CB500K1. Cafe Racer to Original...sort of!

[AndyH]

Haha, haven't heard the word 'crook' for ages. The other farmers around here that grow all the veggies and salad crops are loving this rain, saves them watering the crops. What's good for one is bad for another I suppose.

Very true.  Meanwhile, I better get my arse into gear and take some photos.........tomorrow! 

[AndyH]

The 1st two pics show the original sub-harness and electrics panel before refurbishing.

The 3rd pic shows some of the harness wiring, including the crap connection for the electronic ignition.

The last pic shows the bike in its current state, with new wiring harness provisionally fitted, along with several other bits n pieces.

[petermigreen]

I just love the whole philosophy of this build 

Thanks for posting.
Peter

[AndyH]

I just love the whole philosophy of this build 

Thanks for posting.
Peter

Hey Peter, I must admit my philosophy of the build has been sorely tested at times as I approach every next bit!  I'm torn between leaving things as they are, saying "Nope, need to really tidy this up" or deciding to replace with new....aargh!   At the end of the day tho', as I've said previously, the bike will be a practical "everyday rider" without me having to worry about the fact that a few bits maybe aren't 100% original or pristine.

Nonetheless, having not undertaken a project of this kind before, I'm kinda liking the challenges that it throws up as things progress! 

[AndyH]

Cabling and wiring in place.

[petermigreen]

Looking factory fresh 

Nice job.
Peter

[AndyH]

Fork ears waiting for top rubbers prior to fitment.  As originally received, they were sandblasted within an inch of their existence!  A fair bit of work was undertaken to make them viable, and then they were chromed.  They're not 100% but trying to get hold of any reasonable replacement is nigh on impossible!  The term "unobtainium" comes to mind! 

[AndyH]

I mucked around in my shed today, and rummaged in a parts bin and found some top fork ear rubbers in good condition!  So the ones coming from DSS will go into the "new parts" parts bin. 

I figured "What the hell", and went ahead with the fork ears, gaiters, caliper, front wheel and fender install today! 

Need to go to my local auto store tomorrow for some brake fluid, then bleed the brake and wheel the bike out of the shed for the 1st time in 3 months!

Getting ever closer to completion now. 

Last 2 pics show my messy bench, and my mate's "you beaut" meter crimp ring compressor. 

[hairygit]

There's a fair bit of work gone into that ring crimper, does he do enough to make it worthwhile? You're bikes coming along nicely, wish it was winter here right now!

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[Seabeowner]

Looking great Himble. Fork ears look good and like the contrast of the black on the cylinder block. Every plating shop seemed to do chrome in the 70s but regs have curtailed that number and prices high. How about Oz? That is an impressive bit of kit for the meters and your bench ain't messy, I can still see some of the work surface.
Only reason I wish it was winter it get some of the holiday traffic off the roads.

[JamesH]

That meter crimp ring tool looks awesome...very jealous. Does the handle operate some kind of ratchet mechanism?

[AndyH]

Guys, I can't wait for Winter to be over!  Too darn cold for me!

The crimp ring tool will be getting a lot of use.  My mate is in the process of restoring 10 bikes, and another bloke in the club has at least 10 Hondas in various stages of restoration.  It's designed to handle both sizes of Honda meters.  The handle just moves the "base" around (no ratchet mechanism) but my mate has ideas of incorporating a motor to rotate it.

Phil (Seabeowner),  chrome plating in Aus. is also very expensive, and very few places do it now for the same reasons of  regs.
Lots of folk are cad-plating smaller items though.  My rims are in a fairly poor state, but it would be more economical for me to purchase new rather than get them re-chromed.

[AndyH]

Fitted the headlight bucket, blinkers and mirrors.  PO didn't use the original fork ears so I had no collets (#13 in the h/light schematic below).  Fortunately I had some tube stock in the shed of the right size so fabbed up a couple. 

Getting closer to completion.

[MarkCR750]

Tank looks great, nice work 👍

[AndyH]

Tank looks great, nice work 👍

Thanks Mark.