Topic: 74' CB550 barn find Original Boss Maroon

[Shtonecb500]

So I found this bike on CL, not much info on it and the guy wasn't talkative. Since the bike was listed for $550 I figured I would drive out after work with intentions on buying it.
Now I have a friend who told me not to pay over $300 with title after describing everything I was looking at over the phone. I paid $450 for this. The bike has been parked in a barn since 88', it was driven from the east coast, has just over 23k miles on it and once it got to Michigan it was parked. It has aftermarket bars and mufflers, not sure about the headers. Original Boss Maroon paint, this is what really drew me in because I have been jonsin' for a purple CB for some reason. Good compression. The inside of the tank was rusty but it was a consistent layer with no big flaking or chunks, no rot spots, the wires look good as well as everything else. It honestly looks like its been sitting in a barn uncovered on a dirt floor. Even the damage to the tank looks consistent with the repeated building of condensation in a cool barn.
I want to keep this paint, I was going to wet sand with a really high grit to get that rust off, then buff it out see what it looks like and if the color looks good I'm going to clear coat it with its damages instead of repainting. What is the best way to go about this?

Clean and seal the tank, new plugs, new battery, clean the carbs and new carb kits. If this thing starts and runs I'm going to be so damn happy.

[BomberMann650]

Previous owner really put the "high" in highway peg didn't they?

Nice score 

[calj737]

From the picture of the tank, theres not paint left in the purple where the rust has come through. If you sand it, you'll only accomplish exposing bare metal. The stripes are taped, not painted. The black side panels are single stage, so they have no clear on them as it is.

Before you attempt to paint/clear that tank, you'd be well advised to rid the interior of the tank of all rust and verify there are no tiny pinholes behind the badges, along the bottom seams, or around the fill neck from the underside. Once you paint/clear it, a fuel hits a pinhole, the paint/clear just applied will bubble off straight away.

You can purchase a color accurate paint kit from here (http://www.ct70paint.com/boss-maroon-metallic.html) in a rattle can to test your approach. If the color works out, and you decide later to repaint fully, you can purchase a full kit to do the panels and base.

As for technique, if you want to wetland then buff the existing paint, you'll need to re-sand the purple with a lower grit (like 320-400) to get the new paint/clear to bond mechanically. If you've buffed the paint smooth, the new paint layer simply won't stick.

Good luck-

[jc914]

Great find!

[Stev-o]

Nice price and project

[Duanob]

Did you get a title? Does the motor turn over? If not then $300 sounds about right for the parts. If yes on both counts then you got a pretty good deal. Its going to take some elbow grease, lot's of elbow grease but it's a decent fairly complete bike.

get it running first before anything as a starting point, 3000 mile tune up, good carb cleaning and tank cleaning, then get it rideable with new tires, chain, brakes, then onto the cosmetic stuff later. That's my system when I end up with one of these old bikes.

[whitjonw]

Nice score and Boss Maroon Metallic is a beautiful color. Not stock for my '73 CB500 but I bought a BMM tank for it and that is what color it is now 

[Shtonecb500]

Thank you for the advice. Ill take the necessary precautions with the tank. The side covers seem fine so i won't be doing anything to those but would the value of the bike decrease if i repainted the tank?

[Shtonecb500]

I have the title and the motor turns over. The cosmetic stuff will for sure be the last thing on the list, I want to get this thing moving again.

[Gene]

but would the value of the bike decrease if i repainted the tank?

The value of the bike currently stands at $450.00  Repainting the tank, IMO would only add value because of the rust. Nice score.

[BomberMann650]

but would the value of the bike decrease if i repainted the tank?

The value of the bike currently stands at $450.00  Repainting the tank, IMO would only add value because of the rust. Nice score.

Getting to a rideable condition will increase that value 3 or 4 times over.

Though I hear if you "café racer" it, the value will increase tenfold 

[Shtonecb500]

Yeah, if I cafe it then its gonna cost at least 10k

[Smudgemo]

Heh.  Get it to the SF Bay Area and it's suddenly worth $2k as is.  Well, seems like what guys around here expect to get based on CL postings I look at.
Great find and have fun.

[BomberMann650]

Heh.  Get it to the SF Bay Area and it's suddenly worth $2k as is.  Well, seems like what guys around here expect to get based on CL postings I look at.
Great find and have fun.

Don't forget to mention how RARE it is, that add 25% to it's value also!

[Shtonecb500]

I put a new battery and spark plugs in the bike then i took the petcock off and cleaned it. It was plugged pretty badly. The motor sounds like it was to turn over..I still have to pull the carbs, I'm waiting for the kits. Once I realized I wasn't going to get lucky and have a running bike from a battery and plugs I looked at the paint.I sanded it down a few times, 400/800/1000/2000. I only did half the tank...considering what it looked like when I got it it looks great....I think Ill just repaint the tank. I have shots of both sides of the tank, the right side is just sanded and wiped off the other is polished.

[BomberMann650]

That tank looked much better to me.
I don't mind a little patina.  They're only original once.

[Shtonecb500]

Yeah I feel the same way, I don't want to paint over it but we will see what direction i take this thing in.

[Shtonecb500]

Good news! Cleaned the carbs and it started 2nd kick...nice and strong.

video of it running https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu93HyA47UZ1wN3bPTBHKIQ

[Gene]

Sweet!

[whitjonw]

Good for you 


The video seems to be unavailable now. That sucks 

[Shtonecb500]

I put up a new link.

[BomberMann650]

What a nice purring kitty 

[RAFster122s]

Very nice, seems even a turn beeper is working and the electrical is solid enough to operate.

[whitjonw]

I put up a new link.

Thanks.....looking good !

[Shtonecb500]

Update:

Stripped the bike down to motor and frame.
The wiring and connectors are in pretty much perfect condition. The difference between my first tear down ever and second is huge, it was so organized and easy this time around.
Im going to clean and degrease again, pull the wheels front and back and the swing arm, re grease the swing arm, get new tires, new handle bar and grips, new petcock gasket and screen. I need to rebuild the front break, the pads on there have plenty of life on them and I haven't pulled the rear hub yet. There was a loud popping sound coming from the exhaust pipes when the bike ran, does that sound familiar to anyone?

What should I use to polish this motor, steel wool?
 I want to weld a custom rack and maybe use the hard saddle bags that came on my 500 on this 550. I want this to be a utility bike, something I can easily ride to Chicago and back (5 hours of riding).

What do you think I should do with the wheels? I don't have the funds to get everything re-chromed and Since the bike runs well I don't want to put lots of money into this bike. I want to keep total expenses including the cost of the bike at $700. I think it would be cool to have a nice, reliable budget build.