Author Topic: cross your fingers for me! (Read 3212 times)

mono · « **on:** April 24, 2012, 12:11:55 PM »

so last week i'm out drinking wit ha couple buddies. one says "hey, you know josh's dad has some old motorcycle leaning against the garage with weed and #$%* growing in it?"

i zoomed inside and asked josh about it -- he had no clue what kind of bike it was, thought it may be a honda.

he just texted me and said it's a 1981 CB750 custom with under 5K mi on it. i'm arranging a meeting with his old man!

mono · « **Reply #1 on:** April 24, 2012, 12:12:37 PM »

Q: is the '81 DOHC ?

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #2 on:** April 24, 2012, 12:24:25 PM »

Yes. Good luck anyhoo. A bike is a bike.

mono · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2012, 01:25:31 PM »

thanks for moving the thread. anyways, here is a pic. i asked if the ghillie suit was aftermarket lol

mono · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2012, 01:29:48 PM »

short list i can see of things that would need directly replaced:

chain/sprockets
tires

- tank looks pretty good on the outside at least, pipes look functional for now.

this would be for my cafe project, so a lot of the stuff is non-essential and i don't have to consider replacement cost. of course this would leave very little to trade with, but oh vell.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2012, 01:34:26 PM »

I've never seen any bikes neglected that way over here, we must be all tight b*stards.

mono · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2012, 01:53:05 PM »

i actually got the motorcycle bug about 12 years ago - a girlfriend of mine was living in a duplex her friend's dad owned, and there was an old honda v-twin of some kind out there with an equal amount of ivy growing through it. the property owner said a previous tenant had left it there a few years back and i could have it if i wanted it. BUT.... i didn't know a damn thing about MCs back then and there was a lot less info in the web, so i never pursued it.

i thought that since i didn't have a title i would not be able to register it because someone used to own it, and that person was still alive probably... oh how naive i was. i do remember looking up parts for it on ebay, and back then i could get anything on it for 10-15 bucks.

anyways, i think i'm going to buy this either way if the engine isn't seized and he's not trying to get rich off this thing. if so, she's getting named "Ivy".

70CB750 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2012, 01:59:27 PM »

Go for it, you can always part it out.

mono · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2012, 06:44:51 PM »

Quote from: 70CB750 on April 24, 2012, 01:59:27 PM

Go for it, you can always part it out.

very true. it will be taken down to the frame anyways once i get it home and verify it runs!

Stev-o · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2012, 08:43:50 PM »

It's possible it might start up, but dont count on it. Fuel sitting for long periods of time tends to turn to a varnish type matierial. The tank and carbs more than likely need a good cleaning. And you'll need a good battery too.
Good Luck and love the name! May need to change it to Poison Ivy!!

grcamna2 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2012, 08:44:25 PM »

The CB900 & CB1000C Custom's all had dual range transmissions which gave you 10 different forward ratio's..,but I'm not sure if the CB750C had that. It's a Nice bike.

mono · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2012, 05:51:56 AM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on April 24, 2012, 08:44:25 PM

The CB900 & CB1000C Custom's all had dual range transmissions which gave you 10 different forward ratio's..,but I'm not sure if the CB750C had that. It's a Nice bike.

Hmmmm.. .not sure. i was wondering what classified them as "Custom" though. That would be suh-weeet!

To Google!

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2012, 05:56:58 AM »

Quote from: mono on April 25, 2012, 05:51:56 AM

Quote from: grcamna2 on April 24, 2012, 08:44:25 PM
The CB900 & CB1000C Custom's all had dual range transmissions which gave you 10 different forward ratio's..,but I'm not sure if the CB750C had that. It's a Nice bike.

Hmmmm.. .not sure. i was wondering what classified them as "Custom" though. That would be suh-weeet!

To Google!

Tank shape, seat height/shape, 4 into 4. Hi rise bars is all I can see.

onepieceatatime · « **Reply #13 on:** April 25, 2012, 06:02:31 AM »

Quote from: mono on April 25, 2012, 05:51:56 AM

Quote from: grcamna2 on April 24, 2012, 08:44:25 PM
The CB900 & CB1000C Custom's all had dual range transmissions which gave you 10 different forward ratio's..,but I'm not sure if the CB750C had that. It's a Nice bike.

Hmmmm.. .not sure. i was wondering what classified them as "Custom" though. That would be suh-weeet!

To Google!

the comstar wheels instead of spokes, and 81 on it was also dual disc front brakes and air forks at least on the 650s

mono · « **Reply #14 on:** April 25, 2012, 07:04:11 AM »

yeah Google said dual-disc fronts also. too bad about no spokes, but oh well. less polishing.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #15 on:** April 25, 2012, 12:37:03 PM »

Didn't they all have Comstars after 78 or so?

onepieceatatime · « **Reply #16 on:** April 25, 2012, 12:46:35 PM »

Quote from: LesterPiglet on April 25, 2012, 12:37:03 PM

Didn't they all have Comstars after 78 or so?

The CB650 standard model had spoke wheels '79-'82. I would guess the 750 did too.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #17 on:** April 25, 2012, 12:54:20 PM »

But the 750 became DOHC and I think they came with Comstars. And my bro's CB650 had them too.

mono · « **Reply #18 on:** April 26, 2012, 05:42:52 PM »

well i got out there today to check it out.

the guy had kindly removed the ivy from it, but i don't know of that makes it look better or worse lol.

anyways, there was still 1/2 tank gas in it, no fuel was visibly leaking from anywhere, and there was still clean oil in it and it was full.

he was the original owner, bought it in '81 with 6 miles on it, parked it with 4600 on it.

we settled on $300 - i have the title and a bill of sale in my hand, and i go haul it home on Saturday afternoon!

Stev-o · « **Reply #19 on:** April 26, 2012, 09:20:58 PM »

Sounds like a fair price. The fuel n the tank is bad, but may have kept the tank from rusting?
What's your plan once you get it home?

mono · « **Reply #20 on:** April 27, 2012, 05:34:07 AM »

first thing is to remove the sissy bar and luggage rack lol. then i'll wash it.

after that i'll drain the gas + oil, check the plugs, see what the float bowls have in them, and if they don't look too horrible, try and run some new gas through it and see if it'll start (or at least try and turn over). *shrug*

if i can get it running i'll probably ride it this summer a bit, but i'm guessing it'll need a lot of love before it wants to be roadworthy.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 27, 2012, 08:14:03 AM »

It wouldn't hurt to spray some PB Blaster down each spark plug hole..let it sit for overnight and spray some more and then turn it over w/ the starter w/ no plugs in it.
Then do the rest of the work after that step...that's what I'd do.

mono · « **Reply #22 on:** April 27, 2012, 08:26:48 AM »

^ lubes up the dry/possibly stuck cylinders? yes good idea. i will do this. thanks!

grcamna2 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 27, 2012, 10:13:52 AM »

The PBBlaster or WD-40 will help to brake up Any rust on you're cylinder walls,valves & valve seats plus leaving it sit like that in the cylinders will help to get the piston rings loose from being stuck in one position on the pistons and help them seal better when you do get her started.It's a good idea to check you're air filter element to be sure it is still able to work...sometimes mice get in the air box and wreak havoc on the filter,wires,etc.

mono · « **Reply #24 on:** April 27, 2012, 11:17:08 AM »

^yeah that does make sense - i guess all the oils would have settled long ago... :/ this is why you guys are priceless!

also, good call on the air filter, and i should have thought of that myself. when i got my 550, the air filter was a stock fiber filter thst the PO must have oiled, and it had tons of crap in it and was suffocating the carbs. added to my list.

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Author Topic: cross your fingers for me! (Read 3212 times)