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2008 crf450 - 500af
Posted: January 3rd, 2012, 9:07 am
by _mel_45_
Finally after much talking (far too much) and several changes of mind between keeping it original sttelie or doing the swap I am once and for all going for it.
So far I have stripped sown the steelie and left it as a rolling chasis, built up my crf chasis again and now the 2 sit side by side with the engine stuck in the middle.
Have ordered myself a nice new exhaust (pro circuit), bearings and the 99cr250 airbox/boot.
sorted out my kickstart with a nice new internal ball and spring.
My clutch cover acquired a hole in it from the brake lever so i decided id get myself Boyesen racing covers for both clutch and ignition, and have a Boyesen rad valve on its way also.
once i had the engine out i took the head off to have a quick look at the piston etc and see what its like inside. Might just put a new piston, ring etc in now whilst its out and be assured that I know what I have. Maybe even a little cheeky bit of polishing and porting???
Currently building a blasting cabinet, the one we currently have is not large enough to fit the engine, then hopefully dad will bead blast the engine and help revive the look. (we tested this on the busted crf engine pieces in the small cabinet)
Fabrication wont start untill i receive my exhaust sytem, as I want to get everything aligned up properly first time round.
Re: 2008 crf450 - 500af
Posted: January 3rd, 2012, 9:15 am
by AlisoBob
_mel_45_ wrote:Fabrication wont start untill i receive my exhaust sytem, as I want to get everything aligned up properly first time round.
Good thinkin'!!!

Posted: January 3rd, 2012, 10:35 am
by _mel_45_
just wondering is there such a thing as a shorter plug?
if so i must put that on the purchase list.
Posted: January 3rd, 2012, 10:44 am
by Nodge
BR8ECM Is the standard "shorty" plug. It's used in KTM's.
If you want to spend some big bucks, and get even more clearance,
use this:
Plug: R7282-8
Cap: TRS1225
(the plug and cap are specific to each other.)
Posted: January 3rd, 2012, 3:52 pm
by _mel_45_
Nodge wrote:BR8ECM Is the standard "shorty" plug. It's used in KTM's.
If you want to spend some big bucks, and get even more clearance,
use this:
Plug: R7282-8
Cap: TRS1225
(the plug and cap are specific to each other.)
is that plug and cap NGK???
Posted: January 3rd, 2012, 4:01 pm
by mxdogger
yes and there $100 for the pair, very pricey
Posted: January 3rd, 2012, 4:19 pm
by _mel_45_
mxdogger wrote:yes and there $100 for the pair, very pricey
the KTM one it is then lol.
I was going to buy a conversion kit from yourself or pstoffers to aid my build, however after working it all out, by time it would get to Ireland and VAT and import duties paid and after talking to my fabricator about making our own pieces, it works out roughly half price to make them here rather than pay all the taxes and duties.
Same goes with everything I have been looking for the bike, there is so much stuff on Ebay USA at reasonable/sensible prices but hardly anything over here

Posted: January 4th, 2012, 4:10 am
by Tharrell
Off topic but, I wanna see your blasting cabinet when it's done.
Posted: January 4th, 2012, 9:20 am
by _mel_45_
Tharrell wrote:Off topic but, I wanna see your blasting cabinet when it's done.
the original one, just has a perspex style top on it so you can see what your doing with an outlet for the blasting hose, and hands. In theory the one we build should just be a bigger version. This is dependant ofcourse on my dad funding it, as he would be using it for other jobs such as refurbing alloy wheels etc.
Posted: January 5th, 2012, 10:21 am
by _mel_45_
Looks a little bare in here without atleast some form of pictures. So here is a couple of the donar bike when i picked it up.

Posted: January 5th, 2012, 2:56 pm
by Rhino89523
What does that thing have going on for the rear shock? AHHHH the smell of a steel frame kind of gives me a chub

Posted: January 5th, 2012, 3:03 pm
by _mel_45_
Rhino89523 wrote:What does that thing have going on for the rear shock? AHHHH the smell of a steel frame kind of gives me a chub

Its an ohlins shock. The attachment on the swingarm is a catchtank for petrol.
Posted: January 6th, 2012, 7:33 am
by Rhino89523
You selling that shock?
Posted: January 6th, 2012, 9:27 am
by _mel_45_
Rhino89523 wrote:You selling that shock?
Not at the minute. Plan is to keep the original chasis alongside the af build. Seems people here would rather buy them in steel frame rather than buying someone elses conversion. So when/if I sell I will most likely sell as a job lot with the option of steel or af chasis.
Posted: January 7th, 2012, 8:55 am
by _mel_45_
Well got my 125 swingarm bearing kit and 1999 cr250 airbox complete in the post today. Plan for tomorrow is to fit the bearings and set the engine in the af chasis, to have a look at how much adjustment is required.
Posted: January 8th, 2012, 7:04 pm
by _mel_45_
If I was to cut the Y piece out and start prepping as much as possible would it be a bad idea? I mean would the frame loose its rigidity/form? or would it be safe enough?
Posted: January 8th, 2012, 8:13 pm
by mxdogger
mel it will be ok to start cutting the y out, you will need to do this first so the motor can be installed to determine the correct position in the frame. I took a crf250 rolling chassie flipped it upsidedown like a bicycle, cut the y out, flipped it back on its wheels, set the motor in and clocked the motor so the honda logo on the clutch cover was level.
this needs to be done with the bike sitting up under its own weight. then you can add your radiators and exhaust, adjust motor a couple millimeters up or down til you feel all lines up well. once you found that spot hold the y up to the frame as so it clears the exhaust opening and mark your downtube for the cut, allow enough of the downtube to slide into the top of the y.
this info should give you a good idea of where to start, also read other crf builds, look at as many pics as you can till you feel comfortable about what you need to do.

Posted: January 9th, 2012, 7:07 am
by _mel_45_
mxdogger wrote:mel it will be ok to start cutting the y out, you will need to do this first so the motor can be installed to determine the correct position in the frame. I took a crf250 rolling chassie flipped it upsidedown like a bicycle, cut the y out, flipped it back on its wheels, set the motor in and clocked the motor so the honda logo on the clutch cover was level.
this needs to be done with the bike sitting up under its own weight. then you can add your radiators and exhaust, adjust motor a couple millimeters up or down til you feel all lines up well. once you found that spot hold the y up to the frame as so it clears the exhaust opening and mark your downtube for the cut, allow enough of the downtube to slide into the top of the y.
this info should give you a good idea of where to start, also read other crf builds, look at as many pics as you can till you feel comfortable about what you need to do.

sweet thats a great basis. As much as I cant do the welding work myself, I still want to get involved as much as I can, as it's nice to say I built that.
Posted: January 9th, 2012, 8:07 am
by AlisoBob
Posted: January 10th, 2012, 8:55 am
by quicfix500
[quote="Nodge"]BR8ECM Is the standard "shorty" plug. It's used in KTM's.
http://www.powersportsplus.com/parts/de ... 87997.html get em while they last!

thats for one plug but better than 17.00 i paid at the bike shop.
Posted: January 10th, 2012, 7:57 pm
by quicfix500
quicfix500 wrote: they were 1.45 but they jumped to over 8.00 today!
Posted: January 15th, 2012, 12:17 am
by gusaberg
i have been looking for the short plug that is used by some banned riders on the conversion and knew it was expensive but this is redonkulus
http://www.eziautoparts.com.au/ngk-spar ... 282-8.html
this is some times why i shop abroard

Posted: February 13th, 2012, 5:01 am
by _mel_45_
Just to let you all know I haven't vanished off the face off the earth, I have been rather busy lately and sometimes need to prioratise things.
Well finally after a long long wait, my procircuit system has arrived

, and as far as Im aware I have all the parts necessary to get building.
My father has taken ill though so this means I have to go to University, do my own job and do his work aswell, so I can't get as involved with my build as I would like

.
Posted: February 22nd, 2012, 11:58 am
by _mel_45_
well today I finally got some time away from work, university and doing dads work to get started on the build.
started out the day with the bike sitting like this.
then got to cutting out the cradles.
the left hand side cradle removed. Taking this to get a new cradle formed, so il be sure to get the correct bend matched up and correct density etc.
Then got the excess tubing that was left in at the peg slot out.
cut out the y piece then.
done some grinding after removing the y piece just to clean it up a bit and remove rough edges.
next set the engine in and checked where i would need to cut for exhaust clearence. i know engine isnt 100% level here, but got the spirit level out and fixed this after.
thought id check for tank clearances etc.
By end of the day got the frame adjusted for the y piece ready to be tacked in, and new cradles to be set in etc.
Posted: February 25th, 2012, 10:33 pm
by gixxerbob
your stator cover with a bulge in it is new to me....