Author Topic: polish the 72 450 (Read 6234 times)

rb550four · « **on:** January 27, 2013, 01:31:37 PM »

So i just read Maduncle's 450 bomber thread today. I've been out of the garage due to cold weather but, today it almost got to 30 degrees, and out the door I went.
Got this turd of a 72 450 that's been moved around from one corner to the next for years. Many times I had thought to swipe the front forks and anything else that would transfer to a 550.
So like I said I was reading the thread, checking the condition of the project when started, and thought shoot that turd in my barn is in way better shape than what he started out with, and I'm not a stranger to poor condition starts so, I decided to spend some time cleaning some crap off it and see if I could be interested in doing something to it.

Cleaned some parts up , even polish a bit just to see.Well you know the last two owners told me it runs like hell, and we all believe POs , it's been here for years, never even tried to start it. looks worth while, gonna clean it up and paint it ,get it running. If it turns out maybe even ride it.

rb550four · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2013, 10:59:28 AM »

This past fall I found a guy with a bunch of junk motorcycles living in the woods surround by them. I made a couple visits to his place when I heard a couple of scrappers talking about what they might offer for his assorted collection of junk. As luck would have it, there were was a 72 450 in very poor condition, being I would have to carry it out of there, I opted to strip it where it was , grabbing some parts I could use plus the carbs. Today I cleaned up a very clean on the inside set, The outside didn't look so clean, but the inside, almost spotless, like he drained them before parking it. How nice.
Stayed in the 25 degree barn for 3 hours and almost finished them. Gonna warm up a bit and finish them later.
I'm thinking that I'll take a run back up to this guy's house when the snow is gone and get the rest of that 450. There is also a Dream out in the wood shed that I would like to buy from him, looks nice, has engine troubles,he wants 7 and I want to go less, like 4. Should I go higher? The only thing I know about those bikes is that I like the style and it has square shocks. What would be a reasonable offer?

rb550four · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2013, 01:29:34 PM »

I'm taking the engine out and just hate having road crud all over the shop so today was engine clean up day. All the crud is off it except where it's hiding behind the mounts and a little on the backside, which I'll get when it's out of frame. I think it looks clean enough to remove now.

rb550four · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2013, 09:42:16 AM »

Got the engine out, this one comes out from the left side unlike the 550's. Monkeyed around with that for a while last night.
Finished cleaning it and it was warm enough to paint it too. The frame got an initial cleaning but is planned to visit the carwash next warm day. There should be enough stuff to piddle around with til that happens.

Okay it's after dinner and still warm so the frame made it to the carwash,and is about to be wire wheeled to get some rust off it. Don't know if I can get it all done tonight, tomorrow is supposed to be warm, sure would be nice to get the frame painted.

rb550four · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2013, 07:18:02 PM »

So ,it seems , this little 450 has a 500T top end, i'm surprised. No wonder why the last owner thought it was fast for just a 450.
I did get out to the shop and took down the paint and rust from the frame in about 2 hours on a high speed grinder with a 6 inch wire wheel. Very clean , very smooth, and only caught my finger in the wheel twice. Same finger so it was a one bandaid job!
Picked up the black paint just in case I'm able to shoot it tomorrow.
This little bike is a strange thing once you get used to the fours. It seems to be primative from a design standpoint, Things like the 3rd bolt on the inside of the chainguard that you can't get to,not needed after seeing the 500 swing arm /chainguard mount. No freaking oil pan? how would you know what's in it and how would you clean it out? I am attempting not to get into the bottom end but I want to know that there's no crap in the bottom,so I'm thinking of swishing 5 gallons of kerosene through the case just to see what comes out when it drains.
So far , I'm liking this little machine and feel bad about calling a turd, it really isn't. I just hadn't looked at it long enough to appreciate all that it is instead of what it isn't.

Stev-o · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2013, 07:40:10 PM »

The 450's are good bikes, def not a turd. Change the thread title!

MoMo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2013, 07:59:14 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on January 30, 2013, 07:40:10 PM

The 450's are good bikes, def not a turd. Change the thread title!

+1 on that. The 450 is a great bike, as long as the valves and cam chain are properly maintained it will run seemingly forever. There is a type of oil filter inside the small removeable circle on the right crankcase cover. I have always called it a slinger-it needs to be removed and the sludge cleaned out of it...Larry

rb550four · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2013, 09:39:11 AM »

Got to the knit picky areas and cleaned them up, strung up the frame and shot some gloss black on it. The wind machine has kicked in and the temp if falling, of course.kicked the furnace on for a couple hours, hopefully that'll do it, might have to give it a few sessions of that so it'll dry properly.
Hit a different finger with the grinder with brush,turns out it was a 2 bandaid job.
pics when dry.

Stev-o · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2013, 04:04:08 AM »

You may want to consider getting a pair of welders gloves?!

rb550four · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2013, 07:29:12 AM »

Welder's gloves? I have a few pairs lying around, didn't think of that.Good idea!
Note to self: Next time wear the welder's gloves, dumass.

Stev-o · « **Reply #10 on:** February 01, 2013, 10:25:03 PM »

Ok, good. What's next? Too cold to paint?

rb550four · « **Reply #11 on:** February 02, 2013, 03:05:56 PM »

Flipped on the furnace on my not insulated yet garage and just let her run. Shot the frame and engine mounts. have had the furnace on and off all yesterday and today, seems to be drying alright but I'll give it a few days extra to cure a bit more. Meanwhile there be some polishing going on while everything is still apart.

rb550four · « **Reply #12 on:** February 04, 2013, 09:29:23 AM »

Not a football fan so, I had some time to reassemble some 450 this weekend.
[

It's nice to be putting it back together again, still waiting for the shop manual to get here.

rb550four · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2013, 12:30:16 PM »

The manual and some parts came in today! It may be too cold to go out and play

, there is tomorrow I suppose .

rb550four · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2013, 07:13:51 PM »

The throttle cables came in today. I have my gasket set, looks like no copper exhaust rings or any kind of case seals.
Took a few hours today getting the rust off ,and buffing out one exhaust pipe. It came out okay but I hoped for better. If I buffed it any longer I'm afraid the chrome would ware off.
I'm pecking at this little machine a couple hours at a time so, It's not coming along quickly , but it is coming along.

Roach Carver · « **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2013, 07:25:41 PM »

Looking good.

rb550four · « **Reply #16 on:** February 10, 2013, 01:36:49 PM »

Polished up the other pipe and muffler, no better than the other one. Polished the forks one night last week, brought the assembled machine to the big door to see what it looked like in daylight, took the forks back off and did a better buffing job, looks better now. Flushed the bottom end a few times with Kero to see what comes out,nothing scary, proceeding forward with assembly. Going through the wires next. Ordered a new chain, the old one was rusted solid, sprockets are like new. Ordered top shock acorn bolts from honda , $5 bucks each,ouch, I could use 20 extra ones....not today. In search of seat and aircleaner side cover for the shifter side.pics soon.

rb550four · « **Reply #17 on:** February 11, 2013, 08:10:51 PM »

Takes forever for that Kero to drain from the pan, it's still dripping out.
Carbs and foam air cleaners are on, new throttle and speedo cables are on,coils and wiring are on but not finished in the bucket yet. Speedo and tach needs some cleaning up, sounds like tomorrow's job along with breaking down the tail light and give it some black paint .
Took the top tree and handlebar mounts down to bare and polished them, I like it , there isn't much shiny stuff on the 450 otherwise.
Threw the tank on and I noticed that it may have spread according to the rubber mounts, could sweeze it back with cargo straps....or pick up a bomber tank , I really like the look ,saw a couple on CL this week... wonder if it'll fit?

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #18 on:** February 11, 2013, 08:19:46 PM »

Quote

Takes forever for that Kero to drain from the pan, it's still dripping out.

Run a couple of pints of cheap oil through the engine to get out the kero.....

rb550four · « **Reply #19 on:** February 11, 2013, 08:44:53 PM »

That's what I was thinking too.
I haven't seen this question asked for a while" what brand of oil would you use?"
Just kidding

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #20 on:** February 11, 2013, 09:33:38 PM »

Quote from: rb550four on February 11, 2013, 08:44:53 PM

That's what I was thinking too.
I haven't seen this question asked for a while" what brand of oil would you use?"
Just kidding

I'm not touching that mate....

rb550four · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2013, 11:01:47 AM »

The progress has been slow , but here's a few pic of where it is now.

I think I like the triple in polish over paint , just seems to add a little extra interest.

Are these the airfilters that everyone else runs? Good thing they get covered. New chain came in yesterday, laid it on the sprokets, just a little play between teeth, ordered front and rear sprocket like I should have done in the first place.

Threw the tank, a 550 seat and sidecover on, makes it look like I didn't do a dam thing.
Don't like the brown much, hate the seat, and have been thinking bomber tank all week, does anyone know if one will just slip right on?

Stev-o · « **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2013, 04:52:42 PM »

It's looking good. No 450 seat?

rb550four · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2013, 05:32:08 PM »

No, the original seat turned to dust, need to get a seat that that is both comfy and good looking.

CafeDawg · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2013, 05:46:33 PM »

rb polished up real nice, looks sharp. Are the airfilters UNI ? The foam keeps out more dirt than the K&N,EMGO paper ones, I'd say run 'em. Try it with and without sidecovers and see if it makes any difference in the way it runs. Keep at it and you'll be back to the Fours in no time.

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Author Topic: polish the 72 450 (Read 6234 times)