Author Topic: CB 750 Fix-Up & Cleaning (Read 7334 times)

David B · « **on:** February 07, 2013, 03:27:27 PM »

Hello All,

I thought I'd post a thread of my fix-up and cleaning project. I picked up my first CB750 about a month ago in Delaware. The bike's story is a bit of a mystery. It's a collection of years, really. The frame is a 71, the engine a 75, and most parts seem to come from the 75 era. I have a title issued in Indiana in 1979. When I picked it up the PO said it hadn't been run in 3 years.

Many thanks to the members of this site for all their assistance and advice to date. It's certainly been much less of a learning curve due to many folks on this site. A particularly big thank you to Tews19 and mwvachon for all their email and pm advice.

This is also a bit self-serving too. Anything you guys notice that concerns you or advice you may have, please feel free to chime in! Here are a few pics of the bike as I picked it up.

David B · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2013, 03:31:20 PM »

A couple other pics:

David B · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2013, 03:32:43 PM »

A few tear down pics:

David B · « **Reply #3 on:** February 07, 2013, 03:33:41 PM »

Couple more:

David B · « **Reply #4 on:** February 07, 2013, 03:40:54 PM »

Here's the front rim cleaned up. The rust along the interior surface cleaned up pretty well with a wire wheel and a wire brush attachment on my cordless drill. I primed the inside of the rim with rustoleum primer for bare metal with some rust. The paint is a rustoleum product for rims/wheels.

The bearings were a bit notchy so they're all going to be replaced. I'm quite lucky that a friend of mine owns a motorcycle race shop and is helping me with tires, pulling bearings, etc. If anyone in the tri-state area needs their bike suspension set up (not so much on a cb, but modern bikes), you can't go wrong with Washington Cycle Works in New Jersey! It's certainly worth the $75 or so to have your suspension set up by someone who knows what they're doing. The difference on my 2010 Triumph Tiger was amazing! Back to the CB:

David B · « **Reply #5 on:** February 07, 2013, 03:42:30 PM »

Forks being cleaned up below. I just picked up a new set of seals from my Honda dealer so they'll be rebuilt as well.

David B · « **Reply #6 on:** February 07, 2013, 03:48:13 PM »

The previous owner had stripped the paint off a lot of parts so I pulled the parts below for repainting. I also picked up stainless steel brake lines and rebuilt the master cylinder & piston. I've been lucky - most parts are in excellent shape and really just need a good cleaning. I'm also going to replace the steering bearings.

cheftuskey121 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2013, 04:13:25 PM »

love it so far man. dig that green, you have other paint plans for it?

Vinhead1957 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 07, 2013, 05:25:33 PM »

Nothin better to do off season

David B · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2013, 09:17:35 PM »

Quote from: cheftuskey121 on February 07, 2013, 04:13:25 PM

love it so far man. dig that green, you have other paint plans for it?

I do. I'm going to have the tank and side panels painted in a flake sunrise orange - ish color with the 74 striping. The color isn't exact but this won't be a contest bike by any stretch. I picked up new aftermarket side panels from Z1. I reasoned that since I'm going to have them painted it would be $ well spent to just buy new ones. Not only would I not have to pay to have the old panels stripped & prepped, but I know they aren't going to crack down the road.

I picked the color and striping simply because I liked them, not for any kind of accuracy. Like I said above, it's a collection of years put together anyway.

cheftuskey121 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2013, 10:01:19 PM »

thats a great color, it was my second choice behind my own version of candy blue green that I had whipped up. custom paint for me is on the way and I can't wait to get it painted. I'm not entering any restoration contests, its eye candy for me

good luck with everything, I'll be following you here

Tews19 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 08, 2013, 02:22:10 AM »

Subscribed! Great work on the wheels. Looks like very little if any rust.

Keep the pics and the updates coming.

Follow up to the email coming.

WhyNot2 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 08, 2013, 03:43:37 AM »

Following too. Looks real nice.

Sounds like you are close too my old stomping area.

I used to live in Wilmington, Delaware, moved away in 1975 when I joined the U.S. Army.

andy750 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 08, 2013, 04:37:07 AM »

You cant go wrong with sunrise flake orange! Good luck!

Andy

Johnie · « **Reply #14 on:** February 08, 2013, 06:37:02 AM »

You can not go wrong with the sunflake orange. She gives that "PAH PAW" when the sun hits it. Click the pic to enlarge. Just be sure you find someone who can paint candy as it takes time and experience to do it. I thought I saw a receipt on here for it somewhere. I do have an old receipt I will post for you.

Johnie · « **Reply #15 on:** February 08, 2013, 06:44:26 AM »

Here is what I have in my files for the sunflake orange which was dated in 2000. I believe I got it off this board a while ago. Maybe someone on the board has another they will post. Of course, the candy paint is only as good as the person doing the work. I have a guy here in town who is fantastic with candy. He did my candy ruby red and my candy gold. Perfect match. If you want me to hook you up with him let me know. Good luck and let us know how it comes out.

David B · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2013, 08:09:08 AM »

Thanks for the painting information Johnie! The painter I've been talking to has a product he uses which is close but I know it's not a perfect match. If you'd like to send me your guy's info via pm I'll reach out to him as I'd prefer to have the correct color if possible.

Johnie · « **Reply #17 on:** February 08, 2013, 09:26:31 AM »

PM sent...

Garystratos201 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2013, 11:39:55 AM »

Nice work so far. I`ll be watching too.........Gary

andrewk · « **Reply #19 on:** February 08, 2013, 06:27:57 PM »

I hope you're not using that tank for the repaint- be a shame to lose that nice candy blue green.

fendersrule · « **Reply #20 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:55:06 PM »

FANTASTIC BIKE!

David B · « **Reply #21 on:** February 09, 2013, 03:15:27 PM »

Quote from: andrewk on February 08, 2013, 06:27:57 PM

I hope you're not using that tank for the repaint- be a shame to lose that nice candy blue green.

Yeah, it's the one to be repainted. The benefit in taking so-so photos with your phone is they sometimes make things look better than they are. The tank is painted in a Mercedes color for some reason. Really doesn't look that good in my opinion. Certainly doesn't match the side panels.

andrewk · « **Reply #22 on:** February 09, 2013, 04:30:16 PM »

Ah, well nevermind that then.

Will be nice to get some respectable paint on there then!

David B · « **Reply #23 on:** February 11, 2013, 10:20:55 AM »

Couple photos of the painted bits:

David B · « **Reply #24 on:** February 11, 2013, 10:26:29 AM »

For those looking for a really good paint, I highly recommend Klass Kote. Theirs is a two part epoxy paint that's a little more work to use (mixing two components & allowing them to cure before thinning and applying) but is very tough. It's not cheap but it lasts. It's popular with my other hobby, radio control aircraft, as it's fuel resistant. I ended up thinning it with an equal part lacquer thinner & applied it with an airbrush. I'm tempted to try clear coating the cleaned and polished aluminum parts with their clear coat.

News:

Author Topic: CB 750 Fix-Up & Cleaning (Read 7334 times)

fendersrule