Topic: Bought a K0 750 and got a 400f for free

[Johnie]

Great find...sounds like a cool story too. Gosh the bikes cleaned up nice. I take it all motors turn over and with a little tweaking should be running soon. Keep us informed...

[Tews19]

thought you would like to see this camelman:

Remember this first pic, did you ever think a year later it would be all yours It pays to be a nice guy and be patient wouldn't you say

Man that is a huge mirror!

[Bob Wessner]

Question on the 750 shifter. Should it return to a preset position after every shift, or does it actually shift position according to the gear it is in?

Camelman

Haven't seen anyone comment on this yet. The shift lever 'should' return to the same position (relative angle) on each shift. If it doesn't, any chance it is not moving freely within the gasketed hole in the cover, perhaps a slight binding is keeping it from returning all the way??? Just a long shot. Keep us posted. Whatever it is and the ultimate solution may help someone else some time.

[camelman]

@dhall, I didn't actually think I'd end up with it when I saw it last year. In fact, I hardly knew what it was worth when I saw it. I sure didn't expect to get a free CB400f either!!

Bob, thanks for the reply on the shifter. It sounds like I need to get into the shifting mechanism or the transmission soon. Hopefully it is just a missing spring. Luckily, both engines turn freely with good compression, so they likely just need their carbs cleaned and fresh oil. Someone installed new points on both of them recently too!

I want to restore the K0 correctly, which means I have a lot left to learn about it.

[754]

 If the spring is broken, it will probably stay where you leave it (dont try starting it up) Wether spring is broke or not, could be dried up at the pivot point, if that is the case the shifter wont move freely.. then just oil it up.. what serial number is it ??early or late or mid KO?

[Greggo]

what serial number is it ??early or late or mid KO?

Engine number CB750E-1009589... I think.  It is inscribed by hand, and the second to last digit is difficult to read.
Frame is about ten numbers later.  I supposed that means it could be the original engine.

Build date is 10/69

Camelman

[camelman]

If the spring is broken, it will probably stay where you leave it (dont try starting it up) Wether spring is broke or not, could be dried up at the pivot point, if that is the case the shifter wont move freely.. then just oil it up.. what serial number is it ??early or late or mid KO?

I'll change the oil first to see if that fixes it. What is strange is that the shifter does "return" but at a higher level than it started when shifting up, and then reverses course when shifting down.  To compare to a clock, in first gear it is around 6:30 and in fifth it is around 10:30.  Each shift is perfectly indexed and is smooth. I'll get some pics to demonstrate.

[754]

  sorry missed that early morning post..
They could be replacement cases, if the numbers appear handstamped.. plus that is VERY close together with frame #  Are the cases diecast, or Sandcast?
 I would just get it running, ride as is..slowly polish it up.. more than that just gets costly.. untouched survivor bikes can be more desireable than a poor or incomplete resto.
 Opo the shifter cover off, worst it can cost is a gasket . Early bikes did have different shift mechs, not sure when they changed, but I think the newer stuff will bolt in if you want a riding bike.. if the shaft is sticking behind the seal, better off cleaning it out anyway..

[Greggo]

I would just get it running, ride as is..slowly polish it up.. more than that just gets costly.. untouched survivor bikes can be more desireable than a poor or incomplete resto.

+1.  Survivors are the best, and they've got the character a resto can't match.  If I get that one in the bushes in San Francisco, I'd just want to get it into running condition.  What did GreenJeans' bike sell for? 

[754]

 especially if it has dealer installed sandcast cases.. The number boss on them, does not have a frame around it like later ones, plus they look  like sand cast surface..

[Stev-o]

+1 - if the engine number is hand stamped, most likely a replacement case due to a chain break?

Greenjeans "budget" sandcast build sold for $14K.

[Roach Carver]

Excelent find. My 69 has unstamped cases likely from the known issue. Those are the wrong carbs btw.

[camelman]

Would the replacement case have been a sandcast or diecast unit? Actually, consideirng my engine VIN, mine was never a sandcast was it?  I imagine the replacement case takes away some value of this bike too.

Which carbs should be on my bike?  I've heard about this 4-1 system, but haven't seen what they look like yet.  Also, any other ideas on what is going on with my shifter? 

Camelman

[Roach Carver]

4 individual cables coming out the top of the carbs. Your right though. Most likely a die cast. Atill desireable though.

[Greggo]

The correct carbs aren't impossible to find.  I've seen sets up for sale on here, as well as ebay.  If it runs well once you get it going, maybe just search for a good deal on a set of 4 cable carbs.

[dhall57]

+1 - if the engine number is hand stamped, most likely a replacement case due to a chain break?

Greenjeans "budget" sandcast build sold for $14K.

$14K for sure is a lot of cash. But I would of had to held on to that 69 sandcast for a while and enjoy it a little bit myself!! But I guess greenjeans had other plans.

[MaaseyRacer]

The photos make it look like there are two carb cables. It is still a K0 though, did the die cast bikes have the 4 into 1 carbs or did they have the later models?

[Roach Carver]

Four cables on the k0

[camelman]

I just checked. It is a single cable. I guess I'll just throw the bike out.

[754]

 736cc has a set right now on a post called CR Fairing or similar in for sale. Or you can leave it just as you got it..
 You have an early diecast, it is more desireable than a mid or late one and is a 69 built bike.. more desireable in my opinion.. quite likely registered as a 70,  I am not convinced that diecast replacement cases were immediately available, it really depends on how many blank sandcast ones were made and where they were inventoried and distributed. I think an early diecast with dealer installed snadcast cases should be left as is..
 Can you look at trhe number boss on the case and look if it has a border around it..thanks..

[camelman]

736cc has a set right now on a post called CR Fairing or similar in for sale. Or you can leave it just as you got it..
 You have an early diecast, it is more desireable than a mid or late one and is a 69 built bike.. more desireable in my opinion.. quite likely registered as a 70,  I am not convinced that diecast replacement cases were immediately available, it really depends on how many blank sandcast ones were made and where they were inventoried and distributed. I think an early diecast with dealer installed snadcast cases should be left as is..
 Can you look at trhe number boss on the case and look if it has a border around it..thanks..

I checked the border and there is only a faint ridge on three sides of the engine VIN.  I took a picture, but it doesn't show in the picture.  The faint ridge is nothing at all like the borders on my 350Fs or 400Fs.  I haven't seen a "borderless" VIN yet, but I'd call mine borderless if I had to call it anything.

Thanks for the heads up on the carbs.  I'll check them out.

Camelman

[camelman]

I also got these stunning items with the purchase.  The side pouch with velcro is just classic, so I thought I'd post it.  Not sure when the side bag was made, but I don't think they had velcro when this bike was manufactured.  The tool kit has me curious though.  It comes with a feeler guage in the front pocket too.  I think it is 0.020".  any idea what the tool kit is from?  Could it have come with the bike?

The real winner was this back rest that came with the 400F.  Pure engineering magic!

Thanks,
Camelman

[Terry in Australia]

Looking good mate, and I'm a survivor fan too, "only original once" and all that poop. I'm guessing your replacement cases are diecast, the ridge is quite small, but the sandcast case has a raised area for the number but no ridge at all. remove your transmission cover (behind the shifter lever) and see if the shift lever spring is missing, or has been dislodged, if it's missing any spring from any model CB750 will fit, and if you're careful you might be able to re-use your 43 year old gasket. (with a smudge of adhesive......) You're gonna have a great summer ahead of you! Cheers, Terry. 

[camelman]

Terry, my engine Vin looks just like the one in this thread. Do I have a sandcast engine or a diecast?

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=79183.0

Thanks,
Camelman

[Terry in Australia]

Ha ha, if you've got asimilar number to that one mate, you're in the money, that bike build that you linked is the 97th CB750 off the production line! Any number under 1007414 is a sandcast, and the lower the number, the better. What's your number? (you can PM me if you don't want to risk telling the world) Cheers, Terry.