Author Topic: In the Pursuit of happiness with a CB750 (PICS ADDED) (Read 8708 times)

Guns_Up · « **on:** April 09, 2012, 03:26:44 PM »

Hey Guys, My name is Tony. This is my first post on here, but I've been reading threads almost everyday for the past two months. I am 21 and recently back from Afghanistan with the Marines, I'm a machine gunner. I have been looking all over for a cb750 and finally found one on craigslist. It's a '75, my pops is going to pick it up for me this weekend (Im in AZ right now) but I am looking forward to this project to help me relax and have some me time. This is my second old Honda, my first (also my first vehicle) was a '72 CL350 I road EVERY day for 2 yrs till I could afford a truck. But for this CB I want to make a Cafe Racer. I am more concerned with the performance of the bike more so then looks, (but I am AROC about my things) This is what I want to do with the bike, any input is welcome, telling me "that is an awful idea" wont hurt my feelings either, or things that you've done that you found to work are welcome too.

-Replace the fork springs w/ progressive suspension springs
-install a fork brace
-Install the AllBalls tapered roller bearing kit
-Get a set of Hagon's for the rear suspension
-Rebuild the engine and replace the hardware with SS hex heads
-Swap out the pipes to a 4-1
-Install an Acewell 2853 speedo/tach
-Get some rear sets on there
-Rebuild the carbs

I want to find a way to do the ignition, I've seen some talk of Hondaman's, can someone enlighten me on this please?

I'll be doing a lot of the usual TLC stuff that I don't really feel like typing out, but includes the stuff like electronically cleaning the tank and the such. My older brother, who is a Mechatronics Engineer and a new Lt. in the Corps, said that he would help me with the electrical. He is sorta the genius when it comes to that stuff, designing and building robots and all that stuff.

like I said ANY input is welcome, once I get to the bike and start this project full swing I will put up pictures and try to keep a tab of coast in my signature area, but it'll be about a month till I will be able to do that. Until that time I've ordered a Shop manual that should be here tomorrow or wed. so I can read and get aquatinted with it, and put together all the feed back I get here. Thanks Guys

Tony

DJ_AX · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2012, 04:09:04 PM »

Welcome..

That looks like a good starting list...
Most of those I'd consider standard to do's with these bikes..
I'd re-order the list a bit and add SS brake lines and wheel bearings
and maybe you just forgot to mention... fresh tires

new sprockets and a new chain is usually a good idea too!

camelman · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2012, 04:14:33 PM »

Welcome and thanks for your service.

Regarding your list, I would put tires and steering bearings at the top. New shocks are a great improvement as are new springs up front. However, I'm not sold onprogressive springs. I'll be using emulators only next project without progressive springs.

octagon · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2012, 04:26:04 PM »

welcome, this has been put out there before, and it's good advice imo - download the shop manual and do the 3000 mile tuneup

nayto550 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2012, 05:21:25 PM »

Thank you for your service and welcome to the club!

+1 on the tires, steering and wheel bearings to the top of the list followed by a 3000 mile service. Beyond that, your imagination is the limit with how far you go with the build. Don't forget to start a build thread in the "Project Shop" section of the forum and post LOTS of pictures (everyone here loves pictures).

If you want to go really crazy with the engine and cost isn't a consideration you could always get one of these...

I wanted to get this 915cc kit, but my wife said, "there is no way in hell you're spending $3000 to build an engine for that thing."

Another time, perhaps.

KCbarsos · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2012, 06:50:07 PM »

welcome. now....pics pics pics pics pics

CBR750RR · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2012, 06:56:07 PM »

Pics or it didnt happen

Stev-o · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2012, 07:10:10 PM »

Welcome, Marine!

Let me get this straight, you didn't get the bike yet and you already want to rebuild it? Sounds like you left out some info.

bender01 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2012, 07:38:29 PM »

Your on the right path. You earned it! Is the bike rusty from New England, faded from GA or worn out in Arizona? Lots of mileage.
Welcome.

Eydugstr · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2012, 07:47:27 PM »

Welcome to the forum and thanks for your service. When you get the chance, please post a pick of the bike.

Did you find a '75 CB750K or a '75 CB750F model? Because you said that you were looking to install a 4 - 1, will assume it's a K model. If that's the case, you & your brother have one less electrical worry - they make new wiring harnesses for the K's, for about $76.

Here are some links that will cover some of the stuff you're looking to do
http://www.cb750cafe.com/parts.php
http://www.vintagecb750.com/
http://www.cyclexchange.net/Honda%20Page.htm
http://www.westernhonda.com/fiche_select.asp

The 3000 mile check is a good starting point. Have fun with the bike! Don't be afraid to wear out the "search" section on the site. Someone here has posted about the Acewell speedo tach, looks sweet. Hope this helps.

Semper Fi!

grcamna2 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2012, 07:51:12 PM »

I look forward to following your build progress.

70CB750 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2012, 05:42:13 AM »

Welcome and thanks for your service.

Tires, brakes, sprockets and chain but maybe carbs first. You want it to run and be dependable. The rest as the opportunity comes.

I was going to rebuild my K0 frame up, but I just don't want to be without a ride - making only minor changes and improvements while putting miles on it.

greenjeans · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2012, 02:43:38 PM »

Welcome Tony & thanks.

I think your plan is going to be fine. I find these old bike very relaxing are are a great source of stress relief - no doubt a good change of pace for you.
Especially when you get it running.

I can vouch for Hondaman's electronic ignitions. They work great. Basically they just eliminate using the points. The good thing about his system is:
if it should somehow fail, the points are still installed, and with an easy re-route of a few wires, you're back on the road.

70CB750 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2012, 02:51:00 PM »

Nobody recommended The Book, yet? Thats a great help and excellent reading too.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2012, 02:55:10 PM »

Tony,
Have you seen any pictures of you're "M/C to Be" yet ?

Guns_Up · « **Reply #15 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:38:45 PM »

Hey guys sry its taken so long to get back, had a long training day today. The bike is in GA, and most all the work will be done in GA. I got my Clymer book in the mail today! pumped about that! It is a blue 750k, good call Eydugster, it has those giant curved back handle bars like old school ape hangers but that for the most part is the only modifications that I know of. I will be putting it up in the project shop once I start.

AX-I actually had wheel bearings written down in my notebook but forgot to put it up, Tires too. I was looking at the Firestone vintage deluxe champions to put on, on my CL350 I'm rockin Bridgestone Spitfires (if I'm not mistaken) The SS brakelines though, great call. The Chain and sprocket I was thinking about, It will be done!

Camelman- I've searched on here the different conversations about the Progressive springs and the emulators, seeing as you cant mix and match the two, what makes you lean towards the emulators?

Nayto- Thanks man, for the most part coast isn't an issue I've been saving for awhile now and have enough saved and enough to spend without it being a problem..... but ehhh $3,000 for the engine kit.... I'd need to save a little more or pick up a rank haha

Stev-O, Yup you got it straight, Cafe Racers have always caught my eye since I got my little CL but I ended up restoring it. I only spent 3 days at home when we got back then was sent out to AZ, so my leave has added up quite a bit and I get to collect in May.

Eydugstr-Thankyou for the links, have you ever done any buisness with dimecitycycles.com? and Semper Fi!

GreenJeans- I've looked through different posts through the search and have just found praise about them. From what your telling me they sound like they were well thought out when designed, but where can I find in depth info, and how to get them?

I will be downloading the shopmanual when I get to a place that has a decent wifi, so that it wont take three days to download. I will have my Dad take some pictures of it and send them to me and post themwhen he picks it up this weekend, I'm guilty of liking the pics too

Thanks for all the kind words of encouragement, please keep advice and input coming it is appreciated. I think I answered most of the questions, I am looking forward to working on this bike, playing with my dog and eating my mother's food more than anything else right now.

Have a good day Ya'll

Tony

Hush · « **Reply #16 on:** April 11, 2012, 12:26:50 AM »

Welcome and this project will be a great way to de-stress after a tour of duty.
Ask and the geniuses on here will help you, I rebuilt a bike from 4 boxes of parts with the help I gained here, there is nothing the forum cannot help or advise you with....good luck and one more thing you ~~may need~~ will need is a decent camera, we lurv photos!

70CB750 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 11, 2012, 03:03:05 AM »

Dime City Cycles - I have clutch lever assembly from them and few other things. They are good to deal with, good quality too.

Hondaman is a local guru on this forum, but you can get a lot of his knowledge if you buy his book:

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Hondaman750

every so often people post discount codes for lulu here.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2012, 12:05:15 PM »

Hi Tony,
I'm moving to N.E. GA. in May and I promise to help you face to face with anything you need on you're build..let me know,OK ?

Bill H.

Eydugstr · « **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2012, 02:53:38 PM »

Dime city cycles...didn't know about them until you mentioned it...

+1 on Hondaman's book. He makes a lot of stuff for us on the forum. http://www.sohc4shop.com/catalog/index.php
A couple more links while I'm thinking about it...http://www.z1enterprises.com/
http://www.jokermachine.com/onlinecatalogcafe2004.asp?CategoryID=85

PurduePete · « **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2012, 04:11:34 PM »

Awesome, these projects are a ton of fun. Thanks for your service. My brother was a machine gunner, or a pack mule as he put it. Though when he got back from Iraq he passed the sniper indoc. He is also 21.

Do you have a space to work or are you in the barracks? Girlfriends brother said that they have got great facilities to work in on his massive truck.

I agree, we all need pictures.

PurduePete

Sent from my iPhone

Guns_Up · « **Reply #21 on:** April 12, 2012, 08:04:36 PM »

I've been reading up on my Clymer book, looks like a pretty "keep it simple so regular guy can understand this" which I like a lot about it. now that I'm on a real computer and not my phone I've been looking a lot into Handaman's book and shop and will probably order one tomorrow (I'm checking out his link right now)

In his book does it go over how to respoke wheels? I know that there are links on here about it and have read them just curious.

Bill Thank you so much, I've sent you a PM
Pete a pack mule is right,

right now I'm in the barracks but once I get back I will have space to work on it, but those hobby shops on base are AMAZING and cheap, if you're close to a base and have a friend that can get you in there if you need to work on your vics its awesome and cheap with all the tools you can think of.

It looks like DCC has a lot of stuff, I do appreciate the links, I've been cruising them in my down time.

Come Saturday afternoon (and once I figure out how to put up pictures) I will but some up.

I've been trying to think of a way to put the oil tank under the seat cowl and think I have it figured out, but have any of you all had any experience with this task or know anyone that does?

P.S. Hush- I got one of those Fuji "indestructible" camera's, the sand, wind, water, drop, and we found out explosion proof the things are awesome!

grcamna2 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 14, 2012, 07:16:18 AM »

I tried to PM you..but you're inbox is full.

Trav-i · « **Reply #23 on:** April 14, 2012, 07:31:47 AM »

Welcome to the forum! Where in GA do you live? There's a pretty big group of us up here in NEGA (I'm in Gainesville), we meet up pretty regularly to ride and catch up. Well, not so much me lately (too much school and not enough spare time) but we have fun. Anyway welcome, and thanks for your service!

Travis

Guns_Up · « **Reply #24 on:** April 14, 2012, 06:13:29 PM »

Ok guys! my dad picked the bike up for me today, I have to say that I am pretty pleased with it from what I've seen (which is the same as you all) and have heard. The PO had rebuilt the carbs and installed pods, and did some wiring work and a few cosmetic touches (the grips). My dad said that it seems to have good compression when he kicked it over but the timing was a little off. He said that the pipes seemed to be brand new along with the seat but are original to the bike. There Is a little rust here and there (it looks as though the swing arm area is the worst of it all) and a little pitting in some of the chrome. The disk on the front looks good, and my pops said that they both function nicely, The tires DEFINITELY need to be replaced though as you can see in some of the pictures.

Trav-i- My parents live on the south side of Atlanta in Fayetteville and that is where I will be done most of the work, and grcamna (Bill) has graciously offered to help me out with this project

Thanks guys enjoy!

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Author Topic: In the Pursuit of happiness with a CB750 (PICS ADDED) (Read 8708 times)