Topic: CB750SS 78' project

[PhillBB]

Hey guys,

Phill here, recently purchased a not too shabby 750SS (doesn't start) that I'm hopefully going to give some new life into it.
Though i'm fairly new to the bike world i hope that i can build something that ll not only look sweet but ride awesome as well.

Idea currently: front = GSX conversion, white tank and black sides, black frame and wheels, seat ends with frame.

Will post as i go along, though as im a phd student and am both poor and busy, most updates will be weekly based (if that!).
Also posting for motivation so i can actually get up and do it.

Cheers.








Current bike and car

[stuartni]

nice looking bike good luck 

[kerryb]

Welcome to the forum.  It looks like you are well into the project, good luck and good wrenching!

[70CB750]

Welcome!

[Jerilee]

Welcome from NH!
I used to own a '78F as well and am working on a 77F now, best of luck with the rebuild! There's lots to learn on the board here so dive right in and read up! If you are thinking of cutting up that seat/pan/tail section PM me, I'm still looking for an intact seat-pan-tail section, tool box, fender etc! 

[cheftuskey121]

along for the ride. I am currently riding on a 78F and will be rebuilding her as soon as my K1 is re-complete and ready to go. I have a build thread started. looking forward to more pictures and progress

[Jerilee]

I am, and more.  PM sent.

[PhillBB]

Ok so its been ?? months since my last post but progress has been made!
(work and study have gotten in the way of doing anything major but i think i've done well with the time + as per usual poor).
I've also scraped the black side panels idea, also don't know how i'm feeling about the white tank.

I fear this bike may have been submerged in water at one point in its lifetime seeming as there is an insane amount of corrosion occurring on some parts but i guess it all comes with the fun.
Also noticed that some parts have been "worked on" by the previous owner trying to clean them up (i.e. carb heads had screwdriver scratches on them to remove previous rust?corrosion?dunno?), anyway makes me sad to see people not committing to a proper job.

I've been quite absent on the forums (though quietly lurking and reading) due to not needing much help though i may be stuck now :O. Trying to rebuild the carbs after having cleaned them to perfection (maybe not) and i'm finding it a bit difficult to follow the service manual or any good schematics of the repair....guess i'll keep reading unless anyone has any suggestions? -best i could find was: http://images.cmsnl.com/img/partslists/honda-cb750k-750-four-k-1978-usa-carburetor-assy-link_bighu0057e5719_7a0e.gif

Below is a series of pics i've snapped during the process. For now this has been the progress (hopefully the pictures uploaded in chronological order, easy enough to follow). There are some photos missing but mostly the main progress ones are here (with some before and after shots). Most are pretty self explanatory (hopefully).

Any questions feel free to ask away and hopefully will be able to answer to the best of my ability

I have to give a couple of shout outs now:
Shout out to Max down in Melbourne who made me the front rotors allowing me to keep originals wheels. Also shout out to my old man who decided to cut the frame cause he didn't want the old lady stressing i'd lose a limb or two. Shout out to Cognito Moto for having the CHEAPEST international freight charges i've seen so far ($60?? life saver!). As much as i would love to purchase things from dimecitycycles, their $300 freight charge is a bit too heavy for me.

[apetersonboy]

Holy cow you're fast! Bike looks wicked.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That's quite a leap forward in progress. Can you let us know what you did to the engine's internals, since it was last seen disassembled and now is in one piece painted.

[martin99]

That's the best attempt I've seen so far of making comstars look pretty! Love your work, the finish on the tank looks special too. Decided what exhaust you're going with yet? Any clearance issues with the headers and front wheel? How are you doing the seat (looking for ideas for my own!)? Keep it up, good stuff!

[PhillBB]

re the engine internals.

I polished and honed out the cylinders pistons, replaced the pistons with new rings and heads, replaced the seals, replaced cam chain tensioner (was worn down so much that there were no teeth left), replaced the cam chain, new spark plugs, sprayed the whole thing with penetrating oil and wiped it down clean.
the exhaust is going to be a 4-1, keeping the original just going to wrap it in exhaust tape and have a black head at the end (still dont know how it'll be).
I was thinking of something like the bobber styled seat from DCC (http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-brat-style-chassis-seat-parts-ribbed-black-leather-wrapped-dcc-originals-large-cc-seat-dcc-bratlcc-r.html) but due to expensive freight charges i may have to fabricate one over here. Don't know how i'll go about with that, guess i'll have to call some people up

[PhillBB]

hey guys so just a couple of updates, been a bit swamped with uni so haven't gotten that much done.

Decided on upswinging the back so cut out and welded it on. Turned out alright.
Also fabricated a seat for myself, dunno how it'll go but it was kinda cheap (currently getting upholstered which was only $120 so i'm not complaining). If it turns out crap i guess i'll have to settle for the loss and figure out a way to get it from DCC without paying $300 for shipping. (I'm heading to the states in november for a month so maybe i'll see how it goes then).

Primed and painted the frame, matte black turned out very nice (sanded and sprayed it about 3 times to get it to where i'd be happy).
Also wrote a quick CAD CNC script for top triples. Looks v nice and currently getting anodized black.
Carb rebuilt didnt take that long once i started reading up on them. The next big thing will be setting them when the bike is back to working action so more reading for that one.

Still unsure about the white tank...if im going to change it it'll definitely be the last thing i do once the bike is complete (easy paint fix).

What needs to be done: electrical (lighting, gauges, switches, etc), exhaust (i was thinking of wrapping it cause when finished i think it looks cool, also chroming that bad boy is way too expensive, cheaper to buy a completely new one), general putting it back together (i found the smaller things are much harder than the bigger objective i.e. engine easier than electronics). I've given myself an estimated finish date of October (mainly cause i see it happening by then) but it depends on the seat as well as timing (uni is becoming a bit more full on) as well as funds (poor uni student as per usual). So i guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Any queries, questions or comments are always welcome.

[PhillBB]

So its been a while since i've last updated.
PHD, travelling and science has definitely taken over.
Bike was put on the back burner but starting to pick it up again.

Current dilemmas are:
rear master cylinder is leaking, do not know why? maybe need to fix that…………
for some reason cannot connect the electronics so that horn works…the beauty of not getting circuit diagrams with orders makes electronics fun…i'm obviously being sarcastic….

Anyway here are some pics…i think its looking great. last bit of aesthetics is the exhaust wrap which i have but have been too tied up to put on:

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Set aside the wrap and get yourself some better shocks to match the front suspension improvements.