honda305.com Forum

bikedoctor99 wrote:Hello Sara,

I saw your restoration thread a few days ago & just finished reading about your adventure- great inspiration to drag myself out to the garage tomorrow for a major clean up on my cb.

One of the things I noticed is that when you became frustrated with the down time or lack of progress, you always came back with a vengence & completed much more than I expected to read, this is a great story!! & a forum of great enthusiasts!

I look forward to the next chapter.

Well, BD, that is sweet of you! Thank you for that! You've inspired me to get back at it! Hopefully I'll have some progress to report, and soon.

Now, you get out there and get your bike going. ;)

I have things to report!

The head is (double) boxed up and will go out to LM early next week - finally! I've been polishing on some of the cad plated mounts with a brass brush and mild Scotch-brite pads, and they have come back nicely. I'm not going to worry about replating them, they look really good as is. I'm also prepping the swing arm for (Dupli-color) paint, along with the headlight bucket. They'll be the "experiment" to see how the Dupli-color works and looks. If successful, the frame will get the next treatment. (I haven't decided on the fuel tank or fenders, yet.) I hope to get to the clutch and primary drive covers this week, as well. Yes, I will post pictures of progress!

The new exhaust system is BEAUTIFUL. I have the replacement mufflers and headers about 50% cleaned and polished, and oh my. The originals NEVER looked that good!

Spring is coming. I want to get the Old Girl going towards being on the road! Of course, I anticipate a fight with California DMV, but I'll worry about that when I get to it. When I do start to worry about that it means the bike will be getting close - sweet!

Here's some photos, as promised:





I'm not trying for perfection on the polished aluminum parts. They have plenty of flaws from "life" (like me), and that lends them character (like me). I just want them to shine, because they can.

The cad plated parts. Well, I was a little worried there, because LM PM'ed me and told me if I had polished off the cadmium plating they would rust. I looked them over carefully, and they're okay, still well plated - but very clean, now. They have just the right amount of tarnish on them, too.

The valley cover is painted front and back. It's not perfect, but it's worlds better than it was, and much better than "good enough". There will be no "good enough" on my bike, there will be only "as good as I can get it".

The primary cover has been sanded and cleaned, and it's awaiting some JB Weld in the deeper scratches and gouges. Once that has been applied and sanded, the cover will get a coat of etch primer. When that's cured, the color, Dupli-Color engine Cast Coat Aluminum will go on.

The head is on it's way to LM. He suggested I send my starter to him as well, which I will do next month.

I looked all over for oxalic acid yesterday, and I couldn't find it at Home Depot, Ace, or OSH (no Lowes nearby). I might have to order it online.

The weather has been cold and damp, so the primering and painting has come to a stop until things settle down. The forecast says "Monday", so I plan to be back it then. I have a busy weekend ahead of me, anyway.

I can sort of see an end to all of this. The pieces are coming together, and I just might have a running, rolling, riding bike come this summer!

Is there a West Marine or BoatUS near you? They might have oxalic acid.

Vince Lupo wrote:Is there a West Marine or BoatUS near you? They might have oxalic acid.

There is a West Marine! I'll try them. Thank you, Vince!

The head is on it's way back from LM. He said it was in good shape, overall. I'm looking forward to getting it!

In the mean time, I've done this:



This engine has NEVER looked this good!