looking to learn to paint, so he offered to try matching the candy bacchus olive and repainting the bike. He did a great job - awesome for his first time painting - and I think that the match is pretty good. In the meantime, I stripped the bike down, got the frame and odds/ends powdercoated and took to rebuilding the top end. I actually drove the engine to GA during when going home for the holidays and rebuilt it at Jessezm's house (what a guy, right?). After getting into the swing of things this semester, I've started reassembling the bike - hoping to finish it during spring break next week (3/14/11 - 3/18/11).
Currently, I've everything except for the engine ready to go; new AllBallz tapered steering bearings are installed, brakes are on and working, all the lights and signals are working...just have to get the engine in and dial everything in (easier said than done, I'm sure). The only real decision I have left is what mufflers get...
Here are some random pics of the project:
Picked it up and did lots of cleaning:
Needed to make a new fuel pipe when rebuilding the carbs...it was nice to live close to my undergrad and its engineering shop:
Tore it down and left if scattered around my bedroom for a while:
Engine Teardown and Cleaning:
Dingleberry hone!
Buttoned back up with new rings, new gaskets, and a valve job:
New paint - kudos to my bro-in-law:
ZPS Powdercpoating in Largo, FL did a great job:
Mock up with tank and side covers:
And where I am now:
And the engine...just waiting to be put in:
I'll let you all know how it goes...
I'd like input on the following:
-Which mufflers to choose. Headers are good and I can cut ot the 2-1 collectors.
-Whether to powdercoat the header collars or just use electroisys to de-rust.
-Which break-in method to use...I've been reviewing the extensive colelction of threads with various suggestions.
-Any other suggestions or comments...
Thanks!