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Author Topic: 73 cb500  (Read 2741 times)

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Offline phaedrus314

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73 cb500
« on: August 27, 2011, 02:53:04 PM »
Looking for input:  restore or cafe...







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Offline Motoguy23

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2011, 06:18:01 PM »
I'd say that if the exhaust is still in good shape along with the side covers and tank and switches that you should restore it.  With the low mileage and those parts still original it would be easier to restore than if you had to find all those parts. 
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Offline phaedrus314

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2011, 07:11:47 PM »
That's basically what i was thinking.  It seems to be complete and original (except the mirrors) and I am the 3rd owner.  The exhaust seems to be physically sound but the inside chrome (exterior of the muffler on the wheel side) has some surface rust.  I've only owned the bike a week and haven't had much time to look for hidden problems are there any specific troublespots I should check out?  I'll find the pics of the rust.
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Offline paulmac

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2011, 09:15:45 PM »
I would restore it to it's original glory, you have most of the original parts there so it just takes a little elbow grease, trust me you will enjoy the journey.
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Offline Motoguy23

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2011, 11:55:10 PM »
as long as you can't take your finger and push through the rust I'd say just take it to get rechromed. 
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Offline phaedrus314

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2011, 06:43:25 AM »
Nope, the rust/corrosion i have noticed all appears to be surface and i haven't seen anything that impacts the structural integrity of the parts.  What's the best way to handle the surface pitting on the engine housing and fins? 

As for re-chroming, sanding, repainting, etc...which is more desirable in the "collectible" bike world...does the patina of age have any value or should I just go to town? 
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Offline MattInVA

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2011, 09:01:42 AM »
I'm at the same cross roads with the same bike. Yours looks to be in good condition, so I'd vote for restore. Mine is going to take a lot of work to get back to original, so I'm leaning towards the cafe/ modified route.
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Offline vozzy

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2011, 12:41:50 PM »
Restore!. . . .  Step 1: Ditch the highway bars and seat net thingy
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Offline phaedrus314

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #8 on: August 29, 2011, 04:15:39 PM »
The highway bars and net are on the way out, I was thinking about storing the seat as it will be a driver and I've heard that the 40 year old seats don't hold up too well to use. 

The highway bars are just a bolt on...are the holes they attach to original or were they drilled?
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Offline phaedrus314

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #9 on: April 08, 2012, 08:48:22 AM »
Finally an update.  I went through the carbs (OEM hard parts, honda gasket kits), changed the oil and filter (old stale oil was surprisingly dark), flushed the tank, soaked the petcock screen/bowl in berryman's, re-seated all the electrical connections I found to break any accumulated corrosion and she fired up after just a little cranking.  I let it run a bit, but the petcock bowl was leaking all over so I shut it off but everything sounds good.  Actually sounds damn good for a bike who which was last registered in 2003 (I think the PO exagerated when he said it parked "a couple years ago")

My current to-do list:
1)  Battery fill/charge
2)  Petcock bowl o-ring (can these be purchased separately?)
3)  Caliper/possible master cylinder rebuild.
4)  Test drive to shake out any other issues...

Any other big issues I should check before the test flight?
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Offline lucky

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #10 on: April 11, 2012, 08:48:30 AM »
Quote from: phaedrus314 on April 08, 2012, 08:48:22 AM
Finally an update.  I went through the carbs (OEM hard parts, honda gasket kits), changed the oil and filter (old stale oil was surprisingly dark), flushed the tank, soaked the petcock screen/bowl in berryman's, re-seated all the electrical connections I found to break any accumulated corrosion and she fired up after just a little cranking.  I let it run a bit, but the petcock bowl was leaking all over so I shut it off but everything sounds good.  Actually sounds damn good for a bike who which was last registered in 2003 (I think the PO exagerated when he said it parked "a couple years ago")

My current to-do list:
1)  Battery fill/charge
2)  Petcock bowl o-ring (can these be purchased separately?)
3)  Caliper/possible master cylinder rebuild.
4)  Test drive to shake out any other issues...

Any other big issues I should check before the test flight?

In his mind it was a couple of years ago.
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Offline phaedrus314

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2012, 05:10:41 PM »
Well the battery is filled/charged, caliper is ready to go back on, petcock o-rings are waiting at the Honda shop for pickup.  I hope to see if it moves tomorrow...
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Offline wedoo2

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2012, 06:03:24 PM »
I'll tell you phadreus, you have the makings of a really good restoration project there.  I understand the cafe thing because I went that way with mine.  But I did not cut up anything that would prevent a future owner from going original.  So I have some kind of bastard hybrid.  Do what you like, but it seems that you are close enough to go full restoration.
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Offline rb550four

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #13 on: April 20, 2012, 06:19:05 PM »
NICE!!! RESTORE for sure. Looks like you'll be replacing O rings and head gasket too. Is the paint as good as it looks in the pics? Nice find.
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Offline jerry h

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #14 on: April 20, 2012, 11:25:45 PM »
Only 6K on the bike....   wow!    My vote is restor/ or more like preservation.  Clean it up, get it mechanically sound and get it out on the road where it belongs.    Bikes that have survived all these years intact in the original configuration, should be preserved, there's enough basket cases out there to be turned into cafes.
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Offline phaedrus314

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Re: 73 cb500
« Reply #15 on: April 21, 2012, 07:47:50 AM »
Thanks all, yeah I am doing a restore on this one and giving it to my wife as a bday present.  I have a 1974 cb550 with 8k that I picked up that has been played with by too many people that is going to be my cafe.  I haven't put up any pics yet but it's sunburst orange.

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