blaughlin
New Member
I figured I’d drop a few photos here to show where my projects are at. I started with the CM450, which was basically a barn-find with only 375 miles on the odometer original. From what I was told, the original owner took it on one long ride, parked it, and that was that. His son eventually passed it along to the guy I traded with.
View attachment IMG_2589.jpg
Unfortunately, mice had set up camp in the airbox, so I spent a good couple of days with the shop vac and PB Blaster working through all the corroded bolts. Got everything cleaned up as best I could. Luckily, the detail shop next to my studio let me borrow some of their chrome polish and steel wool, which brought the shine back from a distance. There’s still some deep pitting, though maybe one day I’ll scrape together the cash to have the parts re-plated.
I also pulled the carbs and just got my refurb kit in the mail, so the plan is to rebuild them over Labor Day weekend. Not much more to report yet—lights are working on the gauges and blinkers, and I’ll be changing the oil this weekend as well.
The CM200 is a different story. The chrome on the tail fender didn’t really come back—the plating was so thin that it’s showing through to the brass. The insides were in rough shape, so I wire-brushed them and hit them with undercoating. Both frames got a round of rust eater, a good wash, and then some flat black I had lying around to cover the bare spots.
View attachment IMG_2591.jpg
I changed the oil and checked the oil screen—looked fine. While I was at it, I started checking the valves and found them all way too tight. Broke out the feeler gauges and adjusted them to spec, but this is where I start to get a little lost since I don’t have much experience. If the valves are too tight, does that mean they’re hanging open a bit? And could that be part of what’s causing a rich condition? The oil was full of gas, and the plugs came out black. Changed the tire on the rear as it had a flat. Nothing like doing a tire and tube job, but needed done. Carb was pretty trashed, so on this one I ordered a whole new carb. Hoping I can get things straightened out so I could at least start the 200.
Bonus pic of the bit that broke off as I was taking the case cove off. Someone was cranking hard on that case.
View attachment IMG_2589.jpg
Unfortunately, mice had set up camp in the airbox, so I spent a good couple of days with the shop vac and PB Blaster working through all the corroded bolts. Got everything cleaned up as best I could. Luckily, the detail shop next to my studio let me borrow some of their chrome polish and steel wool, which brought the shine back from a distance. There’s still some deep pitting, though maybe one day I’ll scrape together the cash to have the parts re-plated.
I also pulled the carbs and just got my refurb kit in the mail, so the plan is to rebuild them over Labor Day weekend. Not much more to report yet—lights are working on the gauges and blinkers, and I’ll be changing the oil this weekend as well.
The CM200 is a different story. The chrome on the tail fender didn’t really come back—the plating was so thin that it’s showing through to the brass. The insides were in rough shape, so I wire-brushed them and hit them with undercoating. Both frames got a round of rust eater, a good wash, and then some flat black I had lying around to cover the bare spots.
View attachment IMG_2591.jpg
I changed the oil and checked the oil screen—looked fine. While I was at it, I started checking the valves and found them all way too tight. Broke out the feeler gauges and adjusted them to spec, but this is where I start to get a little lost since I don’t have much experience. If the valves are too tight, does that mean they’re hanging open a bit? And could that be part of what’s causing a rich condition? The oil was full of gas, and the plugs came out black. Changed the tire on the rear as it had a flat. Nothing like doing a tire and tube job, but needed done. Carb was pretty trashed, so on this one I ordered a whole new carb. Hoping I can get things straightened out so I could at least start the 200.
Bonus pic of the bit that broke off as I was taking the case cove off. Someone was cranking hard on that case.
