Topic: Re: need advice /first hand knowledge on my project

[okierider]

Bought a '71 cb500 four  for $100 dollars . It had no tank ,no side covers and no battery ,and the motor is locked up . Well I need a project so here I go LOL, started taking the bike down to the frame so I can clean surface rust and repaint or powder coat (havent got there yet LOL) and start going through the motor . Well today I walk out and yank the plugs to see what they look like and started taking off the cam chain cover and told my son these cam lobes and rocker arms look brand new ,then I started to yank the cam sprocket and needed to turn the motor over to get at the other bolt , so I reached down and hit the kick start and blew about four cups of oil all over my shop floor . I am pretty sure at this point that there is no way that much oil got into the cylinders from running lol . And this motor turns over as smooth as butter ,no noise no hard spots just butter  Here is my question have any of you folks ever heard of this before ? I am thinking some one put that oil in there to store it and forgot about it and it was just hydro locked ...... Any input would be greatly appreciated

[Johnie]

I don't think the oil was put in there to store it. I think it was put there to try to free up the locked pistons. It is customary to use a 50% mixture of acetone and tranny oil to free up a locked motor. Someone maybe just dumped some oil in there to try to accomplish same. Oh, and welcome to the forum. Load up some pics when you get a chance. We like pics here...

[okierider]

Ok here is the next question . is there a crossover parts faq list that I am not searching for properly?

[okierider]

For those who like to look at pics

[Tintop]

Don't use the Google Search, use the word 'Search' beside 'Help', and use word / phrases re your issue/problem.  You can search each section - e.g. FAQ's, Project Shop, by going there 1st then searching.

[Randy]

Check ebay... you can find deals there... just beware of the ebay pitfalls... A local motorcycle junkyard will work too... And Craigslist... Good to hear about your motor so far...I would clean out the cylinders and do a compression check.. Take a shop vac with a clear tube attached to the hose end and suck out the oil..Alittle keroseen will cut the oil.. But a towel at the bottom of the vac to catch most of the oil.. Good luck..

[okierider]

I have used the forums search engine and have not found a parts crossover thread except on forks ,. Thanks for the input .

[Danno]

i often times fill the crankcase up with oil and sometimes the cylinders if i am going to store a motor long term say 16 years as i did with my 550 but in that time it usually will leak down so there is not that much left in the cylinders but the only way to be sure of something like that is to have done it your self but a bit of advice if you dont want to tear the motor down to look get one of those cameras on a stick riobi makes a cheap and good one in their tech line home depot sells it and put the camera down each spark plug hole when the cylinder is at the bottom and look at the side walls if there is scoring or rust then the motor must be torn down if you can see the crosshatch on the walls and it looks fairly shiny then someone probably stored it that way but i am betting on it being that someone did it to free the motor  but  the camera is cheap and there are a lot of other engine related things you can use it for and save yourself a lot of time and expense i wont tear down a motor till im sure it needs it because if you do you must use good quality new gaskets and if it has oil pucks new ones of those too otherwise leaks develope

[okierider]

Thanks Danno , I took a flash lite and did a little looking into the intakes and exhaust ports and found a lot of little things that added up tp I feel more comfortable going thru the motor ,BUT I will definately grab that camera...........it just sounds like a great help in a lot of areas .

[okierider]

Scored these items on ebay, little bit closer to gathering all the missing / broken parts I need to restore this bike !!


3 birds with one stone ............ cool stuff!!!!

[okierider]

Little more work and then rain !!!! Temps have been above 100 for like the last 2 months ,got a break today but rain off and on(thank the powers that be ). Finished removing various parts off frame and started stripping frame .

[okierider]

been working on some chrome pieces and ran into this ,shouldnt these tabs be straight LOL

[okierider]

Amazing how well this chrome cleans up !!!!!

[Motoguy23]

For those who like to look at pics

I actually bought one of these today at a junkyard.  I also bought one for a 1978 CB550 and that one works too. I only need one but bought 2 just in case.  I'd be willing to part with one for a reasonable price.

[okierider]

Really apreciate the offer Motoguy ,but I think these will be fine with a little mesaging with a sledge LOL . Will let you know if that changes though!!!

Crap motoguy I just paid attention to your post LOL I found a complete triple tree on ebay .Thanks agian for your offer

[Tintop]

that chrome looks great, very nice job bringing it back.  is that Loctite Rust Remover you used, I've got a bunch of chrome that needs the same treatment. 

[okierider]

Yes on the loctite rust remover .Found it in Lowes  I scrubbed the rust initially with aluminum foil and warm soapy water then slathered on a lite coat of the loctite let stand for 10 minutes then washed and repeated the foil scrub. Once I had it all cleaned up I used turtle wax chrome polish and a buffing wheel (cheap one i bought at Lowes for my drill) and worked in the polish for several minutes .Tthen I hand buffed with a clean towel . Pretty satisfied with the forty year old mistreated chrome LOL

[Tintop]

Thanks, I'll give it a try on these chrome parts that came with the 500 project.