SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

Finally after too many years I'm working on my 500/4

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matthewmosse:
A big day for me, my 500/4 sidecar which has sat neglected behind 20 ton of rock in a lean to while the house is rennovated has finally been freed from behind the rock pile after hours digging and is now housed properly in a nice ventilated shed bought especially and just put up the other day. Work will start properly in a few days but for now the 500/4 is sat in what was an electricity sub station before it found ebay. Preping the site and building the shed was quite an undertaking but the revitalising of this bike will make that a picknick, 180,000 miles of wear to correct in bits like the brake pivotts is going to mean the lathe will be busy making new bushings, the gas welder will be busy on what is left of the motad exhaust - might be tempted to try building a one off end can or I might just fit the Dunstall system out of the loft or the Laser system though I found that loud (same system as florence off this forum has) Anyone know which is louder? Neither toutches the bsm downpipes to triumpth rockett 3 raygun the bike came with I'll bet. Other than that, it'll be a big lumps tear down, paint for the chasis (I'm considering blasting and powdercoat vs wire brush, red oxide and satin black topcoat), then re assemble with repacemnt bits or refurbishing as needed. Front muddy has had it, even by my standards but no surprises there as it was only the thickness of chrome in places before being taken off the road and already was developing small holes. For now I've emptied a can of penetrating oil and a bit of old engine oil over the worst bits and am leaving it to soak, only other changes that I'm planning are to put back th K&N fliter and 500/4 carbs the bike came with and retire the stock 550/k3 carb and airbox I'd fitted for the economy boost, not worth it in retrospect, I miss the thirstyer carbs ability to make every corner a powerslide by opening the throttle, also the k3 carbs seem to give trouble if stood for even a few weeks. Once done she'll be back on the commuting job, I'm really looking foreward to that. I might even treat myself to re commissioning one other 500/4's or the 550k3 after that, probably the 500/4's will win out what with them being most likely tax exempt. Not sure if I'll sell the 250 and 125 twins that have tided me through the rennovation years or in the case of the 250, bung a lighted match in the petrol tank, it may be a honda sohc bike, but not a patch on the 70's originals - both the twin's are mid 90's honda and the drop in quality from the 70's is deffinately there, they rust quicker for starters, and the fat rear tyres + longer swing arm makes them pants in winter, so much so that the 250 broke my foot this winter on ice, I've never dropped the 550 solo I had or the bmw of that era and I put that down to the older bikes thinner rear hoop, hell I rode the bmw in snow 4 inches deep over the Breacon beacons a fair few times with no issues, but the 250, that thing has fallen over every winter that it has been used.
500/4 here we go.

mickwinf:
glad to hear you are getting the 500 sorted, mine is coming on too! If you need a front mudguard I have a non standard blade with an original brace which looks the part and seems to be stainless steel.

matthewmosse:
I might have 6 spares in the shed unless my memory is shot, some might be single stay 550 ones though. I think both the guard and the headlight were so obviously on their way that I sourced spares back when the bike was last in regular use, only risk on that front is if I've sold the spare to someone 'desperately seeking' I'm luckier still on the rear muddy, it's a fiberglass item that seems to be a plastic reproduction of the original, really lucky in that I've got 3 of them, they actually look ok, and unlike the chrome originals that rot easily and have definate hot spots for bad corrosion where damp can lodge and eat the thing they are inpervious to salt water, the fronts seem to fare way better.
Thanks for the offer though.

mickwinf:
Its good to have a stash of parts, sometimes I buy things only to remember I already have one that I bought just in case!

hunterso:
Sounds like you have your work cut out Matt - look forward to seeing how it goes. Get some pics up.

Mick - I may be interested in the mudguard if you can get a picture to me

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