1964 CA77 Restoration

Steverino · Post by **Steverino** » Sat Jul 18, 2015 1:17 am

Hi Seadog, this is the other Seadog,
You are doing beautiful work. Zinc Plating is a step or two past the level I'm taking mine. Maybe I will go back at some point and do those pieces. I am going to have to read up on it because right now I don't know anything about zinc plating.
The Other Seadog

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Sat Jul 18, 2015 2:25 am

Great work on the damper rods.

G

Seadog wrote:I've spent days cleaning and zinc plating parts, but have so much more to do. Wheel bearings are installed and I've finished replacing shock seals and oil. I also had to straighten both shafts, which really wasn't too difficult.

Seadog · Post by **Seadog** » Sat Jul 18, 2015 4:21 pm

Steverino wrote:Hi Seadog, this is the other Seadog,
You are doing beautiful work. Zinc Plating is a step or two past the level I'm taking mine. Maybe I will go back at some point and do those pieces. I am going to have to read up on it because right now I don't know anything about zinc plating.
The Other Seadog

Thanks, Seadog Steve; you're project is pretty spectacular, so I'll take that as a high compliment. If/when you're ready to try some zinc plating, let me know and I'll share whatever information I have. It's really not difficult, but a little fussy.

Seadog · Post by **Seadog** » Sat Jul 18, 2015 4:25 pm

G-Man wrote:Great work on the damper rods.

G

And I remember very well who told me how to straighten them. Thanks again, Graham.

I'm missing the educational (and entertaining) progress reports on your project; you must be very busy with other work.

Seadog · Post by **Seadog** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 4:55 pm

Today, I, the King of Procrastination, started a little reassembly. I was able to mount the steering stem without any real trouble, using the grease as paste to hold the ball bearings in the bottom race and a bungee cord to hold the stem in place while I did the same with the top bearings. I still need a 35mm socket to torque the stem nut. No luck finding one locally.

I installed the front shocks and suspension arm into the front fork and although I'd practiced with an old fork, I had a bit of difficulty. I could get one new front cushion bolt in, but the other just wouldn't cooperate. It was as if the shock was twisted. After a lot of jockeying and more than a little grumbling, it just fell into place. Afterward, I was about to mount the rear fork bolts into the steering stem, but decided that they need to be replaced and the lock washers needed to be re-plated. The plating was quick. I'll use the old bolts until I get new. The lock washers dug a nice groove in the new paint though. Why didn't Honda use washers under the locks?

While plating, I decided to re-plate the top bridge bolts. I also stripped the zinc off the bridge washers, annealed the tabs and re-plated them at the same time. The bolts didn't come out so well in the plating process- it occasionally happens. Despite the effort spent in degreasing, I just didn't get it all off. I stripped them again, washed, washed, washed and now have them soaking in Simple Green over night. I'll try plating them again tomorrow after thoroughly cleaning all my equipment and filtering the electrolyte and acid etch.

I also installed the newly re-plated seat bracket bolt parts and the step bar. The bar is NOS and needed tweaking to fit correctly without taking off new frame paint. The lower bar bolts, nuts and lock washers have been re-plated, but because the bike came to me with the engine off, I'm not sure what goes into the upper two holes. Engine bolts or the "bolt, under rear", as shown in the parts diagram? I'll figure it out and will use something else unit I do.

The center stand is painted, a new rubber bumper installed and the pivot bolt, nut and spacer have been re-plated and are ready to install; the kickstand has been replaced with a new used unit and re-plated as have its nut and bolt. I'll be installing them at some point after the wheels are on.

Just a few body parts left to re-plate, such as the rear brake rod and maybe the brake spindle and spring, although they look pretty good as is. Engine parts will be dealt with later, when I start work on that (I need more procrastination time).

All-in-all, perhaps just small progress today to those more experienced than I, but satisfying for me nevertheless.

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 1:50 am

Seadog

I'm missing being in the workshop but a combination of work and travel which are expected and the unexpected granting of a large new 'allotment' garden (just a rented piece of parish council land for vegetable gardening has kept me away from the worksop. The garden had run wild so there was a lot of work to do. Plus, my wife wanted a new greenhouse to grow her tomatoes so I have built that and set up a water collection system.

This is after I cut down the tall grass and weeds....

This is after 8 weeks.....

Not exactly 305-related but presented as my excuse for lack of progress.... :-)

I had a little bike therapy last evening when I visited SMBH (on this forum) on the way home from a business meeting and we did a little swap - a new crank bearing for some leftover crank parts, then spent an hour or so talking bikes and other things. Sometimes it's nice to be in a small country with great people nearby...

G

Seadog wrote:
G-Man wrote:Great work on the damper rods.

G

And I remember very well who told me how to straighten them. Thanks again, Graham.

I'm missing the educational (and entertaining) progress reports on your project; you must be very busy with other work.

Steverino · Post by **Steverino** » Wed Jul 29, 2015 3:01 am

Belt Drive Harley in the Background. Looks like a Big One.
Beautiful work Seadog.
Steve