VT500 Resto-Mod-Tribute

[J6G1Z]

Very nice & clean working area.

I often hang bikes from the rafters to work on them.

You are definitely into it now. Do you have a build plan yet?

J.

[Luke]

Very nice & clean working area.

Oh that's easy ... just crop out the messy side

[Luke]

So far the plan is back to bare metal with everything... then self etching primer and POR-15. I have had excellent results with it in the past. I may leave the wheels bare aluminum after stripping... looked good in pictures... we'll see.

I am attempting to match the original finish where ever possible, however I am going to experiment with the exhaust after it's stripped and polished. I'm not sure how much having it re chromed will cost me yet. But I'm going to try Duplicolor's Metal-cast first and see how close I can get to "black chrome"

https://www.duplicolor.com/products/metalCast/

then.... and not in any particular order
Tune up, rebuild, lube, fluids
New bearings
Wire by wire inspection of harness
Shortened turn signal in front and/or eliminated in the rear.
Mirrors...? shorten or moved
Handle bars ? a little less pull back and rise
Re sculpt that rear end into something a bit more pleasing to the eye
Tank, fender, side panels and rear cowl prof. painted original
Tribute items paint, embroidery etc.

phew ...

Oops forgot .. new shocks and springs
 

[Luke]

Success! With minimal carnage and the threads in tact. Just need to find a bolt for it now.

You never quite know if it's going to end in tears or not... removing a snapped bolt that is. I'm on a lucky streak.


Here is a link to the tool I used... they have come in handy many times.

http://www.thegrabitstore.com/Pages/default.aspx

[Luke]

So... the $ involved in a bi-carb blasting set-up and obligatory compressor upgrade had me searching for other options.

I took a chance on a $15 can of "Dad's Easy Spray" .. I mean c'mon with a name like that it has to work right?

Wow ... The high heat treatments (exhaust etc.) were unaffected. Everything else stood no chance. The first pic is less than 5 minutes after spraying. The second is after a very light scrapping with a putty knife and nylon brush, it has not even been rinsed yet.

Very impressive stuff ... but nasty! Ate through the first pair (8 mill) of gloves I tried ...lol

[J6G1Z]

Wow! Looks like that stuff works real well.

I've used a bath of mineral spirits to try to remove spray paint & it didn't work very well. I then ran across a bottle of DOT 4 brake fluid that I had left over, so I poured that into the mineral spirits. The next day the paint brushed off the parts with minimal effort.

Good luck
J.

[Luke]

Wow! Looks like that stuff works real well.

You bet... nothing short of a full face shield and chemical proof gloves will do though. Within seconds of accidental skin contact you know it!