Topic: 1975 CB750 K5 SPYDER

[goldarrow]

i'm horrible with names, so for lack of better brain to come up with a name SPYDER it is.

haven't wrench on bikes for about two weeks, decided to get my hands dirty on my second project.  started diving into it, and few hours later, only engine and triple tree left on the frame. 

this is how i start off with this bike  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=111550.0 and to make a long story short and save you time reading through those pages.  picked up this bike off CL about 4 months ago.  not knowing much what it is except i just like those wheels on it.  so off i went to see the bike, and here she sat in my back yard.

so, this afternoon, first hour while removing pieces off the bike here comes the itcy bitsy spider


and a short while later, comes along second itcy bitsy spider


the bike has the kimtab snowflakes wheels, which also look like spider web at the same time


and i think now you get the idea how i came up with the name SPYDER 

engine will probably come off sometimes next day or two.  planning on taking the frame to my sister's house to hose off dirt, grime and grease.  water pressure in her front lawn bib is 160 psi!

[goldarrow]

Couple of hours this afternoon on the bike, got the rest of stuff off. Now bare frame and two crates full of parts.



Now my goal is to get it up and running of course, cosmetically the bike will stay the same for the most parts, but I may do 1979 CBX color scheme on the body.

Don't know if Honda followed Tracy body design or vise versa back in the day but I kind of like it.

[Greggo]

I forget exactly what the Kimtabs are made of, but I remember folks recommending they be stress tested before being put into use.  IIRC, they're magnesium.

Can't wait to see what you do with this one.

[goldarrow]

Spent last night cleaning up the frame traditional way. Hand scrubs with green pad and dish soap. Used stove cleaner to degrease around the engine mounts, heavily greased.  First coat, rustoleum rust reformer, looked nice matte black. Second coat, BBQ paint grey ish, matte black also looks nice


But ended up with third coat glossy black.

Spent the rest of the day tearing down top end. The engine was so dirty with grease and dirt, so was thinking there must be leaks somewhere around the jugs, gasket set is on the future purchase list

Pistons too much carbon build up around the ring area? Normal? Will check specs one they are cleaned up. If not within specs, I'm in trouble



What's the story on this head?  At least gasket came off one whole piece!


Are these cam chain guide and roller unobtainium like those of 550?

[Greggo]

You bet you're gonna need a gasket set The cam chain guides are all available from the recommended sellers here like Z1 Enterprises, and David Silver Spares.  Clean the pistons, check for clearance, and go from there.  You will at least want a cylinder hone, and new rings if the pistons are still in spec.

[goldarrow]

Project stalled for the most part due to short on funds in getting engine top end rebuild kit. Cleaned and painted few pieces on the front end but that's about it. Fork tubes seem to need attention as there are some pittings down the travel area, will try to jbweld and fill the spots and see how that goes.

[Viktor.J]

Nice job so far on the frame. But I couldn't find any info weather you're planing to keep the tank and covers ? 

[goldarrow]

Nice job so far on the frame. But I couldn't find any info weather you're planing to keep the tank and covers ?

No idea but most likely will restore it back to running condition.

Engine gasket set finally came in so this project can move forward. Vesrah VG-157 seems like it has everything I needed.

[goldarrow]

Cleaning up the pistons and rings, getting ready to put back,


but of course something has to go wrong.  Soaked the pistons and rings in soapy water simple green mix, at least one ring still broke upon removal. Carbon and crude were that much in the groves and oil holes, took me a while to poke through 18 holes each piston, then soda blasted away to finish up the cleaning



Ordered new set of rings from Japan, one piston pin was badly pitted, too much soaking, ordered a new one from Honda.

[Stev-o]

Is Gatorjuice your secret cleaning fluid?!

[goldarrow]

No Steve that would be expensive cleaning fluids! 

Kid was sick while back and dehydrated, didn't like pedialyte so I gave him Gatorade instead. $2 a bottle so I had to make use of the empty bottle for pistons cleaning. 

[goldarrow]

Not much progress really.  Just want to make sure my readers know that I'm still alive and well with bikes and all

Drained the oil in quest of cleaning up the engine.  Bottom engine is black with oil and dirt and road grime.  Not much to see there.  Oil came out complete black. 

Oil pan after cleaning


Oil pan painted


Now I know how I want the bike to look.  Matte black all the way.  The only colors will be body and side covers, chrome hardware nuts and bolts.  Should come out nice, I hope

[iron_worker]

I have always liked the blacked out look. Could look pretty sweet with everything blacked out and then just tank and side covers with a color that really POPS!

IW

[goldarrow]

I have always liked the blacked out look. Could look pretty sweet with everything blacked out and then just tank and side covers with a color that really POPS!

IW

That's what I have going in my mind right now, nice tank and side covers sitting on shelf that I got from CycleRanger Chewbecca awhile back. I'm really stoked and cant wait myself to see how this bike will turn out

[Stev-o]

What color tank?   From Cycleranger??

[MoMo]

Nice looking bike-I always liked the Tracy style.  I don't think the Vesrah kit includes the hockey pucks that go under the cam tower  91318-300-013 ....keep at it...larry

[goldarrow]

What color tank?   From Cycleranger??

Sorry it was chewbecca that I bought the tank and side covers from.  Got names mixed up.

 

Nice looking bike-I always liked the Tracy style.  I don't think the Vesrah kit includes the hockey pucks that go under the cam tower  91318-300-013 ....keep at it...larry

Yes youre correct.  I Had to buy the vesrah rubber plugs separately. Came in pack of 6 for about $10 I think.

[Scott S]

the bike has the kimtab snowflakes wheels, which also look like spider web at the same time


and i think now you get the idea how i came up with the name SPYDER 

 That bike looks sick. I hope you try to save the bodywork. There's a place down in Florida that sells fiberglass tanks and such. I talked to them at Barber this year and they have a treatment for the 'glass tanks that helps resist ethanol. They can guarantee it on a new, unused tank, but have had good results on used tanks, too.

[goldarrow]

the bike has the kimtab snowflakes wheels, which also look like spider web at the same time


and i think now you get the idea how i came up with the name SPYDER 

 That bike looks sick. I hope you try to save the bodywork. There's a place down in Florida that sells fiberglass tanks and such. I talked to them at Barber this year and they have a treatment for the 'glass tanks that helps resist ethanol. They can guarantee it on a new, unused tank, but have had good results on used tanks, too.

Yes scott I'm saving the Tracy body. This bike will have dual personality


Small progress for the past few days. The oil pump gasket that came with vesrah kit seems like ordinary thin piece of paper, is it necessary to use?

Bottom of engine before the clean up.  Grease, dirt,and sand in every tiny places.  Changed out the 3 o-rings on the oil pump. 


After first round of cleaning and oil pan mock up


And here is the whole bottom engine case cleaned and painted


The top part also got painted




Cylinder jug before cleaning


Inches of craps on the cylinder


Soak with wd40 before cleaning


Using spatula to scrape the crap off


At least one good thing, bottom gasket came off one whole piece, makes life whole lot easier

[goldarrow]

I swear the first time doing this on my 550 was much easier. 

The cylinder went on with too much fight  with this motor.  Broke ring 2nd ring twice, on the same piston.  Broke the new one, then reuse the old one, then broke it again.  Third time decided to use cable ties to help out, had trouble putting in,but went in finally.

[2ceebees]

bump.   

[goldarrow]

bump.   

You got me there man

I made a poop on #1 piston and cylinder, so the project has been halt

[Stev-o]

still on hold?

[goldarrow]

still on hold?

Finally going somewhere this Memorial weekend

[goldarrow]

So 2 months past by so quick.  Time to get this one going again. 

Memorial day weekend, no BBQ, no beer, and didn't go no where, so I told my self wtf.....grabbed my tools and went to town

Just made sure all holes have dowels or orings where needed, and down went the head. Not difficult just have to follow the manual to the dot, and more.

Bought valve spring tool from swap meet last month, best $4 ever spent!

Changing valve stem seals that I forgot to do while the head was off. 






Hardened and cracked seal as I was removing it


Installing back was easy too after put in the new seals



All buttoned up.  Cam cover cleaned, cam chain adjuster cleaned. Having second thought on the black paint on the bottom case hmm....