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Author Topic: '78 CB750K Cafe Build - Money Pit!  (Read 23227 times)

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Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #25 on: December 06, 2014, 08:32:50 PM »
Various parts and pieces coming in the mail this week including this little gem that came in from cyber monday specials.



MotoGadget M-Unit v2!  I don't know if I mentioned but this build is going full blown MotoGadget.
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Offline calj737

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #26 on: December 07, 2014, 02:32:56 AM »
I sure hope you got their M-Key and opted for the M-Button too....? If you use the M-Button, you'll need resistor wires on your coils else you'll get interference and irregular behavior from the Button.
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'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline Prez1967

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #27 on: December 07, 2014, 06:27:09 AM »
Following with much interest as I'm eventually going to rebuild my '78 as well! Looking forward to progress on this build :thumbsup:
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Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #28 on: December 07, 2014, 07:22:08 AM »
Quote from: calj737 on December 07, 2014, 02:32:56 AM
I sure hope you got their M-Key and opted for the M-Button too....? If you use the M-Button, you'll need resistor wires on your coils else you'll get interference and irregular behavior from the Button.


Im ordering their parts little by little but yes those two are on the list.  Good to know about the resistor.
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Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #29 on: December 12, 2014, 07:37:51 AM »
Haven't made any progress this last week or two but I did buy a soda blaster and ordered a bunch more parts online.  My sandpaper kit should be here and I'll get to polishing this weekend and next week the engine will be blasted finally and I can begin the rebuild.

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Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #30 on: December 14, 2014, 06:51:49 PM »
Decided I do not like polishing very much.  I am not a fan of mirror finishes so they will be left like this.  Went from 180 to 2000 grit wet.



Having some fun in a new car,


and my favorite beer of all time (not at the same time as the car!)
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Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #31 on: December 23, 2014, 07:21:18 PM »
Still just polishing parts and working a lot.  Hoping to get the cases painted the day after christmas, if not it won't be until the new year..!
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Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #32 on: December 31, 2014, 05:39:48 PM »
Haven't had much time to work on the project with the holidays but I did knock out a little bit today.

More polishing:





Bought myself a soda blaster for christmas and blasted the engine cases, pistons, exhaust, and jugs today.  Was hoping to paint them too but being 30 degrees out it was just too cold without an indoor studio.









Loaded it all back into the Abarth ready for paint.




Hopefully Ill paint within the following week and I can begin reassembly of the engine.  The frame still needs to be modified and sent off to powder coating and I am waiting on my custom gas tank to be made so no hurry.

Happy New Year!
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Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #33 on: January 08, 2015, 06:52:02 AM »
Made some progress this past week!

Set up a "paint booth" at my work and painted the engine. 

The process went: De-greased, soda blasted, washed, acetone neutralized, blow dried, primed, sanded, wiped, painted 3 coats, cured with a heat gun, 4 days later two oven cures.  Looks good and is hard as a rock!  I used Duplicolor primer and engine enamel.




















My pistons are at the shop getting "dry film lubricant" coated and I just ordered a 2.5" 320grit flex hone which should be here this week.  Once that arrives I will begin reassembly of the engine!

Also, does anyone ever replace the radial bearings in the transmission?  I left mine in and they got a little gunked up when I was washing the engine.  Do I NEED to replace them now or can I just lube them up nice and good and get them rolling good again?

Thanks!
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Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #34 on: January 18, 2015, 11:12:51 AM »
Setback!

The paint on the head chipped a little bit, no clue why and I really took my time with prep and making sure everything was done correctly.  The paint on the cases seems tough as nails but the fins all chip and peel...

Back to square one, sending the head to get vapor blasted.  The cases will stay painted.

Everything is at a bit of a standstill.  Im sourcing new bolts for the cases and once I have those I can begin reassembly of those.  I got new radial ball bearings for the transmission and will install those today.
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Offline calj737

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #35 on: January 18, 2015, 12:02:01 PM »
It's really stinking hard to get the fins really clean by hand alone. You're not the first to suffer this. In the future, prior to painting, pre-heat the pieces and allow that to purge any final impurities from the aluminum. Then, degrease, Acetone wipe down, and prime/paint.

Vapor blasted will make them super clean! And it's a gorgeous finish if you opt to leave them unpainted by protected.
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'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #36 on: January 18, 2015, 04:43:35 PM »
Quote from: calj737 on January 18, 2015, 12:02:01 PM
It's really stinking hard to get the fins really clean by hand alone. You're not the first to suffer this. In the future, prior to painting, pre-heat the pieces and allow that to purge any final impurities from the aluminum. Then, degrease, Acetone wipe down, and prime/paint.

Vapor blasted will make them super clean! And it's a gorgeous finish if you opt to leave them unpainted by protected.

Yup it will stay unpainted. I said FK it and am sending everything off to get vapor blasted tomorrow.  Should I clear coat it after?  It's what I should have done to begin with!   I'm sending my carbs with the engine to get blasted, ultrasonic cleaned, and rebuilt.

On a positive note, the shop I'm using to fabricate me a custom tank and seat reached out and were meeting up tomorrrow to begin that.
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Offline Restoration Fan

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #37 on: January 18, 2015, 05:11:30 PM »
Man, that's a shame, jarob.  The paint job on the engine looked really nicely done.
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Ron

Stella - Logan's Senior Project    78 750K http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=141761.0

Logan's Reward - CB500 and CB550 Cafes    http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,147787.0.html

Offline Trad

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #38 on: January 18, 2015, 06:36:50 PM »
Nice attention to detail on this build. To chime in on clear or not on the engine. I painted my cases black in a similar fashion as you did and I'm leaving the top end raw after glass beading them. No clear paint of powder. One less area you have worry about a flaking finish  :P.
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74 CB550 Build: NOS-GUTTED-OEMplus-HOLDTRUE
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Offline calj737

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #39 on: January 18, 2015, 08:16:29 PM »
I differ from Trad. Vapor blasting needs some "protection" afterwards as the cases will oxidize. Glass/bead blast leaves a finish with a bit of "tooth" so it creates its own protection. Talk to the vapor blaster, he's probably a better source for guidance. At most, some clear coat or clear powder coat to maintain that beautiful finish.
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'74 550 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=126401.0
'73 500 Build http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132935.0

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of it's victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." - C.S. Lewis

Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #40 on: January 19, 2015, 09:52:34 AM »
Quote from: Restoration Fan on January 18, 2015, 05:11:30 PM
Man, that's a shame, jarob.  The paint job on the engine looked really nicely done.

Yea I'm bummed because I put about 20+ hours into it and it looked great! 

Oh well, the vapor blasting is what I wanted to begin with, nothing looks better in my opinion!
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Offline Restoration Fan

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #41 on: January 19, 2015, 12:54:28 PM »
Well, to quote something cal told me in our build thread:

If it was easy, everyone would do it.  It's the hard part that makes it worthwhile!

Keep at it.  Your work is looking great and your attention to detail is outstanding.  I'm personally looking forward to seeing a cafe'd 78K. 
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Ron

Stella - Logan's Senior Project    78 750K http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=141761.0

Logan's Reward - CB500 and CB550 Cafes    http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,147787.0.html

Offline pn2501

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #42 on: January 19, 2015, 06:45:03 PM »
Like whats going on here. following.

I'm also doing my head in on the best way/looking to present the engine, spoilt for choice i suppose.
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Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #43 on: January 20, 2015, 07:56:14 AM »
I spent some time at Retro Moto last night and it was awesome!  Junior who owns the shop is such a genuinely nice guy and an incredibly talented craftsman.   Over the next month he will be building me a custom alloy gas tank and seat. 







And his cafe that was featured on Bike EXIF that he rides nonstop and hard!




Sending out the engine today too for vapor blasting.


Thanks everyone for the kind words and support!
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Offline Davidov

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #44 on: January 20, 2015, 08:46:24 AM »
Yep I know Junior as well. You won't be disappointed.
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Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #45 on: January 24, 2015, 04:46:58 PM »
Well the ENTIRE engine and my carbs were sent out on Thursday for vapor blasting.  The carbs will also be blasted, ultrasonic cleaned, and rebuilt as well.

With the engine gone its time to begin work on other parts. 

I just picked up my pistons form a local shop that dry-film lubricated them:



Ordered new radial ball bearings for the transmission while I have everything apart:


And got my torque wrench in the mail:


I will rebuild my swing arm tomorrow with bronze bushings and adding oil grooves to the collar.  I will also put the new rings on the pistons tomorrow.


Thought this was a cool shot from my day job:
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Offline Restoration Fan

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #46 on: January 24, 2015, 05:37:09 PM »
Nice view.  Let me guess...you're a car thief!  ;)
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Ron

Stella - Logan's Senior Project    78 750K http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=141761.0

Logan's Reward - CB500 and CB550 Cafes    http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,147787.0.html

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #47 on: January 24, 2015, 08:54:24 PM »
That's quite a stable of cars.

Nice torque wrench, too.
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1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #48 on: January 27, 2015, 08:16:13 AM »
Got the new rings on the pistons over the weekend as well as started rebuild on the swingarm.  The bushings came right out using a washer with its sides filed down to fall inside and knock them out.  Im currently cutting grease grooves into the collar before reassembly.




Also Dan from Vapor Blast Solutions sent me a few pictures of my engine so far and it looks AMAZING!  Thankfully I packed it well because the box took a beating from FedEx...





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Offline callmejarob

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Re: '78 CB750K Cafe Build
« Reply #49 on: January 27, 2015, 09:14:10 AM »
The PO of my bike had the front suspension rebuilt pretty much right before he sold the bike to me.

Should I rebuild it again myself and use mikesxs emulators or can I keep it as is?  Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.
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