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1969 CL450 US Barn Find Restoration
MrDavo:
Well here we are again, the CL450 hasn't been forgotten, but I've been busy.
Menno has painted the tank and panels, and is now straightening the headlamp ears. Here's the bodywork after the acid bath:
I had a go at the chainguard, that trendy metallic purple caused a reaction like a child's chemistry set, so the paint stripper is going to be needed.
Next some tyre fitting. I got a bad back for my troubles, but we now have a new set of K81's on board. The orginal Japanese Dunlop rear tyre was made of / with rayon, apparently!
The front rim and spokes are VGC, the rear spokes have lost their finish, and someone has scratched the rim, apparently fixing a puncture using a carving knife. However when I cleaned up the hub, I was greeted with this sight:
There are no new or restored parts here, just original 1969 finishes under a layer of dirt - confirmation that this bike saw very little service.
I had the frame upside down, to get the stand off and swap out the bent brake pedal for another one, so I gave it a cleanup and some paint.
MrDavo:
The chainguard came up well after stripping it back to bare metal, speaking of which, my enthusiasm for the project has been 100% boosted by these pictures of wonderfulness taken in Menno's garden, which arrived this morning.
JamesH:
Awesome!!!!
MrDavo:
Yesterday was a watershed moment for the project, as I ended the day with more parts attached to the frame rather than less for the first time.
I fitted the centre stand, a new spring and the brake lever, then the chainguard, with some hassle. Only this morning have I read what a bugger it is to fit with the swinging arm in its usual place, so I got off lightly by accident. I bolted up the shock lower mounts, there are no nuts (the mounts have threaded holes), but there should be, when I have an idea if what other bits I still need I'll order them along with a new swinging arm grease nipple - the same knock in type as i fitted on the CB750, and just as bunged up. The shocks are the original Decarbon gas shocks - I guess I'll find out what damping is left in them when I get the rolling chassis together, if shot I'll have to replace them with modern pattern ones, unless they can be rebuilt by someone (deos anyone know?) They look the same as CB750 ones, if they measure the same I may get another set of TEC ones.
I turned the frame the right way up and tried to change the head bearings for taper rollers, so I could fit the yokes. The top race popped clean out after some heat and a few whacks, but unfortunately the lower race is stuck after not coming wanting to come out square, I'm going to look for a small cutting wheel I can put in my drill to cut a piece out, as I can't get my angle grinder in there. I managed to lump hammer my thumb, which turned blue, as did my language.
The fork leg lowers aren't polished yet but I spent a couple of hours grafting away with P800 wet and dry to get a nice finish. I had a dilemma with the left one - if you look at the third photo on page one, it was in almost pristine original finish, but with badly yellowed laquer. I was tempted to leave it be, but in the end I want a matching pair, the other leg had lost its finish to damp over the years and needed refurbishing.
AshimotoK0:
Progressing well Dave ... I went to see the one DS had one but by the time I got to his building with all of the used bikes in it, he had just sold it. Evidently he sold loads of bikes during the 50th CB750 anniversary event .
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