Author Topic: 78' CX500 Cafe Project  (Read 56170 times)

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Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #75 on: November 15, 2009, 04:19:10 PM »
I found some pegs the other day , need a dang shifter arm though or might have to modify mine  :o
I thought about the candy but I think I am just gonna go black . You can't beat a classic.

Offline Industrial Cafe

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #76 on: November 15, 2009, 05:13:54 PM »
your rear tire has a cool interlocking peanut pattern, are they dunlop elite?
what size are they?
everything I say is pure speculation and
I have no idea what I'm talking about  ._.


                                    Marla              .:71CB750:.CAFE

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #77 on: November 15, 2009, 05:25:53 PM »
IC , they are Dunlops . I am not sure the make , check in the daylight. I think it's a 110 /17 in the back ,have to look though . Got 'em with the bike .

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #78 on: November 26, 2009, 09:26:07 PM »
Well, I got a new room mate ;D

Got her off the trailer and into the warm ! Made a little progress . So far I have installed the seat pan dremeled the recessed tail light (actually found a tail light and installed it operationally after popping a few fuses along the way) I had a seperate thread about the tail light and I ended up finding one that fit my needs without modification at O'reily's Auto Parts. Last place I looked, and for 7 bux! Not led but still good as stock and I could always replace with one of those LED bulbs that fit the socket.

I decided to scrap the side covers as they didn't appeal to me and might go with some aluminum inserts though as I work at a sign shop and have  tonz available .  Next I got a leaky bleeder screw to didle with for the front brakes and remmove- the forks to replace the seals . Then paint this weekend ,singe stage  lacquer with a 2k clear shot over for gas spills and the extra durabuility as well as the high gloss retention.   





Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #79 on: November 26, 2009, 09:29:52 PM »
We like to watch TV together too.

Offline Zaipai

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #80 on: November 27, 2009, 10:17:25 AM »
We like to watch TV together too.
Yea that is pretty much every guys place.. Until the women comes in and makes us remove it. Really they just don't understand. Good work on that so far..
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Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #81 on: November 27, 2009, 01:21:48 PM »
Thanks, so far I made some more progress today, acid washed the tank two more times and it is totally clean now! after rinsing dumped in some mystery oil to prevent the flash rusting and somehow the valve the WAS taped shut leaked a quart of mystery oil all over my back porch  :-\. But hey , it's coated now and I don't have to worry about my back porch rusting either!

Trying to find some replacement battery cables but all I seem to be finding is 4 guage which seems to thick....
hoping to get it totally primed today and shoot it tomorrow or the day after.  I gotta get some pods for the engine and build some type of seat next. 

Offline Zaipai

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #82 on: November 27, 2009, 02:00:18 PM »
I like the idea of the aluminum inserts.. can't wait to see what you come up with there. Sounds like the paint is going to be very shinny! Pics as soon as you can..
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Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #83 on: November 27, 2009, 02:59:33 PM »
I think I just totaled my petcock valve with acid... Apparantley rust was holding it together :) Well , now I gotta find me another one ...

Offline Industrial Cafe

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #84 on: November 27, 2009, 03:46:07 PM »
FUUH...
everything I say is pure speculation and
I have no idea what I'm talking about  ._.


                                    Marla              .:71CB750:.CAFE

Offline Zaipai

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #85 on: November 27, 2009, 07:01:42 PM »
Well that bites.
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Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #86 on: November 27, 2009, 07:55:06 PM »
totally bummed me out  :-\ :'(

ah well , off to the chopper charles forum to see if I can't find another.  Who woulda guessed petcocks are so expensive...
It's ridiculous,it's just a flippin open shut valve. 

Lookin' on the bright side, I got my tank primed and lookin good!  there is just like one spot  very small over the spot putty I gotta build up a hair with the primer filler.Tomorrow gonna shoot my rims, tank and seatpan , will post a vid on you tube as this is my first attempt at painting with a spray gun . I got a whole trailer needs painting to practice on first though.


Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #87 on: November 29, 2009, 02:48:45 PM »
Started painting today and it was coming along rather nice .....

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #88 on: November 29, 2009, 02:49:32 PM »
then disaster struck!

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #89 on: November 29, 2009, 02:52:54 PM »
I knocked it of the stand , and could have flipped out. Now I am totally bummed, this sux. I dented the tank in a spot that is gonna be difficult to conceal with spot putty. Thinking about getting another tank but I dunno . Will try to do the best I can and see how it turns out. THIS BLOWS~

Offline Industrial Cafe

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #90 on: November 29, 2009, 03:05:33 PM »
son  of  a  #$%*.
everything I say is pure speculation and
I have no idea what I'm talking about  ._.


                                    Marla              .:71CB750:.CAFE

Offline Zaipai

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #91 on: November 29, 2009, 08:47:36 PM »
I knocked it of the stand , and could have flipped out. Now I am totally bummed, this sux. I dented the tank in a spot that is gonna be difficult to conceal with spot putty. Thinking about getting another tank but I dunno . Will try to do the best I can and see how it turns out. THIS BLOWS~

Don't freak out just do what you can. If you can get another tank great, if not then your current tank will have character and lesson learned.. right?
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Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #92 on: November 29, 2009, 08:55:47 PM »
Yeah, already stripped it back down , thanks for the words of encouragement. I am gonna see what I can do with the putty , worst case scenario I have to get creative with some vinyl stripes. I work at a sign shop so it's not much a problem . It just one of those moments where you are just speechlessly shocked..... :o

the seat pan and gauges came out really well though, the rest is just paying my dues I guess. I guarantee that won't happen twice.  ;D

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #93 on: November 29, 2009, 09:03:58 PM »
Don't use spot putty to repair a dent, use bondo. Spot putty is meant to be used for tiny blemishes and will shrink and crack causing more headaches.....just saying.

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Offline Zaipai

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #94 on: November 29, 2009, 09:09:02 PM »
Yup and in either case don't wet sand or get the putty/bondo wet. I have to remind my self of that a lot. For what you have done so far I have no doubt that it will be killer when you are done. Keep up the good work.
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Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #95 on: November 29, 2009, 09:15:47 PM »
I am actually proud of myself for handling it so well.

it flashed in my mind only briefly to totally rage on that tank , and take my frustrations out on it.  I am totally all for raging on inanimate objects in place of things that can actually feel pain but really it is an exercise in humbleness and patients. A reoccurring lesson God keeps challenging me with . Why because he loves me . But that dude Topol  in Fiddler on the roof said it best , " I know , it's because you love me , but sometimes could you love me a little less. "


Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #96 on: November 29, 2009, 09:24:23 PM »
It's not a dent but a tiny ding. I was using bondo but that stuff is impossible to feather out and make seamless .It like granulates out or something even when using like progressively higher grit paper.  I thought about using the bondo then coming back after and using the putty for the smooth the transition areas  between the filler and tank out ,is that how it is done ? . Thanks for the input fellas

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #97 on: November 29, 2009, 09:30:22 PM »
Just use lighter grade paper on the bondo, make sure it has plenty of time to go as hard as possible and apply it as smooth as possible to make it easier to sand. I have stopped using spot putty all together as it has a habit of cracking or shrinking, if you must use it make sure that it is a very fine smear..

Mick
750 K2 1000cc
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750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #98 on: November 29, 2009, 09:31:15 PM »

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #99 on: November 29, 2009, 09:35:12 PM »
by lighter you mean finer(higher grit) or coarser (lower grit)

I see pictures like this and I am amazed. I would love to see how a pro does it , like what technic he uses.