Topic: CB750 K6 - Step Step 12 - Now into some tweaking to get it right

[madmtnmotors]

Yeah, I'm all for frugality when possible. As long as you're not drag racing they should be fine. I've got over 10,000 miles on the first set and haven't even had to adjust it yet.

Be sure to soak the friction disks in oil overnight. The clutch really likes the Bel-Ray 4T mineral oil per Hondaman's (and mine now too!) recommendation.

[HondaMan]

Given that I didn't like the way the Stator Cover turned out, just using a Red ScotchBrite Pad on my drill, I did go back and sand, polish and buff the damn thing.  LOL  Oh, did I mention that I hate sanding and polishing.  LOL

So, at least I don't feel embarrassed having it on the bike next to the other two nice shiny buffed covers.  <G>

Probably put the left side together for real on Thursday.  But just to give us all the idea..................

Charlie

I'd better not let my bike see this...

[oldhatt45]

madmtnmotors.

That's good to know!!!!  Again, Thanks!!!!
My 750 has never (in 38 years) had anything but BelRay in the Oil Tank.
I have 4 quarts of the 20W-50 BelRay mineral 4T in the garage right now waiting to go in.     
Want to see a 38 year old BelRay Sticker?   

Hondaman,
Shoemakers children?     
My Bike would be jealous of yours no matter how the cases looked!!!!

Charlie

[Restoration Fan]

Just FYI, I bought mine on Amazon.  Got them in 2nd day via Amazon Prime.

[oldhatt45]

Today I went and got a new battery for my digital caliper so I could measure the Clutch Plates.
Wanted to measure them to see how worn they are after 24,500 miles (approximate).

Here's what I found
Measured all the Cork Plates - Min 0.1390" - Max 0.1410"  -  Avg 0.1405"
Measured all the Steel Plates - Min 0.0775"  - Max 0.0815"  -  Avg 0.080"

Measured in 4 spots around each plate and according to what I've read, it seems like the measured width to shoot for when new is about 0.143" for the cork plates.  As I said earlier, the plates were not stuck together and still have oil on them (BelRay 20W-50) although the oil is 26+ years old but fresh and never run.  (Did an Oil change when I put it away 26+ years ago) 

I'm almost inclined to button the clutch back up after soaking the plates overnight in new oil.
What do you guys think??

And here are the Pictures

Also, started to clean the tank.  Not much rust at all, but better safe than sorry, so it's soaking in Vineagar. 

Charlie

[madmtnmotors]

I'm almost inclined to button the clutch back up after soaking the plates overnight in new oil.
What do you guys think??

If that were the only thing keeping it from starting up and driving down the road I'd say go for it. On the other hand, new plates will be there in a couple days, so how many times do you want to take the clutch apart? The old plates would probably work for a while. I think I replaced my first set at about 35,000 to 40,000.

The new ones were cheap, and I really like new parts, so I think I'd be inclined to wait for the new ones and turn my attention to something else that could use improvement. There's no shortage of items begging for upgrades and improvements on these old bikes...

[Stev-o]

Since you already have it apart, make that 2 votes for new discs.

Will be the last clutch job you ever do!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Since you already have it apart, make that 2 votes for new discs.

Will be the last clutch job you ever do!

Or at least for a WHILE.

[oldhatt45]

Thanks Guys,

I think you are right.  I will wait on the new plates.  I will however measure them when they get here to make sure they are "new spec".
And hopefully it won't be the last clutch job I ever do.     

As an aside, I have a (pretty beat up) 76 GL1000 sitting in the garage right now waiting its turn.  Yesterday I was at a meeting for a club I belong to and spotted what looked like a GL1000 in the next room.  Turns out that the GL was left there by a previous renter.  I talked to the owner of the place and he showed me the GL and said he would find out if whoever owned it was going to come and get it.  If not, he would let me come and pick it up just to get it out of his shop.  Since I have a titled bike, if he does call and tell me to come get it, I will have a reasonable parts bike.  Hope it happens.

Charlie

[Restoration Fan]

Awesome.  I hope it works out for you as well, Charlie!

[madmtnmotors]

said he would find out if whoever owned it was going to come and get it.  If not, he would let me come and pick it up just to get it out of his shop.

Better yet, if he can reach the P.O. (previous owner), and the guy doesn't want it, see if he can provide a title. Can't hurt to ask, then you have TWO titled bikes!

You might even offer $50 for his trouble of providing the title.

[oldhatt45]

That would be a really good idea about trying to get the title.

Don't know if I mentioned it but I had always wanted a GL1000.
And the one that is sitting in the garage was manufactured the same month and year as my 750, 8/75.  And is also Antares Red like the 750.
So that one will definitely get rebuilt.  If this deal comes through, I'd really have to think about maybe building the new one to pay for the one I have, depending on how much it needs and if I can get the title.

Also, in the back of my head, I was thinking that it would be neat to find a 550 with the same manufacture date (8/75). 
That would have the beginnings of a 1976 model year collection.  LOL

Charlie

[Restoration Fan]

Also, in the back of my head, I was thinking that it would be neat to find a 550 with the same manufacture date (8/75). 
Charlie

That's a brilliant idea.  OK boys...who has an 8/75 manufactured 550 they will sell Charlie? 
Hell, rb550four probably has 3 or 4 of them. 

[madmtnmotors]

Damn, I've got three 78 CB750K's and two 78 CB750F's. A 78 Gold Wing would be a nice addition...

Now look what you started!

[Restoration Fan]

Damn, I've got three 78 CB750K's and two 78 CB750F's. A 78 Gold Wing would be a nice addition...

Now look what you started!

Well, everyone knows 78's are the fastest...right, Wilbur?

[HondaMan]

Today I went and got a new battery for my digital caliper so I could measure the Clutch Plates.
Wanted to measure them to see how worn they are after 24,500 miles (approximate).

Here's what I found
Measured all the Cork Plates - Min 0.1390" - Max 0.1410"  -  Avg 0.1405"
Measured all the Steel Plates - Min 0.0775"  - Max 0.0815"  -  Avg 0.080"

Measured in 4 spots around each plate and according to what I've read, it seems like the measured width to shoot for when new is about 0.143" for the cork plates.  As I said earlier, the plates were not stuck together and still have oil on them (BelRay 20W-50) although the oil is 26+ years old but fresh and never run.  (Did an Oil change when I put it away 26+ years ago) 

I'm almost inclined to button the clutch back up after soaking the plates overnight in new oil.
What do you guys think??

And here are the Pictures

Also, started to clean the tank.  Not much rust at all, but better safe than sorry, so it's soaking in Vineagar. 

Charlie

With measurements like that, I'd put them back together.

[madmtnmotors]

Damn, I've got three 78 CB750K's and two 78 CB750F's. A 78 Gold Wing would be a nice addition...

Now look what you started!

Well, everyone knows 78's are the fastest...right, Wilbur?

Heck yeah!     

[oldhatt45]

If I get that GL1000, I'll have a look see if it's a 78!  If so, and I can get the title, just maybe we can do something.  Oh, And It's a real pretty Planet Blue color!   

Wilbur, you need to check and see if any of your 78's manufacture dates match.   
But I don't know if 78's were the fastest.  I've never ridden a 78 to compare with the 76.   

And Yes, if anyone comes across a 550K with a manufacture date of 8/75 PLEASE let me know. 

Charlie

[oldhatt45]

Hondaman,

I was thinking that.  If the new plates don't measure as good as the old plates, I might just do that.
Since it is relatively easy to take the clutch apart, it would be no big deal to leave the old plates in there for now.
Still thinking.

Thanks,

Charlie

[madmtnmotors]

But I don't know if 78's were the fastest.

Me either, I just tow that line to rile up the early model fanboys!   

[Stev-o]

But I don't know if 78's were the fastest.

Me either, I just tow that line to rile up the early model fanboys!   

Feathers are not ruffled 'cause we all know the early models were the fastest.

Just ask Hondaman!

[oldhatt45]

Stev-o,

Nah, the Red Ones were the Fastest!!!     

Charlie

[oldhatt45]

Got the Clutch Cover Polished up a bit today.  Not sure if I'm satisfied with it, but I'm so tired of Sanding and Polishing.  Ugh
Plan on doing the Hondaman mods to the Clutch tomorrow.  Then go back to cleaning the carbs.
Gas tank has been soaking for a couple of days now.  Also plan to look see how it's doing tomorrow.  Using the Cleaning Vinegar, so we'll see what we've got.

Picture (not to good) of the Clutch Cover.  One before and one after.

Charlie

[oldhatt45]

As I promised, I worked on the Clutch today.

I drilled 4 extra holes according to the information in Hondaman's book and beveled all the holes.
One thing to note.  The original holes in my hub were smaller than 5/32 but bigger than 1/8 inches, so I used a 5/32" drill bit in my drill press.
I added 4 holes to the hub.

When I did the beveling, I used a diamond ball bit in my Dremel to do the beveling and it worked out pretty good.  The oil collecting slots were harder to do.  Had to wear down a Dremel Cutoff Wheel to about half its original size to fit inside the hub.  And I still didn't do a really good job, but I now have slots. 

Cleaned the hub up with some spray carb cleaner and then some compressed air, so its ready to go.

Now for some fun stuff.
I received in the mail today, a package from Nagura Japan.  It contained my new Yamiya Clutch square cut Clutch plates, steel plates, springs and clutch cover gasket.  Thing of it is, is that while it has 7 friction plates, all 7 are the square cut plates.  My clutch has 6 square cut plates and 1 Slant cut plate with slightly larger fingers.  But, since I have a brand new correct slant cut plate, no problem. 

I decided to measure the New Yamiya Friction plates.  Results of the measurement of 4 places around each plate.

Measurement (in inches)        a                          b                        c                              d
Plate 1                             0.1415                  0.1415                0.1420                     0.1415
Plate 2                             0.1415                  0.1415                0.1400                     0.1415
Plate 3                             0.1415                  0.1420                0.1400                     0.1400
Plate 4                             0.1415                  0.1415                0.1415                     0.1415
Plate 5                             0.1420                  0.1420                0.1405                     0.1400
Plate 6                             0.1395                  0.1400                0.1400                     0.1405
Plate 7                             0.1405                  0.1410                0.1400                     0.1400

Given that the measurements show the average is just over 0.1410 I'm really thinking that my existing plates are (avg 0.1405) almost new going by what I've measured the new plates at.  As far as taking the clutch apart goes, it's a job that can be done in a couple of hours when doing an oil change.  So I'm really thinking about putting the old plates back in. 

Right now, I've got the old plates soaking in an Oil bath so I can put them in tomorrow.  And just in case, I've also got the new plates soaking in another Oil Bath.  Won't make the decision until tomorrow.  Or unless someone comes up with a good logical reason to use the new plates (which I have no problem doing, since I already have them).

Also, I put the Oil Tank back in place today.  And a picture of a 39 year old BelRay Sticker.  LOL

Comments appreciated as always,

Charlie

[Restoration Fan]

Charlie,
Most definitely leave that Bel-Ray oil sticker on there.  That gives it a character that we can't put on our bikes today, even during a restoration, unless we take the time to try & source one of these old stickers.  Very cool.

You need to hurry up & get this beauty on the road before it gets too cold up there in NJ to ride this year.

Ron