Here's for all you cafe addicts. As always, it's easier for me to type my thoughts and progress, then just paste the image tags. I'd like to put a little header on each photo, but it's just not really worth the time as you get the gist either way.
I replaced the starter solenoid with one from the parts store that should be on a riding lawn motor of sorts. Works great and fits almost the same. 12v 200amps.
Made a "test tank" setup with two waterbottles and some o-rings. Haven't leaked yes and I know it's not safe so spare me the lectures. Works great.
Measured the rear-peg mounts to make adjustable rearsets using the peg hole as a "pivot point" for a large triangle bracket that will have a "cam lobe" attached to push against the top-rear of the original peg mount. Adjusting that lobe will raise the front of the new bracket up and down to fit the leg room. Great idea dad.
Set up a battery for testing.
Modded some dirt-bike fork gaiters to fit. Damn they look nice. That one was a little pat on the back for me.
Fiberglassed the cafe mold with one layer, then popped it out and set it over the seat pan. Added two layers of the heavy fiberglass. It will need a layer of bondo for the finish as I'm a little new at the glass, but I think it will layer out ok.
LASTLY THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.....<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="
http://i719.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid719.photobucket.com/albums/ww195/papp101/CB500%20Rebuild/mini-CB500-416.flv">
<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="
http://i719.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid719.photobucket.com/albums/ww195/papp101/CB500%20Rebuild/mini-CB500-417.flv">
The last problem was one created by myself when I first turned the engine over in November. I had stupidly used the points side of the engine with a big wrench to rotate the crankshaft when it was seized, and that ended up BENDING and seizing the spark advancer. For some reason when I reassembled it once, it was in the correct position and the bike ran fine, as you can see in the videos.
I took it apart to lube the advancer and found what I had done to it. I worked it back and forth until it seemed to be moving correctly, but then found that it was indeed slightly bent after reinstalling because it wobbled slightly and the bike wouldn't run. After hours of tinkering I realized that with it being out of round it wasn't making constant increasing pressure on the points, thereby affecting the "dwell" of the points. It would keep one side open too long, and the other side not open long enough. I've bought one off ebay which should be here this week. At least I fixed my fuggup.
