Topic: cb500 cafe project (kind of my first build)

[ryanbfast]

so I began building a cb350 cafe bike, and some how got talked into building this for a friend. 

The bike is a 1973 cb500. It was purchased with a cb550 parts bike.

as you can see the bike(s) was in pretty crapy condition. ( you can purchase many of these crapy parts here http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=98232.0

and i have more pics located here. http://ryanbfast.blogspot.com/p/cb500.html






both engines were pretty nasty




engine completely torn down and cases media blasted and painted



new pistons and rings. cylinder done .25mm over stock


also new cam chain and tensioner... everything sealed up


carbs were crapy


now not as crappy




frame stripped/blasted/welded/ground/ and painted with por-15 hardnose paint





forks rebuilt and painted


speedo rebuilt


seats from air-tech http://www.airtech-streamlining.com/



lots of sanding and stuff. then paint






wheels rebuilt with new stainless spokes and rims (wish i had a close up pic of the easy rider chopper wheel it had on the back.. nasty)


chrome some stuff



put it together


clip ons also from air-tech


engine ready to go in


engine in





no i got to figure out how to make this thing run

[BeSeeingYou]

How did you like the Hard Nose paint?  Spray or did you brush it on?  Been thinking about that for a frame.  Nice color on the tank.  Tungsten Gray?

[ryanbfast]

the hard nose paint is awesome and seams to be pretty tuff. i also did another frame with it in white.
i brushed it on and it flows out pretty smoothly on its own. if you do decide to use it make sure you thoroughly stir the crap at the bottom of the can. also check with a few local automotive paint shop if they can get it from their local distributer it will end up saving you a few bucks on the can plus you wont have to pay shipping. its good alternative to powder coating if your on a budget.

the tank color is just some random chrystler color i picked out of a book at the paint shop.. i think its called chrystler mat. grey

[BeSeeingYou]

I am definitely going with paint as I can do it in my basement.  The other paint I was considering was Interlux Perfection, a two part linear polyurethane that you can brush on.  Having used it on boats the only downside is that it gels fast so you can't be brushing it back and forth or go back to a spot you missed.  You need to plan out the sequence of painting and keep moving with the wet edge.  Super hard with a high gloss.  Did the Hard Nose gel up quick or were you able to brush it around more like an enamel?

[ryanbfast]

the hard nose is also a 2 part paint it comes with an activator, it calls for two medium coats i believe... and yes its more like and enamel, you have plenty of time to smooth out any areas that might have run in the paint. id say you got about 30-45 min to fix any error in each of the coat that you apply. it dries to handle over night and fully cured in 3 days  (its moisture cured so the air actually makes it harder) i will definitely continue using it until i can figure out how to build a bigger oven to powder coat frames. i have been powder coating small parts and wheels