1972 CB500 noob build.

[RENO.HOOLIGAN]

Been looking for a bike for about a month now and everything locally was really pricy, so started looking in Cali and I found this in the Sacramento craigslist it was only about an hour and half in Auburn CA.

After a 3 hour round trip I picked it up for $400 bucks and it was missing a few items.
-title
-Tach with cable
-Key
-chain and gaurd
-battery
-feed line for the gas tank to the motor

Started tearing it apart.

I'm looking to just repaint the frame, wheels, and tank. New seat of course, handle bars, new exhaust, air filters, and all the general maintenance for sure. I want to keep the budget as low as possible, I wanted to powder coat the frame wheels an all that but that gets too costly. So paint should work fine for now.

If anyone shed some light on websites I can order carb kits and other parts as far as maintenance it would be greatly appreciated
I am also looking for a manual, does anyone recommend any certain one? I found a few different ones like the haynes but thought I would as before I order one. Also found the PDF version on here and it is very helpful but I sort of want something on hand in the garage.

 

[Reinhard]

cool bike. I have two of them.You can try and find shop manuals on amazon. Carb kits readily available on ebay. If you plan on any mods, i.e pipes or pods, I would suggest a company on ebay called 6 sigma racing. They will put together a carb rebuild kit specked for your bike, mods, and altitude. I use their kits exclusively with great results

 

[RENO.HOOLIGAN]

cool bike. I have two of them.You can try and find shop manuals on amazon. Carb kits readily available on ebay. If you plan on any mods, i.e pipes or pods, I would suggest a company on ebay called 6 sigma racing. They will put together a carb rebuild kit specked for your bike, mods, and altitude. I use their kits exclusively with great results

Thanks man, I am most likely just going to do exhaust since the pipes are super rusted and some pod filters.. So I think I'll wait to order a carb kit...

I've been looking for a replacement wire harness, or complete fuse panel? Is that available anywhere?

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

PartsNmore has things, and Z1 enterprises has some too, not as much for non-kawasaki brands, but might have something you want. I think there's a list on the forum somewhere of cool places to get things too. Try to search for that.

 

[RENO.HOOLIGAN]

PartsNmore has things, and Z1 enterprises has some too, not as much for non-kawasaki brands, but might have something you want. I think there's a list on the forum somewhere of cool places to get things too. Try to search for that.

Thanks Bruno, I have been looking through the site a lot just because I didn't want to make just one post on where to buy stuff.. I guess I missed it. Ebay seems to have a ton of stuff.

Got her slimmed down some more.

Hopefully have it sand blasted some time next week.

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Not a problem. I couldn't find it right away myself when I first started here. I'll see if I can dig it up. In the mean time, great job slimming her down! Trimming fat is fun eh?

 

[RENO.HOOLIGAN]

Finally had some free time to tear it down some more... so I pulled the motor.

Had some more time tonight and I pulled the front and rear wheels off, hopefully have her sandblasted in about a week or so.

Ordered a gasket set last week so hopefully put in all new gaskets this weekend.

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

Ah, the beginning of the end! haha keep those updates coming!

 

[bluestraw]

NENO, need your updates.... I've a couple of 72's and will be tearing into them.

 

[MotorbikeBruno]

And I just picked up a 71' cb500 4....get back to it so I can see what this lump I bought can be!

 

[surffly]

Did you get it running 100% before you took everything apart?
Dont bother with "aftermarket" manuals. The OEM factory manual is much better and is around here for download
I only ever use OEM carb parts and seals. All are available from your local dealer or online dealers
The aftermarket kits often have the wrong brass and poorly made rubber that dose not work with modern fuels well.