CB450 bitsa, mild custom, cafe, bobber, cut down project.

[drgonzo]

A few pics. I am trying to build this bike using as many parts, pieces, tires, etc that I have laying around as possible.
As I found it.

A few mock ups and mods. Humble beginnings.

 

[drgonzo]

Bike is now running and starting with the electric start, neither of which was functional when I got it. The original wiring harness was butchered with no switch and quite a few dangling wires. I scrapped it and have built my own simpler harness that uses a keyed automotive type switch with a momentary starter switch(that I mounted in the right side cover, Brit style). I have yet to wire in the charging system but so far, so good.
I have pulled the rotor off 3 times so far to attend to the starter clutch as the plungers were stuck in their holes and one re-stuck after cleaning, polishing and reassembly. I figure one more stuck plunger and I will have to spring for new rebuild parts....sigh.

 

[Flugtechnik]

Interesting headlight mount.

I'm subscribed.

 

[frogman]

Interesting headlight mount.

Yeah it is, I'd be making sure those clamps stay tight as the bottom fork clamp does all the weight holding pretty much. If they slip that top clamp just might snap instead of holding them.

 

[drgonzo]

I'd be making sure those clamps stay tight

I have considered flattening those ends somewhat in their final version and getting slightly longer bolts, maybe locktite them to. Very good point.

 

[drgonzo]

Uh oh, trouble in paradise. The engine is running only on one cylinder and compression is way down on the offending cylinder. I will investigate further tonight.

 

[Scruffy]

Hope you kept those early 70s K&N/Flanders type chopper bars from the first pic... they make pretty decent trading stock if nothing else.

That type of headlight mount was really common in the 70s. They work fine, you just need a couple larger outside diameter washers and a dab per bolt of loctite.

Interesting bike.

 

[drgonzo]

I have that set of bars and a similar set off an XS1B psuedo-chop.

 

[drgonzo]

The 450 is back among the living. The loss of compression was due to my faulty valve adjustment. Armed with a much better understanding of the procedure I readjusted all the valves and then the compression came back and she fired right up on TWO cylinders. Good times.

 

[frogman]

That's crazy I thought I posted something about checking the valves but I guess it got lost! Good News!

 

[maduncle]

I have pulled the rotor off 3 times so far to attend to the starter clutch as the plungers were stuck in their holes and one re-stuck after cleaning, polishing and reassembly. I figure one more stuck plunger and I will have to spring for new rebuild parts....sigh.

I feel your pain - and I bought a rebuild kit too!

Those little springs get rusted in place, get busted in half, and get on my nerves.

 

[drgonzo]

Yeah, I am going to have to spring for the rebuild parts since mine works a bit sporadically at best. Still lot's to do but it's ride-able now.

 

[drgonzo]

Minor Update

A diamond in the rough.

A jewel in anybody's junkyard.

 

[frogman]

Good lord why does it have such a long ass brake hose?

Like the key in the side cover though, what are you using for air cleaners?

I want those bars too.

 

[drgonzo]

The hose is that long because it's what I had. In the final rendition it will get an appropriate length braided line. I'm using Unifilter foam clamp on filters. Those bars are Norman Hyde "M" bars.

 

[drgonzo]

I figured, why not?

 

[drgonzo]

I added some OOS (Old Old Stock) aftermarket shocks that still have damping and are sprung close to right. No doubt they are of top quality since I did see "Made in Mexico" on the shock body when I stripped them...lol.


If you look at this thing from just the right angle, with the right kind of eyes and squint, it looks almost pretty good...lol. To me it's crying out for a set of chrome Triumph style TT pipes that exit under the engine.

 

[drgonzo]

OK, no more duct tape.

Still a few adjustments to make but all in all not bad.

 

[troyt]

Great look on this scooter. I like the seat cover and the brake master cover, it's the little things that count...

 

[drgonzo]

Re: CB450 project. PLEASE comment.