SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550
Is there a correct order for tackling a Restoration Project?
Neilw:
--- Quote from: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on March 20, 2026, 11:51:12 AM ---Going back to the original question my build log https://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html shows my rebuild order, 32 pages is a lot to go through.
I bought a bike ramp, I was working alone aside from the engine lift in & out so a lot was based around the logistics of frame stability on the ramp. Having a working brake when I needed to take the engine less wheeled frame off the ramp to turn it round made the process safer.
Fitting the rear brake pivot before the rear swing arm/suspension was in place, lastly its much easier to fit the carbs then build backwards, fitting the air box & the rear plastic fender section. Pretty sure I might have removed the rear wheel to make it easier. Certainly worth ensuring the carb floats are sealing before you fit the carbs by using an auxilliary petrol tank.
As well as refering to the photos I took during dismantling as others have mentioned expensive items can drive assembly order. I bought a spare set of wheel hubs so I could use the old wheels and tyres for stability & to enable me to move the bike around when needed.
I made notes on areas such as wiring loom and what connections needed to be cleaned/restored. Likewise I kept an assembly log containing what had been torqued up and what need a final tightening to make getting all the bolts in place e.g. the engine mounts. I spent a lot of time looking for parts, in my second rebuild I used a spread sheet with numbered or lettered parts boxes. This would tell me if the part was elsewhere such as on my bike ramp or sent out for specialist restoration like the clocks, or for powder coating.
Hope this helps, the best way is the way you are comfortable with rather than anothers dictat, just worth knowing different approaches.
--- End quote ---
Thank you. all information is very helpful to a newbie. I've started labelling and bagging bolts etc so it's clear what it is, i didn't start that way, so hopefully the bigger stuff will be easier to identify. Also, i intend to use the parts lists at CMSL to help identify which way round bolts etc go.
McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
The downloadable parts book on this site is handy as well for assembly order
Spitfire:
Plus one for the parts book, it was like a bible for me.
Cheers
Dennis
Murf:
Yes the parts book is definitely the bible. I was bidding on a genuine one on eBay, but forgot about it on the day it finished and missed out☹️
I use the ones on CMSNL all the time as well.
As you say Ted everyone develops their own way that suits them, I can see from your posts that you use a far more organised method than me. I tend to just keep things in my head, not make many notes and my labelling of part boxes mostly just consists of ‘Honda 550’ It causes me a few problems at times but generally works ok for me. I do make To Do lists towards the end of projects which are helpful but also annoying as ever job you tick off tends to create two new jobs.
McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
--- Quote from: Murf on March 20, 2026, 11:41:16 PM ---
As you say Ted everyone develops their own way that suits them, I can see from your posts that you use a far more organised method than me. I tend to just keep things in my head, not make many notes and my labelling of part boxes mostly just consists of ‘Honda 550’ It causes me a few problems at times but generally works ok for me. I do make To Do lists towards the end of projects which are helpful but also annoying as ever job you tick off tends to create two new jobs.
--- End quote ---
Ah Murf the "To do lists", yes I do those as well with the aim to tell myself I'm moving nearer the end of the project, I know what you mean about them self multiplying. I suspect thats how the Money Puddle mutates into a Money Pit.
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