CB550K3 - "Harry"

[donpetroleum]

This is 'Harry', who has been consigned to the back of the garage for around 20 years.

A quick status check shows that:-
The wheels still rotate
The tyres and inner tubes hold air (after re-inflating)
The left hand mirror still reflects
The seat lock still works

However:-
The engine won't kick over
Everything is covered in rust and/or corrosion
The seat base has rotted through, as have both mudguards and the exhaust
Fork stanchions and the entire front braking system needs replacing
etc - there's too much to list.

This isn't going to be a quick job 


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[Bryanj]

You can try removing the plugs and filling the pots with diesel to soak and see if it turns DO NOT try and turn the crank with the big nut on the points end, remove the alternator cover and try a breaker bar on the bolt that end but only clockwise till it moves a bit then rock it, careful and do not use the starter if it frees with the alternator cover off or you with make the oil gallery blanking plug disappear into somewhere findable.

[MarkCR750]

Plenty to do there then!, great news about the mirror but try it at night I'm betting you'll hardly see anything in it 😀 , good luck with the restoration .

[mickwinf]

good luck with that.... you will need it!

[Johnwebley]

  its just a 3D jigsaw puzzle

 you know were all the parts go,its just a matter of finding them,


  bit of advice,get some fresh fuel,the old stuff  may be stale !!

[matthewmosse]

Best of luck with Harry, plenty of work for you there. I have a cb500/4 that spent 4 years or so idle and came out looking worse, only the electrics, seat and tweaking remain to be done after a fairly major overhaul, although I shied away from a restoration prefering a rat / oily rag job. Far cheaper and more low maintenence. I have a few spares stashedin the loft of my shed if you get really stuck, though said loft is a total mess so ebay will be faster.

[donpetroleum]

You can try removing the plugs and filling the pots with diesel to soak and see if it turns DO NOT try and turn the crank with the big nut on the points end, remove the alternator cover and try a breaker bar on the bolt that end but only clockwise till it moves a bit then rock it, careful and do not use the starter if it frees with the alternator cover off or you with make the oil gallery blanking plug disappear into somewhere findable.

Thanks for the tip. I'm not sure whether it's the piston's / crank that's seized, or whether it's the kick start. Either way, I'll give the diesel a go.

[donpetroleum]

Plenty to do there then!, great news about the mirror but try it at night I'm betting you'll hardly see anything in it 😀 , good luck with the restoration .

The mirror's mostly showing a picture of a mug, day or night 

[donpetroleum]

Best of luck with Harry, plenty of work for you there. I have a cb500/4 that spent 4 years or so idle and came out looking worse, only the electrics, seat and tweaking remain to be done after a fairly major overhaul, although I shied away from a restoration prefering a rat / oily rag job. Far cheaper and more low maintenence. I have a few spares stashedin the loft of my shed if you get really stuck, though said loft is a total mess so ebay will be faster.

Cheers, I've already checked out the various eBay and sites that offer spares. I expect that anything that's beyond repair and non-essential will end up in the bin.

[donpetroleum]

good luck with that.... you will need it!

Cheers

[donpetroleum]

  its just a 3D jigsaw puzzle

 you know were all the parts go,its just a matter of finding them,


  bit of advice,get some fresh fuel,the old stuff  may be stale !!

At least everything is still connected, and I have pictures and manuals to work with. Not that that'll do me any good when I start throwing bits around the garage 

[haynes66]

are they genuine Lesters on your bike? i like them.

[SteveD CB500K0]

They look like CMAs to me.

[UK Pete]

Wow. did your garage leak?
If the frame has not rotted through then that will save lots of hassle, you might be lucky with the engine and it frees up, i would imagine the bores will need re boring it dont take much to pit the metal and it is probably where it is seized as well
Forks and wheels are an easy restore
all other parts are easy to find through the usual channels, so good luck to you and crack on and keep enthusiastic


pete

[donpetroleum]

are they genuine Lesters on your bike? i like them.

They're CMAs, and when cleaned up should look good. Less so in this condition