SOHC.co.uk Forums > The Black Bomber Board
1969 CL450 US Barn Find Restoration
MrDavo:
I’ve got them on my watch list, but considering the cost plus postage from Oz, I’m going to give my originals a go at restoration, once I’ve finished the engine. I’ve bought satin black and the nearest red I could get from the car spares shop.
Once I’ve used heat to get the badges off, it’s all down to what happens with the polishing wheel- is the finish just on the surface or will it polish up shiny?
JamesH:
Haven’t tried refurbishing one yet - may be worth polishing the reverse side first (the glue side) to see how the material takes to polishing?
MrDavo:
I don't know why the photos are now taking an age to load, probably using a free service from postimage in a post photobucket world. Something has changed from .org to .cc, if you need anything reposted let me know. But lets not get cross about photobucket again....
I got close to finishing the engine, but at the moment it has no transmission. I removed the clutch and the alloy bodied pump, I'm damned if I can find the 'gudgeon pin' from the original pump though. It has to be in the gargage somewhere, but not where I can find it, its probably got dropped and rolled off under something, I'll find it one day, in the meantime I've ordered a new one.
Its time to have a go at the chassis, as I want to send the tank, panels, ears and headlamp off to Menno for some candy magic.
I bought a couple of K70s from Vintage Tyres, only when about to fit one last night did I check to find they hadn't included the new rim tapes and tubes, and I don't trust ancient rubber for a moment with anything important. To be fair I emailed them at 7pm, 7am this morning I got an apology and a message to say tubes and tapes are on their way.
I got the front tyre off only after a physical battle. It turns out to be from 1990, a US ribbed Dunlop, and after getting comfy for nearly 30 years did not want to be evicted, It's off now though. It shows that bike was on the road much later than I expected because of the apparent low mileage on the engine, it was already 20 years old when that tyre went on. Maybe it got an engine issue fixed and ressurected for a while, as someone had been in there. I've wondered if that camchain idler wheel spindle that wasn't located with its knockpin made a row as it moved aound, there was a witness mark at both ends on the barrel skirts. It is quite possible that somene spent a bit of time and money on the bike, only to have it still make a horrid engine noise, and just gave up on it.
The rear tyre is a worn Japanese Dunlop, I haven't found a date yet, maybe its the original, I don't know.
Brake shoes were OEM Honda, lots of dust but in good nick, however I have ordered new Vesrah ones as I dont want linings going adrift.
MrDavo:
This has been taking a back seat while the CB750 got sorted, but now I have to get on with it, so I can get the front end apart and the fork ears off to Menno, along with the headlamp tank and side panels.
As they are steel, I was able to warm the panels with a blowlamp to get the badges off, which I am going to try and refurbish. Once off, there was a glimpse of original 1969 candy blue. It may be handy for Menno, though the brief will be 'the same as James'' as far as the colour goes.
The motor came off the workbench, still on the stand its now wrapped in one of those charity bags that come through the door, and stored out of the way.
One side of the front wheel, a fork leg and the brake plate are like new, the other side had caught the sun badly and all the laquer had gone yellow and crusty. It all came off with P400 and elbow grease, the hub plate polished up lovely on the wheel - they used decent alloy for all the stick they get about 'monkey metal'. Those spokes are as I got them, the bike must have been kept somewhere very dry, no rust at all.
Here it is with a new K70 being fitted, with a new tube and tape as well, of course.
Every time I fit a tyre its like I've forgotten all the lessons I've ever learned before, if I did it all day I'd be good at it. I used to watch the Dunlop fitters in the Superbike paddock, they made it look like child's play, though the right gear works a lot better than my three knackered tyre levers and the 'borrowed' washing up liquid.
Green1:
What are you on about James? Cable tie ???
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version