Topic: 1975 CB750 K5 "Rhonda the Honda"

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Gorgeous!

[evanphi]

Removing those spacers worked wonderfully! I can now feel the road beneath me, but all the clunky feeling is gone!

Vibration in the handle-bars is also much less now.

[evanphi]

Put on a BT45



Next time I do the rear tire it will also be a BT45.

[evanphi]

Fitting my new gas cap seal for the second tank, I couldn't remember if all the disks go into the seal. I was about to make a post, then I remembered the great photos someone took before...

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,35056.html#msg420553

And lo and behold...

Remember, when you take the old seal off and install the new one that all the "disks" go inside the new seal.

Thanks, Matt!

[evanphi]

Rigged up a charging port for my cellphone/gps while on longer trips. I'm going to be doing some motocamping in a few weeks and I don't want to lose battery!

Also re-tightened my new steering bearings. They had settled in over the first few hundred KMs, so I snugged them back up. Went for a ride. TOO TIGHT. I was fighting the bars through turns. Didn't feel safe! Came home and backed the adjuster nut off a bit (1/4 turn or so), then went for another ride. Smooth as silk! When the front end is raised and everything tightened, I can get the bars to swing about 1-2" before the weight takes over and it swings to the full lock.

For those adjusting this nut after installing the tapered bearings... make sure you make the adjustments with the wheel DOWN. I found adjusting the special nut with the front end raised didn't let me feel when it was "too loose" because the weight of the fork and wheel was pulling down on it.

Set initial tightness, tighten the chrome lock nut, raise the front end, check for tightness, lower back down, tighten pinch bolts last. Repeat as necessary!

[evanphi]

Just ordered everyone's favourite transistorized ignition module!

Thanks Mark!

[evanphi]

I had a fun day yesterday...

I was getting lots more rattle than normal at idle, so I decided to check my timing and do a vac sync. Simple, right?

This is how my day went:

Static check of timing. 1-4 OK, 2-3 too far advanced. OK, adjust it! It was already at the end of the adjustment plate so I have to close the gap slightly to get it just right. Turns out the reason it had slipped for where I had it perfect before was because the hole for the little screw to tighten the points was STRIPPED. DAHHH. Easy fix though... drilled out old hole, tapped to M5, cut a nice short M5 bolt, and snugged up. Nice fix. Proud of that one. I'll get another points plate eventually. Timing is now bang on.

On to the vac sync...

Everything hooked up all set to go. I noticed as I made adjustments that the vac gauges didn't change very much, and #2 didn't change AT ALL. Started poking at the #2 rubber boot, and upon further investigation and DISASSEMBLY...




All the boots were at least somewhat damaged, two of them looked like this.

These stainless band clamps are great, but I stupidly used a socket and ratchet to tighten them instead of just a screwdriver. Tightening too much pulled the super soft rubber off the spigots and started breaking the rubber.

After reinstalling the OLD, slightly hard boots, everything vac synced perfectly. Bike runs better, too, with no big sucking vac leaks!

LESSON OF THE DAY... DON'T OVERTIGHTEN #$%*.

Also I love my wife and how understanding she is...

[Stev-o]

Also I love my wife and how understanding she is...

Trade you?

Wait, I'm first!   Have you seen a pic of her??

[evanphi]

Oi back off!

[evanphi]

My wife rides with me! we both fit on the 750 just fine

She gets her weekend for yoga training, i get my time with Rhonda.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free? Not a description, just a saying.

[evanphi]

OK she won't be so understanding if we keep this up. 

[evanphi]

Something special came yesterday! Going to install tonight.

Creative locations for mounting without disassembling too much are welcome. I'm thinking between the battery box and rear fender, stuck to the fender with some industrial velcro.

[Lostboy Steve]

Something special came yesterday! Going to install tonight.

Creative locations for mounting without disassembling too much are welcome. I'm thinking between the battery box and rear fender, stuck to the fender with some industrial velcro.

I had mine under the seat last year but moved it this season. At the risk of getting flamed, my 550 has a deltran lithium battery which is about a third the size of the stocker. I got some really good dense foam 1" and made two pieces about the size of the tray. Then I cut 1/2 pockets in each one the size of the hm ignition and that's where it stays, surrounded by foam under the battery. I don't know if it's ok there, but it seemed like a good idea. The only down side is ventilation, but it's a sealed unit anyway so....



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www.lostboysatomicgarage.com

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I'm not sure why you'd get flamed for using a lithium battery.  Many of us do, especially to save weight or for space constraints.

I've had 2 lithium batteries die on me. When voltage falls below a certain level, they will not recover.  Period.  For me, this happened at inopportune times.  I have since gone back to AGM batteries, except when I am trying to save weight and space (e.g., under a seat hump), in which case, I have used Shorai's, which seem to have decent quality control.  Care must also be used to used; some lithium batteries (anti-Gravity and Ballistic) have burst when old reg/rec units have shorted.

I don't care much for lead-acid batteries.  I can see their use in faithful restorations, but the AGM's are not only lighter but zero maintenance and you can mount them sideways if necessary.

[Lostboy Steve]

Yeah I meant flamed for putting it in a confined space without ventilation. I have had this deltran for 2 years now and even left the ignition on overnight once (oops) and it's still been good.


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www.lostboysatomicgarage.com

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Yeah I meant flamed for putting it in a confined space without ventilation. I have had this deltran for 2 years now and even left the ignition on overnight once (oops) and it's still been good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
www.lostboysatomicgarage.com

Ah. Thanks for clarifying. 

Here's another opportunity for posting my gratuitously long signature!

[evanphi]

Yeah I meant flamed for putting it in a confined space without ventilation. I have had this deltran for 2 years now and even left the ignition on overnight once (oops) and it's still been good.


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www.lostboysatomicgarage.com

Ah. Thanks for clarifying. 

Here's another opportunity for posting my gratuitously long signature!

but its a good quote.

I'll allow it.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Ok, Cal. I made some edits to take up less space (like your wiring).

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Ok, Cal. I made some edits to take up less space (like your wiring).

Hang on while I scroll down to read the post I was more expressing astonishment at your build list, by the way.

More like a ADD distraction list.  Same list for the last year or more.

[evanphi]

Woo. Installed it last night.

For those interested in the HondaMan Ignition and are running an electronic tach, tap your tach lead to the ORANGE wire.

I stuck it behind the battery box to the plastic fender with some industrial velcro. I unhooked my condensers but left them attached under the points plate just in case I ever need to revert. I also need to adjust the timing now. My previous issues with 2/3 being off might have been due to the condensers. I was only able to time correctly by closing the gap to 0.011". Anywho. It runs and revs just fine, but I need to recheck things, and that will happen on Monday!

[evanphi]

I has my first ride with the new ignition module today.

WOW

what a difference. Power all through the revs is an understatement! Pulled right up to 130km/h in 3rd gear and could have kept going! But I was over the speed limit... Just a little bit... Before, I would hit a wall when the revs got above 7-8K.

Easiest cold kickstart in my life today too.

Thanks again, HondaMan. I will be praising this little box of magic any chance I get!

[evanphi]

Rhonda was a one-kick pony up until a few weeks ago... Now only kicks when she feels like it.


After:

1: Replacing my carb boots because they were cracked
2: PERFECT vac sync (no rattle at idle now!)
3. Setting static timing just right

It feels like this bike will never start with kick. light pushes to get it to compression, up and down hard... NOTHING. I used to be able to kick start no problem, even when it was +2C outside. Feels like there is no resistance when I kick, almost. It just seems so strange. Sometimes it'll go first kick, but most of the time I get out of breath and resort to the push start, and she fires right up.

Then I got my HM Ignition...

4: Installing HondaMan ignition module
5: Setting my dynamic timing spot on with timing light

I thought this would fix the problem, but still no kicking!

Nothing else was changed.

Ideas welcome...

[RAFster122s]

Check your points to ensure they aren't too tight or shorting to the plate.

[evanphi]

Turns out that my previous major vac leak was making things really rich and easy to start.

Closed off my air screws to 1/2 turn, so kicks just fine now.