83 CR500, here begineth the lesson

Yes, heart and reason differs !
How much £ for the heart side ?

I like where this is going. Post up!

Widebeest,

A cracking read.....

I did a similar thing although to be fair my bike was ten times better that yours as it's mostly all '82 not a "Bitser".

I to was lulled in to that scerene place somewhere between orgasm and the first sip of your pint, by the sight of a 1982 430 Husky. It was made all the more special as I rode one in the British Support class in 1982...It was like meeting your first girlfriend after 25 years and sharing all those moments again.....

You don't feel any pain even though I was parting with £2800 ($4500 US) as you are blinded by the memories you had riding her all those years ago.

It's not until you really look in the cold light of day that the realisation that it's not "mint" as the ebay advert described.

Fair to say, mine is now completely in bits having the gearbox rebuilt by my old man (ex Husky GP mechanic - I'm lucky there) The frame is being powder coated (so hopefully the paint will stick this time) all new bearings in the swinging arms, wheels etc. And I'm throwing away the shite excel rims the previous owner put on (with the 18" back rim) and putting the original Nordisk rims on complete with 17" back rim, even though tyres are difficult to come by.

All the bits you have bought from our cousins in the USA can be got from Andy Elliott at HVA-Factory and he is really helpful. The pipe in your pictures looks the same as the one on mine which is an Iron Pony one from the US ?

Don't be down hearted mate....it just takes a bit of time and TLC....Just don't take your frustrations out on the wife...you never know when you might need her to borrow some more money from for the restoration like I've just had to....

Good luck.

I just found the Ebay advert from 2009. It was listed as MINT too ! I'm not so pissed off now, for £1800 it languished in the shed for quite a while though. Bit between the teeth now especially with the messages I'm getting thanks. I'm in touch with Andy at HVA who is indeed a great help, have shopped with him already and will continue to. The pipe is from Pro Form in the US. I had to get it cut and shut to fit but it was for an 81/82 430 to fit an 83 frame I guess. My welders ripped into the quality of the welding, they are nuclear qualified though, overall its a sound piece of kit. I hope to get it ceramic coated as the price of the process is coming down all the time and I fancy the light blue they can do. I might be in touch for some gearbox tips although I stripped it tonight and it looks sound.
Cheers, Joe.

Pics won't load tonight, lost 3 posts !!!
Will try tomorrow. Main thing was some damage evident on the rear brake plate after blasting, looks like its worn through the outer edge due to running for some time with shagged bearings in the back wheel?
Anyway, picked up blasting that took forever due to indestructible plastic paint and took it off to the finishers. Might be powder coated by tomorrow ! Heard this before though, if they remember they just hang standard colours on the end or a commercial run for tea money, worth the wait even if its not ready tomorrow.
One case ready for stripping the bearings out tomorrow and lots of other stuff to do. All a bit crap without pics, should have have plenty with shiny shiny stuff tomorrow though. Time for some Californian sunshine in a bottle now!

Hi Tjosan, I will put the engine together using a workshop manual when I get one, the 'machinery handbook', experience, this forum and the two stroke bible by A. Graham Bell. Mostly advice from this forum though. I am not Mike by the way, I am Joe (and I'm not really a wildebeest)

I want to know if the price of the lesson is for free ???
I've paid lessons for 200 to 600 € but not for complete ones !

Pour toi mon ami, la leçon est gratuite. Pour moi, c'était le prix d'un pedigree de deux sangliers Gloucester Old Spot.
Depending on the bloodline of course.

Joe, if you need any help, I am a stones throw away from Andy at HVA Factory. Should be at a few southern twinshock meets this year.
Devon Classic and Dorset Classic spring to mind. Good luck with the rebuild. Get yer finger out and you will be ready for Easter Sunday down in Devon.

that ktm is awesome! really like the look of it.

Just when thought there was nothing else that could possibly surprise me
As you can see in the pic, everything is stripped, no more mechanical surprises but then... I degreased the cases with some iso prop alcohol and saw a little purple sheen in the solvent on thop of the L\H case. I rubbed it and lo and behold like alladin rubbing the lamp a vision of what used to be an engine number before it was 80gritted out and then covered with magic marker.
This should not really surprise me, I know it is of dubious pedigree. I'm not going to name the guy that sold it to me on this forum but if anyone wants the details please contact me and I will let you know what I have. I looked back to 2009 on my ebay and found him. Ironically 6 months ago when I was getting ready for this bike I had spotted the spacer under the barrel and knew I would need a new head I spotted one cheap on ebay and bought it. It was in great nick and cheap £16 so I left great feedback. This makes me laugh slightly hysterically. Just looked and it was from the guy that sold me the bike !!! And its from a 250 !! And he has 100% good feedback !!! Maybe its just me..



If anyone needs a 250 head let me know, yours at cost.
So tomorrow no more negative stuff. Got the frame back powder coated so I will put the new steering head bearings in just so I feel like I've started to put things back together so will post good some stuff.

Cheers mate, it was a vision and it happened better than I thought. Same as the Husky, I can see it. My vision this time, which I'll share with you if you bear with me, involves me sat in the garden in my smoking jacket on a summers morning with both bikes in front of me and a classic English butler hands me my crash helmet on a silver tray and says " And would Sir like smoking or non-smoking this morning?" What a choice !
Not sure about the butler though, might persuade the Mrs to do it in her PJ's which would actually be quite alot better.

Off topic though, the KTM was the first 4stroke bike engine I've done, it makes 58hp at the back wheel, over 60 on dyno with no air filter. Its like the throttle cable is connected directly to the back wheel. Two stroke heads turn off now...
It has, Vertex piston out to 540cc, all new bottom end, flowed head with modded chamber, factory 8/33 supermoto cam, all matched and blueprinted with a one off st/st pipe. Theres more but thats another story. I can't wait to have them both.

Great thread Joe, good luck with the build and keep the updates coming.

So, engine stripped, bearings next week. The only stumbling block could have been the blind primary gear shaft bearing but used an expanding slide hammer and a bit of heat. Cracking bit of kit. Just got to get the cases stripped of paint, paint strippers not doing it so I'll have to look at a commercial process. Why would you paint the inside of an engine?!! Why!? Eejits,its all baked in the crankcase as well.
View attachment 13381 View attachment 13383 I think I will go for vapor blasting/clear laquer and an all ally engine, really like the look of the HVA Factory clutch cases so the LC one will be on the for sale bit soon.
View attachment 13384 View attachment 13386 Shiny shiny, had to put the tank on and spend ten minutes with a cup of tea from different angles. The hub pic shows the damage to the rear brake plate on the right. Must have been running a long time with a well worn wheel bearing. I can live with it though.
View attachment 13387 Had a look at the porting today with a view to some work. General cleaning up really but spotted the witness mark from the gasket on the base of barrel. Quite a bit to be gained from the transfer ports there. I won't be doing anything drastic though, just want a good stock blueprinted motor.
Plenty to do this week that won't involve money, court for speeding on Tuesday which could knock the restoration fund severly. Now where is that credit card ?...........

Should be from above post. DOH !

Strap that frame to the stand before you have an unfortunate accident, would hate to see your pretty bits get dinged up!

Wow, look at that fresh shiney white stuff!

I just rescued an '83 500XC yesterday.......

I've been looking at this for a while, 83xc has to be one of the best looking bikes ever!

I'll see if I can upload some pics of the one I rescued yesterday. Needs a whole lotta love to get back to being that beautiful. But I'm game.....

That one sure looks awesome. I'd forgotten about the yellow seat on some. Wasn't recalling which bikes got them.

Joe I think "Gert"..was referring to me...He posted under my first post on your thread..

This Is a GREAT Thread... I think we all can relate to the 'Bling appeal' of these bikes...maybe re-live younger years...whatever the reason, and when we find those 'problems'....we ohhh %$$#$# ...then regardless we post here to share & get through it.. I find the common sense approach to the issues refreshing as well as the 'problems'.