Topic: 1972 CB750 Four K2 -- Rebuilt to NEW OLD STOCK -- PIX ON PAGE 50

[edwardmorris]

"love what you've done to the place(wallpaper)" 

Thanks! Helps a noob to have the bike exploded in the peripheral vision at all times I need to find time to post more pics here, I've been slowly working away at it and so far most of my bike is intact (easy confirmation on the wall ) but some things that the PO did to it are really heartbreaking,

[edwardmorris]

Gauges came apart with a bit of mind numbing patience testing slow and careful effort. Found out that the tach was taken apart at least once and the gorilla glued back together, ugh.... nasty. Any recommendations on getting OEM/OEM style faces?

[iron_worker]

I bought mine from here and was happy with them:

http://www.cb750faces.com/cb750faces.nl/en/

IW

[edwardmorris]

I bought mine from here and was happy with them:

http://www.cb750faces.com/cb750faces.nl/en/

IW

First place I looked, they don't have the blue ones. In fact, I don't think anyone is making repro blue ones. Are they?

[Trounce]

To respond to your quote in your first post, horse sh!t can be turned into ice cream.

[edwardmorris]

More disassembly, and look, I found a fuse in the front sprocket, WTH is it doing there? Drained the oil before removing the oil tank and filter, and look how beat up the oil drain plug is. I'm guessing I'll be needing a new one. Also, a l rigged a long neck funnel to keep the oil from spilling all over, but next to nothing came out the tank.

[edwardmorris]

After disconnecting the brake and undoing all the bolts holding the engine in place (foot pegs and front lower), I lowered the bike on the brake side and kept a stack of flooring pads under it so the engine doesn't hit the hard floor. Now, to find help to get this beast indoors. Took off the handlebars and noticed there is an ugly sticker on them. I'm guessing these aren't stock either, ugh. More stuff to find.

[Tews19]

Blue faces? I think they came green for a 72.... I give you credit buddy. You have found damn near every possible PO eff up thing on that bike... There is a thread on here sharing the eff ups of PO's. Please don't take it personal but your bike tops any one story I have read. That frame looks really gnarley.  I know these bikes have soul to them and everyone has their purpose but I think if it were my I would have cut my loses. I have wasted plenty of money of bad buys or stupid spending.... I know for a fact I can find you a decent bike for cheaper then what it will cost you to bring yours to everyday riding order. Just trying to help you out bud so don't take it personal. Hate to see you throwing your money out the door.

[edwardmorris]

HA, I quite agree Tews, its on the top without even me breaking into the engine. I noticed there are hex key bolts on the engine head, so I'm positive something was tried on the engine. Stay tuned and help me fix this nightmare.

[Tews19]

Those do not look like superbike bars..... The bends and bars look different then the ones I have. I put superbike bars on every bike I ride. They fit me better and change your center of gravity when riding. I think the bike handles better with superbike bars.

[Terry in Australia]

You guys are talking like woosy boys. I'm building an engine "that just needed a top end rebuild" and is so bad that when the new owner took it to a bike shop, the proprieter ordered him off the premises.

There are bits busted off the engine cases, imperial thread screws have been forced into metric threads, there were bits of clutch plate sitting in the oil pan, one of the big end bearings wasn't getting any oil so the crank and that rod is toast, the selector drum has bits busted off it, the sump plug is cross threaded, the alternator and sprocket cover were chromed but the chrome has all but lifted all over, the wiring coming out of the alternator has been butchered, and I haven't even looked at the cylinder block and head yet.

Unlike in the "Land of the free", there are no "good used engines" sitting around anywhere, so I've had to go thru my collection of used spares to find all the bits I need to build an engine out of good used parts. I've promised the owner that I'll build him a nice engine, and I will. Anything can be rebuilt, and eBay is your best friend when it comes to finding parts. Don't get me wrong, there are heaps of new parts in boxes waiting to go in too, but I'm not at that stage yet.

Don't get disheartened Edward, you can turn that pile into an icecream mate, you just need to be able to persevere and you'll be fine. Cheers, Terry.          

[edwardmorris]

Thanks Terry! As long as I get the help and advice I need, I'll keep at it. I managed to get the forks off the frame last night, still debating if I should bring the engine into the basement or move the shop out to the garage and buy a space heater. That thing is a beast to lift and I don't want my buds dropping it down the stairs.

[Terry in Australia]

In a way I'm lucky that I'm built like a Sumo wrestler. I can muscle a CB750 engine in and out of the frame on my own, and lift it up onto the work bench, but at 53, with some old parachuting injuries giving me some grief at the moment, I'll be doing a lot less lifting.

I usually use a cheap trolley to move engines around, and if you can beg, borrow or steal a 6 wheeled "Stair Trolley" and strap the engine to it, it shouldn't be too hard to get it up and down your stairs safely. I'm guessing your basement is heated, so in an Indiana winter, that's where I'd want to be spending my time twirling wrenches. Cheers, Terry.  

[754]

Allow yourself some time, you jumped in a bit fast.. Slow. Down and enjoy the build. Were the guages working? If they were, could have left them as is, till you get the right ones 72 are band mount..no studs on the bottom..

[edwardmorris]

Allow yourself some time, you jumped in a bit fast.. Slow. Down and enjoy the build. Were the guages working? If they were, could have left them as is, till you get the right ones 72 are band mount..no studs on the bottom..

Only the tach was working as far as I know, and I'm guessing it was broken before. The PO had torn it apart and gorilla glued it back together. I'll keep an eye for 72 gauges as well, but the title reflects the mileage on these, so maybe a retrofit of the internals into a better body? Sorry thinking out loud and stupid

I did jump in a bit fast, but I sincerely try to ride it as it first. As you all very well know, this is quite literally turning out to be a pile of horse$hit. I'm trying to learn as much as I can and if I decide to take up another one of these, I will be in a much better position to do so. I have some time freed up in December to get the engine work done as best as I can, that way I'll have some breathing room in Jan and Feb when I'll be working a lot again and can only spend weekends on it. The goal is to have all stock parts for it, with the only mod being the red color from the Terminator bike and the fairing if I find one with a clear windshield. That way, the only thing to get it back to full stock would be repaint the tank and side covers. I'm a bit optimistic and going with "It can be done" for now, especially seeing what Trounce has accomplished above.

[lwahples]

The gauges for the 72 are a bit hard to find. But they do show up.Hoping your engine is good to you,in that it needs very little.

[mrbreeze]

Are 72' gauges like K0-K1 with the idiot lights in them?

[Head]

I know that that can be brought back to its glory, I myself have done about 20 of those bikes, I just looked at a KO, all that was K0 on it was the frame, I do not need another pile of rusty parts so I passed on it, There is some title issue's also. He came down too $150.00 to me it was not worth it. The last one I did for a guy was supposed to be museum grade when it got here, I put $1157.00 in parts on it and 47 hours of labor. He did not come for a long time to pick it up and pay me, then goes and die. That was the last one I do for some one that is not around and giving a good hand with the build.

[Head]

72 gauges do not have the idiot lights in them. 70-71 ones have them.

Are 72' gauges like K0-K1 with the idiot lights in them?

[edwardmorris]

Yes, I enjoy DIY stuff so I'll do what I can with the gauges while I hunt for a 72 set. Speaking of K0s, notice that the oil tank is not from a K2 either, and from what I hear, the one I have is actually something valuable, from a K0. Yet another thing to replace.

[CB750faces.com (Lecram)]

I bought mine from here and was happy with them:

http://www.cb750faces.com/cb750faces.nl/en/

IW

First place I looked, they don't have the blue ones. In fact, I don't think anyone is making repro blue ones. Are they?

Hi, These face used to be green as you can still see at the edge of your current faces. The bluish color is not the original color but a result of fading by the sun.

I have these face plates in my online store: http://www.cb750faces.com/cb750faces.nl/en/honda-cb750-k2-k6-f1/27-honda-cb750-k4-and-k5-face-plates-miles-per-hour.html#

[Terry in Australia]

Yes, I enjoy DIY stuff so I'll do what I can with the gauges while I hunt for a 72 set. Speaking of K0s, notice that the oil tank is not from a K2 either, and from what I hear, the one I have is actually something valuable, from a K0. Yet another thing to replace.

Take another look mate, I think someone's just used some filler to fill the dimples on your K2 tank, but I could be wrong. You've got later model gauges because someone cut the "Rhino horn" K2 speedo/tach mount off your top triple. No biggie, if they work, just clean 'em up and put 'em back on. Cheers, Terry.

[edwardmorris]

Look what came in today! from half way across the world. Hardbound two-side printed factory manual with supplements. Perfect companion to Hondaman's book.

[Tews19]

Very cool! What did that run you if you do not mind?

[edwardmorris]

Very cool! What did that run you if you do not mind?

My buddy from India had it done for me, black leather cover and hard bound with non-yellowing heavy print paper. It was free for me so I don't know what it costs. He is a fellow motorcycle enthusiast, loves British classics like the Royal Enfield, Norton, Triumph, BSA etc. I merely pointed him to the links here saying this is what I have for literature and he surprised me. The only thing he wasn't very pleased with was the fact that the original scan isn't all that dark, so the print is not as great as it could have been. I ain't complaining, I'm too happy to have a physical copy without having to print, punch and stacking them in a binder.