Finally finished my project after six years. Lots of pics.

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:41 pm

Some of you guys were here when I joined up, and some of you weren't. So, instead of dreadging up and old long forgotten thread I thought I would start a new one to kind of outline my project from its beginning to this day. Any purists out there can turn back now as this is not a one hundred point bike, or a museum piece. It just is what it is, a fun project. All along, this has strictly been on the back burner. I worked on it when I felt like it and had time and bought parts when I had extra cash. It was great fun and I enjoyed it all along the way, well, except that part where I struggled to remove the cylinders from the block Laughing

. Really at first I had no intention of going as far with it as I did, it just kind of turned into that kind of project.

All of the work I did myself with the exception of the paint on the bodywork. I was fortunate to have a buddy take care of nearly all of the powdercoating including the frame. For some small items I bought an inexpensive powdercoating gun and did it myself. Thank you John Young for the tip on that one. Wink

Here it is:

Results are the brake caliper and the rotor cover:

Some of the fasteners I replaced while others I gave a zinc coating which turns out nicely Here is what I used, its kinda fun to mess with:

An example:

Ok, so here we go. I found my bike languishing in someones yard and got it just before it made its way to the scrap yard. It has only ten thousand miles on the clock but, sitting outside in the harsh south Texas sun for ten years had taken its toll.

Did I mention, it had a little rust too?

Digital cameras are great arent they? But, when you lose that little chip thing in there that holds all the photos, your just out of luck if you hadn't already uploaded them onto your computer like I hadn't. Head Banger

So thats it for the before pics, but you all get the idea just the same. She was rough to say the least.

Ok, fast forward to the point where things start to go back together. I made a caddy out of wood with removable casters that served the purpose of holding the engine on the bench as well provided a means to aid in removale of the engine from the frame. It worked great, it bolts to the engine from underneath where the stock exhaust system normally mounts up.

Going from the work table to the floor:

Ready to roll: Engine work was limited to lapping the valves, replacing the valve stem seals with Viton seals, having the cylinders ball honed, and getting a Time-sert installed in the front cam chain tensioner bolt. No clear of any kind was applied to any aluminum, so I'll be keeping a polishing rag handy. Laughing

Engine paint is PJ1 satin on the cylinders, head, and cases and gloss on the covers.

From that point, the bare frame was easy to slip over the engine and bolt into place.

Followed by the forks and swingarm:

After that came the wheels and I had a rolling chassis:

From there things went together more quickly.

Now here she is, all finished up. Paint was done by Mark at Classic Cycle Restoration.

Thats it guys. Thanks for looking through all those pics. As I popped those shiny side covers in place I felt a twinge of sadness along with the joy. Its all over now. All the challenges, searching for parts, solving problems, all the masssaging on the crusty, rusty bits, its all finished. One thing for sure, without this awesome site and everyone here, it may have been done, but it wouldn't have been near as much fun. So then, a big THANK YOU!!! to Glenn and everyone else here, for all the help, support, ideas, thoughts, comments, and just plain being there when things weren't going so well both on this project and in my life in general. It's been one hell of a ride.

Thanks again and ride safe,
David

CB1100F Joined: May 13, 2005 Posts: 3217 Location: NE OHIO

Very Nice You did a Great Job

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:00 pm

Absolutely stunning! You really did an excellent job and amazing attention to detail. Looks great! beerchug

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:16 pm

WOW! Great to see that another one will live to see many more years of riding!!!

And Glad to see that it is the FASTER Color!!!

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:26 pm

Beautiful job through and through. Truly outstanding! Glad to hear that Mark has done yet another great paint job.

Be proud of yourself for such a great accomplishment!

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:36 pm

Well done David, beautiful work!!! I have been waiting for this thread for a long time. Six years down the line and finally - well done for not giving up. Where did you get the mirrors from? Are they aftermarket?

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 12:14 am

Very nice work!
I like the touch of gold on the rotors.

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 1:09 am

Here is the original thread, for viewing.

http://www.cb1100f.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=180249&highlight=#180249

Please don't raise the dead.

Wink

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 1:57 am

David, it may not be a ten, but it's very close. Congratulations on a job well done. I raise a glass of champagne to you.

Chico

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:09 am

I'd ride it!

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:15 am

Nice work David, you put a lot of love into that bike.

Don't be sad, there are many, many more motorcycle out there all sad and withered just waiting for a guy like you to come along and save them. Smile

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:46 am

nice work ! Bike looks great Very Happy

Don't you know that's its never "over" there is always something to do to these bikes Wink

Dan

Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:59 am

Very, very nice! What a beautiful job. You should be very proud.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 8:27 pm

hard work and perseverence has paid off
very nice job mate

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 8:58 pm

You should be damn proud.

That texas sun is as effective as soda blast.

--Roger--

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:07 pm

Hello David,great job triple A status.Cost some time and effort but than you have a fantastic bike.
Wim

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:12 pm

Thanks for all the kind replies guys. Time flies, it doesn't seem like it's been six years since I started on it, but here we are. John, the mirrors are basically stock. One of them I was able to clean up and use as is, and the other was cobbled together from the stock stem and glass along with a shell I had bought from our departed friend Tedly. Its from a 83/84 Honda V45 Interceptor, (VF750F) and looks the same except has some identifying numbers stamped into it that the 1100 mirrors don't.

Thanks again,
David

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:32 pm

Beautiful job, Dave! Now it's time for the payback for all those hours in the garage, go ride it!

Ride safely, sir!

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 12:58 am

My hat's off to you David for a fine example of bringing another abandoned F bike back to life. Excellent work. I wish I had the paitence of some of you guys.
I love that Supertrapp too. Where did you get those rotors? They don't look like OEM for the U.S model.

Take care with your 'new' baby!!

Cheers! beerchug

Chris

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 1:06 am

Very very nice, you should be proud!

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 1:48 am

CDN1100F wrote:

Where did you get those rotors? They don't look like OEM for the U.S model.
Chris

The brake rotors are stock Chris, all I did was mask them off and spray the centers with VHT gold caliper paint to dress them up a bit. Wink

David

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 2:20 am

Top Job! Looks fantastic

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 3:51 am

Absolutely awesome work. Congratulations.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 4:05 am

I can't believe that is the same bike....

Good Job!
Jebby

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 4:24 am

now that is one purdy looking motorcycle...very very nice work , congrats on a job well done !

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:31 am

Nice, hope I come close... nearing the completion of mine. Just ordered the decals, and am beginning to prep for paint, just waiting on a few mechanical parts (carbs) to fall into place, as I don't want to start on the cosmetics until it is a runner. Great job and congrats.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 10:26 am

Nice work !

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:33 am

Wow what a transformation, and another 11f is re-born. Great job!

MB-5 Joined: Aug 14, 2011 Posts: 25 Location: Indianapolis

The craftsmanship of the folks on this forum continues to amaze me.

Beautiful.

Peter J

MB-5 Joined: Jun 06, 2012 Posts: 12 Location: swansea

Well done. Simply beautiful.