barfass
Never ask permission - Beg for forgiveness!
Well, this is a very exciting day for me! I have been reading threads on this board for years and became a member once I brought home my latest project! 1973 Honda CB500K2 (Four). Strangest thing is, I picked this bike up literally 5 minutes from my house. I was so used to traveling a great distance to find a decent project, so I am already ahead before I even start. My last project was a 1972 Kawasaki H1 500, and although I am a 2-stroker fan I wanted to get into the Honda CB line for my next project.
This bike is a "Flashback" to the 70's and is a period correct "Cafe Racer". Clubman handlebars, Rickman "Centura" fairing, rear-sets with passenger foot pegs, Jardine (I believe - correct me if I am wrong) 4-into-1 exhaust, straight seat, etc. It's cafe'd out just enough but is still bone-stock everywhere else.
It was missing the spark advance cam, as well as the points plate and nut and bolt to hold it all together. The carburetors I thought were just dirty but upon further inspection 3 out of the 4 carburetors float posts were either bent, or broke off and repaired at some point with JB-weld and had broke again. They were useless..... boo! So started a hunt for a new set of carbs and points plate, etc.
After posting an ad on Kijiji.ca for some parts I had a guy message me that he had a complete 1974 CB550. He said it ran about 3 years ago so I went and had a look. Very dirty from sitting in the barn for a couple of years but since it would have cost me almost $250 or more for the parts I needed and I could get this one for $300... I picked it up. Sure glad I did!
First order of business was getting the parts off of it that I needed. Carbs and points plate, spark advance, etc. All parts were in great shape (points), carbs were dirty. I run my own Ultrasonic cleaning business so this was no issue. Quick tear-down of the carbs, 30 minutes in the Ultrasonic bath and they were like new again. (www.canadianultrasonics.com). Just need to be reassembled now!
I then started at tearing the bike down itself. The engine seems fine but will know more once I get the covers off and inspect inside. One spark plug had a little rust on it when pulled, prompting a not-so-nice expression on my face. Here's hoping it is just on the plug. I don't plan on taking this bike to the extreme as it is just too nice the way it is. Removed the rear fender and all the junk in the trunk, seat, tank and fairing. The chrome is cleaning up nicely (Aluminum foil dipped in water... miracle stuff!). I will be painting the engine cases, and possibly the barrels and head. Everything else will be polished up on a friends polisher. Paint frame, switches, triple trees, and possibly the front forks. Clean everything up and slap it back together.
This is the starting of this so I have included some before shots of the bike. I will get some more tonight and post them as to my progress, etc. Any help on the switch over from the CB550 points plate and spark advance would be appreciated. I am going to run pods on the carbs and with the 4-into-one I think the jets for the 550 should work good.. again... correct me if I am wrong. I am sure someone has been down this road before.
The other bike in the picture is a 1980 Honda XL250S that I am doing as a "F-it project", not too many people with a bobbed out XL250... so that was why! (please keep chuckles to a minimum!)
Till next time....
This bike is a "Flashback" to the 70's and is a period correct "Cafe Racer". Clubman handlebars, Rickman "Centura" fairing, rear-sets with passenger foot pegs, Jardine (I believe - correct me if I am wrong) 4-into-1 exhaust, straight seat, etc. It's cafe'd out just enough but is still bone-stock everywhere else.
It was missing the spark advance cam, as well as the points plate and nut and bolt to hold it all together. The carburetors I thought were just dirty but upon further inspection 3 out of the 4 carburetors float posts were either bent, or broke off and repaired at some point with JB-weld and had broke again. They were useless..... boo! So started a hunt for a new set of carbs and points plate, etc.
After posting an ad on Kijiji.ca for some parts I had a guy message me that he had a complete 1974 CB550. He said it ran about 3 years ago so I went and had a look. Very dirty from sitting in the barn for a couple of years but since it would have cost me almost $250 or more for the parts I needed and I could get this one for $300... I picked it up. Sure glad I did!
First order of business was getting the parts off of it that I needed. Carbs and points plate, spark advance, etc. All parts were in great shape (points), carbs were dirty. I run my own Ultrasonic cleaning business so this was no issue. Quick tear-down of the carbs, 30 minutes in the Ultrasonic bath and they were like new again. (www.canadianultrasonics.com). Just need to be reassembled now!
I then started at tearing the bike down itself. The engine seems fine but will know more once I get the covers off and inspect inside. One spark plug had a little rust on it when pulled, prompting a not-so-nice expression on my face. Here's hoping it is just on the plug. I don't plan on taking this bike to the extreme as it is just too nice the way it is. Removed the rear fender and all the junk in the trunk, seat, tank and fairing. The chrome is cleaning up nicely (Aluminum foil dipped in water... miracle stuff!). I will be painting the engine cases, and possibly the barrels and head. Everything else will be polished up on a friends polisher. Paint frame, switches, triple trees, and possibly the front forks. Clean everything up and slap it back together.
This is the starting of this so I have included some before shots of the bike. I will get some more tonight and post them as to my progress, etc. Any help on the switch over from the CB550 points plate and spark advance would be appreciated. I am going to run pods on the carbs and with the 4-into-one I think the jets for the 550 should work good.. again... correct me if I am wrong. I am sure someone has been down this road before.
The other bike in the picture is a 1980 Honda XL250S that I am doing as a "F-it project", not too many people with a bobbed out XL250... so that was why! (please keep chuckles to a minimum!)
Till next time....
