SOME THINGS DON'T ALWAYS WORK OUT- Honda CR500 1987

#Honda CR500 #1987 Honda CR500
This week features some of the tough days of the Honda CR500r 1987 restoration.
So another worthwhile project hits the screen. No less the beast, a 'Man bike', Cancelled in the name of safety, What ever you want to call it. This is the last un-restricted crazy idea from Honda to produce a bike you simply can't use to it's full potential. Dull 4 stroke restricted racing still sees the CR500 2 stroke competing and winning in many unrestricted races after 30+ years of so-called- development. I want one. I want it in a glass case just to know I have something that belongs to another age.
Lets see if it is up to the hype..
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[@petermosdell580]

That cylinder head needs a stern talking to 🛠️ First it won’t come off and now it leaks. The honesty and determination of this resto is what sets it apart. My own project has the occasional backwards step - you’re not alone. Looking forward to my weekly update 😉

[@LS-uv9gg]

Oh mate, I'm gutted for you about the surprise water leak and the paint snafu! I've enjoyed all of your awesome resto videos here so much in cold northern Canada. Truly beautiful work. superb attention to detail, and a great passion that shows. Cheers!

[@true-moto-resto]

I can relate to your pain. Its sickening when you put in so much work and then you have to pull stuff apart again. It is all part of the game, but it hurts none the less, and we're all human and we are learning stuff along the way. I love you channel and the work you do, Im doing bike resto's too, you're a real inspiration ! thanks for that.

[@MyRestoration1]

Thanks mate. I’ll get it done. This bike is a beast!

[@rebekahfrench5747]

12" x 12" sheet of 1/2 inch glass with desired grit wet and dry fixes warped heads and barrels use it wet.. 👍

[@Workerbee-zy5nx]

Head leaks? I have owned and raced many 80s crs, so I'm used to them acting up. The bracket from the frame to the head moves from frame flex and could warp the head. I had an 82, 85, 86 all leaked. It was a bummer deal. Shimming the head bolt with washers seemed to work. I never use gasket sealer on my head gasket, intake or base, it led to air leaks, lean running conditions. You can re surface it with no probs. Lucky, my 89 cr 2 fiddy, dosnt leak. Frame flex.😕 Seat cover is sleek. I wonder how Honda got their paint to stick..once you get your monster bike restored, you will be pleased, Bubba.🤠🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇸👍🍻

[@MyRestoration1]

It dawned on me when I got home that I had to hit the bracket with a block to try to remove it. You can see it in one of the earlier videos. I’m pretty sure that’s it. Let’s see how it goes

[@MTSElectrical1200]

I love your channel and really appreciate the honesty, it gives hope to us mere mortals. Keep up the great work👏👏👌

[@minisla]

Patience of a saint

[@jonnyvt6602]

There are many people who comment who have never attempted a restoration; myself i have restored many but there is still alot to learn and many frustrations along the way.

[@gus9272]

You made my day removing those handguards 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Awesome video as usual. Thanks you!!

[@MyRestoration1]

I did it just for you Gus! 😅

[@gus9272]

@@MyRestoration1 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂Thanks!!!!

[@richardbalmaine8048]

Mate your a better man than me. I've got 4 old bikes on the go, a couple are just greasy rag jobs, 1 a ground up Cafe and 1 an 1972 Italian full restoration so I know your pain

[@adamh3470]

Hello,your doing a great job on the CR looks awesome. I always use a smear of white threebond sealer on the top and bottom of the head gasket. Keep up the great work watching from AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺

[@MyRestoration1]

Thanks for the info! I think I know what it is..

[@JohnSmith-xs4sx]

stuff happens when you do stuff.......nothing happens if you do nothing ;) , you've done a great job on this bike

[@dirkanderson2944]

Trials are good , it’s like loosing to Ireland 🇮🇪 but eventually winning the wold cup 🇿🇦 against New Zealand 🇳🇿 , love your dedication, cheers 🍻

[@MyRestoration1]

Hehe..a night to remember! Thanks Dirk

[@anthonyallsopp1474]

These things definitely try us and as you say there are always steep learning curves. I love your attitude and ethos. Keep up the excellent work.

[@nigeldawes4182]

Great video as per usual, you have the patience of a saint 👍

[@Bob489]

Hey man, shit happens. That's how we learn. You're doing a great job and this bike is turning out lovely.

[@jeffshootsstuff]

Good to see not everything goes as expected. Appreciate the honesty. It helps build credibility. Hope you get it sorted soon.

[@GordintheNorth]

The bike looks great!

[@bhoges5145]

I painted exotic cars for a while back in the day. SEM makes vinyl die that works great on plastic, leather, and vinyl. You won't have adhesion problems. Use some prep sol before you paint it. Its a shame you really went all out. Excellent work.

[@HT-io1eg]

In terms of attention to detail, precision, this is up there with the My Mechanics restoration channel. Superb work Sir, I commend you

[@MyRestoration1]

Thank you very much!

[@paulgaylard1603]

The tank and plastics have come up beautifully, all the patient painstaking work has paid off. I notice that you have made and bent your own seat brackets. When the seat is finally fitted you should ensure that the bottom of the seat just (and only just) clears the rear mudguard. If you have a gap of more than say 8-10mm the look is awful. These little details will complete the OEM finish that you are striving for. These bikes didn’t come with handle bar pads as standard but back in the day we all ran Renthal cloth bar pads. You can source these from our good friend James at RJP 👍🏻 Amazing job. I literally can’t wait to see this project completed and hear her running 🥰👌🏻

[@MyRestoration1]

Thanks Paul. Something is off with the seat fitting..the brackets I only repaired but the seat mould actually stops the seat from coming much lower. It is only obvious now that I assemble the bike proper. Throw in your thoughts here..

[@paulgaylard1603]

It might not be the seat base. I could be the rear sub frame ? these do get twisted or bend out of shape quite regularly after big crashes. It is possible that both of the rear mounting points on the subframe are lower than they should be if the frame is bent. When you fitted the subframe to the mainframe and then the airbox did everything line up correctly or was it hard to get everything to line up ? You might need to get a scaffold pole out to ease up the two rear arms to close that gap but this will damage the paint on the subframe...... @@MyRestoration1 If you think the subframe is straight then potentially the seat base is from a different year bike ??????? One last thought. The tank you have is a US spec tank, The euro /UK bikes came fitted with a much larger tank, if the fittings for the tank to the main frame are different this could be pulling the front of the seat further down than if it were a UK tank ????? (this is just a wild guess though !!!)

[@MyRestoration1]

@@paulgaylard1603All good suggestions. The subframe fitted without issue. Even without the tank on the seat has a moulding which protrudes and comes against the subframe cross bar. I’m sure it should ’slip in’ in front of the cross bar? As it is it sits high due to this. It must be the correct seat as it extends up the tank and locks into the tank and lines up at the rear bracket unless the 88 subframe is different. Having a parts bike is a challenge I didn’t appreciate until these kind of things crop up. Should be sorted soon enough. Nearly there now 😅

[@leejonesNPT]

I was so disappointed to see the thumbnail “blown” at first i thought the thing had gone boom on a test ride. I am sure that these very small set backs will be resolved with your superb attention to detail. As others have said, a weekly dose of restoration at a level most of us are unable to ever achieve. Keep it going 👌👏

[@richardvandervoort]

The seat looks amazing, I did a (succesfull) attempt on my CB500Four and that was a difficult job.

[@nickmee3321]

had same issue with my KX 500 coolant out of the head put a stone to the head make sure it's flat new gasket and re torque you'll be good to go! looks really good enjoying these vids

[@Widowmakertrader]

Wow Rob you scared me then, I also thought the engine had blown up, damn that head brother. Hey All good things come to those who wait Rob. Your doing an amazing job !! One small set back but the end result is going to be one stunning 1987 cr500 widow maker !!. I’m so glad your restoring one one my parts bikes to its former glory. I can wait to see it finished, we will have to stick it next to the 87 I have coming in Nov. Keep up the great work fella won’t be long now 😉. You can do my ktm500 mxc next if you want 😜😜.

[@MyRestoration1]

Can’t wait to share the bike with you 👍

[@TNTMOTO]

I have found that style of aftermarket gasket for the Cr's needs more torque to seal up. Just went through the same thing on both my 89 builds. Head was perfectly flat but was leaking. Oem original gaskets are just a very thin piece of stamped metal.

[@MyRestoration1]

I thought I was going mad…I did end up torquing more. You good? No post for a while.. me too. Too busy at the moment to become a YT millionaire

[@TNTMOTO]

Have not been feeling well for awhile. Christmas is also a big deal in my home requiring months of decorating and take down. Picking up the frame today hopefully. Not sure how much video there will be in the process of this build. It may well wind up just being a final video. This could be the last build for me as the costs are starting to out way even breaking even. My day to day job keeps me away from home for 12 hours each day. So time is also playing a big factor. Have to see how things go over the next 6 months. @@MyRestoration1

[@MyRestoration1]

@@TNTMOTO I can relate..but I’m sorry you are feeling grim. That stops most things. I have a few different bikes in line when I can stabilize my business in this UK economic mess. I guess you can’t wait for the back end of Mr T 🙄 Get well soon buddy you’ll get your mojo back!

[@TimH123]

Looks great Rob. Got to expect a few kinks in the process 🙂

[@MyRestoration1]

Definately! Expectation was the problem..

[@sthildas4857]

Building any bike is fraught with challenges, good days bad day. The final outcome never truly shows the dedication required to cross the line. We are all learning together..

[@MyRestoration1]

Well said!

[@dmitrijr7065]

Just a minor setback, keep going mate!

[@MyRestoration1]

That's the plan! This bike has my heart

[@peternaur]

My god. This for me would have meant excessive profanity and probably crying. I am so impressed at the way you take it. And I'm almost happy that the project still isn't finished, because I am so attached. You are an absolute hero and you will end up having the most badass motorcycle when you are done. One thing I was curious about: What will happen to the bike when you are done? I don't suspect that you will go and abuse it offroad? Though I think you should :)

[@MyRestoration1]

Hi Peter and thanks for being a subscriber. At this stage I can't see it in the mud which would be a shame but good examples are proving harder to come by. If it were an oily rag then maybe...still I could find someone to push it over a few bumps for the video!

[@mikef.1000]

That water leak is unfortunate. It seems the head is a bit warped or something? Gliding it in a figure-8 over some fine emery paper which is on a flat surface (like a pane of glass) may well yield victory. Also I would not use a bare gasket; try some spray-on copper gasket sealant, which is perfect for head gaskets.

[@MyRestoration1]

I banged it with a block to detach the head. This probably did it. Checking now 😥

[@timlangley8926]

these thing happen

[@1971Tobbe]

Nice work! regarding the leaking head, could the castle nuts be to shallow?

[@MyRestoration1]

All will be revealed in the next video. Taking it apart today..🫣

[@bluesplayer59]

Ahh bugger 😢 just a minor hiccup in the grand scheme of things . The thought of you ragging this bike around after you've meticulously rebuilt it astounds me .. Please don't it's a museum piece 😊

[@MyRestoration1]

i agree. I just commented earlier as someone wondered too. I just can’t see this particular specimen raging through mud..a shame these are so rare in OEM condition.

[@ekspatriat]

So painting the bolts still means it's a restored bike because it's on this video.

[@matthewharmer1656]

Barrel and head need skimming obviously......

[@bigshowdownunder8969]

Get a tecnosel seat cover, what the pros use ,they are still out there...good as oem in my opinion....I've successfully managed to track down all new oem plastics ,bar the side covers.. still get oem fork boots .grips.all sorts of things ....at least you didn't put bloody cable ties around the fork boots ,that's a dead giveaway of a cheap ass restoration...flash red is the colour and it can still be got..

[@MyRestoration1]

There are some 87 sides on eBay at the moment….

[@charliecharliecharliecharl8554]

How do you fix the Cr decals

[@MyRestoration1]

How do you mean?

[@charliecharliecharliecharl8554]

@MyRestoration1 when you were pulling the tape off and the paint came off did you start again with new pice of seat covering or try again spraying on the same seat

[@MyRestoration1]

Good question. I cleaned it off with Acetone VERY CAREFULLY. Don’t hang around as the stuff will start removing the blue. Take time between wipes and the solvent will dry leaving the surface tacky but clean. It’s nerve racking

[@charliecharliecharliecharl8554]

@MyRestoration1 all the better when goes right , and bringing back to life this bike instead of It rusting away in someones shed is awesome