Topic: CB750 K4 Build - The Cafe Tracer

[Stev-o]

Nice.  He could probably sell those.

Yes, I'm a buyer.  Bud - have an extra set made up if you can. Thx

[budman]

Nice.  He could probably sell those.

Yes, I'm a buyer.  Bud - have an extra set made up if you can. Thx

I'm going to try to get the engine installed this weekend, then I can take measurements for the two top rods and have them made next week.  If it all goes well I'll get a price from my buddy to do the threading and see if I can come up with a complete price that makes sense for us all.

[luvmy71]

Just spent a couple hours reading through this thread.  Love the bike and all the originality you are putting into it.  You are quite the artisan with tools.  Would love it if you could post a video tour of your shop.  Give us all something to shoot for.

Keep up the great work and look forward to hearing it run.

[budman]

Just spent a couple hours reading through this thread.  Love the bike and all the originality you are putting into it.  You are quite the artisan with tools.  Would love it if you could post a video tour of your shop.  Give us all something to shoot for.

Keep up the great work and look forward to hearing it run.

Hey, thanks for taking the time to check out the thread.  I'm just an old paint and body guy from way back when...don't make my living doing it any more, but I kept all my tools and have acquired some new ones.

We (or should I say "I"?) were lucky to find this place.  The shop was already built.  I told my wife our search for a house just ended.  We've been here 13 years.  I've built all kinds of things in the shop.  If we ever move the new place will have to have a similar setup.  I don't think I could be limited to just a garage.  I guess I could if I had too, but I've gotten spoiled with the space.

I've never videoed any type of project I've worked on or shop tours.  The Hack-a-week guy makes it look easy, but I think I'd be nervous as heck.  When I get the bike done and the shop cleaned up I'll try to remember to do a photo tour of the shop.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Nice.  He could probably sell those.

Yes, I'm a buyer.  Bud - have an extra set made up if you can. Thx

I'm going to try to get the engine installed this weekend, then I can take measurements for the two top rods and have them made next week.  If it all goes well I'll get a price from my buddy to do the threading and see if I can come up with a complete price that makes sense for us all.

I think you might have more than a few interested buyers.

[budman]

I think you might have more than a few interested buyers.

I'll look into it.  I think they're going to work well.  Just did a test fit.  I'm trying to post a photo, but it's not letting me.

[budman]

Test fit.

[Tews19]

Also interested bud man in the stainless steel rods. The build is nearing it's end!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Count me in for a set.

[budman]

The chain oiler plug I bought off of EBay just arrived.  Looks like the guy just modifies flange head bolts.  The instructions say to fill the shaft with silicon before you screw the plug in place.  Hope it works.  It was pricey.

[budman]

I got the engine installed in the frame today with a little help from myself.  I have a small welding table that I set the engine on.  The adapter slid right of the engine stand and on to the table.  Perfect height.  After I removed the engine stand adapters I pushed the table right up against the lift and put some boards under the engine and into the frame.  I adjusted the height of the lift and wiggled the engine into place.  Wasn't too bad.  I had to pull the two rear oil pan bolts, but no other clearance issues.  I chipped a little paint in the process, but that's all touched up now.  Can't even tell.




Started bolting on a few parts.

[BLAC]

Beautiful! I can't wait until mine is at that stage. Exciting!

[budman]

Beautiful! I can't wait until mine is at that stage. Exciting!

Thanks.  Still have a long way to go.

[budman]

Everything went pretty smooth with the engine install yesterday.  I did, however, discover a major problem.

Spot the boo-boo.



Ouch!

[Davez134]

I'm trying to spot what's wrong, but drawing a blank...is it a petcock clearance issue?

[budman]

I'm trying to spot what's wrong, but drawing a blank...is it a petcock clearance issue?

That's it.  I didn't have an assembled engine at the time I was modifying the gas tank.  I had to guess on the placement of the peacock.  The only place that looks like it will clear is in front of the valve cover.  Lots of work to make that happen.

[Davez134]

It will be worth the work. The lines of the bike and stance are looking good!

[budman]

It will be worth the work. The lines of the bike and stance are looking good!

Thanks.  Can't throw in the towel at this point.  I found a low profile adapter, but I don't think there's enough room for an elbow and a setup like that would mean I would have to use an inline fuel valve and loose my reserve.

[budman]

Looking online I found this Golan low profile outlet.  This looks like it might work with an inline valve.

[Davez134]

Worth a shot, better than relocating outlet under the tank. Do they give measurements, so you can make a mock up one and see?

[budman]

Worth a shot, better than relocating outlet under the tank. Do they give measurements, so you can make a mock up one and see?

I'm going to call them today and see if they will give me the dimensions.  Also I can't find a distributer that sells them online so I'll need to find out where I can get one.  I hope this works.

[budman]

I called the manufacturer and bought the low profile outlet directly from them.  They said they would ship it today.  The dude said they were an inch tall.  It's hard for me to get an accurate measurement of exactly how much clearance I really have, but I think that will work.  Fingers crossed.

[Stev-o]

Hoping that works out, Bud.  Would hate to see you cutting on that tank.

[budman]

Hoping that works out, Bud.  Would hate to see you cutting on that tank.

Thanks.  Me too.  I really need this work.  It would be some major work to fix my screw up.  I'd have to strip the sealant from the inside of the tank, weld in a patch where the existing bung is and weld in a new bung in a new location.  That would require grinding away a bunch of paint and body filler.  Then once all the welding was done I'd have to redo the body work, reprime, block sand, repaint, clean the inside of the tank, reseal the inside...big nightmare.  Would set me back weeks.

[budman]

FYI, regarding the engine mounting rods.  I don't know what I was thinking.  There are only three rods, not four.  I was thinking there were two on the bottom and two on the top, but there's only one on the top at the rear of the engine.  The front of the engine uses bolts, which I'm sure you all know.  Since I got the engine installed I was able to measure for the top rod and dropped it off at the machine shop today.  My buddy is out of town this week so his foreman is going to thread the last rod for me.  When my buddy gets back next week I'm going to get a price from him to do the threading.  The only reason I need help threading the rods is because of they made from stainless steel and it's super hard and requires a special dye.  I think the machine shop is actually cutting the threads on a cnc lathe.  If anyone was interested making their own rods they can easily be made using carbon steel.

But...for those interested in the stainless steel rods would you also be interested in having me supply the hardware (stainless steel nuts & washers)?  It would be cheaper if you supplied your own hardware.