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Topics - matthewmosse

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1
CB500/550 / Cb500/4 on Ebay, looks early...
« on: January 26, 2019, 01:12:55 PM »
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1972-Honda-CB500-Four-CB500-4-Classic-Vintage-Genuine-UK-Garage-Barn-Find/132930125632?hash=item1ef340bf40:g:iHMAAOSwGplcS3C5
Spotted this on Ebay, more than I can afford but interesting. Wondering what the far more knowledgeable folk here make of it, it's got a similar age and reg to one of my bikes I was hoping to start on sometime soon - having a clear out , kids getting more independent so hope to get space and time at long last.

2
CB500/550 / Spotted this cb500 custom earlier. Interesting features
« on: January 11, 2019, 11:40:56 PM »
https://www.sinrojamotorcycles.co.uk/copy-of-sinroja-motorcycles-r4
I've been clearing my tip of a workshop onto Ebay recently and these guys have bought a few bits of airhead BMW, curiosity got the better of me so I googled their website and found amongst the airhead things a cb500 and a cb550. Some interesting engineering going on, and a determination seemingly to make something from not a lot. Custom cams, cb500 with a 650 head ( I must admit I have a half done one of those in my shed but with a stock cam. ) I thought it looked like an interesting variation on the type.

3
CB500/550 / cann't belive my luck!
« on: December 01, 2015, 09:42:13 PM »
Thought I should share a good expirience buying parts. I recently bought a cb550 rear wheel off ebay, spares or repairs, supposedly with a cracked liner to the brake drum and non std 15" rim. Price was low enough for me to decide it could sit around til I have time to re line the drum on my lathe. Part turns up, all looks much as you would expect for £30 delivered - new bearings and a new spoke required to use it, drum lining a bit rusty, got the sandpaper out to assses the crack, cannot see it. Think I was lucky on this one, the drum actually looks like it has been re lined, but maybe could use a skim. Part was fro a company called Geds. I have used em before and so far found prices good and parts correctly described.
I am one happy bunny

4
Other Bikes / Cb100n what can anyone tell me about these?
« on: April 10, 2015, 08:13:08 PM »
I had an old friend from way back when I was a teen visit the other day, he had a quick go on my rebel 125 (well a few goes) and is now hooked on the idea of motorbikes, so much so that he has pretty well streight off bought a cb100n off ebay. Looks ok, but has had an engine rebuild and rattles a bit when running. So, are there any common weak points, or owner rebuild mistakes that might be first obvious checks for him to do?

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CB500/550 / is it a 500/4 k0 or somit else?
« on: October 30, 2014, 12:41:25 PM »
These following my 500/4 sidecar outfit  rebuild will already perhaps realise I have stashed a few spares bikes in the old shed loft in bits. Amoungst the issues I face on my rebuild was a rotten seat pan, and the spares I dug out included what is apparently a 500/4 k0 seat, apparently rare. Came off a k reg bike. Question is have I got an old bitsa, or a k0? Frame number not yet available, it's stuck behind a v twin aircooled honda generator and assorted spare wheels. Same story for the engine and wheels. I did find the headlight braketts, I have 3 sets think the odd ones out have larger refectors at about 2 inches diameter over the others at about 1.5. Sidepannels, missing their badges, definitely very old and far more thin and fragile than any other 500 or 550 side pannels. Front muddy was drilled for a front blade number plate I seem to recall. Switchgear had a thumb screw to lock the throttle at whatever setting you choose, like a criuse controll I geuss, not by the looks of it as a modification but factory fit. Wiring routed through the bars, I seem to recall the rear wheel spindle was different to my others too. Is it sounding like it is a k0. I know 500 k0 are nowhere near the leauge that 750 ones are, but am beginning to think if the bike is not common then it may merit different treatment, especially as things like the warning sticker on the chrome rear muddy were still present and intact when I got this. I was probably going to just rebuild it on minimal budgett trying to keep rust at bay with an oily rag, and re pack bearings with fresh grease. I noticed the seat still has a sticker on there, but seemed to be in japaneese. Trouble with doing anything with it, is it has surface rust, if I repaint I destoy these details, if I leave as is it cannot be used without risking it rotting. If it is not too special then acf50 might be ok to preserve it.

6
CB500/550 / Finally after too many years I'm working on my 500/4
« on: May 07, 2014, 09:10:47 PM »
A big day for me, my 500/4 sidecar which has sat neglected behind 20 ton of rock in a lean to while the house is rennovated has finally been freed from behind the rock pile after hours digging and is now housed properly in a nice ventilated shed bought especially and just put up the other day. Work will start properly in a few days but for now the 500/4 is sat in what was an electricity sub station before it found ebay. Preping the site and building the shed was quite an undertaking but the revitalising of this bike will make that a picknick, 180,000 miles of wear to correct in bits like the brake pivotts is going to mean the lathe will be busy making new bushings, the gas welder will be busy on what is left of the motad exhaust - might be tempted to try building a one off end can or I might just fit the Dunstall system out of the loft or the Laser system though I found that loud (same system as florence off this forum has) Anyone know which is louder? Neither toutches the bsm downpipes to triumpth rockett 3 raygun the bike came with I'll bet. Other than that, it'll be a big lumps tear down, paint for the chasis (I'm considering blasting and powdercoat vs wire brush, red oxide and satin black topcoat), then re assemble with repacemnt bits or refurbishing as needed. Front muddy has had it, even by my standards but no surprises there as it was only the thickness of chrome in places before being taken off the road and already was developing small holes. For now I've emptied a can of penetrating oil and a bit of old engine oil over the worst bits and am leaving it to soak, only other changes that I'm planning are to put back th K&N fliter and 500/4 carbs the bike came with and retire the stock 550/k3 carb and airbox I'd fitted for the economy boost, not worth it in retrospect, I miss the thirstyer carbs ability to make every corner a powerslide by opening the throttle, also the k3 carbs seem to give trouble if stood for even a few weeks. Once done she'll be back on the commuting job, I'm really looking foreward to that. I might even treat myself to re commissioning one other 500/4's or the 550k3 after that, probably the 500/4's will win out what with them being most likely tax exempt. Not sure if I'll sell the 250 and 125 twins that have tided me through the rennovation years or in the case of the 250, bung a lighted match in the petrol tank, it may be a honda sohc bike, but not a patch on the 70's originals - both the twin's are mid 90's honda and the drop in quality from the 70's is deffinately there, they rust quicker for starters, and the fat rear tyres + longer swing arm makes them pants in winter, so much so that the 250 broke my foot this winter on ice, I've never dropped the 550 solo I had or the bmw of that era and I put that down to the older bikes thinner rear hoop, hell I rode the bmw in snow 4 inches deep over the Breacon beacons a fair few times with no issues, but the 250, that thing has fallen over every winter that it has been used.
500/4 here we go.

7
Misc / Open / just bought a z650 and kl250
« on: February 04, 2012, 12:39:01 AM »
Having resolved to sell most of my bikes before buying any more and stick to buying mot'd bikes Ive been tempted by a z650 that was a bit cheap and looks like an easy project and a kl250 trail bike that is about as rough as you could wish for a project. the z needs the rear wheel re spoking, and general recommisioning after being stood a few years. The kl needs a sortout of the 6 engines it came with to see if any will run - most will not, lots of failed camshafts, it's current engine won't turn over so definately a challenge. Ebay search reveals virtually no spares for the kl so no good ued engines convieniently waiting to slot in :'(
They aren't Hondas and the z has 2 camshafts but the 500/4 will be remaining on the rollcall of my bikes so I'll not be sohc - less just yet

8
CB500/550 / Carb coversion to SU
« on: February 14, 2011, 07:14:34 PM »
A long while ago now I read about someone who claimed 90+ mpg from his sohc 550 by fitting a Su carb and home made log manifold. Anyone else kow anything about this conversion and who did it, I'm thinking of doing this on one of my bikes, probably in conjunction with adding a 650 top end to one of the 550 bottem ends littering my shed.............

9
Hi, someone on another forum is after some ideas for some metal parts that they can desighn / fabricate to expand their product range so are there any parts that folks here would buy or belive there is a markett for, put suggestions here and I'll pass them on. Might well expand the availability of some parts or accesories.

10
CB500/550 / Melbur alloys, anyone heard of them?
« on: July 18, 2008, 10:44:03 AM »
Hi, in going through the spares pile, I've 're-found' some fancy alloys that came with a cb500/4 project I got off ebay a while back. I was wondering If anyone here knows anything about them? they are black painted finish with polished alloy rims and carry the name 'Melbur' and made in Italy. They use standard disks, speedo drives brake shoes and assosiated hardware so I'd presume they were made for the model and are period. I'm still undecided as to whether I want to use these or track down some original spoked wheels or use these. The rest of the bike is original bar the rear guard which is coulor matched fiberglass and I've no exhaust. Maybe knowing some more about the alloys might inspire me to decide on something a bit different, perhaps a cafe racer and sell on the redundant bits? Any thoughts?

11
CB500/550 / non obtainable parts
« on: June 15, 2008, 06:04:42 PM »
Not sure if anyone else is working on this or has a solution but I was considering looking into making replica airbox to carb rubbers using plaster moulds and silicon or such material (I'll research this if there were enough interest) thing is, is/has anyone else done this as I don't want to replicate work already done or step on anyones toes. What other parts are there that are non obtainable? I think We could perhaps club up our collective knowlege to start making life easyer. Some nice person was/ is for instance selling fiberglass rear mudguards of which I've got a couple off ebay second hand and while they are wrong for a restoration they are very practical. Maybe a section / list on useful contacts in one place on this site (have I just missed one?)

12
CB500/550 / some spares up for offer
« on: June 09, 2008, 11:03:31 AM »
Hi All, I'm moving bits aroud in the shed and have decided sort through a bit and prune the spares down a bit. I have a almost complete cb550/k3 in bits that I'm considering breaking if there's enough interest. (it's already in bits but I know everythings there somewhere as I used to ride it) Also I've many more battery box/ trays then I'll ever need, ditto for the plastic box that contains the air filter and the plastic chamber that sits behind the carbs. Sorry but if you're after the airbox to carb rubbers then You'd have to offer silly money as they are too hard to get hold of. I've probably got a few other odds and sods to clear out so if you pm me I'll keep my eyes peeled as I go through. Nothings going to be nos or anything near but there are a fair few serviceable parts hoarded away.

13
CB500/550 / Frame numbers
« on: April 06, 2008, 07:21:33 PM »
I've read in another thread on this site that some members have the know how / data to relate frame numbers to date's of manufacture? I've been intending to find out the dates for two projects (cb500f's) I got off ebay, I'm fairly sure the rustyest example is a '72 example, got a few interesting features too, like a cruise controll function on the throttle? looks too well done to be a diy job really, and a pretty cool exhaust, Dunstall I think. The reg no. on the other leads me to suspect it's a '73 example but it could be a '72 if I was really lucky.  Are there cirtain prefixes that could tell me year of manufacture? I'd love to dodge paying road tax and if I've 2 tax exempt examples there'll be one more on the market for another skinflint........... ;D

14
CB500/550 / Electronic ignitions
« on: March 29, 2008, 11:27:28 AM »
I'm thinking of fitting a boyer ignition system to eliminate points from the maintenence schedule and variables when finding starting problems. The question is, What brand works best? I'm thinking Boyer at the moment but before I spend lots of cash I thought I'd ask if anyone has any suggestions? The second factor is which system would be best? one seems to replace the points the other the coils as well which costs more but has the benefit of new shiny and smallness, Might free up enough room to put the extra black box under the tank, cos an alarm fills up the tool tray on my 500 and I don't want to bin any (more) of the originallity factor.

15
Tricks & Tips / overflowing carbs on cb550/500
« on: March 27, 2008, 12:26:06 PM »
I've had a few overflowing over the years, and as a result found a few ways round this problem that could be worth a try before stripping the carbs off.
1)Tap the offending float bowl with a small bit 'o' wood, Lightly!
2)Turn the tap off when stopped, half off when at traffic lights. Use the bike reguarly, (like every day) and it may start to behave.
3)Drain the carbs, or turn the tap off and running the bike the last half mile home on contents of carb, then disconnect fuel hose(es) from tank and fill with neat redex fuel aditive and leave to soak overnight. Empty the lot out next day(ish) Re connect fuel supply to tank and enjoy a smug ride without the aggro of removing the carbs.
4)Fit an 'in line' fuel filter and possibly even check the one on the tap!
(5; having shared the above with the rest of the group go and fix my bike!) 8 :-[

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