I picked up this bike (1977 CB750F) a couple of years ago from a PO that clamed it was 90% complete for $500. He said he also had a 78 CB750F that had been in a fire and he was using for a parts bike. Got it for a $100. What a deal $600 and two CB750F's. They set in my shop for a couple of years before I finally decided to get started. I figured since I didn't know very much about these bikes I would start on the 78 parts bike. It had a good motor and frame but missing tons of parts. I used the 77 (that was supposed to be 90% complete) as a visual guide. That bike was finished and I have a thread on here under the name "Tin Lizzie". She's the bike in my avatar. The 77 set for another year before I finally got off my but and started building it. I wanted to do a complete restoration with some modification. My goal was to try to get it looking like it rolled off the show room floor (to the untrained eye). For the majority of folks here I'm sure you can spot lots of things wrong. Anyway that was my plan. Here are some shots of the beginning of tear down.
Here are some shots of frame ready for powder coating.
Then it was time to get into the motor. The PO said he had it running but did not have a battery at the time, so I bought it without actually hearing it run. I did kick it and it felt like it had good compression. If he had it running it would not have run very long because when I got the motor out and the valve cover off this is what I found.
So I got busy and tore down the entire motor. Top to bottom, inside out. Nothing was left un-touched. Here are some shots of the empty motor case getting cleaned, stripped then bead blasted.
When it came time to paint the motor I decided against painting the usual "F" black motor. I wanted it to be a little different. I decided to go with Dupli Color "Cast Iron" engine paint. I new with the chrome and polished covers, caps and bolt kit it would make it pop. So here are some pictures of the motor going back together with its new color and accents.
The motor got lots of new parts: roller, guides, cam chain, etc. You name it, it got it. Pistons were spec. out and were reused. Someone must have just done some work on it because it had a "second" overbore done. I took the manuals over to a friends shop that specializes in motorcycles and all pistons and cylinders were in spec. So while I was there we honed the cylinders and installed new rings. He also spec. out the valves and while we were there we did a total top end rebuild: valve guides, seals, etc. I took everything home and put the motor back together with fresh new gaskets, seals, pucks, O-rings, etc. Here are some picks of the finished motor.
Several days later I got my frame back from the powder coater and took on the task of installing motor.
After motor was in frame I turned my attention to all the little parts (brackets and stuff). I read here about DIY powder coating and I thought I would give it a shot. It was very simple and not that expensive. Got a Harbor Freight PC gun. Figured out how to make a bench top spray booth and also got a counter top oven. I already had a HF blast cabinet. I use glass beads on just about everything for quick clean and prep of parts. Here is a shot of my simple spray cabinet and HF spray gun.
Here is my simple counter top oven.
After prepping everything I spent the day powder coating everything in site as well as all my bike parts. These are some shots of the parts I powder coated.
Even had room for my battery tray.
The oven was large enough to also do my lower fork legs.
After powder coating I turned my attention to doing some polishing. Tackled my wheels, carburetor parts and a few other things. Some picks of my wheels and carbs.
After polishing it was time for some paint. I had read lots of post on "spray bomb" paint projects and being cheep as I am wanted to try it. Read all the do's and don'ts and what was needed to get the job done. I used Dupli Color primer and paint (black) and a product called "2K clear". I ended up applying two coats of primer, four coats of color (black) and four coats of 2K clear. Doing all the usual wet sanding in between coats. Here are the products I used for the job.
Here are some shots of what got painted (before) and the end results (after).
The tank got two coats of clear then got wet sanded and applied the decals then got two more coats of clear with a wet sanding in between coats.
Also redid the seat pan and it got new cover. Here's a shot of the resto seat pan.
Got new rubber on polished wheels and put them back together.
Next it was time to start putting everything together. Here are some shots of assembly.
The bike's all finished with the exception of the exhaust. Just waiting on funds. Here are some shots of completed product.
Well that's my story. I know it was long but I hope you enjoyed it. Also hope that someone else can learn something from it. Thanks for your patients.
