vroom vrooooom!

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11-18-2008, 01:20 AM
boost

vroom vrooooom!

A few of you might know that I have dived into building a motorcycle as a winter project. Well, this is the thread about the project.

A friend and I had tossed around the idea of building a bike a few months back, and for whatever reason it struck a cord with me. I really got into the idea and started researching what kind of bike would be doable for a first timer, and also what was affordable. Me and my friend settled on the honda cb model line from the early 70's. They go as low as 125cc I believe and as high as 750. We decided the 350, 400, or 450 were probably our best bet, with the 350 being ideal since the most numbers were produced and therefore part availability would not be a problem. We lucked out and found a package deal for 3 non running cb350's about 200 miles away for 600$. We drove down there, checked them out, and rented a uhaul to bring them home.

just incase youre wondering, this is not an ideal, much less safe, way to transport motorcycles.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...0s/cafe009.jpg

We are using my moms garage as a shop. She OK'd it as long as we were willing to clean it out. I forgot to get pics from its worst state, but believe me, it was filled to the rafters with junk. Also my brothers project civic drag car is in there which he hasnt touched in 5+ years. Sadly I have to work around the car, so a lot of room is lost to it.

After about 20 hours of both of us cleaning and starting to lay some insulation
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...0s/cafe005.jpg

The ladies make it safe and sound to their home for the winter
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...0s/cafe017.jpg

Even with the car taking up a lot of room, theres plenty of space for the project. You can see the parts bike in the foreground. Someone was turning it into a hardtail chopper and cut the frame in half. *sigh* The one in the middle has some nifty apehanger handle bars compliments of the 1970's. *sigh*
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/P1010028.jpg

Friends neighbors were throwing out this logitech 2.1 system. I resoldered the stereo jack and viola, weve got a 200$ sound system. Next to it is the portable propane heater I picked up from home depot. I drilled a hole and ran the line outside so I dont have a 20lbs propane bomb sitting next to me while I use my angle grinder...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/P1010027.jpg

The shop drill. Previosly my granddads. Must be 40+ years old. Works like new.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/P1010042.jpg

This is what tipped the scales in my decision of which bike I wanted to build.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/P1010026.jpg
Dont see it? Check out the trip odometer

Tear down has begun. I really dont know what Im doing, but Im learning a ton as I go. Ive got a Clymers cb350 repair manual, a must have for a project like this.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/P1010046.jpg

never done any engine work before. I have a sound understanding of how the thing works, so the rebuild shouldnt be too hard.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...s/P1010048.jpg

So thats about all the pictures I have loaded to my computer at the moment. As for the design of the bikes, we are going for a cafe racer style. I think my friend is going to go more traditional, and my plans have a bit more of a modern twist. For those of you who dont know what a cafe bike looks like, here are a few examples.

http://npat.efault.net/blogimg/cafepix-cb750.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...2006/cb750.jpg
http://350cafe.com/Pictures/Images/Jawacaferacersm.jpg

Well, thats it for now. Ill be posting updates as I make progress.
11-18-2008, 06:59 AM
bode

middle cafe bike is pretty sweet. good luck with the rebuild.
11-18-2008, 09:56 AM
spoonitnow

gl
11-18-2008, 02:46 PM
Irisheyes

Thanks for the thread boost. Looking forward to following along with this.
11-18-2008, 03:42 PM
Trikflow77

pretty cool man. I rebuilt a 2000 kawi 6r using 2 wrecked bikes about 5 years ago. Was fun. Take a ton of pics and label everything, I used ziplock bags and wrote on them. When you start tearing everything apart and dont work on it for a week or a month, you will get pretty lost even with a manual. What are you doing with the motor? Cheapest way to go would be to tear it down and just rering it, getting into machining would cost $$$ plus buying new parts. Anyway, good luck, looks like fun.
11-18-2008, 04:44 PM
a500lbgorilla

oooo motorbikes!
11-18-2008, 05:09 PM
ProZachNation

gl and have fun man

BE SAFE!
11-19-2008, 12:24 AM
boost

ty for all the well wishes guys!

Chase, Ive been religiously putting everything in ziplock bags and writing descriptions on them with a sharpie. I hvae terrible short term memory, and if I dont do it right away Ill forget what a bolt is for that I took out 30 seconds ago!

As for the motor, Im planning on just cleaning the pistons, valves and rehoning the cylinders. Im on a cafe bike forum and a guy suggested getting a cheap sandblasting gun for 25$. I dont have a compressor, but it seems like a good idea to pick one up.

As for the block, Im trying to figure out right now if I need to split it open. I dont think I do, as everything looks fine from what I can see. The only thing Im trying to figure out though is how to go about cleaning/polishing the (outside of the) block while its in one piece and with the crank/alternator/gearset installed.
11-19-2008, 02:01 AM
flomo

Re: vroom vrooooom!

shouldn't yhou be cooking somrthing?

Quote:

Originally Posted by boost

The ladies make it safe and sound to their home for the winter
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...0s/cafe017.jpg

i like the color of the back one with the orange and black
11-19-2008, 02:17 AM
boost

ha.. maybe Ill make a post later talking about my disillusion concerning the culinary industry.
11-19-2008, 03:44 AM
Irisheyes

Is that a box off the biggest microwave in history in the background there?
11-19-2008, 11:39 AM
boost

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irisheyes

Is that a box off the biggest microwave in history in the background there?

ha! If you check the uhaul photo you can see it there too! Its a spare parts box from the guy we bought the bikes from. a couple of carbs, a bunch of wires, some headlight buckets, ect.
11-19-2008, 05:59 PM
Trikflow77

Quote:

Originally Posted by boost

ty for all the well wishes guys!

Chase, Ive been religiously putting everything in ziplock bags and writing descriptions on them with a sharpie. I hvae terrible short term memory, and if I dont do it right away Ill forget what a bolt is for that I took out 30 seconds ago!

As for the motor, Im planning on just cleaning the pistons, valves and rehoning the cylinders. Im on a cafe bike forum and a guy suggested getting a cheap sandblasting gun for 25$. I dont have a compressor, but it seems like a good idea to pick one up.

As for the block, Im trying to figure out right now if I need to split it open. I dont think I do, as everything looks fine from what I can see. The only thing Im trying to figure out though is how to go about cleaning/polishing the (outside of the) block while its in one piece and with the crank/alternator/gearset installed.

hmm, sounds like you dont have a lot of experience with this type of stuff.
Have you checked any of the motors you have to see if they run? Manually cranked them to see if they are even loose and or have compression? Becuase you might be able to get away with not doing anything but diesel flushing the motor and doing a basic tune up. If the motor doesnt run u need to take it apart before you buy any rebuild kits or anything. The pistons, heads, crank, bearings, rods, and block could all be bad in some way, so you cant order anything till you know what the problem is. If the motor is in good shape I would buy a re ring kit, they will be cheap and thats all you will need. This will be the cheapest way to go. You can find a machine shop that will hot tank all of your engine parts(ones you take it apart) for much cheaper than a sandblasting gun and compressor. Also, if your tearing apart the motor to clean the pistons and all that, your block will be free to clean as it will be empty. You can also hot tank that. You can go to autozone and RENT FOR FREE most of the tools you will need. Im talking valve spring compressor, the tool for rehoning the cylinder walls, torque wrench, ring install tool, pretty much all the things your going to need. For the block and any other visible parts, i would recommend some high heat ceramic paint, it comes in a can, many different colors, for like 7-8 bucks.

Anyway, your going to have a tonnn of snags and questions, so pm me or call me anytime, im sure i can help in some form or fashion. GL
11-20-2008, 03:55 AM
boost

all the motors turn over. The parts bike motor gurgles, so it seems the head has some rain water in it :(. I decided from the get go that I wanted to tear the motor down, if for nothing else, just to learn. But also you have to realize that these bikes are 35 years old! I have no clue when the last time was that they saw combustion, and I have no idea why they were left by the wayside. Just because they turn over, doesnt mean all is well. I could fire it up and seize it right away.

All that being said, I did find some fun in the motor that Im nearly done taking apart. I got the head and cylinders off and took out the pistons. This was a few days ago and I set them aside to be cleaned since they had a bit of carbon buildup on them. rings moved freely and did not catch. All seemed well. Today I took the propane tank to refill and while I was out by the garage just took a quick look at my progress. I picked up one of the pistons, and wtf... a HUGE chunk is missing out the bottom of it, lol. I do have a bunch of metal flakes in the case, but I thought this was simply from the camchain roller/tensioner/guide being worn down. It may be, but nonetheless the chunk of piston is nowhere to be seen. So I def have to crack the case open and see what I can see.

So I may have to use a lot more from the parts bike engine than I had planned on.

Btw, thanks for the support chase. Youll def be getting some pm's from me when I get stuck. And thanks for the autozone tip. How exactly does that work? I just leave a deposit for the tool? I was about to go buy a honing tool, you saved me some $$$ it looks like. But as far as the hot tanking goes, I think I still want to get the compressor/blaster. It will pay for itself in the long run Im sure...

p.s. I have zero experience with this stuff. but Im atleast slightly mechanically inclined, so Ill find my way through to the other side.