Author Topic: '78 750K first project by a car guy...  (Read 34070 times)

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Offline Stev-o

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #150 on: June 22, 2016, 07:23:38 PM »
Wow - thanks!  Huge honor.  I wish I had some better photos of it, and I'm stuck waiting for that o-ring so I can't ride it anywhere to shoot some.  I really appreciate the nomination though.  It makes all of that sweat, blood and tears worth it (that and riding it).

You have a little time to get pics, nominations are not till the 1st.
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #151 on: June 22, 2016, 10:33:50 PM »
Wow - thanks!  Huge honor.  I wish I had some better photos of it, and I'm stuck waiting for that o-ring so I can't ride it anywhere to shoot some.  I really appreciate the nomination though.  It makes all of that sweat, blood and tears worth it (that and riding it).

You have a little time to get pics, nominations are not till the 1st.
And they run through the 15th.
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 RandyBMC

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #152 on: June 26, 2016, 09:08:09 PM »
Update - no more oil light!  I started with changing the oil weight from 10W40 to 20W50 (which is right anyway for the summer Texas heat), but still got the light.  I replaced the o-rings on the pump with Viton seals, no change.  Then I finally got the small 5x2.5mm o-ring for the shifter side, no change (arrrgh!).  I was going to pull the clutch to see if adding and chamfering holes would help, when I thought I'd test the pressure.  Using a rigged adapter to an old VDO gauge from a 914, I tested the pressure (where I should have started to begin with) and it was fine.  I replaced the sender and like magic, problem solved!

So I went riding - all day.  What an awesome motorcycle.  I love riding it.  I went home after a couple hours and picked up my wife.  She rode for a while, then hopped on the back and we kept riding.  Good day.

I snapped some photos of the bike while we were out.  I'm no professional, and I would appreciate any input on better ways to showcase the bike.  Keep in mind I have an iPhone as a camera.













































Closest I get to a selfie...




I took it above 5000 RPM for the first time since rebuilding as well today, just a couple of times.  It sounds incredible, and it is a monster!  I have already ridden about 400 miles since the build finished, so I'm thinking that should be good for the break-in (and I've changed the oil).  What's a reasonable redline with new stock valve springs?  It wants to rev forever - I was shifting at 8500 the couple times I took it above 5K.

Offline Stev-o

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #153 on: June 27, 2016, 06:59:45 AM »
Bike looks great Randy!  Your wife rode it?  Cool.

I typically shift my K4 at 8K...

'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline budman

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #154 on: June 27, 2016, 08:05:03 AM »
Nice job.  Bike looks great.  You're closer to some decent riding than I am.  I'm down in Pearland.  Takes me almost an hour just to get to a road where I can start having some fun.
Bud

1973 CB750K3 Chopper
2021 Indian Scout

Offline Stev-o

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #155 on: June 27, 2016, 02:39:34 PM »
Nice job.  Bike looks great.  You're closer to some decent riding than I am.  I'm down in Pearland.  Takes me almost an hour just to get to a road where I can start having some fun.

The 3 of us should plan to get our project bikes together for a ride!
Luckenbach in October?? [Harvest Classic Bike Show]
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline RandyBMC

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #156 on: June 27, 2016, 04:14:11 PM »
Sounds good to me - I will have to try to work my schedule for it.  My wife is pretty cool - she started riding about the same time I did.

Budman - I would accept any recommendations on good rides.  I've only been here in Texas a couple years now.  We used to live in Colorado which had awesome drives (but it does sap power from naturally aspirated engines).

Offline Stev-o

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #157 on: June 27, 2016, 04:52:48 PM »
Randy - you're not far from great roads.  Head NE from the Woodlands to Sam Houston National Forest...

 https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Woodlands,+TX/@30.4232496,-95.2519416,12z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x86473147c603385b:0xf1a4808e67c3df5d!8m2!3d30.1658207!4d-95.4612625

I'm super lucky, a half mile and I'm on a great road - Ranch Road 1431!
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #158 on: July 03, 2016, 10:25:36 AM »
Looks great, I'm nominating you for BOTM next month!

Just a reminder, nominations are OPEN.
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 Stev-o

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #159 on: July 03, 2016, 10:30:02 AM »
Looks great, I'm nominating you for BOTM next month!

Just a reminder, nominations are OPEN.


Randy's bike nominated!
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline budman

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #160 on: July 03, 2016, 12:34:06 PM »
Sounds good to me - I will have to try to work my schedule for it.  My wife is pretty cool - she started riding about the same time I did.

Budman - I would accept any recommendations on good rides.  I've only been here in Texas a couple years now.  We used to live in Colorado which had awesome drives (but it does sap power from naturally aspirated engines).

Steve is correct.  You can go north and there are some good roads.  There are some good roads on the west side of Houston, north of I-10, around Bellville, New Ulm and Fayetteville.  Neat little towns.  Of course the ultimate riding in Texas is in the Hill Country.  There's hardly a bad road.  The Three Sisters is a must.

I'm planning on making it to the Harvest Classic in October, but it's looking like I won't have my CB750 finished in time.  While I'm making headway my cash flow has stalled temporarily.  I still have a lot of parts to buy.  I'll be on my v-twin shorty chopper though.
Bud

1973 CB750K3 Chopper
2021 Indian Scout

Offline RandyBMC

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #161 on: July 11, 2016, 11:35:49 AM »
I've been doing a bunch of riding - 560 miles so far.  For the most part, it has been bulletproof.  Runs great with the jetting and clip position using APE pods and the Delkevic 4-1 throughout the rev range and load positions.  It handles really well - I was expecting less from a 40 year old moto.

The only issue I have had was riding home from work the other day.  It was 100F and I was doing about 75 mph on the highway, so a constant 4500-5000 RPM for about 20 minutes.  It started to pop a little, then got worse and worse.  I pulled off and took a look over it.  Once it cooled, I fired it to see if all 4 were firing by touching the header and they were.  It ran great again cooled off so I got it home and took it apart.  The points for one and four were a bit off on the gap, and when I reset it all and started it up, I could see visible sparking between the gap on 1/4 points.  I thought that can't be normal, so I swapped around my condensers with my old TEC units (from when the bike was new from the looks of them), and it still shows more sparking than 2/3, but it's better.  I reused the original points, so I'm thinking I will buy some of those and see how it looks.  I rode it after the changes in 95F heat again, and all seems well.  I will see if new points make a difference in the "gap spark".

I also adjusted the fast idle cam since I had the tank off, which originally wasn't doing a thing.  Now it works great.

So tweaking continues, but man am I having fun with this bike!

Offline SKTP

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #162 on: July 11, 2016, 02:05:49 PM »
Looks amazing
1978k rebuild thread http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=68423.0
BIKE OF THE MONTH - OCTOBER 2017
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #163 on: July 11, 2016, 03:20:25 PM »
How does the back end feel.  I was wondering what kind of shocks you are using and whether you are getting any bottoming out.
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 RandyBMC

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #164 on: July 11, 2016, 04:50:56 PM »
They are the shocks CycleX sells, and I don't know if those are the EMGO or not, but they aren't stiff at all.  I don't bottom out, unless I am two up, then over sharp bumps it will.  It handles really well, but the comparisons I have are my wife's old Buell which was a little more toss able because of the shorter wheelbase, and my old Ducati Monster which this is just about on par with.  Of course, they only have 560 miles on them at this point as well, so we'll have to see how they hold up.

Offline RandyBMC

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #165 on: July 11, 2016, 05:06:21 PM »
Looks amazing

Thanks bud - yours does too!  I love the blue and the exhaust.

Offline Restoration Fan

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #166 on: July 12, 2016, 05:18:16 AM »
I've been following this build thread for a while now and just wanted to say that I have really enjoyed the build.  Great work on the bike; she looks awesome.

How comfortable is that seat; do you like it?
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 RandyBMC

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #167 on: July 12, 2016, 07:24:16 AM »
The seat is one of my favorite parts.  It's a Chris Chappell Tuffside seat, and it is super comfortable even 2-up.  He does some wild designs too - with the theme on this bike simplicity, I didn't go crazy.  The stitching is grey to match the paint (though it is a light grey).

Thanks for the compliment!

Offline RandyBMC

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #168 on: July 16, 2016, 09:31:53 AM »
I have the footpeg rubbers from 4into1, which look and feel great, but they don't have the provision for the steel plates on the bottom.  I used some hairspray to install them, which worked OK at first, but now that I have a few miles on it, they slide off with the heat we have down here in Texas.

I have tried a couple other options for glue, no dice.  Any recommendations?  I'd like to keep the rubbers, and the steel plate doesn't fit without a lot of cutting, so before I find and order new ones, I thought I'd ask for tips and tricks.

Thanks!

Offline Davez134

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #169 on: July 16, 2016, 10:33:25 AM »
Have you tried Honda handgrip cement?

Offline RandyBMC

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #170 on: July 16, 2016, 11:07:03 AM »
No, I tried a 3M product I've used to glue weatherstripping for cars.  I'll have to get some.  Amazon again...

Offline RandyBMC

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #171 on: August 13, 2016, 06:13:13 PM »
Went riding today, then my wife took it for a spin.  A little hot here in Texas, but it was about 10 degrees colder than yesterday (still 90F!).



I'm thinking of changing out the rear shocks and springs to some Hagons or similar with a little more travel as well.  Anyone have opinions?

Offline budman

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #172 on: August 15, 2016, 04:19:16 PM »
I may run into a similar problem when I get my bike all together.  I bought some YSS shocks that I'm thinking are going to be too short for riding.
Bud

1973 CB750K3 Chopper
2021 Indian Scout

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #173 on: August 15, 2016, 04:33:05 PM »
Went riding today, then my wife took it for a spin.  A little hot here in Texas, but it was about 10 degrees colder than yesterday (still 90F!).



I'm thinking of changing out the rear shocks and springs to some Hagons or similar with a little more travel as well.  Anyone have opinions?

A little more travel should help.  Are you running 13" shocks presently?

That's awesome that your wife rides.  Get her some more gear though!
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 RandyBMC

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Re: '78 750K first project by a car guy...
« Reply #174 on: August 15, 2016, 05:26:06 PM »
They are 13.5" (which was the length of the shocks it came with and I believe close to stock), so I was thinking of going to 14 or even 14.5".  Any opinions are welcome.

She has full riding gear - we were just running around the block before the rain hit.  Great point though!