Topic: Was it a dumb idea to buy a SOHC4 bike?

[DustyRags]

Oh man, I so know this feeling! I bought my bike in early August- 10 days, and maybe 20 miles later, I started a top-end rebuild. It had a busted cam chain tensioner. 50 days and countless screwups later, it finally started up. It still isn't perfect (needs the carbs synced and I found out today that it's missing a bolt in the front brake caliper!) but I know it inside and out, can confidently say that I know it's a good bike (measured every bit of the top end of the engine) and that while it's always going to need some more work, I confidently know that it isn't a ticking bomb (at least not the top end!).

It got new rubber today, and riding it home from the mechanic was pure joy. Expensive? Yeah- my $500 bike needed about $300 in parts and tools, and almost again the much for new tires. Time consuming? Yeah, my sixty day old bike spent fifty of those days in pieces.  Frustrating? Yeah. Hearing the clunk clunk clunk noise in the transmission the first time I fired it up almost broke my heart.

But it runs now. It's mine in a way that my car absolutely isn't (even though I've had THAT beast over a year, and it only gave me one or two minor spots of trouble). It's mine. I know its quirks and its foibles. I know that it likes the choke on cold days, and just the throttle cracked open a hair for 30 seconds or so on warm days. I know that the oil pump is in great condition because I rebuilt it. I know that the cylinders are all in spec because I checked them. I know that the valves don't leak because I lapped them. I know that the rear brake pedal is a bit low, but the brake itself is fine, because I adjusted it. When someone says "Damn, that looks good!" I hold my head up high because I painted it.

Think about it. If you want to work on engines and ride motorcycles, then keep it, cool off, and start working on it. If you want to ride and leave the repairs to the pros, get a more modern bike that hasn't got as much wear on it and that any shop can and will work on. Either approach is valid.

[Brandedone88]

Now you can also add me to the list of people who are willing to offer you help.  If your motor is in as bad shape as you say, and you need a crank, I happen to have a CB750K motor that I am parting out, and I will give you the crank and the rods for shipping cost.

[Dinola]

Magilla.. thanks for putting your frustration out front. I can relate  to your troubles but my ego often keeps me from really reaching out for guidance and opinions.  Forums are about sharing and I see people offering to help you.  I just wanted you to understand that YOU helped me when you spoke openly about your troubles.
Good luck, whatever the outcome, you bought into an adventure so run with it!

[BeSeeingYou]

It was just a dumb idea to buy the wrong SOHC4 bike......one that suffered poor care under PO's.  You need to be more picky and learn to walk away from a purchase unless you enjoy a project that will likely cost more than the bike is worth.  Given the option of spending 1800 on a suspect machine I would use the money to buy something else.  Given time and a bit of searching while leaving the rose colored glasses at home, you should be able to find something in better shape.  The right 30+ year old bike can be reliable and fairly trouble free.  After 4 years of ownership my two owner (including me) 76 750F has been virtually trouble free.  Only failure has been the starter button and the tach seal is leaking....everything else apart from battery, tires, and brake rebuild parts is still OEM. 

Now I need to take my own advice.....been given the opportunity to get a 76 GL1000 for free....been sitting for 14 years....outside...looks better than you would think....but....

[Gordon]

Now I need to take my own advice.....been given the opportunity to get a 76 GL1000 for free....been sitting for 14 years....outside...looks better than you would think....but....

Take it...

You know you want to.

[Magilla]

I don't hate my bike or hate these bikes at all.  I am just questioning if this one is worth the headache.  In 2004 I flew to TX and bought a 68 Ford Torino with a big block mated to a four speed.  Oh yeah and it was a rag top.  Rare car, one of 25 made.  I drove it in TX and it was fine.  When it was shipped home it had to be towed off the truck.  It was broken during the trip.  I fixed it.  Then I drove it and it broke.  I fixed it.  Then I drove it and it broke.  Then I fixed it.  This cycle went on for longer than I care to remember.  Quite literally every time I drove it, it broke.  Eventually I got the hint.  It was just one of those cars that was never going to run.  I sold it, made some money and moved on.  I miss the car but not the problems.

I had and HD FXR that was this way.  It was just a problem bike.  I had it for 10 years.  When I tried and failed I brought it to a reputable mechanic in my area.  After a total rebuild it broke down on the way home.  After a year or so of problems I found a new mechanic further away.  I had the motor yanked and redone.  Every nut and bolt removed.  Then I started getting electrical problems.  I chased them for years.  I loved that bike but it did not love me.  Finally my very supportive wife had enough of the money pit and asked me to get rid of it.

When you have a few vehicles like this it make you nervous when another one starts to trend this way.  My CB may be fine after this but it does make me pause to think.

[Magilla]

The original reason for this thread was partly just to vent but was also to question if THIS bike is worth the effort.  If I do the rebuild it still needs rims and spokes. It needs a new exhaust.  It needs ? To fix the electric start. It just needs stuff.  None of this is a big deal but when you add everything together you have to question if this bike is worth it in the long run.  Unfortunately the only way to find out is to do it all.  Only then will it be known.

[Lars]

Yes, it is always good to vent out and get some second opinions.

I would sit down and have a look at it and make a summary of what you think needed done. Reconsider your intentions with having this bike and the time and money you would like to spend with it. If possible, let another guy familiar with wrenching on these bikes give you a second opinion on this particular bike. The way you describe it, makes it sound a bit like a frame down restoration. You have the best forum to guide you and you would learn a lot and be pleased with the result. It is no rocket sciense

If you decide to sell, there are plenty of  these bikes out there in decent shape and with low miles, less than 20 000 miles. Disassembling and cleaning the carbs, replace slow jets, set correct float height are normal procedure. So is a replacement of the top end gasket, too and new mufflers. Fresh battery, filters and oil. Tune up the engine, synch the carbs, and you will have a good running engine. Clean up the front brakes and get new tires. Check out the electrical stuff, a new winker relay is on the list. And you still have the forum to guide you when needed.

Good luck,
Lars

[LoVel]

I paid too much for my CB500 and have spent at least that much again repairing and replacing.

New tires, tubes, extra set of carbs, new top end after improperly fixing the oil pump, chain, sprockets, fork gaiters, fork oil, throttle cables, clutch cable, brake fluid, MAC 4 into 1 exhaust, ignition switch, fuel line, front foot pegs(bike had floor boards and heel toe shifter), blinker bulbs, petcock, replaced most of the screws taken off of bike with OEM, impact driver, mirrors, four carb repair kits. Not even counting air filter, oil filters and oil.

I still have high idle issues but she starts right up and is a daily rider.

I guess the answer to your question is yes but that is only if you ask someone that doesn't own one.

[shark]

To me, working on old bikes should be something fun to do. When I'm not having fun, I walk away.

Stick the bike in a corner, cover it up, and forget it even exists for a month (or however long you choose).

After your cooling off period, pull it out and reevaluate things.

Had it not been for finding this forum, I may have set my bike on fire.

Trust me, once you get the bike to the point where you can drive it somewhere and drive it back home, all the aggravation will be worth it (even though I know there still is a ton of stuff to fix).

Good luck .

[Tews19]

Mags, I am in the same boat as you but with only one of my SOHC's. I love all of them but when it comes to riding my silver 750 it just enrages me most of the time. If it's not one thing it's another. I am sure I can work through it all but I have lost all my patience with the bike. Hence why I have tried to sell numerous times. Now I am picking parts off her and plan to "learn" the innerds of the eninge.  Shoot, I may even give it to my mom's husband once all the kinks are worked out.... In hindsight, the kinks aren't really kinks..... Maybe its my disdain towards the bike and all th elittle things the PO didn't tell me that renforce my anger towards her.... High expectations may have cause this as well.

[WhyNot2]

You have to hang in there, if your love and passion for these things are as strong as you suggest.

The picture below is my brother's passions..........the truck which has been a 30 year commitment,

and the harley on the shelf behind it, is a 20 year commitment. But every weekend we talk he says he going to get them going soon.

So hang in there.

[mono]

Magilla, i think you should just buy another bike - one that runs well.  Doesn't need to be an SOHC, but it should be reliable.  Because it's so much easier finding the patience to work on a bike when it's not your only one. 

because at the end of the day, you just want to be riding.  so you ride the working bike, get all happy, and then spend some quality, positive-vibe time with the broken one - knowing that you'll get her to where she needs to be.  no big press for time, money, or parts.

[Killer Canary]

Of course it was a dumb idea! Ship the bike to me

[754]

 You out seem to get bad vehicles..often.
 Crank is fixable. But not as simple as heli- coil, it must seal as well. Let the MACHINIST fix it, he will probably make a new stud.

[750resurrection]

When I chose this bike over others it was because of the bullet proof reputation of Honda AND its price point.

Now my inexpensive little project/hobby is going to cost me.

Something that was supposed to bring me enjoyment has only been kick after kick in the nuts.

LOL - I guess the crap I see typed up all over the internet about someone buying some toy they want and calling it an "investment" didn't really yet work out this time either.
Since you wailed costs would soon be approaching the value of the bike, I feel for the poor sap you stole it from.
Bang babie !

I'm not feeling your pain, at all.
Not at all.
Since you didn't check the bolt tightness about the bike as a reasonable safety measure, you kicked yourself in the nuts, a difficult feat.  It's not Honda's fault.
Just think, all you had to do was check the torque on the main important stuff.

Looks like you're getting a cheap fix with help from the members here, so there's a solid indication you picked the correct bike.
Like rock solid, with the accompanying self nut kicker attacks, it will be needed in the future as well, it appears. 

 Ok. Good luck. I suspect you'll have it running well soon enough.

[cabrala]

Mags,

If you haven't taken Anders up on his offer yet, please reconsider and do it. The guy is fantastic. I met him a few weeks ago on a 4 day run to New York and the wealth of knowledge the man possesses left me stunned. He helped stopped my persistent oil leak and offered to have me up to his place to check out his collection of bikes and further troubleshoot my own.

Now that I'm done kissing Anders' ass, I do wish you luck with your bike. I would say that it is only worth the value you put on it. If the stress and aggravation is getting to you on a daily basis then maybe it's not worth it, but I suspect that you've had it this long and you're sorting out the problems. I'm local to Boston if you ever need a hand too. Good luck.

[Magilla]

When I chose this bike over others it was because of the bullet proof reputation of Honda AND its price point.

Now my inexpensive little project/hobby is going to cost me.

Something that was supposed to bring me enjoyment has only been kick after kick in the nuts.

why so hostile?  Did you not get hugged enough as a kid? Sheesh!!  As long as you have a mirror you can always find someone that loves you.

I didn't steal the bike.  When I bought it in April I Paid $1000.  It was supposed to be mechanically sound but ugly to look at.  The $1000 was a fair price in my area at the time.  I am mechanically capable but not a mechanic.  I can pull things apart and put them back together.  I can trace wiring issue and fix most of them.  I can paint.  I can do most basic repairs to cars and bikes.  What I am not versed in is internal motor issues.  I need to farm out this work.  I don't have the tools or know how.  That doesn't make me a bad person it just means that I know my abilities.  I know I can learn too.  If I was able to rebuild a motor with someone at least once, I am sure I could do a fair job at it after that.

Here is what my bike needs to be really nice:  rims, spokes, clutch, speedometer, tach, cables, front brake pads, rear shocks, triple tree bearings, starter, fuse holder, wiring harness?, front fender, rear fender and maybe a few other things.  ALL of these items work (except the starter) and the bike can run without them being replaced.  This is just the big picture wish list.  I can fix everyone of these things myself except lacing the spokes.  I knew it needed all of this when I bought it.  I figured I would do most of it over the winter.  It was all part of the original plan and budget.  A complete motor rebuild was not.  That is all I'm saying here.  I never bought this bike just to flip it. I am just reevaluating the project to see if it still makes sense.

So in the words of the great and immortal Sargent Bilko, Lighten up Francis!!

LOL - I guess the crap I see typed up all over the internet about someone buying some toy they want and calling it an "investment" didn't really yet work out this time either.
Since you wailed costs would soon be approaching the value of the bike, I feel for the poor sap you stole it from.
Bang babie !

I'm not feeling your pain, at all.
Not at all.
Since you didn't check the bolt tightness about the bike as a reasonable safety measure, you kicked yourself in the nuts, a difficult feat.  It's not Honda's fault.
Just think, all you had to do was check the torque on the main important stuff.

Looks like you're getting a cheap fix with help from the members here, so there's a solid indication you picked the correct bike.
Like rock solid, with the accompanying self nut kicker attacks, it will be needed in the future as well, it appears. 

 Ok. Good luck. I suspect you'll have it running well soon enough.

[DustyRags]

Don't feed the troll.

Seriously, though, you can do it. Two months ago, I had never done any mechanic work beyond helping my dad change the clutch in a '76 VW Bug back in highschool. Since August, I rebuilt the top end of my 550. I went in knowing almost nothing, but the good people on the forum here made it possible. The manuals helped (Honda and Clymer) and I got some pointers from some local mechanics, but it was all down to the forums in the end. You may not have the skills for a bottom-end rebuild now, but you can get them quickly and easily. You seem like a clever person- if you have the patience to paint, you have the patience for a full rebuild.

Plus, it sounds like you may not need it at all. Good luck, and don't feed the trolls.

[750resurrection]

LOL -

Do as you will man. No change here.
I still think the same thing, though I tend to also agree with 754 that you've got some real bad luck.

Sell all your vehicles and do something else for a hobby sounds like the correct answer.
(unless you held back all the successful history of easy going fun on some vehicles)

BTW I wasn't hostile nor have I ever been unloved.
Not my fault you don't turn a torque wrench.
Not like anyone has to teach you that, nor is it some acquired skill.
I don't accept the excuse.
 
Seems to me with your history you shared you've got so much spare funny money and so many vehicle histories you've earned the right to complain a lot.
Just ignore me and my painful observations I guess, even though your initial post is the information you shared that made me think what I said. I don't know dude, should I just lie and kiss it ? Would that be "unhostile" ?

Sorry. Like I said good luck. I don't feel sorry for you, and it's your fault what happened, not Honda's.

Is that too hostile too ? Is that hostile ? Whatever.

[750resurrection]

Don't feed the troll.

Seriously, though, you can do it. Two months ago, I had never done any mechanic work beyond helping my dad change the clutch in a '76 VW Bug back in highschool. Since August, I rebuilt the top end of my 550. I went in knowing almost nothing, but the good people on the forum here made it possible. The manuals helped (Honda and Clymer) and I got some pointers from some local mechanics, but it was all down to the forums in the end. You may not have the skills for a bottom-end rebuild now, but you can get them quickly and easily. You seem like a clever person- if you have the patience to paint, you have the patience for a full rebuild.

Plus, it sounds like you may not need it at all. Good luck, and don't feed the trolls.

Hey I wasn't trolling, I gave my observations others failed to offer, though their hostily was a lot higher than any you could attribute to my post.

[750resurrection]

Ok, so thanks Magilla for all the other information about what you say it needs to be nice.

My vote is you keep it, and have the crank fix 754 and a few others mentioned done to it.
Then at least, save the clutch ( I guess, not sure, you never said it's slipping ), you've got a runnable bike.
It doesn't sound like a lemon to me, as the carb issues are standard (save the monkey who reamed the idles), so that's a nothing, and the nut slip is not unusual since monkey was probably jerking around with the timing and plate and checked the advance as everyone does on these bikes.


 Maybe you're the type that wants a near minty restore, at least that's my impression now- of course that could be all wrong. I suspect also the points area /crank re tapping or threading might be considered too "non stock" for you, though that might be wrong too.

 In any case of the above, I repeat I do wish you good luck, and do believe you'll have it running in no time.
 Have the damn end of the crank tapped reamed whatever from the outside with it on the bike, done.
 Like a 100 bucks maybe at the most.
That's not a thou
That's not $1800

Problems over man.

 

 

 

[MCRider]

Magilla I live just outside Manchester NH and have been a machinist for 20 years and a mechanic 40 years. I doubt you need to replace the crank. PM me with your info.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Anders

I was going to say, a good machinist ought to be able to make it right. There's probably some threads deeper down that are still good to work with.

[Magilla]

Not all of my cars/bikes have been bad to me.  Ive owned 53 cars and bikes over the past 30 years.  Most were good to me.  A few were flawless.  In 1996 I drove my 73 Ford Galaxie from The Boston area to Orlando FL and back.  That car was awesome.  My 71 and 70 Torino's never once faltered.  Most of my vehicles have required basic maintenance to keep them running.  Last year at a funeral the throttle cable on my 72 Maverick broke.  With 2 Swivels and some fishing line I had it going and made it home.  When the alternator belt on my motorhome went I was to big to fit into the tiny area it takes to fix it and I was many miles from home.  I powered up the on board generator, plugged in my battery charger, hooked it up to the battery and drove it.  It made it all the way.

I'm thinking that taking a torque wrench to the advance bolt on my crank is not a typical item to be checked.  In hindsight it is but in the real world it is not.  How many people on here have done it as part of a routine check?  Also I had it in the shop for a look over a few weeks ago and while at the show we both timed the bike.  The mechanic never thought to check the torque on this either.  it is such a rare thing to happen I don't think many people would ever give it a second thought.

I am not asking anyone to feel sorry for me.  Equally I am not sure why 750resurrection feels the need to be hostile.  I am sure he would have checked every single nut and bolt both inside and outside the bike before he rode it.  In fact I am also certain that with his master skills he has never had a bike or car break down.  How could he?  He would check everything before every ride.  I wonder if that goes as far as walking up and down every road before he rides on it just to make sure there is nothing there that will give him a flat?  What am I talking about of course he would he checks everything first.  I should have bought my bike from him.

[Magilla]

one last thing for the record, I am just joking back and forth with 750resurrection.  I hope no one is taking it personal.  He has an opinion and a right to it.  I cant afford an opinion because my repair bill is too high.