Awesome story and restoration! great job!
I have one question: did you polish the metal such as pipes, handlebars, suspension....? or replaced them?
If you polished them what product did you use? they look amazing and I'm in the middle of restoring a 1971 Honda CL450 it doesn't have as much history as yours but it should be nice when finish.
16 years abandoned 1980honda cm400E is back to life(NEWPICS!
I polished everything chrome and alum on that bike except for the mufflers/pipes , shocks, engine side covers, which where replaced. They where purchased from a friend who used the compound sticks with the buffing wheel on those. He was the one that suggested for me to use polishing stick compounds when I asked him what he used to get them so nice and polished. The polishing stick compounds are different grade mixes with a buffing wheel on a drill which is what was basically used on the entire bike.
The compound colors are Emery cake(black) for heavy cutting, Tripoli(brown) for alum, pewter, chrome, white rouge for stnls, alum,, and red rouge for bright luster on silver, gold, precious metals. I also used "flitz" on the areas that didn't need allot of buffing.
The buffing wheel really works great on bikes that been sitting for a long time and need allot of elbow work to get them clean.
My valve cover is in poor shape so I will be taking that off and using the brown stick with the drill/wheel to clean that up real nice. The white sticks works nice on the chrome as well as alum. I have done the fenders, handlebars, fork covers, foot peg mounts ,wheels/spokes and exhaust heat shields with the white. The Forks, Wheel hubs, and front pipe mounts with the brown.
The compound colors are Emery cake(black) for heavy cutting, Tripoli(brown) for alum, pewter, chrome, white rouge for stnls, alum,, and red rouge for bright luster on silver, gold, precious metals. I also used "flitz" on the areas that didn't need allot of buffing.
The buffing wheel really works great on bikes that been sitting for a long time and need allot of elbow work to get them clean.
My valve cover is in poor shape so I will be taking that off and using the brown stick with the drill/wheel to clean that up real nice. The white sticks works nice on the chrome as well as alum. I have done the fenders, handlebars, fork covers, foot peg mounts ,wheels/spokes and exhaust heat shields with the white. The Forks, Wheel hubs, and front pipe mounts with the brown.
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The Doctor
- Veteran
- Posts: 81
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 8:34 am
- Sex: Male
Thank you so much. I'm going to try it this weekend. Now just to make sure when you say compuond sticks is this what you mean? http://www.acehardware.com/sm-buffing-c ... 54931.html
Yeah, I used the craftsman buffing wheel compound...heres a link
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 0928650000
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 0928650000
Cool!
yeah I remember my bike having the luggage rack with the black latch box in the back as well. My mother used to put her helmet and groceries in there. We think my grandfather took it off in the early 80's when he had the bike.
Anyways, I would love to see pictures of your progress on your resto project!
I finally got a new center stand spring from honda and got my brake pedal on this past weekend. I'm going to soon post the final picture of my bike and fam when it's 100% complete. Been really cold here and I need to get some heat in my garage so I can finish it:) Hard to try and work with gloves on hehe.
yeah I remember my bike having the luggage rack with the black latch box in the back as well. My mother used to put her helmet and groceries in there. We think my grandfather took it off in the early 80's when he had the bike.
Anyways, I would love to see pictures of your progress on your resto project!
I finally got a new center stand spring from honda and got my brake pedal on this past weekend. I'm going to soon post the final picture of my bike and fam when it's 100% complete. Been really cold here and I need to get some heat in my garage so I can finish it:) Hard to try and work with gloves on hehe.
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jeremybear
- Rookie
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:50 am
- Sex: Male
I got most of my parts through ebay and a friend who had parts from the same bike. I also use "yamaha of troy" ...below the direct page for 80cm400E you can copy and past. Most major parts like exhaust, gas tank etc are discontinued but you can still get nuts, bolts, bulbs, hoses and all that small stuff yet. I wouldn't order online since when I did that I found out the stuff I ordered was discontinued so it is best to call them and ask what is still available.
http://www.yamahaoftroy.com/fiche_secti ... &fveh=3172
Ebay is a good source for parts but most are in bad shape but if you keep watching someone will post NOS parts and some nice things from a bike with low mileage. It is where I got my NOS gas tank, NOS taillight bracket, NOS exhaust guards, headlight ring and much much more. You maybe able to get your part for fuel line from yamaha troy if not watch ebay or post on inet for someone parting the same bike or nearly the same such as 78-82 cm400E, C, A,T since most parts interchangeable. Any questions you can message me anytime.
http://www.yamahaoftroy.com/fiche_secti ... &fveh=3172
Ebay is a good source for parts but most are in bad shape but if you keep watching someone will post NOS parts and some nice things from a bike with low mileage. It is where I got my NOS gas tank, NOS taillight bracket, NOS exhaust guards, headlight ring and much much more. You maybe able to get your part for fuel line from yamaha troy if not watch ebay or post on inet for someone parting the same bike or nearly the same such as 78-82 cm400E, C, A,T since most parts interchangeable. Any questions you can message me anytime.