cb650 cafe project: 1981 cb650 on a 1979 frame

[cb650cafe]

Hello all, I am currently working on rebuilding my newly acquired 1981 cb650 custom into a cafe bike on a 1979 cb650 frame.

So I have the 1979 frame now with a Colorado title, thanks to cb650 in Denver... traded the seat and sissybar for it... Now I am ripping it apart, want to get the carbs out and cleaned, this bike has not run in 12 years, but has good compression, have not checked spark yet, going to see if the battery will take a charge. These carbs are filthy, I have attached some images below, carb cleaner will not be enough.

[cb650cafe]

more pics

[cb650cafe]

This is after the carbs were drenched in carb cleaner, I was going to try boiling in lemon juice next, any thoughts??

[cb650cafe]

so I have cleaned the carbs up nice...now struggling with trying to put the damn things back on, they keep slipping out of the boots while i am trying to clamp them shut..any advice?

[cb650]

I use a little oil and they usually just pop right on.

[cb650cafe]

Thanks, I used a little oil, and also kinda angled it up, and levered them in place. Not sure If I attached the choke parts correctly... I guess we'll see when I try and start it. I got this new 75/76 cb750 gas tank, just need to get a petcock. We shall see if this beast starts up soon enough.

[Volker_P]

Not sure If I attached the choke parts correctly... I guess we'll see when I try and start it.

With all that free space now, you should immediately see if the choke flaps move. Be aware that the choke cam is two halves, so check them all. Things won't be that easy any more as soon as you installed everything again.
From that picture, the 750 tank seems to be very similar to the '79 tank. Hope the petcock won't interfere with the CV carb housing.

[cb650cafe]

Yeah, I still haven't gotten around to attaching the cables yet. The tank should work well I think, the petcock is placed in exactly the same spot.. Lucky me, as all I had for fitment at the junkyard was the bare '79 frame...

[cb650]

What J/Y did you go too? Adam is coming to pick up his bike sunday I think if you want to stop by. I might shed a tear though.

[cb650cafe]

cb650 wrote:

What J/Y did you go too? Adam is coming to pick up his bike sunday I think if you want to stop by. I might shed a tear though.

I went to Ty's Salvage in Longmont: http://www.coloradomagazineonline.com/A ... alvage.htm
I have bought several things for my vintage Hondas there, he has fair prices...as for Sunday I am helping a friend move, so I wont make it, thanks though...

[cb650cafe]

So I have decided while I wait for the petcock and new battery to arrive, I will start switching the frame, going to need some new rear shocks, handlebars, and try and figure out where the battery and electronics will end up, hopefully in the rear section of the new seat, whenever I get that...

Does anyone know of a good online manual? I have seen one listed here before, but it was a dohc nighthawk...
thanks

-cb650cafe
1979 cb650
1972 xl250

[cb650]

Been to ty's many times.

[Volker_P]

Cosky's online manual is at: http://cosky0.tripod.com

[cb650cafe]

Cosky's online manual is at: http://cosky0.tripod.com

thanks Volker... that manual helps out a lot.

So I won't say I wasn't warned, I started switching up the frame, and although the swingarm is the right width, the swingarm pivot bolt is a few millimeters thicker than the holes on the 1979 frame, I was thinking of drilling them out, but realized I should probably just buy a 79 swingarm and pivot bolt, does anyone know if the rear wheels are all the same? I want to know what I am getting myself into, if I have to buy a whole new wheel etc. I might consider drilling out the holes and using the 1981 swingarm...

thanks

-cb650cafe

1972 xl250
1979 cb650

p.s. guess I have reached the board attachment quota for pictures, I will start a Part II for this thread on the next post...

[cb650]

Wheels are the same. Have the 79 wheel on my 80 right now. Have had a 81 on it also.