'76 CB500t Cafe racer

Started to do a bit today mainly stripping all the useless parts off the bike.
Engine is still siezed solid, I threw a load of diesel and WD40 type stuff down the bores last week and let it soak but I think this is going to be a job on the bench after I've removed it from the bike. I also reckon it's pretty terminal inside the bore that's had the snapped plug that's been exposed to the elements since 1985 lol.
I tried today by heating some engine oil up and pouring that down. No dice.
I've ordered some new hoops and tubes just so I can push it into the shed, didn't realise how fkin cold it was working on the patio!!
Surprised that the nuts holding the headers didn't shear off too, winning!!

The trusty No2 on the go, (no it wasn't for a brew )
How she's sort of looking now

[URL="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af253/Tom0_bucket/5B1B647B-B2AE-4486-A8A8-BB51B0A6D395-19078-00000E23CADA9639.jpg"]http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af253/Tom0_bucket/5B1B647B-B2AE-4486-A8A8-BB51B0A6D395-19078-00000E23CADA9639.jpg[/URL][/IMG
Also managed to find a firm in Sandbach to re chrome and grind my forks for £125 plus there's a bit more parts to be chromed and things I want nickel plating that I'm looking into doing at home.
I'll keep the thread updated as I'm doing stuff

 

re the seizure... cam off, cyl head off, sump off, split the conrods then whack a block of wood down the bores, knock the pistons free.
probably only a bit of surface rust \\ shoud hone up ok but may need new rings

 

bit of work to do on that one tomo your the man for it though. how come it ended up in that sorry state ?
Cheers Dave got it for a project so I can teach the boy about mechanicals ect, might let him ride it when he gets older lol.
Dragged it out of a barn in Crewe mate, previous owner snapped the plug clean off in '85 and that's where he parked it up till I pulled it out 2 weeks ago, right little aladdins cave eye fucked an old BSA he had in with it that wasn't for sale
Always wanted a project tbh I was after a Norton but prices are sky high so I thought an old skool Honda twin cafe'd would be pretty cool!

 

re the seizure... cam off, cyl head off, sump off, split the conrods then whack a block of wood down the bores, knock the pistons free.
probably only a bit of surface rust \ shoud hone up ok but may need new rings

Cheers Mart that was going to be the plan tbh. Just hoping that the bore isn't too badly fk'd I've been looking for rings but can only find +25 or 40's afaik she's still on the standard stuff. Apparently some parts are like rocking horse shit to get hold of but I've been put onto an old boy with a load of machines in his house who can make virtually anything :£

 

That looks like a stolen/recovered bike found in the Mersey!

Glad your posting pics now so there's a reference for how far it's come, for when it's finished!

 

if it was me id just spray it all mat black and just keep going at it wit easy start til it fired up lol

 

See thats what i want to do.....take a bike engine apart to learn how to do it, and what is what..... i have done it with cars and really enjoyed it .....with help obviously

 

that engine will clean up a treat

 

your mrs will go mad when she sees the state of the patio

She's already commented on it Lee :/

 

I'm 100% certain that the pistons and barrels are shagged on this bike so after a little browsing on e blag this morning I came across these beauty's





Apparently there from a Kwak Z1100 a bit of info from the seller:

Here are my Honda CB500T (1975 model) Big Bore 73mm Barrels and matching Kawasaki 1100B2 +0.5 pistons complete with piston rings, gudgeon pins and circlips.

I read about this modification to a CB450 Black Bomber engine around 15 years ago in Classic Racer magazine and having a spare CB500T engine and plenty of money at the time I decided to try it for my bike and have something different.

All machining work was done to a very high standard at Agra Engineering in Dundee. The pistons were machined to suit the high lift, longer duration Phil Joy half race camshafts so will also suit standard camshafts as well. The cylinders were bored out to 73mm to suit the pistons.

This engine was built up with a new crankshaft, no expense spared and only did about 2000 miles, therefore the bores, rings and gudgeon pins are in very good condition and the pistons are in good condition with only some signs of wear on the skirts but still very usable with loads of life left in them.

These barrels and pistons will fit a standard CB500T engine giving a useful increase in capacity to 542cc and also work well with the modified cylinder head I will be listing soon which has half race Phil Joy camshafts fitted.

I've just bought these, he's also selling a head but I'm not to keen in this because afaik the internals between the '75 and '76 were slightly different so I'll port my own head.
Hopefully my CB will be in the Ton club which to me it ain't a cafe until it can!
Still waiting on tyres, can't really do owt much else at the mo.
Off to bed now been on nights.
Peace

 

nice project tom..i considered a cafe racer but the parts are well expensive..remember whatever your original budget was will be x 2..
good luck ...oh and that patio is fooked..dont forget to post pics of every addition

 

something like this will be the bollockshttp://www.xs650chopper.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/XS650-Caf%C3%A9-Racer_0727.jpg

 

Thats banging!



Id so like this!

 

Narrrrr its got no seat

 

Good luck with the project Fella - I think Twins lend themselves to the Cafe thing much better than in-line fours...

Can't really help much as most of my projects involve putting old bikes back to standard but I did the old Zeph below as something a little different...

<u>http://www.northwestbikers.net/topic/13808-winter-project/</u>

One of the guys on the Z1 forum has done this old Zed which may give you a few idea's...

http://www.z1ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19841&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

From memory my old 500T would make 'The Ton up Club'............ Just!. :lol:

 

Haha thanks mate that's why I've gone for the 550cc pistons+barrels. I'll probably do some mild porting of the head and when she's up and running I'll put her on the dyno to get the fueling set up properly.
Can you recommend a good place for re chroming? I managed to find a place called Dynosurf in Sandbach who can hard chrome and grind my fork stansions for £125 but I need a few nick nacks doing too

 

Not used them personally but a few local Zed owners use these people.....

http://aloh.co.uk/index.php

TBH as you're not going down the 'original' route you can just use lots of pattern or aftermarket stuff which can work out much cheaper than refurbing original parts...

These people seem to be the best for Classic Honda parts if you do need anything..

http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/