I've gone and bought this crappy CX500, with the intention of making something that looks a bit better! Hopefully the maggot won't turn into a fly!

Not only is this my first attempt at a blog! but it's also my first attempt at creating a"custom" motorcycle!! I don't really know what I'm doing in either case, so we'll see how it goes.

You'll have to look at the photo below to see why I chose the 'maggot'!.........see something good can be found in everything!!

Wrenchmonkees CX

Sunday, 1 June 2014

It's done!!!

It has been some time since I last posted on here. Time which has been spent finishing the project.

Hope you like it!!.....





Monday, 14 April 2014

Saturday, 29 March 2014

Solder Pot

I needed to shorten the throttle & clutch cables, so I made a solder pot:





Worked out well.

Monday, 17 March 2014

Sparks!!

Looks like I've found out what the problem was.
I've replaced the ignition switch for a 'car' type switch that you twist the key right round to start. All the electrics turn on including power to the ignition unit on the first click, however, when you turn the key to start it, it cuts the power to the lights etc to give you max power from the battery, & yes you've guessed it, I took the power for the Ignition off the same feed so cutting the power each time the starter was engaged!! Doh!





Have now remedied the feed & am getting nice blue sparks from the plugs








Cheers

Sunday, 2 March 2014

It's a Roller!!






I've also connected the battery & the motor spins over & has good oil pressure. 

It's not all good news though as I'm not getting any sparks at the plugs, so there's a bit of a problem to try & track down! 

I suppose 2 out of 3 isn't bad!

Friday, 28 February 2014

Tyres......

......are now fitted:





Should be a roller this weekend, all being well. Burly blokes on standby!

Monday, 17 February 2014

More progress

Have been doing lots of bits & bobs, such as oil blacking the nuts & bolts, this inolves cleaning off all the rust & crud, heating & then dunking in old engine oil. Not sure if if adds much in the way of protection, but I think they look good & it does mean that I can keep the original fittings, which look a lot nicer than a whole load of shiney stainless. Plus they're free!!

The front end, rear swinging arm & wiring are virtually complete:



 I cleaned & painted the bevel box & rear brake plate to match the engine:


Rough!

after etch primer
 

after final coat.

New tyres are on order so hopefully will be a roller in a week or so!!

Saturday, 25 January 2014

Small Steps

Finished making the new wiring harness today. I connected up a battery charger to test it & it worked without bursting in flames!! 

The new LED warning lamps light as they should, the brake light works for both front & rear brakes, the lights work & the starter solenoid clicks when the ignition switch is turned! So good progress made.

Saturday, 28 December 2013

Latest news

I've had the seemingly usual one step forwards two steps back! After I sprayed the frame it took absolutely ages to dry, & it ended up looking more gloss than the satin black I wanted! So I went back to the paint supplier who gave me a new tin of paint, but that meant that I had to rub down all the parts again! I got some time over the Christmas break & have now re-painted everything & it looks a lot better!!





Still, during the intervening period I've cleaned & re-built the carbs, had some parts powder coated, & fitted a stainless steel mesh to the front of the radiator:




Lastly, my 'office' has a new name:


My youngest daughter bought me it for Christmas as I always say 'I'm off to the boudoir' when I go to the shed!!


Sunday, 27 October 2013

Latest progress....

Started painting today, probably not the best time of year! but at least it was relativley warm if a bit windy! (there are 80mph winds forcast for later on!)

The frame prepped & ready for paint:




Pleased with that!..




Did the swinging arm at the same time...


Might be able to start putting it together soon!!

TTFN

Wednesday, 9 October 2013

Ramblin' on

I have sorted out the majority of the wiring runs & located the main electrical comonents in their new positions.

I  trimmed & mounted the rear mudguard & knocked up a new back light & numberplate mount from an old Lucas unit. Don't think it came out too bad!

I'm now getting to the stage where I need to paint the frame so that I can start putting it together finally!!


 

Picked up a replacement front brake master cylinder complete with lever for eight quid!  It has a remote resevoir & adjustable lever which is quite cool!


Sunday, 18 August 2013

Frame more or less sorted!

As I said in the last post, the new frame wasn't quite as it was described in the ebay advert....





 ... this supposedly was just a small hole in the rear footrest hanger, as you can see though, it goes right through into the frame.

I wanted to remove the hangers anyway, but the frame obviously needed repairing, so I cut out the rotted part & formed some backing pieces for added strength & to give some reinforcement to help stop the arc blowing through....
 


I then cut a section of good tube out of one of the old frames I had, & using my trusty arc welder welded it in place....



Quite pleased with that! Fortunately the other side wasn't as bad, just having some surface rust which was treated & smoothed off.

I trimmed other surplus bracketry, cut the top frame & re-styled the ends so they follow the lines of the rear shocks & the seat, hopefully it'll look a bit better that just lopping the ends off. A plate for mounting the electrics under the seat was added plus some other bits & bobs, a quick dust over with red oxide to cover the bare metal & I have to say that I'm chuffed with the result....









Now I'm going to start the dry build & sort out the wiring & mounting the electrical components.

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Here's Johnny!!

Doesn't time fly when you're having fun!!

I can't believe how fast it's gone, despite which I haven't made enormous progress which is rather disappointing. 

Still in the last six months my eldest daughter has split up & got back together with her boyfriend several times, & she's started a new job. My youngest daughter has finished her exams & is now on holiday for the next three months until she starts sixth form. And my wife & I had our 25th wedding anniversary plus it was my birthday last weekend!

The project suffered from the dreaded lack of motivation, following the acquisition of a new 'perfect' frame of eBay which as you guessed wasn't. 
That pissed me off somewhat! but I've started to get back into it over the last few months. Using my new found welding skills!!! (ha!) I patched a hole in the frame & am now carrying out the mods to get me back to where I was all those months ago.

So watch this space, hopefully it won't be another six months before my next post!!


TTFN

Monday, 11 February 2013

Hello again!

Well here I am, back again!

The project has been stalled somewhat due to the frame problems. Hopefully I may have resoved it. I've scored a frame off evailbay for a reasonable cost, & the seller says it's solid! so fingers crossed!

It's due here tomorrow (Tuesday) then maybe we can get the show back on the road, Yayyy!!

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

Seasons Greetings!!

 
 Bloody hell, it's nearly Christmas again! 
Hope you all have a good one!!
(maybe I can get a bit more done in the next year then!!)






Tuesday, 11 December 2012

Possible way forward!

Having received comments from some of the guys on the CX forum, who thought my frame could actually be saveable! I got back in touch with the guy that had the scrap frames & picked them up at the weekend FOC! I'm going to cut out the bad sections from my frame & weld in patches cut from good parts of the scrap frames (well I'll probably just tack them in place & get somebody that can weld to do it properly!!) So we'll see how that goes!

Cheers

Monday, 19 November 2012

No Go

Didn't even get to look at the frames! I called the guy to see what they were like & how much, he told me he'd had a closer look & they were both destined for the scrap yard! Bugger!!

Friday, 16 November 2012

Fingers crossed!

Going to look at a couple of frames this weekend, so here's hoping that they won't be as bad as mine!