my first restore

[terrylee]

My wife and I bought this 450 at a swap meet for $80.only has 17,000 on it (it will be hers when I',m done). Since everyone seems to enjoy pictures, thought I share these with everyone. This of course will be a all winter project, I'll try to post others as things look better. So far I put in a new battery, took off carbs. and cleaned with carb. spray (plan to do full rebuild later), got all lights working, got starter system to work for a while (still dealing with that),cleaned wiring, cleaned out petcock, drained old gas, put in fresh and bike started right up!! It now starts (jump starting off selinoid) without even putting the choke on. Bike needs a airbox top but other than that everything is there.(Anyone have a spare one let me know). Now I'm taking off rusty pieces and trying to make them look as good as possible. I found a rust remover product called Evapo-Rust at O'Reilley and it works great! It works even on chrome and wonderfully on regular metal. Although I found if you let it soak days it works much better. The bike will also need master cylinder rebuild or replace in frt.(have apart and cleaned already) and new shoes, tires, chain, mirrors, but otherwise only a few cosmetic parts. I'm so excited about this project, I love working on it. Only wish it was shaft driven. terrylee

 

[Larry D]

Heck of a deal.

I think you should name it "Rusty".......were was that thing stored ? A salt water bath ?

I have almost as much fun turning a wrench as I do riding. Keep the pics coming as you proceed.

 

[Rkt-Rch]

I think if mine had more crome it would have looked the same.. Paid $75 Good luck and keep the pictures comming.

 

[Bigbri]

Great Deal!
Looks like a good winter project.
I'll have to try the Evapo-Rust.
I second the name "Rusty"

Have fun bring it back

 

[tkent02]

Rusty is right!
Electrolysis is your friend.

 

[terrylee]

more pictures of "Rusty"

more pictures of "Rusty"

downloaded a few more pics. of my winter project. terrylee

 

[nvr2old]

That's an interesting bike. On one hand it reminds me of those first pics they brought up of the Titanic..on the other hand, you start looking at the parts, and they're really in nice condition. Rusty, but straight. It'd be cool to sand blast all those parts, even the exhaust and ceramic/ powder coat everything a nice satin silver. It would have to include all the chrome parts to work visually..but I think that would be cool. Inexpensive, too. Keep us posted on your progress. Should be a fun restore.

 

[YoungGunRodder]

That's an interesting bike. On one hand it reminds me of those first pics they brought up of the Titanic...

i hope he has a tetanus shot. Great deal though, nothing some love and paint fumes can't fix.

Might want to look at the air fuel mix though. i might be wrong but i thought i read somewhere that they needed a little choke to start in the morning.

YoungGun.

 

[midnightcafe]

That's an interesting bike. On one hand it reminds me of those first pics they brought up of the Titanic..on the other hand, you start looking at the parts, and they're really in nice condition. Rusty, but straight. It'd be cool to sand blast all those parts, even the exhaust and ceramic/ powder coat everything a nice satin silver. It would have to include all the chrome parts to work visually..but I think that would be cool. Inexpensive, too. Keep us posted on your progress. Should be a fun restore.

second on the blasting, my chrome was rough in places and a hazed chrome finish made it look so much better.

 

[Zooks]

Good project. Surface rust is no biggy. As long as the bikes all there it's just labour hours to bring it back.

Best of luck.

 

[Richharr]

all stuff I'd throw away. looks like a good start

 

[tejasmud]

Chop it into bits, cafe, or chopper. :lol:


Naaaa...

For real, nice score on a project, and that it seems to be.


Looks like a good project to learn how to chrome plate parts.

Always wanted to learn.

 

[terrylee]

thanks guys, I've never sand blasted, any pointers. Althought the evapo-rust I found at parts store is doing alot, except for the chrome which is gone. So how do I rechrome? terrylee.

 

[nvr2old]

If you're wanting to do this on a budget, your money might be better spent on mechanical components to begin with. The fork seals, head race bearings, swing arm bushings and brake parts should be rebuilt or replaced. Chain, sprockets, shocks, tires, cables, carb kits..all the things you really don't want to scrimp on to make it safe and reliable. Cosmetically, you can go low-tech and still have it look pretty cool. Re-chroming all those pieces is gonna get a little pricey. Even finding used parts that are nice to replace them with will start to add up pretty quickly. Sand blasting is cheap, and it can be done by the same guys that do the powder coating. There's a lot of corrosion that a chemical will arrest, but not smooth out. Blasting will help do that. Smooth enough to powder coat, for way less than re-chroming. It's just an option, because when it's all said and done, it's what you want it to look like.

 

[midnightcafe]

Yes to the above. Figure out your budget first. then look at what needs to be replaced/fixed. For example, if it needs new tires, a couple hundred right there. Ask yourself what you you want the end product to be. A daily rider needs more work than a rat bike. If you're going on budget try WD-40 and 4/0 steel wool (#0000). Should be fine enough to knock the rust off and not damage the chrome. IMO it works better than the tin foil/soapy water trick because the foil isn't as mendable and tears easy.

 

[terrylee]

Thanks guy I'm definitely not ready to spend alot on looks yet. Your right I'm trying to get it running well first and have been getting everything elec. working. And yes brake work is in order (good used or rebuild frt. master) take off back brakes(shoes) and make sure it's all ok. Take forks off,check springs,seals and new oil. New tires,new chain. And of course valve adjustment. And as you said make sure stem bearing are ok. Getting good used airbox from someone on GS and then plan to tear down, clean, and replace o-rings in carbs. Although it's amazing the bike already starts on first try with no choke! So can't wait to see how it is after rebuild. Also needs different handlebars(too rusty to save). I know I'm going to spend a few hundreds on this bike but for $80. and the experience and fun I'm having it will well be worth it. And with only 17,000 on it I figure it will run a long time. Once all this is done I'll really tackle looks, right now I'm just cleaning up a few things as I go. And without this site I probably could'nt do all this. Thanks to everyone!

 

[ShortyzKustomz]

Good project, Im just starting mine as well, not sure if mine is going to run as easy, been sitting for a good 15 years....But its all there and I paid $50 with rebuilt carbs in a bag

 

[salty_monk]

Aluminium foil works well to scrub rust off without marking chrome. Just ball it up & scrub with it...

Dan

 

[Guest]

Aluminium foil works well to scrub rust off without marking chrome. Just ball it up & scrub with it...

Dan

Done it!
A drimel and a bench grinder is also a must.
A drimel with a tiny wire wheel for the little stuff and a bench grinder with a wire brush for the larger stuff.
Also some good polishing compound and a polishing wheel for the grinder.

Oh, and a hole lots of time.

 

[D-VO]

Time to invest in a sandblaster! Great buy for $80!