Topic: Re: Bigsam302's 76 CB750F (915cc): Project Helen – Running Report!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Sam,

This is looking spectacular!  Cannot wait to see the finished product.  If possible I'd love to see the unveiling in person!

Don

[Bigsam302]

Sam,

This is looking spectacular!  Cannot wait to see the finished product.  If possible I'd love to see the unveiling in person!

Don

Don,

That would be awesome!  If you are okay with coming all the way down to San Diego, that's cool with me.  When would you like to see it?  During the initial startup? Or when I get ready to test ride it?

Sam

[2strokeTrush]

I love projects like this with all top notch parts seeing them come together

[Bigsam302]

I love projects like this with all top notch parts seeing them come together

Thanks 2stroke!  I appreciate it.

Sam

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Sam,

This is looking spectacular!  Cannot wait to see the finished product.  If possible I'd love to see the unveiling in person!

Don

B
Don,

That would be awesome!  If you are okay with coming all the way down to San Diego, that's cool with me.  When would you like to see it?  During the initial startup? Or when I get ready to test ride it?

Sam

Test ride would probably be better. That'll allow you to have it running and most of the kinks out.

[calj737]

Sounds like someone doesn't want to get dirty 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I can come down for the potential hiccups. I thought I was taking the pressure off Sam.    To let him have a chance to get it a little sorted before I drive 3 hours.  I'll leave it up to you Sam.

[riverfever]

Mercy. I haven't been on much now that school is back in. This is lovely. I might need a smoke.

[Bigsam302]

Sam,

This is looking spectacular!  Cannot wait to see the finished product.  If possible I'd love to see the unveiling in person!

Don

B
Don,

That would be awesome!  If you are okay with coming all the way down to San Diego, that's cool with me.  When would you like to see it?  During the initial startup? Or when I get ready to test ride it?

Sam

Test ride would probably be better. That'll allow you to have it running and most of the kinks out.

Don,

I'll definitely let you know when I'm about to take it out for a test drive.  I'll let you know a week in advance.

Sam

[Bigsam302]

Mercy. I haven't been on much now that school is back in. This is lovely. I might need a smoke.

Thanks River, I appreciate it!

[Bigsam302]

Not much of an update.  I just got a call from the paint shop and they should be finished with my tank and seat tomorrow.  That’s really good news.  If everything goes well, I should be able to try to crank it some time next week.

I do want to show you what came in the mail for me today.  I finally received my Velocity Stacks from Steel Dragons.  They are huge - and beautiful.  I can’t wait to install them.


I also took the time to paint my oil tank in the same radiator paint that I have on my oil cooler.  I think it looks better, even though must of it is going to be hid inside my gas tank and you will not see it anyway.

[Bigsam302]

Quick question, I’m getting ready to cut my spark plug wires.  I bought a new cutter/crimper to make the job easier.  It seems pretty straightforward.  Seeing how this is my first time doing this, is there anything that I should be concerned about?  Any tips?  I don’t want to screw my only pair up.

[Bigsam302]

Another quick update – I picked up my tank and seat from the paint shop today and it looks awesome! 



Got my oil tank installed.



I couldn’t help myself and I had to mock it up to see what it is going to look like.  It turned out better than I could have imagined.  Now I’m even more excited about finishing it.



I don’t know how much I’m going to get done this weekend.  I have a few plans with the family, but I hope to have all of my hoses ran and put some oil in it so I can check the pressure.

Stay tuned for updates!

[RandyBMC]

Looks stunning!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Sam,

She's a looker!! The paint turned out fantastic.  I'm looking forward to coming down to SD next weekend!

[calj737]

time to ditch the motor lift and swap to a swing arm jack! bodywork looks killer, Sam!

[Bigsam302]

Sam,

She's a looker!! The paint turned out fantastic.  I'm looking forward to coming down to SD next weekend!

Thanks Don!  I'm really happy that I decided to go with the black forks.  Everything flows very nicely.  I'll send you my # and address later this week.

[Bigsam302]

time to ditch the motor lift and swap to a swing arm jack! bodywork looks killer, Sam!

Thanks Cal,

Yeah I know.  I'm trying to hold on to my lift as long as possible.  It makes moving my bike around in the garage so much easier.

Sam

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

If this thing runs by the 15th, I'm nominating it for BOTM!

[riverfever]

Paint looks amazing Sam! I love it.

[Bigsam302]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

[calj737]

Hey Sam - I was chatting with Don last night, and neither he nor I could recall whether you had checked for any interference with your valves and pistons. I just re-read several pages of the motor assembly, and did not see where you mentioned it. I ask because of the O/S valves and lager cam. Do you know for certain whether the pistons do clear without machining reliefs with that head/valve/cam combination? If not, you really need to verify this before you start the motor.

I assume someone from CycleX or Mike would have mentioned this if it were a known issue, but given how much $ and tie you've invested, I'd make double-triple sure you're in the clear before cranking the motor.

Fingers crossed for you!

[Bigsam302]

Hey Sam - I was chatting with Don last night, and neither he nor I could recall whether you had checked for any interference with your valves and pistons. I just re-read several pages of the motor assembly, and did not see where you mentioned it. I ask because of the O/S valves and lager cam. Do you know for certain whether the pistons do clear without machining reliefs with that head/valve/cam combination? If not, you really need to verify this before you start the motor.

I assume someone from CycleX or Mike would have mentioned this if it were a known issue, but given how much $ and tie you've invested, I'd make double-triple sure you're in the clear before cranking the motor.

Fingers crossed for you!

Cal,

Thanks for the note.  When I read it I had an "oh sh#t!" moment.  I remember when Ken from CycleX called me about my engine work.  He mentioned a few things that I should check, but valve to piston clearance wasn't one of them.  I didn't see any clearance issues when I was installing my head.  So I just got off the phone with Ken just to double check.  He told me that I wouldn't have to work about it with the pistons and gasket that I have.  He said that if I had went with another type, than we would be having a totally different conversation.

Sam

[Bigsam302]

Time for another update.  I ran into a problem with my reusable oil filter.  After hooking up all of my hoses, I filled the oil tank with oil and started to cycle the motor with the starter.  Oil started seeping out of the oil filter.  The oil filter is actually a little smaller than the size that I need for Cycle X’s adapter and it wouldn’t seal.  So I used the other oil filter that I had already had.  Problem solved!  Don was a big help and gave me the part number for an alternative.

After turning over the engine a little longer, the oil light went out, and the pressure was solid! 

I installed my new Pingel fuel petcock.  I am happy that I chose to modify my gas tank.  Now I have different options if I decide to go another route in the future.



Here are some pictures of my velocity stacks installed.




Last night I took my first shot at wrapping my exhaust.  It was a pain in the butt, but I am happy with the results.  Today when I got home from work, I had to spray them with black silicone to seal them.



My exhaust are Mac 4 into 2 and the tips are Dime City Cycles shorty 12” reverse cone mufflers.

I hope to crank it in the next couple of days and take it to the DMV to get it registered.

Stay tuned for updates!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Woohoo! 

Sam, you might want to fashion some stretch covers for your stacks for when the bike is not being used. Just to keep moisture, bugs and dust out.

Looking great!