1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

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myers
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1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

Postby myers » Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:15 am

Heya Honda people,

I have no idea what I'm doing! But still decided to pick up a project bike. You gotta start somewhere.

A really nice gentleman was selling this 1981 CB650 Custom for peanuts (250 euro) an hour drive away from Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
So I gave him a call and asked to meet ASAP as I suspected he'd be getting lots of calls. The trick was – he accidentally listed it as Honda Others in car category and I found it by sheer mistake browsing through wrecked car listings.

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I was warned that the bike doesn't start due to a starter clutch failure but just might run. I couldn't walk past a bargain deal taking into account a solid cosmetic condition of it. At the least I can sell it out for parts for around 200+ euro.
So after about half an hour of push-starting we managed to get it running together with the owner who bought this CB brand new when he was 18. I made a few circles around the block, paid the guy and came back with a trailer after a couple of days.

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No idle. In fact anything under 2000 is just stopping the engine. One of the front brake calipers was jamming and totally jammed when I was unloading a motorcycle. Tried to put a screwdriver in and unjam the damn pad but it didn't work and I just drained the brake fluid out of it. Please don't question my methods it was a spur of the moment decision.
Nevertheless it does run and it seems like the engine is not leaking anywhere. All things together that could be the worst case scenario.

To do (I'll be updating this and "Done" regularly):
- brakes (calipers, pads, lines, fluid, etc);
- oil and oil filter change;
- air filter pods instead of an air box;
- carburetors need cleaning, rejetting (as part of a transition to pods) maybe even a complete overhaul;
- starter clutch fix, previous owner mentioned this issue;
- starter itself. Even though I was assured that it is working I couldn't get it to react to my attempts to spin it;
- fuel lines need replacing;
- fuel tank has epoxy inside (read on), needs thorough cleaning;
- carb/intake boots (actually look a lot better than I previously thought);
- new handlebar, wheelbarrow type is just killing my wrists;
- chain;
- sprockets;
- spark plugs;
- shocks (to raise the rear);
- fork (to lower the front);
- exhaust;
- seat design (this one comes in last to emulate the looks for cafe/tracker).

Done:
nothing so far :)

This bike is for my lady and we want to work on it together to create a simple cafe/tracker weekend city ride.
As this is the first motorcycle we'll be working on I want to keep modifications to the minimum.

Your advice is more than welcome and always appreciated.
Last edited by myers on Thu Oct 19, 2017 5:06 pm, edited 9 times in total.

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myers
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Re: 1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

Postby myers » Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:18 am

and I just replaced uploaded images with photobucket links

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myers
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Re: 1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

Postby myers » Tue Oct 17, 2017 2:08 pm

Soooo, I started cleaning the tank tonight.

I took it off the motorcycle a couple of days ago and took it home. I don’t really have a garage at this very moment, so I take parts off and drag them home :)

First I drained as much fuel as I can. And by that I mean that it felt like there was a good liter or two left inside that didn’t go out the pet cock. When I started shaking it I felt and heard pretty big chunks of something rattling around the tank!

Of course, my first thought was that this was rust falling off the walls. Quite big chunks though. You’d imagine tank having rusted holes with that amount of damage.

So! Turned over and poured out all the gas and decided to first rinse it really well with water just to get rid of all the bigger parts.

This is what I extracted from the tank.
All the inner walls are covered with this slightly transparent, pretty hard but crumbly thing.
It does smell like caramel.

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What do you think this could be?


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myers
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Re: 1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

Postby myers » Tue Oct 17, 2017 3:10 pm

Got a reply from a previous owner that this is a kind of epoxy paint shop put in the tank to make sure it’s pressure tight.

I am not a specialist, but this is a weird move! Now it’s all over the tank in chunks clogging up petrol flow.


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GeorgeSweety
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Re: 1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

Postby GeorgeSweety » Wed Oct 18, 2017 12:49 am

Hi myers and welcome :D It sounds like you got a bargain but unfortunately your pictures aren't showing :( That epoxy tank liner was probably used because the tank was leaking as I don't know anyone in their right mind that would use it otherwise as it never lasts.

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myers
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Re: 1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

Postby myers » Wed Oct 18, 2017 6:59 am

GeorgeSweety wrote:Hi myers and welcome :D It sounds like you got a bargain but unfortunately your pictures aren't showing :( That epoxy tank liner was probably used because the tank was leaking as I don't know anyone in their right mind that would use it otherwise as it never lasts.


Thanks a lot!
Photobucket is acting weird on my set up :)
So I just reuploaded from Tapatalk app. Hope that's fine with admins.

Yeah, you are probably right about the leakage. Paint job on the tank is nice but not perfect, so there's another reason to redo it.
Do you know what's the best way to identify where it leaks and address this problem?

Best,
N

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GeorgeSweety
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Re: 1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

Postby GeorgeSweety » Wed Oct 18, 2017 1:29 pm

Hi myers, that does indeed look like a bargain! If the tank was leaking??? and the paint isn't very good??? I think that my first option would be to see if I could find a replacement tank that doesn't leak, may work out cheaper and easier in the long run. To find a leak in a tank I would empty it, turn it upside down and make sure it was perfectly dry. Then I'd cover the whole bottom in talcum powder or similar and top up with a bit of fuel (about a pint/litre) and see where the powder appears damp. As for repairing the tank I have read a lot on the net about chemical metals with varying success or failure and about soldering the tank, but making sure that the fuel vapours are long evaporated in case of the tank blowing up.

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myers
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Re: 1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

Postby myers » Thu Oct 19, 2017 10:37 am

Makes sense. I’ll keep an eye on local “ebays” for a new tank.

I will try my best to clean this one out as for now it’s the only tank I have.
If all fails I always wanted to make a decorative shelf out of a motorcycle tank or something like that :)

In the meantime I have removed the carburetors from the motorcycle and I must say I am not surprised to see that the epoxy got through to them too :(

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See that “caramel” in the last picture? That’s the same stuff as I found in a tank, but now it’s more like a paste. Must be combined of microscopic pieces that got through the filter, mixed with petrol now.

I need a carb cleaner spray and some time to study video manuals and my new books that arrived recently

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Last edited by myers on Thu Oct 19, 2017 3:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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GeorgeSweety
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Re: 1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

Postby GeorgeSweety » Thu Oct 19, 2017 11:20 am

Hi myers, you may find this link useful. http://www.motopsyco.com/2013/08/09/vin ... -overhaul/

BTW, what number is stamped on to the carb body? just above the float bowls.

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myers
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Re: 1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

Postby myers » Thu Oct 19, 2017 3:15 pm

GeorgeSweety wrote:Hi myers, you may find this link useful. http://www.motopsyco.com/2013/08/09/vin ... -overhaul/

BTW, what number is stamped on to the carb body? just above the float bowls.


I believe it’s 51F A SF9
Link = priceless. Thank you!

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GeorgeSweety
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Re: 1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

Postby GeorgeSweety » Thu Oct 19, 2017 10:16 pm

Hi myers, you are most welcome mate :) If you need to search for info or spares then your carbs are known as PD51F, you are lucky that they do not have "air cut off valves" on them as that is one less thing to cause problems or need expensive replacement parts :lol: Please make sure that when you strip your carbs you have your camera handy so that if you are unsure about anything you can take pictures.

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Re: 1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

Postby Folsoml » Fri Oct 20, 2017 10:42 am

GeorgeSweety wrote: Please make sure that when you strip your carbs you have your camera handy so that if you are unsure about anything you can take pictures.


George is dead on about this! Ask me how I know. :oops:
Have a problem with your CB650? Have a technical question? Click here!


My Current Bikes: 2005 HD FLHTCUI Electra Glide Ultra Classic, 2007 Yamaha Vino,

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Re: 1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam

Postby GeorgeSweety » Fri Oct 20, 2017 1:50 pm

Folsoml wrote:
GeorgeSweety wrote: Please make sure that when you strip your carbs you have your camera handy so that if you are unsure about anything you can take pictures.


George is dead on about this! Ask me how I know. :oops:


Obviously we both learnt the hard way. :lol: That little choke lever connector spring "ain't half a bugger!" :roll:


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