1972 Honda CB500 Four project bike part 10, Engine install, restore forks, & yapping

Getting things done.... forks are rebuild and buffed up nice and shiny. Also put the steering head on and installed the engine.
The fluid in the forks was very nasty and low, so it was well worth the effort to disassemble them and clean them out, plus it made buffing the housings to a nice shine much easer.
The steering head is all assembled with nice new grease. I straightened the bent headlight bracket the best I could and cleaned them up, so I can reinstall the overhauled forks.
I installed the engine, finding it very easy to set the engine on its side, lowering the bare frame over the engine, as a subscriber suggested. That worked out well, other than I had knocked over the camera, not realizing it until I was finished.... so sorry no video.... but it did go together surprisingly easy. It was harder standing the bike back up and onto my transmission jack, which also works out great for a motorcycle lift. I have used it on my other bikes, thats how I know it works decent.
If you liked my video and the progress on my estate sale motorcycle, hit that thumbs up icon. If you like my channel, please subscribe and thank you for watching my video.

[@brianhdueck3372]

I really enjoyed your stories, Howard. The bike is awesome! There’s going to be a very lucky person whoever gets this one.

[@OldCarAlley]

I might keep it a year or two to ride..... maybe. The bikes are much cheaper to run than the Bel Air, with premium gas running at six bucks a gallon all this past summer, I rode the bikes more than I used the Bel Air. The XL250 was getting a hundred miles to the gallon, plus it runs fine on regular gas.

[@ZPDSurvival]

I only use Honda ATF in my forks. From the dealership. I have been working on Honda cars since 94. So I have a stock pile of that in my shop. Works well on my old Honda Bikes I have been rebuilding. Great Video.

[@guyfuller1369]

You do nice work, Howard. You usually go beyond your original intention. I think it’s because restoration is meaningful to you-maybe you feel a sense of responsibility toward the vehicles, but you certainly have self-respect. I had a ‘75 CB 550 that I very much enjoyed. I’m enjoying the restoration. Thank you.

[@OldCarAlley]

I figure why things are apart, why not take that extra bit of time to clean up, polish or paint parts. I mean it's apart, so why not, plus I enjoy working on things, making chicken salad out of chicken crap..... it's very satisfying when finished! On top of that, I'll have a nice old vintage custom bike to ride next summer.

[@guyfuller1369]

@ Maybe stick to the garage, Howard. I’m not sure your lunch menu is very appetizing! 😉

[@OldCarAlley]

@@guyfuller1369 LOL

[@jasonseal2692]

Looking good. Correct, it’s all in the details. Keep these videos coming. And the stories.

[@Scooterdude01]

Good stories, not boring at all.

[@EnthusiasticTruck-xh7ss]

Looking real good Howard thank you for the video Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years

[@OldCarAlley]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you also.

[@t-rodzgarage]

That's looking nice ! Gonna be a sharp looking bike !😊

[@garywilson12]

love your videos, very informative, plus you take your time expalining what your doing, helps others with their rebuilding. howard keep your life stories coming. youve led an interesting life with cars and bikes

[@ZPDSurvival]

That motor looks sweet. Wild.

[@DCR52]

Enjoyed the video Howard. Great progress on the bike!! I respect you for being honest. Too bad there are so many folks out there that will cheat people.

[@OldCarAlley]

My folks brought me up to treat people the way I would want to be treated. My grandma use to say, Greed is the downfall of people!.....

[@majorpayne5289]

👍Good stuff, H! Enjoyed the story too. After my HVAC-R schooling I worked for a sorry company too. They’d lease service vans (commercial refrigeration) & service manager would unscrew the Speedo cable from tranny to keep miles down. I moved on after a year of getting my feet wet in the field. Turned out to be a very rewarding career.

[@flyermarkbig465]

Great video. I cannot believe the low quality people that e ist in this world such that they feel it ok to cut the cord to someone's Xmas lights. Just sad. Great stories. I too was involved with motorcycles way before I could drive and was learning to work on cars. My only job at a motorcycle dealer was assembly of the new bikes also. A cool late high school job. I need to ensure I remember the engine on its side thick when it comes time to take it out/put it in on my '85 Kawi resto. The Honda is really coming along well.

[@OldCarAlley]

Yeah, that way of reattaching the engine to the frame made it easy. Tomorrow I'll see if my neighbor has video of who might have stooped that low.... I will press ahead with the law if I can find who did it, you can be sure of that!

[@Martin48964]

Smart advise on how to reinstall the motor! I was wondering if you had recruited Jeremy to give you a hand with it.

[@OldCarAlley]

Jeremy helped, but it went together with ease.

[@servicetechnician3264]

Hello Howard. The bike is really looking great. Just wondering how long the shine lasts on the buffed parts? Can they be clear costed? George B.

[@OldCarAlley]

The polished stuff stay shiny for years with maybe a coat of wax once every year or two.... I did the XL250's back in the early summer..... I have done nothing to them since and they still shine. I haven't even washed it since I started riding it. The XL175's were polished six years ago. They still look great. There aluminum, so clear won't stick.... it will peel. Aluminum needs to be primed with zinc chromate primer, to get paint to stick.

[@timjohnson7550]

The bike looks beautiful so far! Great stories too! I wonder if the squirrels are cutting your Christmas light wires? We have that problem, because the insulation is soybean-based plastic. Hope the camera catches your culprits.

[@OldCarAlley]

The wires didn't look chewed.... it was a very clean cut.

[@timjohnson7550]

@@OldCarAlleyour wires didn’t look chewed either. A very clean cut, like a knife. Cameras did not show anybody🧐