Another kick at the cat, 71 CL 450 restoration

[anonny]

Originally Posted by LasseNC

I'd say the small-ends look scored?

Was just some light rust, here it is after a bit of polishing with scotchbright.... still need to spend a few more minutes with them.




Still not wine and roses (yet)

just 1 rocker is worn, guess it's not a surprise the last owner probably set them with playdo


Did a quick cylinder hone but just couldn't get some rust out, closer investigation reveals new pistons and a bore are in my future.... anyone have a source for pistons for these?

Last bit of news for the day, the rear brake looked suspicious and every time I pressed the pedal the centerstand would move.... after a lot of persuasion I got the rod out and you can see just how badly it's bent, anyone have a spare?

[killfile]

Originally Posted by anonny

Did a quick cylinder hone but just couldn't get some rust out, closer investigation reveals new pistons and a bore are in my future.... anyone have a source for pistons for these?

I get most of my parts locally, or my shop orders bits directly from Honda for me. When there is something I can't get, I turn to Ohio Cycle:
http://www.ohiocycle.com/

Enjoy! The 450s are fun!

[JSharp]

Oil was crappy back in the day that bike was built. Those rockers probably looked like that decades ago even if they were adjusted properly...

[rgears]

HAHA! I know that pain in the A with a seized cb450 piston! I'm still thinkering with getting my rebuild tweaked just right. A couple of my favorite places for parts are:
www.dimecitycycles.com for your special little bits and parts you didn't know you needed to buy
http://stores.rustyriders.net/StoreFront.bok for most of your basic rebuild parts

I think Dime city also has the oil filter tool for like $8 (maybe a little more.)
Rusty Riders has the rings, but I think I got my pistons from ebay.
of course, there's always BikeBandit.com too.

Good luck! It's a super fun little two-wheeled critter!

By the by, if you weren't already aware, and I don't know that it's an all the obvious problem before a test run, pay close attention to the shifter rod and a follower that sits just behind the clutch canister. There is a circlip in a ridge at the end of the rod that, if worn, will give hell with shifting. Same with the follower that looks like little more than a washer on a short arm. The washer will bore itself out a bit and make for shifting trouble. I think one or both are what is causing my shifting problem.

[MacNoob]

Originally Posted by electroken

It appears that a previous owner had 3 tools in the tool box: Vise-grips, a punch, and a big-ass hammer.

[anonny]

Thanks for the links rgears, this one is proving to be a challenge to get parts for.

Time for some good news.... tach works


speedo works


Almost complete teardown...... a flawless execution


but I cant take the front end apart until I solve a mystery only you can help me with, my headlight bucket measures about 7 7/8"



but I think it's the wrong bucket as it makes the fork ears go off on a weird angle (more than 90 degrees off the forks)

So just how wide should the headlight bucket measure on a known stock one, even a measurement for a CB would do here lads.

[killfile]

Yes, that is the incorrect bucket. Looks to from a later 70s 550 or perhaps 750.

I'm more knowledgable about the 350s, but I would expect a 71 450 to have a plastic bucket that is either black or matches the tank/fork ear paint.

Edit: just did a search, looks like orange is correct:

[anonny]

[QUOTE=killfile;16843263but I would expect a 71 450 to have a plastic bucket that is either black or matches the tank/fork ear paint.

[/QUOTE]

There are some on ebay but I'd still like that dimension care to measure yours?

Funny that headlight bucket would be the only plastic on this bike, the chain guard looked suspicious but the magnet stuck to it.

[killfile]

Unfortunately, I only have my 350 left of my Hondas (not counting my wife's 160 & 305 clan). I'd measure that, but I'm quite sure that will be useless. The 68/69 350 had a metal bucket, which I believe was switched to plastic in 1970 when they changed it from white to colored to match the tank/fork ears.

If someone doesn't post up with an answer, I'll pest my local 450 friends here for you.

[rgears]

I'll have a look at mine tonight and grab a dimension. Mine's a '70 and it has the plastic bucket.

[Sniper X]

Originally Posted by anonny

Thanks for the links rgears, this one is proving to be a challenge to get parts for.

Time for some good news.... tach works


speedo works


Almost complete teardown...... a flawless execution


but I cant take the front end apart until I solve a mystery only you can help me with, my headlight bucket measures about 7 7/8"



but I think it's the wrong bucket as it makes the fork ears go off on a weird angle (more than 90 degrees off the forks)

So just how wide should the headlight bucket measure on a known stock one, even a measurement for a CB would do here lads.

That is not a stock bucket, they weren't chrome on the CB or CL that I know of. I have a nice one with headlight in it but it is Yellow like the tank. Basically in the late 60s early 70s, all the buckets were the same color as the tank, or white. Yours should be Gold like the ears.

[Sniper X]

Here's my 1970 parts bike CL350.

[d mc gee]

Are the CL and CB 450's the same? If so I may have some parts for you.

[anonny]

Originally Posted by d mc gee

Are the CL and CB 450's the same? If so I may have some parts for you.

Yes they are the same bike except the handlebars, exhaust, tires. What have you got for parts.... did I just hit a gold mine?

Sniper I am pretty sure the headlight buckets are the same on the 350's as the 450's so I'd be willing to buy yours if d mc gee doesn't have one...(if you are parting it out) could also use a decent set of handlebars guys, mine have a bend.

[anonny]

Ummm fork soup, couldn't believe all the water that gushed out of the fork legs followed by the gooey mess



Thats about the end of the teardown with the exception of a few sub assemblies, now it's time to get to the real work!