Ratty Cafe - CX500 - Now not so Ratty :)

[thompsonmx100]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Looks good Steve that engine came out great really looks like you soda blasted the whole thing. You should be able to clean up those valve covers sand out the imperfections and polish. Just an idea. I had some on my side covers and I sanded it out and then polished them took some time but well worth it and a lot cheaper than buying parts.
Peace Travis

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Looks good Steve that engine came out great really looks like you soda blasted the whole thing. You should be able to clean up those valve covers sand out the imperfections and polish. Just an idea. I had some on my side covers and I sanded it out and then polished them took some time but well worth it and a lot cheaper than buying parts.
Peace Travis

I'll try polishing the valve covers at some point but for now I'll leave them and ride it some more

Did polish the rear wheel though, not show quality as it has nicks and gouges in it but it looks much better than originally. Also put some more back together and decided to paint it to match my helmet, I know it's normally done the other way but I like the helmet paint scheme

And the bike with the rear wheel polished and a bit more done, the front end gets it's tidy up on the weekend.

Cheers
Steve

 

[CresentSon]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Man those invisible headers are the stuff man, you might have to wrap 'em so the show up a little better. : ;D

 

[SquadraCorse]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Man those invisible headers are the stuff man, you might have to wrap 'em so the show up a little better. : ;D

;D ;D ;D

This is turning out to be a great build. The engine looks fantastic!

 

[NOZ69R]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

She looks great Steve, I had the same probs when deciding whether to polish or paint. I chose paint too & used Septone from Supercr@p, being the lazy ar$e (wife speaking) that apparentley I am...

Cheers

Noz

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

My son soda blasted the front wheel for me today, he's 12 so is keen to help if it includes power tools of some sort ;D

While he did that I started on tidying up the forks, there was a lot of oxidization due to it's life on the coast but some wet and dry got it started and then a heavy polishing mop got the rest off, still needs some work (maybe another hour of detailed polishing) but again not looking for a show finish in fact I want some patina on the forks but want them clean with a mild polish on them. We didn't do much work as it was too hot but next weekend it all goes back together and then for a ride.

You can see the polish isn't consistent yet, that's where the rest of the time will go.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Polished the front wheel and refitted, refitted the exhaust and rear brake peddle, made a longer thicker battery cable and relocated the battery to the tray the airbox sat on (need to secure it tomorrow, I'll weld up a bracket for that), moved the regulator and starter solenoid and the wiring that goes along with it all under the seat where the top of the airbox used to be.

Also ran it again today, starts great, idles great and revs great (with with no load so far). Tomorrow I'll go over all the bolts and make sure I didn't leave anything loose and fit the last few bits and pieces and take her for a ride.

Just another pic showing the polished front wheel this time, I'll get some better pics in the sun tomorrow. Then after a week or two stage 3 begins, painting the tank and seat.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Steve F]

Not so Ratty Cafe - CX500

Stage 2 complete, went for a ride today along the Pacific Hwy (link HERE) and back, the bike was great, loving it. Anyway stage 3 starts shortly which includes completing the paint, making an alloy battery box and a few other bits.

A before reminder

Cheers
Steve

 

[belch_brother]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Great Build!

Do you mind explaining the soda blast setup you have?

 

[panzaa]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Hell of a ride mate!

Can i suggest some holes in the front/rear discs?
It would do a lot for the "race-look".

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Great Build!

Do you mind explaining the soda blast setup you have?

It's pretty basic, just a suction feed sandblasting gun with a hose that I put ion the baking soda, because it just dissolves with water I do it outside and hose away afterwards

Cheers
Steve

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Hell of a ride mate!

Can i suggest some holes in the front/rear discs?
It would do a lot for the "race-look".

Got a set of discs sitting there already Might drill the rear drum cover and mesh the inside for the 'look' as well.

Picked these up and the wheels for $50AUD, just need to get the discs resurfaced when I'm sure they will still be in spec. Also got braided lines on the way.

Cheers
Steve

 

[supercafe]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

steve man,
love this build man, looks great. the engine and exhaust looks awesome, what colors are you going???
what type of shocks are you using???? looks good on it.
any way, great work. these types of bikes are growing on me.
keep us posted.
later.

 

[beater]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

poor man's guzzi. I LOVE IT.

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

steve man,
love this build man, looks great. the engine and exhaust looks awesome, what colors are you going???
what type of shocks are you using???? looks good on it.
any way, great work. these types of bikes are growing on me.
keep us posted.
later.

Painting it black with a silver stripe, hopefully in the next couple of weeks. The shocks are Royal Enfield Electra gas shocks, I got them local to me nice and cheap, they are a little low for my liking but they'll do for now and work just fine.

Cheers
Steve

 

[belch_brother]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

I so have one of those compressed air sandblast guns! I never even thought about using baking soda in it!!!

You seriously just made my day... lol ;D

 

[GoBears0305]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

I so have one of those compressed air sandblast guns! I never even thought about using baking soda in it!!!

You seriously just made my day... lol ;D

Are you saying that it's a air compressor and sand blaster in one unit? If so, I'm really curious to know what make and model it is.

 

[belch_brother]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Its an attachment for your air compressor.... kinda like a spray gun with a big rubber tube hanging off the bottom that just sits in your media...

Never thought it would work with soda though!

Thats similar to the one I have, I think it set me back about 40bux(AUD) at supercheap auto...

Hopefully I understood steve's explanation correctly, either way I'm gunna try this out soon!

 

[Steve F]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Its an attachment for your air compressor.... kinda like a spray gun with a big rubber tube hanging off the bottom that just sits in your media...

Never thought it would work with soda though!

Thats similar to the one I have, I think it set me back about 40bux(AUD) at supercheap auto...

Hopefully I understood steve's explanation correctly, either way I'm gunna try this out soon!

That's the one I've used, it's a bit tricky when it's humid and the soda really needs the lumps crushed out of it as well but I've done two wheels and numerous frame bits and pieces with mine (and probably more bits I've forgotten about)

Cheers
Steve

 

[belch_brother]

Re: Ratty Cafe - CX500

Any ideas on what the different nozzles do?? Did u find that a particular one worked better with soda?