Project has been completed (if they are ever actually really done). I never posted over here - but this forum was very helpful in that it was full of information, and for that - Thank You!
Also, Hondaman's book was a great purchase.
Anyway - here is our project story (took place over 1 1/2 years):
I recently bought a 1974 Honda CB 750 from a friend for a good price. He parked at in his parents barn about 5 years ago. When he posted it for sale it grabbed my attention, I like the looks and color of it. I plan on going through it (probably not take the engine all the way down) to fix things up and check over. Figure it will be a good way to spend time with my daughter and help teach her. Much faster, easier and cheaper than fixing my cars right now.
Daughter starts school next week (5th grade) - so we took some time today to start taking the bike apart. Another day or so and it should be disassembled. Then time to order parts and fix things. Pretty good shape for being 41 years old. Wiring harness a bit hacked up, a few stripped and mismatched bolts. No complaints though.
We now have the motor out of the frame. We will take the top of the motor apart to look things over and replace gaskets. Then time to start ordering parts, cleaning parts, and putting it back together.
Tomorrow after she gets home from school we are messing with it more. She really is enjoying working on it, makes me happy
A couple of photos from a week or so ago. Frame was getting cleaned, we will paint it while out. Motor apart, everything looks good. Bores look good, will slight hone and new rings, lap the valve seats. Then time to start cleaning parts, ordering parts - then reassembly. Work has kept me incredibly busy lately (working weekends and nights). I should have some more time in the coming weeks to spend with her on this.
I was planning on putting the motor together over the last Christmas holidays, but life got in the way. A couple of months ago I decided to get busy on it, and see if we could get it finished for an upcoming event – a “Distinguished Gentleman Ride”.
It has been too long since I finished a big project, so that was extra motivation.
We ended up not making the event (it was close, but a few last minute set backs had me decide not to chance it).
We did have a lot of fun, my daughter enjoyed it – and I really enjoyed the time together as well. She learned a lot in the process. Some of the tedious grunt work I did myself (so she wouldn’t have to spend hours cleaning parts with solvent or tracing out wiring issues).
There were a few annoying issues that took time – new wiring harness that doesn’t follow the factory setup. It wouldn’t start once I had it all buttoned up - I miss timed the cam (why have two dowel positions in the crank?!) so I had to pull the motor back out of the frame and I took the head off to check that I didn’t bend any valves (I rotated it over by hand during assembly, the intake valves just touched the pistons but not enough to notice).
It runs nicely, we’ve taken on a ride around town, currently has about 75 miles on it. I’ve synced the carbs. Neat to ride, definitely different than my modern sport bikes. Project snowballed a bit, I may go ahead and repaint the tank and side covers. Not sure what the plans for it are – my daughter actually likes riding on the Aprilia more (Honda has 4cyl vibrations and old suspension that is a bit rougher?).
Here are some photos:
Friday afternoon we had a friend take photos of Holly and I on the CB750. We had originally planned on wearing these clothes during the "Distinguished Gentleman's Ride" last year, but the motorcycle was not completed in time for the event.
We took the photos by Attic Antiques in Bryan, TX - I worked there part time while in college, refurbishing antiques. Still has the same owners.
Full album of photos (in much higher resolutions) :
http://www.z28evans.com/album/thumbnails.php?album=49&page=15
