Piston help for CB450

reesea17

reesea17

I'm probably gonna ask a lot of questions...
Im currently working on rebuilding a 1972 CB450 motor and have come across a couple problems with my cylinder jugs/pistons.

One of the pistons has a hole burnt in the top of it and it also caused a bit of scratching/gouging to the side of the sleeve/piston. After measuring the sleeves I found out the they had already been bored out to the first OS .25mm. I will need to have them bored out again possibly to .50mm or more and need to find a new set of pistons.

Problem is I've been having a really hard time finding a set of pistons. Anyone know if there is a set of aftermarket pistons I can look at or if pistons from another bike/manufacturer will fit and work with the motor?

Very new to building bikes, used to just ride dirt bikes as a kid, any help is greatly appreciated.
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-CB-450-CB450-FORGED-RACING-PISTON-BIG-BORE-74MM-/260925369016?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cc05d2ab8&vxp=mtr

Todd Henning makes the best of the best for performance stuff.. ss valves and stuff too.
 
Surprisingly, I've found a lot of pistons for motorcycles, watercraft, and snow mobiles on Amazon...and it's usually a little cheaper too. Best part is that Amazon has one of the best (if not the best) return policies available.
 
Hoosier Daddy said:
If you own a K5 450, then you need to know about Charlies Place... he has fordged 1.00 and 1.50mm oversized pistons listed there as well.

http://charlies-place.com/PAGES/Store/store_cb450_piston_kits.html
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone for the links. While they only cost $30 less than the entire bike did, they seem to be a pretty decent option. I'll have to make the decision once I get back and hands on with the bike.

Question, how would I be able to tell if it's a K5 450? I've seen that designation before.
 
The "K" in the model is the series number usually designated to the year of the bike and you said you have a 72 which is a K5. Usually you can see from the vin number and look up the values: http://www.nadaguides.com/Motorcycles/1972/Honda/CB450K5-SUPER-SPORT/Values Also IE: CB450-610XXX in a search will show you the year and "K" number.

There is shows the "K5" as part of the model number. It doesn't always tie in to an actual number of 5 in your vin and some models and years of certain Honda's will have more than one "K" model in a year due to changes or variants throughout a year and you end up with a early and late model and a different "K" number for each bike.. In most cases the "K" number doesn't matter because the year will tell you all the info you need but some years where there was two "K" numbers it will be crucial in ordering parts specific to the changes made... For your bike either 1972 or K5 are the identifiers for ordering parts and informing people of the exact bike you have.
 
Yep, I just happen to have the same year CB450 disassembled in boxes in my shop, that's how I knew the 72's K number. Some parts supplyers referance that or the VIN number to specify parts that will fit your bike. Chnges from year to year might yeild a different part number.
Another reason I have heard for the "K" number being important is back in the day, the dealers would carry over a bike for a year or two on the showroom floor. What ever year it finally sold was the year they registered it as.... but the K number doesn't change.
Typically a K0 is the first year a model was produced.
 
Thanks for the info! Looks like I do have a K5 '72. Now just to find the pistons and get this thing built up.

Anybody know the typical costs to have the cylinder sleeves bored out? Afraid that the machine work is going to cost a fortune as well.
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-CB450-K0-BLACK-BOMBER-NOS-OEM-PISTON-SET-1-0MM-OS-/221168702721?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ACB&hash=item337eae9501&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-NOS-450-Pistons-Rings-Pins-Clip-Set-CB450-CL450-13101-292-030-13011-375-/320941141084?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ab9952c5c&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CB450-1973-Original-Set-of-domed-pistons-292-1A-with-wrist-pins-circlips-/140870439797?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ACB&hash=item20cc885375&vxp=mtr

You want to get the right pistons, but I wouldn't fit a set of WISECO race pistons unless it's a race bike. Keep watching ebay and look for all teh sites that support old Hondas.
 
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