Ow do from The Shire

[ebmbiker]

Good day folks,

JB here, in Shropshire

Thanks for having me. I've just bought a CB 500K1 unfinished project. Actually, it's an unstarted project! Previous owner bought it as a complete bike (minus the exhaust system) 10 years ago to convert it to a cafe racer. He promptly decided to dismantle everything, and I mean everything! The engine is in pieces in a couple of boxes. The positive is that it all looks in great condition so just a matter of getting new seals and gaskets. And main crank shells as he didn't number them. Reg document says it was previously registered abroad. I'm assuming it was a US bike.

I'll probably go down the resto-mod route or Brat style as I'm not as flexible enough as I used to be for a cafe racer. I've got a pretty well-equipped workshop and know what I'm doing with a lathe/milling machine, welding and brazing. I've nearly finished building a 1983 Porsche 911 hotrod and I make my own fillet brazed steel bicycle frames.

I've got lots of questions.

Cheers,

JB

[AshimotoK0]

Ey Up there from Yorkshire

Welcome !

Manuals here including 500K1 parts book, shop manual etc

http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,8884.0.html

[MrDavo]

As well as Classic Hondas, air cooled 911’s rock, so it’s not just me then.

Welcome! We can look forward to the fun of sorting out which colour shells you will need for your crank together.

[Nurse Julie]

Welcome to the forum. Have fun.

[Laverda Dave]

Welcome to the forum. Once you get up to five posts you can add photos of the bike and the porker 😉

[K2-K6]

Welcome to the forum.

The steel bike frames sound interesting too when you can post pictures.

[ebmbiker]

Cheers for the replies guys.

I really shouldn't have started another project until the 911 was finished. But sod it!

Ah, the crankshaft bearing selector chart is something I've seen mentioned over on the SOHC.net forum.
I've got the following letters stamped on the crankcase: CBBBB and on the crank I can see these numbers: 11211. So what cocktail of shell colours do I need to order? It's a shame the previous owner took them out because they look totally like new and unmarked.

I'll post some photos of bicycles and the 911 soon.

Cheers, JB

[K2-K6]

Shell tolerance (journal +bore) etc are given in the Honda information.  You can probably mic them with a piece of silver steel inside the shells to make intelligent chart of what you have. Then assembly with plastigauge to verify with them in position to use those existing ones.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Welcome to the Forum - so do you build cycle frames for yourself or for specialist use such as track cycling?
I ask as my younger brother is a keen cyclist currently riding A Mercian in the summer - reverting to Titanium in the winter months.

[ebmbiker]

Shell tolerance (journal +bore) etc are given in the Honda information.  You can probably mic them with a piece of silver steel inside the shells to make intelligent chart of what you have. Then assembly with plastigauge to verify with them in position to use those existing ones.

Thanks K2-K6. Unfortunately I don't have a full set of shells, only 5 halves

[ebmbiker]

Welcome to the Forum - so do you build cycle frames for yourself or for specialist use such as track cycling?
I ask as my younger brother is a keen cyclist currently riding A Mercian in the summer - reverting to Titanium in the winter months.

Mainly for myself, though I have made and sold a couple to local riders.

[philward]

Welcome JB, shame about the shells as the Dave Silver prices have soared (from all ready high) prices
Enjoy the forum

[Oddjob]

Colours you require are

Brown, Green, Brown, Green, Green.

Check the shells you already have carefully, at the bottom of the bearing, on it's edge, they are marked with the colour. Most times this has worn off but sometimes you can still see it. If you can find 2 of the same colour you can reuse them if of course they are in good condition.

Browns are getting in short supply now, DS has to order them in, probably from CMS, he still has Greens however. They are priced at £16 a shell, so £32 a journal, they don't come as pairs. So 10 shells is £160 plus P&P.

If your getting shells do it now, prices are starting to sky rocket as sources start to dry up for certain parts.

[ebmbiker]

Colours you require are

Brown, Green, Brown, Green, Green.

Check the shells you already have carefully, at the bottom of the bearing, on it's edge, they are marked with the colour. Most times this has worn off but sometimes you can still see it. If you can find 2 of the same colour you can reuse them if of course they are in good condition.

Browns are getting in short supply now, DS has to order them in, probably from CMS, he still has Greens however. They are priced at £16 a shell, so £32 a journal, they don't come as pairs. So 10 shells is £160 plus P&P.

If your getting shells do it now, prices are starting to sky rocket as sources start to dry up for certain parts.

Cheers Oddjob,

I've found browns on the CMS website. As I'm totally new to these bikes, I'm assuming CMS are a reliable source of parts?

Cheers, JB

[philward]

I have had excellent service from CMSL and quick delivery - don't forget any import duty (lots of threads on this subject).
Dave Silver sources parts from them sometimes