I rebuilt the 500 engine which is basically the same. I melted a piston and totalled the engine but the man I bought it off gave me a spare engine that was complete but he had left it outside with no plugs in. I managed to salvage it. I drained everything out, filled it with diesel and left it for a day then stripped it down. The bores needed a clean but the rings were ok and the crank was fine so it went together quite well.
Hi, I rebuilt the engine on a CB450 a few years ago and it nice to watch! The bike was in great original condition but the engine was seized. The seller said possibly from standing so long. Oh no. The left hand piston had melted itself to the cylinder! Remarkably, I cleaned the aluminium off with strong toilet cleaner, honed them, and they were fine. New pistols and rings of course. I think the original owner had failed to turn down the auto chain oiler, lost a lot of oil and seized the engine. That was why the left side was covered in oil and well preserved! One other issue I had was the valve followers were badly worn but I found some slightly worn for a good price. I think you can have them welded and resurfaced but that would be expensive. Pain setting up the valves too. The timing chain is so awkward, it just wants to pull out of adjustment. Setting the torsion bars is unusual but quite easy. The valve gap is tiny! This makes me want to do another! Good luck.
Okay, just one last tip! A broom handle fits perfectly through the gap in the cylinder head so with a helper each side it's easier to get the engine in and out of the frame. Have fun!
One more thing, I bought a full set of oil seals but only fitted the one on the kickstart shaft. The others 'looked' okay. When the bike was done I had a small oil leak. Instant regret. The seals are cheap, I even had them! I lived with the leak. These CB450a are great machines, a bit bouncy but great fun to ride!
be sure to remove the oil pump brass screen and inspect the cast iron oil pump housing to be sure there is no casting flash around the oil pump intake hole.I saw the hole in the oil pump screen, fix that.
I like to grease them up on both sides. Two reasons: have them stick in place on install and to hopefully allow me to remove the side cover later and they won’t stick.🤞What do you do?
@@motorcyclerewind My boss at a motorcycle shop taught me to use gaskets dry as furnished, but if there were imperfections on the metal surfaces we used a little Hylomar Universal Blue. It works well when re-using gaskets not in perfect shape.
Rode my CB450 while stationed in Seattle area before going to VN. Great memories.
Thanks for sharing.
The pieces of plastic are from the cam chain sprocket. They are used to reduce the sound of the cam chain. I got new ones from common motor.
Thanks for the heads up. Knew someone would know. Thanks for watching.
I rebuilt the 500 engine which is basically the same. I melted a piston and totalled the engine but the man I bought it off gave me a spare engine that was complete but he had left it outside with no plugs in. I managed to salvage it. I drained everything out, filled it with diesel and left it for a day then stripped it down. The bores needed a clean but the rings were ok and the crank was fine so it went together quite well.
Looking forward to getting this guy back together.
Those engines are indestructible
I certainly hope so. 🤣 I’m the one putting it back together. Thanks for watching.
Hi, I rebuilt the engine on a CB450 a few years ago and it nice to watch! The bike was in great original condition but the engine was seized. The seller said possibly from standing so long. Oh no. The left hand piston had melted itself to the cylinder! Remarkably, I cleaned the aluminium off with strong toilet cleaner, honed them, and they were fine. New pistols and rings of course. I think the original owner had failed to turn down the auto chain oiler, lost a lot of oil and seized the engine. That was why the left side was covered in oil and well preserved! One other issue I had was the valve followers were badly worn but I found some slightly worn for a good price. I think you can have them welded and resurfaced but that would be expensive. Pain setting up the valves too. The timing chain is so awkward, it just wants to pull out of adjustment. Setting the torsion bars is unusual but quite easy. The valve gap is tiny! This makes me want to do another! Good luck.
Feel free to come visit and help me put this one back together. 🤣 Thanks for watching.
Okay, just one last tip! A broom handle fits perfectly through the gap in the cylinder head so with a helper each side it's easier to get the engine in and out of the frame. Have fun!
That’s a great tip. Thanks. Send me an email with your contact info incase I need to phone a friend. motorcyclerewind@gmail.com
LOL, I did that too! Suspended it from the beam in my garage. Worked great!
One more thing, I bought a full set of oil seals but only fitted the one on the kickstart shaft. The others 'looked' okay. When the bike was done I had a small oil leak. Instant regret. The seals are cheap, I even had them! I lived with the leak. These CB450a are great machines, a bit bouncy but great fun to ride!
I’ve been there. Can’t wait to get this guy going.
interesting watch, looking forward to the next installment
My favorite part was when I dropped the cam chain. 🤣Thanks for watching.
Well done! Def. split the cases on this one.
That’s the plan. Need to make sure the crank is useable. Thanks for watching.
be sure to remove the oil pump brass screen and inspect the cast iron oil pump housing to be sure there is no casting flash around the oil pump intake hole.I saw the hole in the oil pump screen, fix that.
Will do. Thanks for the advice
Cool job ❤
Thanks for watching. It was fun until I dropped the cam chain. 🤣
When you put crankcase side plates (covers?) on, do you use anything on the gaskets to aid sealing or just dry gaskets as furnished?
I like to grease them up on both sides. Two reasons: have them stick in place on install and to hopefully allow me to remove the side cover later and they won’t stick.🤞What do you do?
@@motorcyclerewind My boss at a motorcycle shop taught me to use gaskets dry as furnished, but if there were imperfections on the metal surfaces we used a little Hylomar Universal Blue. It works well when re-using gaskets not in perfect shape.
Btw, the auto oiler feeds crankcase oil from the drive sprocket and is adjustable. I turned mine right down. I would rather lube the chain myself!
Thanks for the tip.
Take plenty of photos so that there's no doubt about what goes where
Thankfully I record everything. Added benefit of having a RUclips channel. 🤣Thanks for watching.
I'm a freezer bag type the kind with the name tag printed on it I also have a cart like yours
The key is staying organized. Whatever that looks like for you. The cart keeps everything in one place and can be moved. Thanks for watching.
Glad to see that you are wearing your safety flip flops :-)
I had safety socks on with them. 🤣
please split the cases...people want to know!
Cases will be split. Have to figure out why it’s not shifting. Thanks for watching.