Topic: My first bike: '78 CB750k

[fendersrule]

How did you apply the dip?

Hi Steve,

Just like the photo shows. Hang up, put some cardboard below the tray. Then just lift the Plasti-dip on the parts that need it.

The stuff isn't inherently thick, so I used about 4-5 dips.

[fendersrule]

Be ready for a fight when you install that center stand! Wow, I fought that thing for hours and used a floor jack to get it on. It was terrible!

Now that I scared you the bike is looking great. I love those 77/78 K models. Most don't.

I have a box full of stuff so let me know if you need anything. Best to PM.

tt

Thanks! I'll try the penny trick. Getting both the stands off was pretty simple with some heavy duty pliers for the springs. Had to impact the main-stand out, but that's to be expected. I'll let you know how fun it is when I get to it. Would like to pressure wash the bike since I have access to all of those "hidden" crevices before putting the rest of it together.

Do you know why most don't like the 77-78 models?

To me, they are like the 69-70 mustang. Even though I prefer the 67-68, the 69-70 got a little bigger, but not too big (like the 71-73). Just a real refined look.

I always thought that the earlier CBs were too "squinched" looking. The k7 and k8 actually have a good flow to them.

Other than the K8 seat and the ugly side cover font styling, I'm not sure what else is to not like on the K7/8 models. The color/pin striping were a bit on the ugly side (especially the maroon and blue stripe), but the tank's shape is actually quite gorgeous, so it can't be that.....

[fendersrule]

Hey Steve,

Just got this thing tagged! YAY! The bike is officially MINE.

What is the mounting hardware needed for the licensee plate?

[Stev-o]

Congrats!  Hopefully you can get it on the road in a month?

Two 8mm bolts will hold the plate on or you can get fancy:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chrome-Rose-License-Plate-Bolts-4-Women-Motorcycle-/390526713614?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5aed34bf0e&vxp=mtr

Re: the dip. At first, thought you dipped the entire battery box, then noticed it was just two small parts of it.

[toytuff]

Grab a cup of joe and read here.

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Honda/honda_cb750k7%20%2077.htm

I love the 77/78 models. Two year run makes them unique, at least to me.

The white stripe on the tank is way better than the gold of 78. (poke-poke)

tt

[fendersrule]

I like white much better than gold.

BUT, when the paint is green, gold goes with green like bread and butter. White would look very out of place.

Great article, but I still can't fathom why the 77/78s are not any more popular than they are (not that they aren't).

[toytuff]

Guess we are different huh?

tt

[Stev-o]

Are we different?

Have CB750 in garage.....check
White frig (with beer)......check
Big toolbox.....................check
CBX...............................duh!

[Vinhead1957]

Nice work space!

[toytuff]

Nice work space!

Never enough room. Never enough Honda's.

Stev-o >>>> LOL! You could fix that shortage ya know.

tt

[70CB750]

Be ready for a fight when you install that center stand! Wow, I fought that thing for hours and used a floor jack to get it on. It was terrible!

Now that I scared you the bike is looking great. I love those 77/78 K models. Most don't.

I have a box full of stuff so let me know if you need anything. Best to PM.

tt

Center stand?  You have to install the spring first and the stand pin second, it is a 5 minutes max job.

[toytuff]

Be ready for a fight when you install that center stand! Wow, I fought that thing for hours and used a floor jack to get it on. It was terrible!

Now that I scared you the bike is looking great. I love those 77/78 K models. Most don't.

I have a box full of stuff so let me know if you need anything. Best to PM.

tt

Center stand?  You have to install the spring first and the stand pin second, it is a 5 minutes max job.

Maybe for you. Fought me the whole way.

tt

[70CB750]

Be ready for a fight when you install that center stand! Wow, I fought that thing for hours and used a floor jack to get it on. It was terrible!

Now that I scared you the bike is looking great. I love those 77/78 K models. Most don't.

I have a box full of stuff so let me know if you need anything. Best to PM.

tt

Center stand?  You have to install the spring first and the stand pin second, it is a 5 minutes max job.

Maybe for you. Fought me the whole way.

tt

Sorry, didn't mean to sound so luckylike 

It really was not hard, I put one on K0 while it was hanging from rafters and I was under it and recently I put a center stand on the K3 frame while it was just a frame and it was easy too.

[toytuff]

Be ready for a fight when you install that center stand! Wow, I fought that thing for hours and used a floor jack to get it on. It was terrible!

Now that I scared you the bike is looking great. I love those 77/78 K models. Most don't.

I have a box full of stuff so let me know if you need anything. Best to PM.

tt

Center stand?  You have to install the spring first and the stand pin second, it is a 5 minutes max job.

Maybe for you. Fought me the whole way.

tt

Sorry, didn't mean to sound so luckylike 

It really was not hard, I put one on K0 while it was hanging from rafters and I was under it and recently I put a center stand on the K3 frame while it was just a frame and it was easy too.

Mine was on the wheels. Would of been easier if just the frame but the bike was basically together. No room to manever.

tt

[theofam]

FR, great progress on your first bike!  It's looking very nice.

I'd like to officially join the "'78 750Ks Are Cool" Crew!  I started with this ($290 w/o title off CL):



Paddy 1.0 became this so I could tour Godzilla around while in Colorado in 2011 (flying the banner with Sensei Hondaman holding GZ):



I decided after a couple hundred miles that I don't like riding a leaking bike with a bunch of "patina," so Paddy 2.0 became this:



I promptly burned up the motor in 15 minutes due to a media blasting oversight in the oil galley and am currently working on Paddy 3.0.

I started liking the 77s and 78s because they seemed to be largely overlooked.  I didn't do an exhaustive search on SOHC4, but I didn't find any of these that had been rebuilt/restored in Project Shop.  So, although they're not in the same demand as a K0-K5, I think it's pretty cool/unique to have one in fantastic shape!

[Stev-o]

Love that red paint, and welcome, Theo, to the "it's cool to ride a K7-8" thread!

[iron_worker]

Sad to hear about the demise of Paddy 2.0 ... hopefully 3.0 has a much brighter future.

IW

[theofam]

Stev-O, thanks for letting me join the 7778Krew!  The stock color was more of a red-brown. I went through vintagehondapaint.com for my paint. I probably didn't shoot it correctly, but I ended up laying down 4 coats of the gold metallic base followed by 7 coats of the red and 5 of clear. I'm sure the gold would have made it more brownish if I squirted fewer red coats, but I just kept laying them down until I liked it. Turned out awesome!

IW, I'm just waiting on a couple dowels for the head-to-valve cover and oil pump, and the engine will be buttoned back up. I've fingers crossed to unveil Paddy 3.0 early February.

[fendersrule]

FANTASTIC RED theofam. So much better than the stock color.

You probably were not aware, but you could have changed the color of the stripes on the decal kit for the tank since blue is very odd, even for original maroon color (doesn't look right on red either).

Is that a 4 into 1 exhaust?

[theofam]

FR, I didn't even think to ask the company to pull the blue when I ordered the stripes.  A simple gold stripe would have looked better, but I just chalk it up to the 70s - avacado appliances and yellow sinks.

It is a 4-2 exhaust from Mac.

[fendersrule]

How do you like the sound?

My dad has a 4 into 2 on his 79 CB750 DOHC, and he hates it. Every time he hears my 4 into 4, he salivates. He's looking to have 4 into 4 custom pipes built, or may go 4 into 1.

[theofam]

I guess sound is all in the ears of the beholder, because I like the 4-2 exhaust - especially when north of 5KRPM.  Maybe the DOHC sounds different with a like exhaust?  That said, I haven't been around others with SOHC CB750s running 4-4 or 4-1 exhausts, so I've a single data point on which to make my rather poorly informed opinion!

I'm thinking my 550 (Seamus) will be getting a 4-1 for the sake of saving weight.

[fendersrule]

Progress has been slow due to the weather. Still looking for a place to spray my tank/side covers in epoxy in Boise, ID so I can get started on the body work. For the time being, I just have to wait and watch it remain bare metal.

One of the few times where I've choosen to chemically strip a body panel. Used a wirewheel to get to all the weird places after that. Even then, there was still stuff that I couldn't get to, so I made the effort effort of taking it in and getting a few hard to reach places sandblasted. Still need to clean the dust off:





I couldn't live with myself without finishing the taillight housing. Sure, it was cleaned (thanks to vinegar). But who is to say it won't start rusting again? Since I had some POR-15 left over, I decided that this would be a great application for it. I'm generally against these types of products for rust control (rust must be destroyed by being removed), but if you've taken the right prep steps (removing the rust completely with a chemical or sandblasting), then POR 15 acts as a great durable base:



The picture above shows some "flash" rusting by the adhesive spray from POR-15. This increases the bond. Keep in mind that all rust has been removed to begin with.





Got all the rubbers on the battery tray. Come to find out, I am missing one rubber. Does anyone have any spares they could sell me?



Also decided to POR-15/Undercoat my rear fender. Came out pretty nice. I have two heaters out there right by it, and it's keeping that little area 55F, so it may take a day or two to fully dry.

[toytuff]

Let me look. Seems I ordered extra rubber bumpers.

tt

[toytuff]

This perhaps?

tt