Topic: CB750K4. Light frame mod and performance upgrades.

[D-Ral]

I've been slacking on my thread. Surprisingly, I've managed to maintain motivation without documenting the build.

I find that I always accomplished less than expected when I spend day wrenching. My problem is that I get frustrated when I suddenly hit a wall. I don't like having a deadline, it's a little stressful. Anyway, usually I take a couple days and it's all good. Perspective is important. These are first world problems

Anyway, here is what I have been doing. I screwed my seat up, but I knew that would happen, as it was meant to be for practice anyway. However, a buddy of mine is just about to button up the engine on his KZ550 and all he needed was a seat. Rather than spend 200 bucks having one made, I told him I'd do one up for him. He was unsure at first, but after sewing up the top panel he was happy with it.

[D-Ral]

Similar to the pleated panel I had made for myself, I just made a sandwich of 1/2" foam and a cheap backing material.

In the meantime, he made a pan to bolt to his cowl, and shaped some closed cell foam. We predrilled holes for rivets and then sanded and painted the pan.

Next time, we will drill way more holes than we think we need. Especially around the turns.

We started at the middle of the seat on both sides and worked around the front using a heat gun. Then we did the back.





Looks pretty good! There are several mistakes, but I'm sure I'll iron them out when I do mine.

[D-Ral]

Ideally, I think I should change the way my tank is mounted to the frame. Cut the rubber holder off and just bolt it down.  But for now, I'm just going to curve my seat up and over. So I made new pan.



After making my friend's seat, I realize that I'll have to cut down the front a little bit more. You definitely need so foam overlapping the pan, otherwise the pan will cut your vinyl. If I don't cut it back, it'll be too long.

Working on making a convenient mounting system, but keeping the stock oil tank and battery make disconnecting the seat on the fly difficult. I'll take some photos later of I've what I've come up with so far.

[D-Ral]

Wrapped my exhaust. This is a dirty job.

If you've never done this and want to, wear a mask and good gloves. And overlap properly. Wire works well for clamping.

Most importantly, take your time and think about how to do it efficiently. I wrapped #4 to the collector, and then wrapped #3 until I reach my clamp for #4 and then wrapped the two together until the collector. Then I did the same for #1 and #2, except when I was doing #1, I covered all 4 header pipes and the collector as well and wire clamped it there. At this point, the only wire showing are at the cylinder head and one at the collector. Then, I clamped the muffler on and then worked back to the collector. This way, I don't have a cut end of the wrap at the muffler. Instead, it's under the collector. The cut end is likely to fray and get ugly. It needs to be clamped at the collector anyway, because it will slide down the slope toward the slimmer end pipe. Anyway... I think it looks good.



Muffler is a shorty from Cycle X. You can almost stick your whole arm down inside it. Should be fun!

[D-Ral]

Rearsets... These have been an issue. But now I think I have it figured out.

Instead of using the passenger pegs as mounts, I have welded some 1" angle to the frame stays. My machinist is making me some drilled aluminum plates to mount to the angle.



My problem was that the splined shaft for the brake lever was interfering with either my foot or the toe peg when I mocked up my controls. In order to clear the shaft, my aluminum plates would have to be an 1" thick or spaces out off of the angle.



So, after some asking some forum members some questions, I've decided to shorten the spindle. I'll make my cut at the break in the splines.

Rather than order a brake arm from fastfromthepast.com, I'm cutting the brake pedal arm off of the clamp part and welding an arm on the mount the linkage. Therefore, I've slimmed down the clamp to insure it fits properly on the cut shaft. I was worried about marring the splines, but I used a good hacksaw and it worked well!



Hopefully I'll get my plates back soon so I can get this locked down and concentrate on my seat.

[Dannodarko]

Awesome build!! I'm doing a K5 right now and you're definitely give me some much needed motivation!

[evanphi]

Wrap looks sick. I'm painting mine with high-temp black exhaust paint.

[D-Ral]

Wrap looks sick. I'm painting mine with high-temp black exhaust paint.

Yeah, I have a header painted with black high heat sitting in my basement. Scratches when you breathe on it.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Ceramic coating will disperse heat, as opposed to wrapping which retains heat, and it does not scratch.  It actually helps cool down the head faster.  BUT, it costs $150 plus to coat a pipe inside and out.  The wrap will keep you engine and oil nice and hot.  For me, I'm not partial to the smell after you wrap the pipe.

I suppose it depends on why you wrap your pipes -- for looks or function?

[D-Ral]

Ceramic coating will disperse heat, as opposed to wrapping which retains heat, and it does not scratch.  It actually helps cool down the head faster.  BUT, it costs $150 plus to coat a pipe inside and out.  The wrap will keep you engine and oil nice and hot.  For me, I'm not partial to the smell after you wrap the pipe.

I suppose it depends on why you wrap your pipes -- for looks or function?

I guess I did mine just to cover the dents and #$%*. Gave her a coat or two of high heat paint just to keep the rust at bay and wrapped it. I'll buy stainless when I can afford it.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Ceramic coating will disperse heat, as opposed to wrapping which retains heat, and it does not scratch.  It actually helps cool down the head faster.  BUT, it costs $150 plus to coat a pipe inside and out.  The wrap will keep you engine and oil nice and hot.  For me, I'm not partial to the smell after you wrap the pipe.

I suppose it depends on why you wrap your pipes -- for looks or function?

I guess I did mine just to cover the dents and #$%*. Gave her a coat or two of high heat paint just to keep the rust at bay and wrapped it. I'll buy stainless when I can afford it.

That's cool.  It looks nice and is capped off with a good looking cone.

[D-Ral]

Ceramic coating will disperse heat, as opposed to wrapping which retains heat, and it does not scratch.  It actually helps cool down the head faster.  BUT, it costs $150 plus to coat a pipe inside and out.  The wrap will keep you engine and oil nice and hot.  For me, I'm not partial to the smell after you wrap the pipe.

I suppose it depends on why you wrap your pipes -- for looks or function?

I guess I did mine just to cover the dents and #$%*. Gave her a coat or two of high heat paint just to keep the rust at bay and wrapped it. I'll buy stainless when I can afford it.

That's cool.  It looks nice and is capped off with a good looking cone.

Thanks! Yeah, I'm pumped to hear it.

[calj737]

Correction: ceramic coating a pipe doesn't help with dispersion, it encapsulates the heat inside not allowing it to transfer to the outside. It's a thermal barrier and insulator.

[Retro Rocket]

Correction: ceramic coating a pipe doesn't help with dispersion, it encapsulates the heat inside not allowing it to transfer to the outside. It's a thermal barrier and insulator.

You mean that it insulates the pipe, it doesn't encapsulate the heat, more heat is dispersed out of the pipe through the exhaust process....

[calj737]

I do mean encapsulate. The result of containing the heat allows for the exhaust flow to disperse the fumes and heat out the tailpipe. A by product of insulation is to contain, since it's contained, the flow is forced out as you described. But that is pretty obvious anyway, isn't it?

[Retro Rocket]

since it's contained, the flow is forced out as you described. But that is pretty obvious anyway, isn't it?

I thought so too but you never know...

[D-Ral]

Ha ha.

[calj737]

I thought so to but you never know...

Surely you mean "too" as in "also". But I guess, one never really knows...

[Retro Rocket]

I thought so to but you never know...

Surely you mean "too" as in "also". But I guess, one never really knows...

Well if thats the case, encapsulate means..." to enclose, or encase"  so i refer you TO my previous post as it does neither.....
I don't think being a grammar nazi furthers your case..... It was a "5 in the morning  typo", I know how to spell...

[calj737]

LMAO

For your edification-
transitive verb
: to surround, encase, or protect in or as if in a capsule

If you take a swipe at someone, especially "at 5:00 in the morning" don't be so sensitive when they push back. As for being a "grammar Nazi" wasn't it you who accused me of incorrect usage? Your posts neither addressed the OP's question or demonstrated much courtesy. If you disagree with my language, then ignore it. If I propose technical information that is inaccurate, then offer a correction. Else, move along.

[scunny]

 

[Retro Rocket]

LMAO

For your edification-
transitive verb
: to surround, encase, or protect in or as if in a capsule

If you take a swipe at someone, especially "at 5:00 in the morning" don't be so sensitive when they push back. As for being a "grammar Nazi" wasn't it you who accused me of incorrect usage? Your posts neither addressed the OP's question or demonstrated much courtesy. If you disagree with my language, then ignore it. If I propose technical information that is inaccurate, then offer a correction. Else, move along.

Listen Genius, CB750 Cafe Racer Fan was correct in his summation that the ceramic coating will disperse heat, it works  by not allowing the pipe to retain heat, the ceramic does not "contain" anything except the steel pipe, it helps more heat move out of the pipe {dispersion}, there is no containment of heat in the pipe what so ever. Incorrect usage isn't correcting your grammar, you do know what grammar is a opposed to using  incorrect terminology...? your example is immature and only there to try and be a smart arse so jam your courtesy mate, your a hypocrite, starting a reply with LMAO then demanding courtesy, As far as your last part, thats exactly what i did , it was also for anyone else's benefit, including the OP And by the way, I am a tradesman in industrial coatings, used my first industrial coating in 1979....

[Retro Rocket]

I did a quick edit Scunny....

[calj737]

ROTFLMAO now...

[evanphi]

I'm painting mine for the same reason... cover some surface rust and dings. Might wrap them next season after seeing how they hold up to scratches this year.