Topic: Chain oiler CB750 K1

[cakey]

Got myself a 71 K1 a while ago and am in the middle of restoring it. The engine will be going back together when I get the barrels and heads back from the workshop.

This is my first chain driven bike that I have owned or restored. My previous bikes were all Honda shaft drives so I am learning as I go because its a bit of a different ball game.

The engine had thick Coates of oil over it especially around the sprocket and chain area. When I first got the bike and was googling some info on it I read about people removing the chain oiler that these things have and using o ring chains instead. I have not been able to locate any threads on the subject, maybe I am using the wrong search criteria.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of some more info or pics of what to do?
Is it worth doing or would I de value the bike too much?
If I didn't remove it then will the oil stay off the back of the bike and the pipes or is it just part of owning and riding these bikes?

Look forward to any feedback from the more experienced than me or people that have tried the alteration. I just want to make an informed decision on which way to go. Thanks

[HondaMan]

If you go to the O-ring chain, be SURE to lube it well, and often. The small sprocket size on the CB750 bikes cause rapid chain wear, especially with chains like O-ring types.

The longest-lasting chain you can run on these bikes, in my experience, is the Diamond Powersport or Powersport XL, available online or at Harley shops (they often call it the "XDL" chain), in 102-link, 530 size. This is NOT an O-ring chain. It is specially designed to live with the vagaries of floating sprocket centers and sudden torque changes that these bikes can generate. I have run 2 of these chains in excess of 40,000 miles each, with less than 2% stretch in that time, and still have them in my 'spares' box.

[Davez134]

I disabled my chain oiler using a cut piece of o-ring just slightly bigger than the oiler hole. I found out how to do it by using search function on this site. Very easy to do, and now no more oily mess. Most important thing is that you maintain your chain. Clean and lube regularly!

[cakey]

So couple of questions

My sprockets are 17 teeth front and 48 teeth rear. Would the XDL chain 102 link fit this Honda Man?

I need to find this thread about blocking up the hole with the o ring. When I read about it ages ago I thought someone spoke about using a blank spark plug to stop the leak. So I need to find out where the hole is to plug.

[Davez134]

So couple of questions

My sprockets are 17 teeth front and 48 teeth rear. Would the XDL chain 102 link fit this Honda Man?

I need to find this thread about blocking up the hole with the o ring. When I read about it ages ago I thought someone spoke about using a blank spark plug to stop the leak. So I need to find out where the hole is to plug.

Here ya go:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=10817.msg101695#msg101695

[cakey]

That thread was great thanks Dave. I was able to start getting my head around it. I have attached a couple of photos of what I have on ,y bike and it looks a bit different. This person said they used the original bolt with an o ring around it. My bolt has a screw bolt in the centre of it which I assume is for adjusting the oil quantity coming out. I also was missing the smaller aluminium washer he shows.

I am thinking this is where I read somewhere that someone used a cut off spark plug for the end of the shaft because the bolt hole is quite large and looks about the size of a spark plug.

The oring through the weep hole is easy but I am wandering wether to replace the original bolt with another bolt or screw the original one in to  minimum adjustment and put an o ring on it?

Also if anyone has an answer about which chain would be suitable for the 17T and 48T sprockets without the automatic oiler?

Sorry for all the questions but I really appreciate the advice.

[754]

I make light weight blockoff plugs, with o ring on them. 20 bux plus shipping.

[cakey]

Thanks 754! Sent you a PM.

Any thoughts on chain?

[70CB750]

The thread is M14, thats why the spark plug canbe used. 

[Davez134]

I just turned that center screw in all the way, replaced everything as it was before putting cut 0-ring in. Not a drop since. I would go with 754's bolt if you have the chance. I was on a time constraint and just used what I had. Good quality standard chain will be fine. I just went with o-ring cause that's what I had.

[cakey]

Good advice thanks Daves134. I am not in a hurry so I am putting in one of the plugs.

[Davez134]

I totally overlooked that your cases are apart. There a tray in there that directs oil to the shaft/oiler. If you remove that, you don't even have to do anything else, that will completely disable the oiler.

[cakey]

Yes I had been looking at that little tray and thinking that it looked like it was built for that task. I have attached a picture of the one I think you are talking about. I will still go ahead and plug up the hole with a bolt and leave the tray in there though. The only reason is that if one day someone wants to return it to original then they will not have to split the case to do it, they can just swap the bolt back again. Thanks very much for the heads up though, appreciate it.