Topic: 1977 CB750 K7 Resto-mod, Knoxville

[AintNoEasyWay]

Thanks, enwri. I actually can't remember if I've got 10w40 or 20w50, but it's hot here. I'll get 20w50 for this next oil change.

Also did some searching for why my carbs are popping. I guys since I only have the boots to the air filter on but have left the air box off while testing things out, the bike is running more lean than normal.

Referencing these threads: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=89970.0 & http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=106834.0

I don't think this is at all related to the smoke from the exhaust. But good to know. I'm getting new plugs in tomorrow evening (had to order them, no places around here had the NGK's I wanted). I'll check the old plug condition then when I switch them out.

[Desert-SOHC]

I'm running Valvoline 20-50 VR-1 with good results, but it stays pretty hot here (105 yesterday).

And yes it runs MUCH better with my floats at 14mm vs 12.5mm

Now get out there and ride it like you stole it.

[AintNoEasyWay]

I'm running Valvoline 20-50 VR-1 with good results, but it stays pretty hot here (105 yesterday).

And yes it runs MUCH better with my floats at 14mm vs 12.5mm

Now get out there and ride it like you stole it.

Well, hell. I'm gonna just go ahead & get the carbs off & adjust floats to 14mm. I don't want it to be an issue in any way anymore. Haha.

[calj737]

Since you just did a clear tube measurement, rely on it, not a specific distance. If you find your floats set to 12.5, then increase them based upon the clear tube level, not a number. The number is a reference, not an imperative as it's based upon original stock, factory conditions.

[enwri]

And if the 12.5mm level gave an even result in all the carbs, albeit a little high, lowering them all by the same amount should result in all the levels ending up even again. Easy to check with the tube again anyway.

[enwri]

Popping and misbehaving before it's up to temp. properly is less of an indicator of tune than the plug readings will be.

[Desert-SOHC]

Mine takes 10-15 minutes to behave and that's at 90+ degrees......its a cold blooded beast

[AintNoEasyWay]

Well, I got everything ready to ride last night. Put the air box back on, filled the master cylinder & bled the brake line, air in the tires, etc.

Then just as I was pulling the bike out of the garage it started pouring rain... So the bike's just waiting & ready for a test ride.

I'm going to have to check the front brake pads again. I drained the brake fluid while I was working on the engine, but I may have some build up behind the left brake pad that's keeping the piston from moving it out properly. I'm not sure. It seems like it's too close to the brake disc. Rolling the bike forward & then trying to brake with the front lever works fine though. I guess I'll have to test it higher speeds. I just don't remember the pad being so close to the disc.

[AintNoEasyWay]

Started the bike up for a ride this evening & realized my clutch lever wasn't tight. I could basically just leave it in whatever position I wanted it & it wouldn't tighten back up when I let go of it.

So I took the clutch plate off, loosened the nut on the adjusting screw & turned the screw all the way in. Then I backed it out a complete turn. That tightened up the clutch lever & I figured I'd be good to go.

But when I got back on the bike & switched to first gear, let the clutch out & had pull on the throttle, the bike did nothing. What's going on here? I can feel the gear catch when I switch into first & it stays there. How come the wheel doesn't turn? Did I make some novice mistake I'm not aware of?

[madmtnmotors]

I took the clutch plate off, loosened the nut on the adjusting screw & turned the screw all the way in.

Turn the screw all the way out. Turn the screw in ever so lightly until it just contacts the lifter inside. This can be hard to feel and if you go beyond this point you are disengaging the clutch. Once the set screw contacts the lifter plate, back it out 1/8 (my choice) to 1/4 turn and tighten the locknut.

Done.

There is a lot of leverage at the adjuster screw and it can be hard to tell that you're actually moving the lifter plate, but I've done it too.

[AintNoEasyWay]

I took the clutch plate off, loosened the nut on the adjusting screw & turned the screw all the way in.

Turn the screw all the way out. Turn the screw in ever so lightly until it just contacts the lifter inside. This can be hard to feel and if you go beyond this point you are disengaging the clutch. Once the set screw contacts the lifter plate, back it out 1/8 (my choice) to 1/4 turn and tighten the locknut.

Done.

There is a lot of leverage at the adjuster screw and it can be hard to tell that you're actually moving the lifter plate, but I've done it too.

Yep! That's exactly what I needed.

Just took my first rides around the subdivision. Couldn't tell if the bike was smoking much. When I pulled back in the garage it wasn't smoking. I reckon that's a good sign.

I'll take it out again early tomorrow morning when I have more light to make sure.

[madmtnmotors]

Rock on! Your accurate description of the steps you had taken made it easy to diagnose. 

Now if we could just train everyone else to describe their maladies with the same level of accuracy! 

Hey I can dream... 

[AintNoEasyWay]

Got out of the neighborhood & rode around town for a bit early this morning. Smoking seemed to go away once the bike was warmed up but I'll keep an eye on it. Time to wash the bike & polish it up. Other than that I just have little tasks. I don't have a seat lock at the moment, for example. I bought some side cover emblems I'll have to paint myself, etc.

[Desert-SOHC]

Awesome.....it looks like our latest heat wave is over, so I've been out riding more. I hate riding in a blow dryer.

[Restoration Fan]

Got out of the neighborhood & rode around town for a bit early this morning. Smoking seemed to go away once the bike was warmed up but I'll keep an eye on it. Time to wash the bike & polish it up. Other than that I just have little tasks. I don't have a seat lock at the moment, for example. I bought some side cover emblems I'll have to paint myself, etc.

 

AWESOME job, Nate!  I'm happy for you, man! 

I take my MSF class on Monday and Tuesday.  It's supposed to be 94 during the day both days and a 50% chance of rain in the afternoon each day.  So it should be a whole lot of fun. 

[AintNoEasyWay]

Got out of the neighborhood & rode around town for a bit early this morning. Smoking seemed to go away once the bike was warmed up but I'll keep an eye on it. Time to wash the bike & polish it up. Other than that I just have little tasks. I don't have a seat lock at the moment, for example. I bought some side cover emblems I'll have to paint myself, etc.

 

AWESOME job, Nate!  I'm happy for you, man! 

I take my MSF class on Monday and Tuesday.  It's supposed to be 94 during the day both days and a 50% chance of rain in the afternoon each day.  So it should be a whole lot of fun. 

Ron, that's great you'll be getting the class finished up. It rained during my class on the second day & we ended up spending a lot less time on the course unfortunately. We eventually went back out & it started pouring as we were riding. Made things much more interesting...

[enwri]

Got out of the neighborhood & rode around town for a bit early this morning. Smoking seemed to go away once the bike was warmed up but I'll keep an eye on it. Time to wash the bike & polish it up. Other than that I just have little tasks. I don't have a seat lock at the moment, for example. I bought some side cover emblems I'll have to paint myself, etc.

Good to see you're out and about on it, just a bit of fettling to go, that collection of inanimate pieces you reassembled has turned into "your" own personal CB, bet it wont take 38 years to clock up another 25000 miles.
That's an old horse that feels that it's young again.

Talking of the weather, I rode to work at 530am on Friday during the coldest morning recorded here since 1919.  9.6c, 49.3F . Winters are harsh in the tropics.

Clutch cable looks a little vulnerable to touching the exhaust, tie it down to the frame before it melts through the cover.

[AintNoEasyWay]

Got out of the neighborhood & rode around town for a bit early this morning. Smoking seemed to go away once the bike was warmed up but I'll keep an eye on it. Time to wash the bike & polish it up. Other than that I just have little tasks. I don't have a seat lock at the moment, for example. I bought some side cover emblems I'll have to paint myself, etc.

Good to see you're out and about on it, just a bit of fettling to go, that collection of inanimate pieces you reassembled has turned into "your" own personal CB, bet it wont take 38 years to clock up another 25000 miles.
That's an old horse that feels that it's young again.

Talking of the weather, I rode to work at 530am on Friday during the coldest morning recorded here since 1919.  9.6c, 49.3F . Winters are harsh in the tropics.

Clutch cable looks a little vulnerable to touching the exhaust, tie it down to the frame before it melts through the cover.

Those conditions must mean you never have to store the bike away for winter, enwri. Pretty awesome!

Yes, I did have to tie up my clutch cable closer to the frame. Good catch on your part because I almost missed that & would have had a bad time if the exhaust tore it up!

[enwri]

That makes me want to paint mine now, the bright rocker/clutch/timing covers with the black and filed fins look good with the tank and seat line chrome, nice balance.

Beautiful weather here in winter, the rest of the time I'm complaining about the heat.

[AintNoEasyWay]

That makes me want to paint mine now, the bright rocker/clutch/timing covers with the black and filed fins look good with the tank and seat line chrome, nice balance.

Beautiful weather here in winter, the rest of the time I'm complaining about the heat.

Thanks, enwri. I debated repainting it because there are some minor flaws in the paint job, but I think I'll keep it for a while.

I used to live in Florida & I was the same way.

I rode about 40 miles on Sunday with no problems. It's been raining since. It's not the heat that's a problem in East TN, it's all the rain! Anyway, guess we're never satisfied.

I've gotta take my seat lock to a lock smith around here & get a key for it. I don't have a way to lock it at the moment.

[AintNoEasyWay]

~75 miles on the bike & it's still running ok. Carbs have not been retuned since I tuned them last year though. I may do that this weekend along with an oil change & attempt to fix the following:

The only issue I have is an oil leak around the bottom of my alternator cover/transmission cover. Haven't found exactly where it is. It maybe be across the bottom of both. I had a similar leak before I rebuilt the engine. Put new gaskets in but no sealant. Maybe I'll try either non-hardening sealant or get new gaskets. I checked the torque on the screws last weekend & a couple of them needed tightening back up. I'm wondering if the engine vibration is loosening them, should I put some locktite on em?

Let me know what you guys think.

[70CB750]

It could also be the o-ring at neutral switch.

[AintNoEasyWay]

It could also be the o-ring at neutral switch.

I'll recheck the torque & if they're loose again I'll at least know that's part of the issue. Didn't even think about the neutral switch. I didn't mess with it while working on the engine. I'll look into that as well, thanks 70.

[AintNoEasyWay]

Just took a look at the neutral switch. There doesn't appear to be any oil on or around it...

Also, I added sealant to the rubber sealer for the stator wires when I rebuilt the engine.

[enwri]

Chain oil ends up under there too sometimes, The main bearing bolts wept on mine, sealer stopped it.