Hello from Glasgow.

[Don Optamista]

Hello all. 

I bought a 1972 CB500 four back in November last year as a bit of a project.  Unfortunately I know very little about bikes (always been cars) as can maybe be gleaned from my purchase -  US nonrunner, extended forks, strange handle bars, 16in rear wheel, few bits missing etc. 

I've made a bit of progress, mainly thanks to this and other forums and it looks like Ive got some missing bits from forum members as well.  Frame, wheels, forks, instruments, carbs and saddle done and the tank is off for sealing.  Getting to the hard bits now and am currently working on the clutch and engine, so Ill have some questions that maybe someone can help me with I'm sure.  Meantime, best regards and many thanks for the invite to the forum.

[Oddjob]

Looking good there Don.

Did you retain the 16" rear wheel or have you re-spoked it back to 18".

You going for an originalish look? or maybe thinking of another approach.

You can still find the original fork ears if you look hard enough, not cheap but they do look better.

[Johnny4428]

Welcome aboard Don! Agree, nice work done there so far but have to agree with Ken on the fork ears. Looking forward to more progress.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I know original fork ears look good but  imho unless you are going for all original looks they seem to be a water trap for rusting if my 500 was the norm.
I like the look of your headlamp brackets.

[andy120t]

Welcome Don,
That's good progress since November.

I'm intrigued by the rear shock mounts on your first photo - not something I've seen before, maybe designed to lower the rear end?

[Laverda Dave]

Welcome to the forum Don. Hopefully you'll get the bike roadworthy soon and get some rides in.

[Oddjob]

I know original fork ears look good but  imho unless you are going for all original looks they seem to be a water trap for rusting if my 500 was the norm.
I like the look of your headlamp brackets.

There not really Ted, it's just that they rust from the inside out and get very little attention except for the outside.

[philward]

Welcome Don, great progress! Going original spec is expensive so if it's not a priority it's a viable option to build a non standard bike
As you probably know, loads of experts on here so fire away with the questions.
Enjoy the forum

Sent from my moto g(50) using Tapatalk

[philward]

I know original fork ears look good but  imho unless you are going for all original looks they seem to be a water trap for rusting if my 500 was the norm.
I like the look of your headlamp brackets.

There not really Ted, it's just that they rust from the inside out and get very little attention except for the outside.

I've greased the inside and non visible parts prior to assembly

Sent from my moto g(50) using Tapatalk

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I know original fork ears look good but  imho unless you are going for all original looks they seem to be a water trap for rusting if my 500 was the norm.
I like the look of your headlamp brackets.

There not really Ted, it's just that they rust from the inside out and get very little attention except for the outside.

I'm basing my assumptions on a poll of two  - my 400 forks without gaitors and ears were free of rust.

[Oddjob]

I painted mine Phil, with Zinc182 paint, even poured it inside the webbing on the 550 ears, where the indicator buzzes goes, also down the tubes which go over the forks. 40 years later I removed them and the metal was almost pristine, I sold them to another member and he thought the condition was superb, TBH it was the outside that was worse, a few pin pricks craters in the chrome which made me buy new ones.

[Don Optamista]

Id like to have gone with original fork ears. I try to source some from ebay but all pretty much rusted through.  Reflecting on it (and maybe because I cant find a decent pair), they just look like a massive water trap plus with the gaiters they would hide my shiny new stanchions.

I did respoked to an 18in rear when I worked out 16in was wrong rim and spokes were pretty shot.

I'm working on the clutch just now, adjuster is broken - I believe this is a common thing.  Part it seems is NLA and the only place I could fine one was a guy in Sarno, Italy, but who wouldn't ship to UK. Luckily my sister in law lives 15mins down the road in Salerno, adjuster arrived today.

I suspect this is not the place on the forum to ask but Ill have a go - any suggestions where to get clutch shim washers. I've got the 0.1mm shim but there is a fair bit of end float in the clutch and I reckon it needs the .3 or .5mm shim, but cant source the Honda part and off the shelf shims are 35mm OD which wont fit the hole in the clutch?

[Oddjob]

I sell sets of the clutch shims, 4 in a set. There are 2 x0.1, 1 x 0.2 and 1 x 0.5. So enough to shim out to almost 1mm and if you've got that much end float your in big trouble and need to find out what's wrong. Cost is £12 inc P&P.

What part of the clutch adjuster was broken? I have a few that might have worked, bit late now but always ask on the forum first as you never know.

As for fork ears, they are not water traps, they are just a part that gets neglected, we shine the outside and don't bother with making sure the insides aren't rotting away.

Other model ears fit, Cb550 for example, F1 has the rings for the gaiters but F2 hasn't. Pretty sure 500T ones also fit and you can still find a pair reasonably cheap. I have 1 NOS 500 ear but it's expensive due to how rare they are these days, I also have a pair of NOS 500T ears. Not sure if I still have a pair of 550F2 ears, might have but again not cheap. It depends on how much you want them, the Honda look IMO is still the best but I appreciate it's not for everyone.

Gaiters IMO aren't the best looking things BUT they do protect those shiny new stanchions so they are very useful. Did you get them hard chromed or just buy new?