1973 CB450. First Project

[fordop87]

still only getting 120psi on the right and 110psi on the left cylinder. Better do a valve adjustment and see what happens...

 

[fordop87]

Got the carbs rebuilt and back on the bike. Still only running on the left cylinder. I've checked the valves and ignition timing. I kinda wonder if i'm getting good spark to the right side or not. How do I check to see if i'm getting enough spark?

 

[fordop87]

Figured it out! Bad spark plugs. The plug on the left was barely sparking and the one on the right wasn't at all. I switched the plug from the left to the right to check spark to make sure the right coil was good and it was. Off to get spark plugs!

 

[fordop87]

IT'S ALIVE! ;D. but still not running quite right. took it for a quick drive and it doesn't feel like it has full power. especially when i give it full throttle. I looked at the spark plugs and they were black. Running too rich. Going to change the main jet and see how it goes.

 

[CB Josh]

CONGRATS! and good luck with the jet swap, hope it fixes it.

 

[fordop87]

When i had rebuilt the carbs, i put the #130 main jets in because that's what's stock. I didn't figure it would work great here cuz i'm at 3600ft altitude. When i bought it, there were #115 main jets. I put those back in. I think it was running so rich from the foam air filters that are in place of the paper.

I did another compression test with the engine warm and still got 110psi out of 185psi. looks like I'm in for a rebuild... Damn. So I figured if I'm doing a rebuild I'll go ahead and put performance pistons in.

 

[d9canada]

No, no and NO! Run the beast a while, not idling but run it on the road. You'd be surprised how the compression comes in after it's sat a while and then gets run again. Don't give up so easily. Just make sure your oil is up, valve lash is set and don't beat the crap out it.

Brian

4X CB900C
CB750K3
2X CB550K
CB350F
883 Sportster

 

[fordop87]

I was just reluctant to ride it to much if the rings are bad and who knows what else.

 

[fordop87]

Took my seat pan to an upholster this afternoon. Gonna do the top of it where you sit in off white and the sides black. He's gonna do it for $125.

 

[fordop87]

I'm no longer a dirt driveway mechanic! A friend of my family who used to go hunting on our property has a shop that he is going to let me work on my bike in. I'm pretty lucky to have good friends.

So I decided to work on the front shocks. They didn't have a good feel to them and they were squeaky.
I removed the bottom case off of both sides and the left piston just fell out. Some water drained out of the
left side and some nice brown sludge out of the right.

 

[fordop87]

How is the top part of the cylinder connected to the bottom part? It looks like it was pressed or welded on. On the one that was still intact I can't even see a seam or weld. And also, from looking at the diagrams, there is supposed to be a "rebound stopper spring" inside of the cylinder. I there wasn't one in the left side when it fell off, and it doesn't feel like there is one in the right side. I have zero experience rebuilding forks so any info anyone has would be greatly appreciated.

 

[fordop87]

While taking the fork tubes off, I noticed that the fork top bridge was broken. Does anyone have one for sell?

 

[fordop87]

Won a pair of mufflers from Harley Super Glide for only $17 plus shipping. Hoping they will fit, look, and sound good. Also picked up a couple of K&N pods for $8 plus shipping. Pretty good deals.

 

[Dingo]

It's been ages since I've heard someone mention Las Cruces, I spent a good part of my childhood living at the NMSU housing/campus complex.

Nice looking bike btw.

 

[fordop87]

Yeah. I graduated in Spring of 2010 from NMSU. Fun School!

 

[fordop87]

I fixed the damper cylinder by brazing it back together. I believe it will hold up.

 

[fordop87]

I got some good practice at the buffing wheel on these lower shock casings.
I started out with 400 grit sandpaper to get the big scratches out.
You can see on the bottom one where I first started to polish.

 

[fordop87]

Here is after a couple of rounds of with the sisal wheel and emery...

 

[fordop87]

And then after the white rouge and the polishing wheel. I was pretty happy for my first attempt at polishing.

 

[fordop87]

And here they are fully assembled and with new gators (from DCC). I wish the picture really showed how much they shine.