Topic: Carpy Frame Rail Kit

[HonderCB]

I had to replace the cam tower pucks in my 77 750F, but I did not want to pull the engine, so I bought the frame rail kit that Carpy offers on his site, and it was pretty easy to install.  It only consists of two new frame rails welded together with a cross member, and collars to slip over and attatch to the old frame.  There are no pieces that goes up to the top frame piece, but the metal of the new kit is thicker and stronger than the old frame, and you could always weld new tabs on later if you felt like you needed the triangulation for more stability.  the only tools you need are a saw (I used a reciprocating) and a drill (having a drill press is nice, but not necessary.)  You also will need 8 small bolts to hold everything together

After removing the tank and relocating all the wires and cables, you start by measuring your frame rails to get the proper spots to make your cuts, and then you cut out the frame rails:


Old frame and new kit:


Then you have to grind off this little tab on the "drivers" side so the new kit will fit:


Then I put the collars on the new frame pieces and held them in the drill press to get a nice straight hole drilled through for a bolt to hold it together, but you could do this with a regular drill too.

Then I put it on the bike, and put in the first 4 bolts to hold everything still while I drilled the other 4 holes:


Then took it off to paint and mark everything with a number punch so it all goes back together correctly:


Then put it back on the bike and run all the wires back where they belong:


All back together, you would never know:


It all went together very quick and easy, if I hadn't elected to paint it I would have been done with the whole project in an hour or so.

I have ridden the bike about 50 miles since this, and I don't notice any in-stability at all, it all feels solid and correct.  It also made taking the valve cover and camshaft out REALLY easy since I didn't have to pull the engine.

Hope this helps anyone trying to decide on whether or not to install a frame kit

[Kingmambo]

Scott - looks good!  Where did you get those tappet covers?  Very cool.

[deafcaferacer]

Very nice SBS, thanks. Really getting me thinking here.

[MCRider]

Very nice SBS, thanks. Really getting me thinking here.

Carpy may have thought his up from scratch, but it appears to be a well done knock off of the old APE frame rail kit. Big Jay at APE said here that he had sold thousands of them, maybe tens of thousands, back in the 70s and early 80s.. Essentially 2 tubes with the sliding sleeves. APE's was predrilled and supplied with hardeed 1/4 - 28 bolts and nylock nuts.

I ran mine on Phaedrus I since 1980 over 50,000+ miles. Pushed it hard and was often overloaded. No problems.
Top of this picture:


The "Gordon Kit" designed and manufactured by forum members is more robust, but possibly overkill.

[HonderCB]

Scott - looks good!  Where did you get those tappet covers?  Very cool.

They were on one of my father-in-law's parts bikes so he gave them to me.  My stock ones were pretty corroded and way over-torqued so much that we broke some taking them out.  These look much cooler, and are pretty old too I believe.