Just purchased 1970 CT70

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Aiden

New Member
I just purchased a Ruby Red 1970 CT70 that appears to be almost all original. I am starting to restore it and get it back to it's original glory, and will need some help from you guys who know all the secrets.

Who is the go to for frame painting? I'd prefer to stay in Southern California, but not opposed to shipping it. I'm in Orange County.
 

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airblazer

airblazer

Active Member
Welcome! Nice looking bike. IMO you shouldn’t repaint it. It’s only original once and I think with just a bit of cleaning and polish your bike would look much better. THIS GUY is currently proving that a preservation is worthwhile. Your seat, air intake and headlight bucket aren’t original, which I don’t think matters. Is your plan to turn it into a museum piece or keep it as a rider?
I know a guy who lives in your area who sends his 100-point concours restoration bikes to Boise (mikesminitrail.com), which isn’t cheap. We could get into a discussion about candy, paint, powder coat, etc but that’s beyond the mark for now.
 
JHminitrails

JHminitrails

Well-Known Member
Good looking bike, pretty well kept unit by the looks of it. Like airblazer said, the seat and airbox and headlight bucket are no big deal to correct. I agree, I wouldn't repaint it either, but that's me. It's your bike and you can build it however you wish. It's not like there is a world CT70 shortage, but one might say there isn't many original survivor bikes left that are worth saving! Yours looks like it would be worth leaving original and cleaning it up.

Here is one identical to yours that I restored, but did not repaint, just cleaned, scuffed with scotchbrite pads and had it satin clearcoated. It looked like a it was ready for the scrap heap when I bought it.
 

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Robert thran

Robert thran

Well-Known Member
Here’s one I broke down and did like JHminitrails ,,, if the paint is still decent the lacquer paint will wax and shine up..like airblazer said there only original paint once…seriously think about it before you strip that original paint off…
 

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Aiden

New Member
Thanks for your advice. Yes I might leave it original paint, at least for the time being. I know what you are saying about the originality. The paint is actually much thinner than the photo shows, and the base coat shows through on the top of the frame, either from too much aggressive polishing or sun damage.

I actually got a box of parts with it when I bought it and the original air cleaner is in there, so I do have that. I think I need to get the rubber boots to mount it, but that's a minor detail. I have been working on the brightwork which is coming back pretty nicely, and tumbling the fasteners which were really rusty.
 
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Aiden

New Member
I had a pair of Z50's when I was growing up, a '69 in yellow and a '70 in Ruby Red. My sister sold them one Saturday morning for college money, $25 for the pair. I never forgave her, and she has since passed away. The most bizarre part of this is the guy who sold me this bike lived a few doors away from the house we originally lived in when we were kids over 50 years ago!
 
airblazer

airblazer

Active Member
Aiden said:
My sister sold them one Saturday morning for college money, $25 for the pair.
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Apparently she was only short $25? Too bad she didn’t know what you had, she could’ve made a lot more money. Hopefully you and she were on good terms when she advanced to level 2…
My dad sold my red K0 CT70 without telling me too, and the $1500 check he sent me in 2009 didn’t really soften the blow either. But now I have 3 bikes and my dad has two clones…he asked me once, “What was I thinking?” Dunno dad. I wish I had saved the VIN, for all I know someone here has it! LOL
 
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Aiden

New Member
Hambone, the paint on yours looks incredible. I wish mine faired as well. Overall though, mine did manage to do very well considering.
 
Robert thran

Robert thran

Well-Known Member
I had a red frame that most have sat outside leaning against a house for a long period…one side was near perfect the other side was faded to near all silver.. I should have took a pic of that!
 
A

Aiden

New Member
Here is the right side of the frame which got all the sun. This is why I was considering a re-spray. The paint is very thin and almost transparent in many spots.
 

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Aiden

New Member
Here were the condition of the wheels, looked nice on the outside, but trouble lurking inside. The silver paint was a little too metalic, so I set out to tone them down a little.
 

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A

Aiden

New Member
The brightwork was not terrible, pitted and rusting but some scrubbing and elbow grease brought it back to a presentable state. Some pitting is still visible, and minor holes rusted through on the exhaust in several places.
 

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A

Aiden

New Member
I've tumbled most of the hardware and it has gotten rid of the rust, which was quite bad on some fasteners, but it has taken the zinc coating off. I'm undecided if I should just replace the hardware.
 

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airblazer

airblazer

Active Member
Seems like you’re well on your way of getting the bike back to a well-preserved state. I definitely wouldn’t repaint it - that’s a cool amount of patina for a 54 year old motorcycle. Just a light scrub, polish &wax and it will look great.
As for the hardware, is there anywhere locally that can rezinc them for you? I’m actually not sure they were zinced in the first place. If you’re trying to keep the bike in a stock state replacing the bolts that have the “8” stamp on the head will be difficult.
 
A

Aiden

New Member
airblazer said:
Seems like you’re well on your way of getting the bike back to a well-preserved state. I definitely wouldn’t repaint it - that’s a cool amount of patina for a 54 year old motorcycle. Just a light scrub, polish &wax and it will look great.
As for the hardware, is there anywhere locally that can rezinc them for you? I’m actually not sure they were zinced in the first place. If you’re trying to keep the bike in a stock state replacing the bolts that have the “8” stamp on the head will be difficult.
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Yes, that is my dilemma. They have cleaned up nice, but my fear is that they have lost their protective coating and will be prone to rust rather quickly. It's only been days, and they are already a darker color.

Unfortunately, I don't think there are any plating outfits left in California. This government has successfully ran off virtually every business except those associated with aiding illegal immigration and reducing criminal prosecution. If you wanted to set up a heroin den, you can get government funding, but try to run a plating shop, and you'll end up in prison.
 
Robert thran

Robert thran

Well-Known Member
Aiden said:
Yes, that is my dilemma. They have cleaned up nice, but my fear is that they have lost their protective coating and will be prone to rust rather quickly. It's only been days, and they are already a darker color.

Unfortunately, I don't think there are any plating outfits left in California. This government has successfully ran off virtually every business except those associated with aiding illegal immigration and reducing criminal prosecution. If you wanted to set up a heroin den, you can get government funding, but try to run a plating shop, and you'll end up in prison.
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Look up Burbank plating..you want silver or clear cad not zink.
 
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