Topic: The Runcible Racer - maduncle's CB450 project

[maduncle]

Today I got a photo on my phone from Mitch my bike parts painter.



He's telling me that this is the new colour scheme he has come up with, rather than the black I asked for.

I trust that this is the filler coat and dust coat prior to sanding...

[Roach Carver]

OOhhh purple and buff. I love it. Will you get a matching jacket and boots? I think you must.

[maduncle]

OOhhh purple and buff. I love it. Will you get a matching jacket and boots? I think you must.

Well - I am already rather buff, so maybe I just need a purple helmet and purple boots...

[Retro Rocket]

I just need a purple helmet

Cliff, you already have a purple helmet, just don't post pics of it here....

[Terry in Australia]

I wonder why Mitch masked off the underside of your tank Cliff? Anyway, I respect anyone who does their painting outside like I do, paint booths are for poofs!

[maduncle]

I just need a purple helmet

Cliff, you already have a purple helmet, just don't post pics of it here....

It was gunna be you or Terry - I just left the door open to see who was first.

Terry - the tank underside is mint, so I guess Mitch has gone for a clean line rather than overspray. I think he paints inside, just put stuff outside to finish drying.

[maduncle]

I got my painted parts back on Saturday, and I bought a 'Posh' brand tail light and licence plate holder.







I am pretty happy with the rear fender and the way it sits under the cafe seat, the whole set up looks great together.

[Terry in Australia]

Nice!

[Retro Rocket]

Looking good Cliff, i love that tank....

[maduncle]

Looking good Cliff, i love that tank....

Yes, a CB450K1 tank is a thing of beauty. I have a spare one and I am wondering if it fits a CB750 frame?

[Retro Rocket]

Looking good Cliff, i love that tank....

Yes, a CB450K1 tank is a thing of beauty. I have a spare one and I am wondering if it fits a CB750 frame?

I have a photo somewhere of a 750 with that tank in red, when i come across it i will post it here for you..

[Retro Rocket]

Hmmm, thought i had a better pic... teaser...

[Terry in Australia]

I like those rubber knee pads, are you going to install them on your tank Cliff?

[maduncle]

I like those rubber knee pads, are you going to install them on your tank Cliff?

Sure am!

I have a pair ready to fit later on.

Now Terry - I am bidding on a CB750 frame and engine for sale in Melbourne, please don't Snipe it!!!

[maduncle]

Hmmm, thought i had a better pic... teaser...

I love it!

Thanks for the inspiring photo.

[Terry in Australia]

I like those rubber knee pads, are you going to install them on your tank Cliff?

Sure am!

I have a pair ready to fit later on.

Now Terry - I am bidding on a CB750 frame and engine for sale in Melbourne, please don't Snipe it!!!

No, the question should be, "Please remove your Snipe bid", which, now that I know that you want it I will, but all this sniping/unsniping is thirsty work Cliff, so there might be a small "unsniping fee" involved?

[maduncle]

He he he - did you notice the listing got pulled and then relisted elsewhere?

[Terry in Australia]

Yep, I think the seller might have gotten cold feet......... 

[maduncle]

Well - I had been putting this job off as I was not feeling too confident about doing it, but given I have time to spare I decided to take the challenge.

I built myself a brand new CB450K0 wiring harness from scratch.



Not much to look at, but there are a dozen different coloured wires in there, plus a new terminal block fitted for the ignition, plus new connectors fitted on every other wire, plus soldering and joining and sleeving for the earth wire, plus woven cover for the alternator wires, plus grey harness cover for the harness.

I have not sealed and taped the grey harness cover, as I may yet need to run an extra wire or two, and I can thread them through the grey if I need to. All depends on where I mount the new reg/rec the solenoid and the battery.

In other news - Ken has started my head (!!!) and tells me I will have it back next week.

[Terry in Australia]

Good Job Cliff, did you use different gauge wires for higher amperage loads like ignition, headlight etc? Looks nice! Cheers, Terry.

[maduncle]

Good Job Cliff, did you use different gauge wires for higher amperage loads like ignition, headlight etc? Looks nice! Cheers, Terry.

Um - no?

I did use 3mm wire which is stronger than the old original wire used.

[maduncle]

I got my head back on Friday!

Ken did an excellent job, he got a very good seal on all four valve seats, even leak tested it to make sure.

So yesterday I reassembled the head, installed all the valves, cams, tensioner arms, etc, etc - it was an interesting challenge and with a bit of patience and a good original manual, I was able to match up the tension arms with their keepers and install them in the right locations.



I am now at the 'put the head on the engine' stage, which can wait until later in the week. I want to read the manual some more so I understand all the timing requirements for the cams and the pistons, plus I want to be ready to thread the cam chain through and try to avoid losing it in the sump!

And I now have a new electronic ignition to install, and an 'antigravity' battery on its way to me.

The finish line is looking closer...

[Terry in Australia]

Well done Cliff, you're showing your inexperience with the statement that Ken even leak tested them to make sure they'd sealed, that's actually just a part of cutting new seats and lapping them in, but that's OK mate, I'm glad that you're getting the hang of engine building. It's great fun, isn't it?

Make sure you stuff nice clean rags in every orifice (in the engine.....) when you go to fit the clip, and make sure you've got a "telescopic magnet on a stick thingy" , they're a life saver! Cheers, Terry.

[maduncle]

Well done Cliff, you're showing your inexperience with the statement that Ken even leak tested them to make sure they'd sealed, that's actually just a part of cutting new seats and lapping them in, but that's OK mate, I'm glad that you're getting the hang of engine building. It's great fun, isn't it?

Make sure you stuff nice clean rags in every orifice (in the engine.....) when you go to fit the clip, and make sure you've got a "telescopic magnet on a stick thingy" , they're a life saver! Cheers, Terry.

Ah - okay.

So when Ken said "I got such a good seal on these valves not one drop got past them when I leak tested them" that's just part of the job?  Ken and I are getting on swell, in fact - Ken just bought a CB450K1 to do up, seems he got the bug. We now swap books and magazines on Honda's.

Thanks for the tips on orifice stuffing and telescopic magnet sticky thing, want to come and play 'let's fit the head on the CB450' in my shed sometime soon?

Meanwhile - the parts keep arriving in the mail. I got my new key for the ignition, but the guy sent the wrong key so another is on its way.

And I got my IT425 swing arm, it is going to fit rather well into my next CB450 project.

[Terry in Australia]

Well done Cliff, you're showing your inexperience with the statement that Ken even leak tested them to make sure they'd sealed, that's actually just a part of cutting new seats and lapping them in, but that's OK mate, I'm glad that you're getting the hang of engine building. It's great fun, isn't it?

Make sure you stuff nice clean rags in every orifice (in the engine.....) when you go to fit the clip, and make sure you've got a "telescopic magnet on a stick thingy" , they're a life saver! Cheers, Terry.

Ah - okay.

So when Ken said "I got such a good seal on these valves not one drop got past them when I leak tested them" that's just part of the job?  Ken and I are getting on swell, in fact - Ken just bought a CB450K1 to do up, seems he got the bug. We now swap books and magazines on Honda's.

Thanks for the tips on orifice stuffing and telescopic magnet sticky thing, want to come and play 'let's fit the head on the CB450' in my shed sometime soon?

Meanwhile - the parts keep arriving in the mail. I got my new key for the ignition, but the guy sent the wrong key so another is on its way.

And I got my IT425 swing arm, it is going to fit rather well into my next CB450 project.

Yeah mate, the standard test is to tip the head upside down and fill the combustion chambers with a liquid (usually Kero) and let them sit for awhile, and hopefully the levels won't drop, or you need to pull the valves out and re-lap them. That's what Ken would have done. I'm away for most of the week, but I should be around on the weekend if you need a hand. Hopefully my new CDI box will have arrived for my CX500, so if it's a goer I'll ride over. Cheers, Terry.