Author Topic: CB550 Cafe Project (Possible Hard Sell) (Read 20200 times)

davidtime · « **Reply #50 on:** June 05, 2013, 04:44:13 PM »

Finally decided to pull the clutch cover off to polish. What a pain. Nothing else on the engine that I am polishing. Now I just need to go to town with the dremel grab some metal polish for protection and its all done.

Still Waiting for gaskets, bolts, carb float gaskets and a tappet cover. Z1 enterprises has some great prices. I hope that everything is good quality.

Oh yeah and here's the pics

davidtime · « **Reply #51 on:** June 07, 2013, 08:31:33 AM »

Well I threw all of my freshly polished covers back on the motor to protect it from any water while I degrease the motor for paint. Once I sprayed the industrial strength degreaser on the motor the aluminum had a nasty reaction, immediate oxidation. Back the the bench for those.

Degreaser used:

Fast 505

Parts involved:

Tappet cover
head side covers
breather cover
clutch cover
stator cover
alternator cover
sprocket cover

Lesson learned

Clean engine before starting polish and protect polished parts right after they are polished.

CBcafeJunkie · « **Reply #52 on:** June 07, 2013, 09:03:57 AM »

Live the detail your putting into your posts man, and your parts are looking awesome! Have you ever considered soda blasting the engine? If you have an air compressor you can pick up a gun and a bag of soda preatty cheap from harbor freight, also would rather do that than sand my parts before polishing them

davidtime · « **Reply #53 on:** June 07, 2013, 09:16:19 AM »

Thanks. I'm not very knowledgeable on these things but learning as I go so hopefully I can help someone avoid problems I run into.

I wish I could blast my parts but I only have a a 3.5 gallon pancake compressor at the moment. I am pretty sure I am going to do a 750 next and if I do I am investing in a compressor, blaster and an engine stand.

I also figured out that most of the parts were polished before so there was no coating over the aluminum so I didn't have the sand most of them, only in a couple spots.

davidtime · « **Reply #54 on:** June 07, 2013, 09:30:01 AM »

Yesterday I got my engine gaskets and the one tappet cover I needed and the bolts and carb bowl gaskets are coming today. I have to run pick up a bowl screw from somewhere and then I can throw the carbs back together. Grab a torque wrench from auto zone and replace the gaskets and hopefully tomorrow I will be able to paint and post pictures.

davidtime · « **Reply #55 on:** June 09, 2013, 12:28:54 PM »

So today I decided to spray a tiny area on the engine to see if the paint matched the color that was on it and the paint reacted like I put stripper on it.

Am I going to have to strip all of the paint off the engine? I am assuming that the paint on there now is not enamel. I am using VHT.

davidtime · « **Reply #56 on:** June 17, 2013, 05:49:29 PM »

Bad Picture of my motor. I am already having a couple of issues with the paint on the oil pan, have to redo it.

davidtime · « **Reply #57 on:** June 17, 2013, 05:53:51 PM »

The tank and seat. This is the way they are going to sit now I just have to figure out how to mount the seat. I don't weld so at the moment I am doing it with wood and then hopefully I can get a steel mount.

Had to start cutting tabs on the freshly painted frame. Originally I didn't think the tabs needed to go but that was before the 500t tank.

stuartni · « **Reply #58 on:** June 18, 2013, 07:28:00 AM »

very very nice so far any idea for tank and seat pod colour yet

davidtime · « **Reply #59 on:** June 18, 2013, 09:02:20 AM »

Quote from: stuartni on June 18, 2013, 07:28:00 AM

very very nice so far any idea for tank and seat pod colour yet

Thanks Stuartni

I was messing around with the color that is on the tank in the picture. I believe I am going to stick with that color, of course it will look a lot better. I sprayed some just to see how the engine enamel would look with a clear over it didn't even prep or primer it first. I would love to have a paint scheme like yours but in this blue and cast iron color but I may just go for a blue racing stripe down the center and blue winged emblems on the side of the tank.

davidtime · « **Reply #60 on:** June 20, 2013, 03:24:01 PM »

Decided to paint some bits and pieces in between making some props for the customers. ahhh I love my job.

Also ran across these two pictures. In a roundabout way it's similar to the look I'm going for between the two theres everything I want . Anyone got some mags they want to give me?

davidtime · « **Reply #61 on:** July 04, 2013, 04:34:05 PM »

Still working on it. This week I am actually painting the wheels because I want a roller so I can move forward and give me some more motivation. I haven't put it together because I am not really a fan of painted spoke wheels but it will have to do until I have more funds.

For the last 2 days I have been prepping them with a little piece of sandpaper, hands didn't like that. Today I ran across this and it sure did help.

I painted the tank after filling in the sides and fixing the leaks and a couple of dents. Here is a picture of that. I think I am going to go over it with a wetter coat before I clear it.

Engine is waiting to be put in and the seat will be painted tomorrow if the humidity goes away long enough.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #62 on:** July 04, 2013, 05:44:12 PM »

Graphite gray tank looks nice. Black panel like Stuart's with frame's blue color pinstripe outline would look nice I think.

davidtime · « **Reply #63 on:** July 04, 2013, 05:48:26 PM »

Quote from: RAFster122S on July 04, 2013, 05:44:12 PM

Graphite gray tank looks nice. Black panel like Stuart's with frame's blue color pinstripe outline would look nice I think.

Thanks. That's what I would really like to do or something similar. I wanted to do some blue and graphite instead of black and graphite. Either way something will be done before I clear coat it.

davidtime · « **Reply #64 on:** July 16, 2013, 06:17:48 PM »

Soaking all of my center stand hardware in vinegar along with the top portion of my fork tubes and the back shock springs. Boy does vinegar work great for cleaning rusty springs.

Painted my engine mounts.

Purchased the last of the paint for the bike. Tank needs another coat of cast iron (I painted before the Caswell liner, bad choice) and then I need some fine line tape to lay down the blue.

Hopefully joining the motor and frame tomorrow.

Kids are coming from Oregon in 2 days so there may be a little pause in work (2 years since they were out) but hopefully my 12 year old son will like to work on it with me while he's here. Either way kids are first while they are here.

davidtime · « **Reply #65 on:** July 17, 2013, 03:12:06 PM »

Since my frame already had to get roughed up after the paint job, I decided that I should go ahead and finish it off. Cut off the seat hinge and the seat lock. Too humid to do the paint, so once again I'm waiting on the weather to move forward.

Also realized that the frame is chipping way to easy so I think I am going to change what I got going on with it. Any DIY suggestions without having to strip it?

davidtime · « **Reply #66 on:** July 30, 2013, 09:15:27 AM »

I got all the motor mount bolts and brackets cleaned up/derusted and put a couple coats of aluminum engine paint on them.

Shocks cleaned up until I can get some new ones. I think these are going to be too short but I will see. I just need to figure out how to compress the spring to put them back together without the tool. Any suggestions?

Waiting on the new neck bearings to arrive so I can put the front end back together. I forgot to order these.

Got some really decent headlight ears in for now. Not sure if I am going to keep those but I will decide after its together.

I ordered a Hayabusa upper triple to see if I can fabricate it to fit. The only reason I want to try this is because I like the position the bars will be in, they mount directly to it, clip on style. It was only 11.00 bucks so no loss if it doesn't.

davidtime · « **Reply #67 on:** July 31, 2013, 03:51:25 PM »

Finally started putting this thing back together. In the process of putting the engine in I got a few nicks on the frame (too many) so I guess I will have some touch-ups. It's dusty still but you get the idea.

Motor isn't mounted I have to clean up the hardware.

rb550four · « **Reply #68 on:** July 31, 2013, 07:34:40 PM »

okay ,I could be a little confused, the frame is now newly painted, now you want to cut off the tabs and the seat latch because the paint is scratched. Am I with the program so far?
So the new paint is weak , chipping and easily scratched right ? So you need to paint it over? but you don't want to strip it down because it's a drag? Am I still with you?
If I am, I have to ask why that engine is in the cradle of the frame that you secretly know that you will have to strip and repaint?
The weak paint will continue to be just that ,even if you spray the perfect coat of a better paint over it, it will still be weak, that weak paint (the weakest link) will haunt you until you take care of it.
Agreed , the color is fantastic.Q: is that a single stage paint? Q2: Did you use a hardener? Clear coated? That needs a hardener too? Did you use a medium evap. thinner or something else? Did you use an air dryer and inline filter? What type of gun laquer, enamel,of general purpose? Was is a hot,humid day when painting? Did you wheel it out in the sun to fully dry? did you reshoot light coats keeping a wet line or do separate coats after losing wet line(possibly drying only the top and resealing with another coat leaving the first coat unable to fully dry) I know ,lots of questions, wanting to get to the reason for this paint failure so when you do it over,it won't happen to you again.
It's certainly is a drag to re-strip the frame, but if you don't ,the likelihood of a successful paint job will be slim to none, and nobody wants to do the same frame 3 times.
Otherwise your project is coming out nicely, like the 500T tank,adds depth to your build ,the color cast iron is unusual and I like it.The engine clean up and paint looks great from here ,and who doesn't like polished aluminum?
I usually use degreaser and spray it off at the car wash then clean the motor up with turpentine/paint thinner to get the crud and degreaser chemical residues( that could mess up your finish paint) off it before anything else happens,that way it doesn't get transferred to everything else that is touched .
I've done a red frame and a drk. metaflake green frame before , never did a blue one, in fact I have no blue in the stable, my next 550 build just around the bend and blue is looking good to me . Thanks.

davidtime · « **Reply #69 on:** July 31, 2013, 08:04:14 PM »

I think I am just abusing the paint on the frame too much, I just wish everything was not so jagged. I only ended up cutting the seat hinge and lock off and I did redo those areas. I don't have the equipment to do a 2 stage paint job. I used acrylic enamel thinking it would durable enough to use. I think I am over exaggerating a little on the paint though, its like getting a new car and the same day scratching it. One thing to note though is the chips don't go through the primer. I used heat lamps to cure the motor and that held up good.

I didn't figure out mounting on the tank and seat before paint. I love the 500t tank and its really easy to fit to the bike and goes good with my seat. The base paint is done on the tank, seat, and HL bucket. Still need to do the stripes and clear. I will probably throw some pics of those up tomorrow.

rb550four · « **Reply #70 on:** August 01, 2013, 02:48:26 PM »

Good! I am relieved to hear that the paint is in better condition then I imagined, it's a drag doing stuff twice.
I've used that acrylic enamel before and wasn't pleased with the shine, after a few weeks it is totally hard and the shine seems to fade away fast. Aged .
Any way, good to hear that things aren't that bad. I like this project and will check it regularly.

davidtime · « **Reply #71 on:** August 01, 2013, 03:02:56 PM »

Glad you are liking it. If you have any ideas on a paint scheme let me know. I am no artist but I really need to do some blue work on the tank and seat.

I think I might need to sell this thing so I'm not getting too attached or trying not to anyway, kind of hard.

rb550four · « **Reply #72 on:** August 01, 2013, 03:47:31 PM »

Sell?

OH NOOOOO. These machines are very hard to part with ( at least for me) , all the work, the care that goes into derusting, polishing parts, choosing the paint, always in the back of your mind.
Many have sold them thinking that they'll get another one sometime. It's hard , sometimes,

the sometime is this time, We have to be at peace with the idea of letting it go before we let them go. I haven't gotten to that point yet and still not sure if I can get there.
If you enjoy yours like I enjoy mine, I hope that you'll be able to keep it until you are comfortable with letting it go.

davidtime · « **Reply #73 on:** August 01, 2013, 03:56:23 PM »

We'll see I just have some financial issues right now with my ex-wife. The good thing though is our busy season is right around the corner and if I can swing the costs there will be no worries.

I used to restore furniture so my excuse for the bike is that it is an investment and I'm allotting my time and profits to it as a possible business venture as far as my wife is concerned, but she knows the truth.

rb550four · « **Reply #74 on:** August 02, 2013, 01:05:30 PM »

I suspect that most of our wives know the truth , I also suspect that they are giving us enough line so we can hang ourselves, or at least are saving it as ammunition. Gotta love 'em.

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Author Topic: CB550 Cafe Project (Possible Hard Sell) (Read 20200 times)