Here's what I'll do:
Front End:
Rebuild front fork with new seals and oil
wheel bearings
-There is a squeak coming from the front end sometimes that I fear may be dried out bearings. A seizure would be somewhat catastrophic.
clean and adjust brake caliper, add new brake pads
-brakes are also squeaky, not sure why but this should fix it.
Stainless steel brake hoses
-This is one of the best upgrades on these old bikes. It quickens the response of the front brake and resists fading as you squeeze the lever. Those old rubber hoses are probably unsafe anyway, so whey not replace them with the best?
Tapered Roller Steering head bearings
-Not sure the bike needs this repair right now. It's more of an upgrade that improves handling. I will do it if funds allow.
Electrics
Fix electric start
This may involve replacing the solenoid, or the switch. I am not sure why the starter doesn't always spin. One issue is that the normal starter button is missing and the previous owner hacked into the wires by the left side cover and added his own push button switch. That'll also be fixed.
Clean and lubricate all electrical connections
This can make a big difference on these old bikes. The SOHC Honda charging system doesn't offer much extra juice, so corroded or dirty connections can really affect brightness of lights, switches, and even how good the thing runs. I'll unplug each connector and polish it, then put it back together with dielectric grease.
Replace/fix Horn
Not sure why the horn doesn't work because I haven't looked into it. It's the switch, a connection, or possibly the horn itself. Fortunately a horn can be had for like $10
Tune Up/Maintenance
New points/condensers
I have no idea how old these parts are, so since they're cheap I'll go the safe route and get new ones. I also intend to keep an extra set on the bike. I have contemplated getting the electronic ignition for this bike, but we'll see if funds allow. Points are nice because they're so simple you can fix on the side of the road. Electronic ignition is maintenance free and will probably never fail, but if it did I would have no way to fix it while on the road.
Clean and synchronize carburetors again
I think the bike is running rich, so I want to take the carbs off, clean them, recheck float levels, and re-sync them. Over the summer I invested in a fancy carb sync tool, so that job isn't so bad. What is bad is taking the carbs off and putting them on again. That has been the least pleasant job on this bike. I should be damn good at it after doing it so many times trying to get the carbs right, but alas, it still sucks.
New Chain and Sprockets
I have no idea how old the ones on the bike are. The chain is definitely done for, and they recommend doing the sprockets at the same time. Unfortunately the CB500 cannot use an o-ring chain, they're too wide and rub against the engine case, possible wearing a hole through it (ouch!). A standard chain is cheaper though! Sprockets are pretty cheap for this old girl too.
Maintenance Schedule
Routine stuff all in the first section of the manual. Check and adjust cam chain, valve clearance, timing, etc. This is easy and won't cost any money (provided I don't break anything).
Chassis
Swing Arm Bushings
These were a weak point on the old Hondas, one of the few things that didn't last long. There are aftermarket bronze bushings that work better. Mine may not be bad, but I want to replace them anyway as the bike will be at or above load capacity with the girl and me plus luggage. Plus, I think it would be good to take apart, clean, and re-lubricate the swing arm pivot shaft. That grease is 38 years old.
New Rear Tire, tube, rim strip
Ahh, spoked wheels. Standard size for this bike is 3.50-18. The old inch-sizes are not hard to find, but you don't get much of a selection. I think I'll go with a Dunlop 4.00-18, which seems to work on these rims. Dad's Royal Enfield runs these and I really like them for dirt roads. I am going to try this job on my own, we'll see how that goes. I guess I should check the spokes for tension and the wheel for balance while I have it off.
Rear wheel bearings
Probably past their prime as well. Not something I want to deal with on the trip, so I'll do them as a precaution.
Aesthetics
Repaint exhaust headers
Last winter I painted the exhaust headers because the chrome was really crappy and a couple of them were a little rusty. Brilliantly I chose engine enamel in a spray can, not realizing that engine enamel is not heat-resistant enough for exhaust pipes! So my nice black headers have been slowly reverting back to crappy gray.
Here's what that project looked like. I came up with an ingenious method of painting the individual pipes! Here's before and after, then shown reinstalled on the bike. This was before I had done the seat and gas tank, among other things.
I may also repaint the tank and side covers with a fresh coat of green. I never took the time to sand and polish my original green paint job, so if I have time I'll redo it.
So there's my to do list! Some of these repairs have been covered in Motorcycle Classics magazine's series on their project CB500, so for some things I have a nice, full color set of instructions in the vernacular language. I also have the amazing resource of sohc4.net, which has helped me immensely so far.
Please note, parents and others, that most of the repair items I have lined up here are mainly to improve the safety of the bike. I could probably ride it to Alaska tomorrow, but I want the bike to be as safe and reliable as I can make it!
Please stay tuned for more exciting posts!
Jeremy B
No comments:
Post a Comment