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

[Magilla]

Now what?  I will a attempt to ride it on Thursday.  If all goes well that will be my one and only ride for the year.  Then I can start the process of acquiring parts for winter work.

[lucky]

Go buy a new bike and you will not have any problems.
Got $9,000 to start looking?  I didn't think so.

[750resurrection]

Hey cool beans Magilla 

Now I'm just crossing my fingers about your upcoming test ride.... lol

 I'm so curious, did you have your mechanic do it or that forum member walk through it. ( You don't have to say I just you know I'm like pushy or something)

 I also want to know how much it cost... ( I guessed <$100 but Grandpa's 1950 taps and a stray bolt from broken engine #2 makes my hopes if my junker does the same "for free" for someone like me as in not the greatest capitalist)
 
But anyway congratulations and I wish you a good pleasant and fun ride without any appearing issues.

[Hannibal Smith]

Didn't read all the posts, but in 20 years of this stuff I have had basically zero problems...............why?
Every used bike is totally rebuilt, no exceptions.
Used bikes cost nore than new ones, I cannot believe you never heard that!

[scottly]

PM me with your contact onfo.

So was the problem merely a buggered first thread in the crank?

[dhall57]

If that's the case than I guess all of us here on this forum are just a bunch of big dummies

[Magilla]

Go buy a new bike and you will not have any problems.
Got $9,000 to start looking?  I didn't think so.

I do have the money.  I could go buy a new bike but it's not what I wanted. In fact its what my wife wants me to do.

[Magilla]

The first two threads were galled.  My mechanic (also a forum member) wanted to try and chase them so I gave him the opportunity.  It worked.  Had it not worked I would have sought the help from one of the volunteers on here.  A few people were very nice to have offered.

The cost was cheap, under $100.  Had it not worked I was leaning towards a full rebuild. 

[750resurrection]

edit: lol Magilla, you posted while I was writing...or so I thought, I see "refreshing the browser" is a good idea for me looking at the time stamps.... anyway I'll let it fly below

Didn't read all the posts, but in 20 years of this stuff I have had basically zero problems...............why?
Every used bike is totally rebuilt, no exceptions.
Used bikes cost nore than new ones, I cannot believe you never heard that!

I'm snickering - haha - great point, and nice !
But why so hostile... ?? ( I got in trouble for being "hostile" here in the posts you skipped after post #1, the main hostility creator) 

I haven't used chewed bubble gum on my 750 yet to keep it road worthy, but if I have to I will.
 I collected the debris , patched sanded drilled jb welded aluminum rod brazed rebent pounded pb blasted peened and glued the pile to running condition.
 ( Ok I'm stretching it a bit I think $800 was my original costs chart that included title plate and insurance)
Got it after a friend wrecked it on a race across town we were embarked upon in speedy fashion a few years before, it was barned up at the farm and he and daddy dumped off the mouse house (they love the airbox) before my friend moved, instead of them dumping it at the dump.
  Yeah that did bother me come to think of it - he was just going to dump it - I was like what the heck is wrong with you, fix it !

Scott, if I get "hostile" again ya think Magilla will appear so we can find out ? 

dhall57 Marcia doesn't think we're dumb. I'll take Jan, the sleeper hottie.

[SohcCBs]

Magilla, I think you're being a little impatient.  I worked on mine for a year and spent $2k to get it up and running.  At this point, it's been running for 10 years with very little expense.  Just oil and filters.  I wanted to ride during that time too, but i knew it takes a good bit of time and effort.....unless you spend more, either way, 3k of expense for a reliable bike is an excellent investment.

[wvshooter]

Now my inexpensive little project/hobby is going to cost me.  I can either have this motor rebuilt at about $1800 or I can buy a doner motor, have it put in and cross my fingers that the motor is good.  That will be over $1000 for sure.

I paid $450 for my '74 750 with the intention of doing a complete restore with some custom touches here and there. I intended to spend something like $2,500 on the project. That will include a complete inspection and rebuild of the engine and transmission done by myself.

My best advice would be to get a copy of Hondaman's book http://sohc4shop.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=22&osCsid=d77a7147c4b95c1eb66c0a053b421fb8k. It's $95 and has all the info you'll need to make your bike uber reliable and fun to ride.

[Magilla]

@SohcCBs  i would agree that I am impatient.  No question about it.  With that said my original frustration was not based on me being impatient.  Well not entirely.  It was disappointment over my project getting sideways on me.  When I bought my bike I knew it needed a bunch of work but the one thing I thought I was getting was a strong running low milage bike.  I knew I was going to do plenty of things but a motor rebuild was not one of those things.

Its like if you bought a used car that ran strong but needed paint and an interior.  Your expectation when buying it would be the interior and paint.  You would negotiate a price based on that.  Then when you got it home you found that the motor, transmission and rearend all had issues that you were unaware of.  Of course when you buy an old car this could happen BUT it was not part of what you planned for.  Now your budget is blown to hell and you need to figure out if you should cut your loses and scrap this project and move on OR continue forward with it.  This is not about inpatients its about practicality.  Now that you know it needs all it needs, is it still right for you?

I was putting this out there on the forum to get some feedback to help me decide if this was right for me.  I'm not opposed to a motor being rebuilt.  I had to do it 3 times to my FXR.  Each time I wanted more out of it and knew it was part of the project I was working on.  And yes I spent WAY more time and money on that bike than I should have. 

Before anyone says it, I know that project get sideways.  I understand that it is part of it but reevaluating is not a bad thing.

[750resurrection]

Okay Magilla sounds pretty good to me.

I say you had better beat it a bit on Thursday, you know, once she's warm and you get a little accustomed, give her a good hard revving and rip away it.

 That way if anything is unsound you're giving it a chance to tell you before the winter work - and "spring disappointment".

 Play a tune on her.

 After that, you come home proudly tell the Mrs. all is well and gain some face back there.   

[SohcCBs]

@SohcCBs  i would agree that I am impatient.  No question about it.  With that said my original frustration was not based on me being impatient.  Well not entirely.  It was disappointment over my project getting sideways on me.  When I bought my bike I knew it needed a bunch of work but the one thing I thought I was getting was a strong running low milage bike.  I knew I was going to do plenty of things but a motor rebuild was not one of those things.

Its like if you bought a used car that ran strong but needed paint and an interior.  Your expectation when buying it would be the interior and paint.  You would negotiate a price based on that.  Then when you got it home you found that the motor, transmission and rearend all had issues that you were unaware of.  Of course when you buy an old car this could happen BUT it was not part of what you planned for.  Now your budget is blown to hell and you need to figure out if you should cut your loses and scrap this project and move on OR continue forward with it.  This is not about inpatients its about practicality.  Now that you know it needs all it needs, is it still right for you?

I was putting this out there on the forum to get some feedback to help me decide if this was right for me.  I'm not opposed to a motor being rebuilt.  I had to do it 3 times to my FXR.  Each time I wanted more out of it and knew it was part of the project I was working on.  And yes I spent WAY more time and money on that bike than I should have. 

Before anyone says it, I know that project get sideways.  I understand that it is part of it but reevaluating is not a bad thing.

Have to rebuild the engine is a lot.  I agree.  Hope your're sure about that.  But look at it this way, when it's done you'll have an engine that'll run for decades.  After my initial investement and work in 2001, I only had to rebuild the carbs a couple times and change the oil....and that's all.  Ok, a couple O-ring chains, too.

[Borch]

The difference between owning a new bike and vintage one is love. New ones disposable, nothing to special about them. Vintage bikes and working on them is like a love affair. You put your heart and soul into her. For everything that needs to be worked on is a way to deepen the bound between you and your bike.

[754]

 If the threads were bad you still had options,
 Cut same threads deeper, or if that failed, bigger threads. That could involve making a new stud, or sleeve after stud is in. At any rate fixable.
 Even if that did not work ..pull valve cover and cam and towers, then flip motor. Then split cases, swap in a crank, with a few bearings. Should be under 500, if you can do the work .
 In a period of just under 3 years, I rode a 300$ 750 at least 700 times. Through most of 3 winters. Very few bucks put in and not much work. It took its toll on the bike but shows how tough they are.
 When I picked it up in Sept  09, the guys had ridden it about 4 times, never more than 25 miles. I worked on it about a day threw afew parts on it, struck out for Bonneville Sun evening. That was in Calgary Alberta, next night I was in Shoshone Idaho... Its what they are made to do, and many will do it.
 Most of them are pretty good.

 If

[HondaMan]

The difference between owning a new bike and vintage one is love. New ones disposable, nothing to special about them. Vintage bikes and working on them is like a love affair. You put your heart and soul into her. For everything that needs to be worked on is a way to deepen the bound between you and your bike.

+1

Well, maybe +10...

[Magilla]

Eventually the motor will get a full rebuild.  Even if it does not require it at the time it may get it just because it fits the time table.  I am just hoping that is next winter or the winter after.  For now I have plenty to do this winter.