Author Topic: Seeley Honda 750 SH7-672F (Read 16104 times)

Zunspec · « **on:** July 16, 2015, 05:41:47 AM »

I thought I had better start a thread in the appropriate section.

1978 Seeley Honda 750. Came into my possession 15 July 2015.

My intention is to re-commission rather than restore, trying to keep it as original as possible. I am only the 2nd owner, the 1st owner bought it from the Seeley stand at the 1978 London Motorcycle Mechanics & Sporting show. This basically as it came off the stand. It has only done 9000 miles (I mistakenly reported 8000 miles before)

Cheers Geoff

calj737 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2015, 05:56:33 AM »

With the tattered seat, scrapes and chips in the paint on the side covers, best I remove it from your garage for you. You're too fine a gentleman to be seen trundling around on that less than perfect two-wheeled abomination. In exchange, I'll pop by the dealer and procure you a nice, brand new CBR300 that you can be proud of. Sooner that you put that neglected beast to its grave the better. And I'm just the type of guy to do you that favor

jaguar · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2015, 06:08:44 AM »

Glad to see another Seeley being saved!

We have a few here now.

Zunspec · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2015, 06:35:45 AM »

Thank you for your very kind offer calj737, however I guess I will just have to soldier on with this wreck. It's the masochist in me, I'm a glutton for punishment LOL

Cheers Geoff

calj737 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2015, 06:54:28 AM »

Guess I overplayed that a bit... Damn!

Zunspec · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2015, 07:05:41 AM »

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2015, 08:39:26 AM »

Awesome Seeley. When was the last time it ran?

Zunspec · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2015, 10:11:18 AM »

Hi CRF,

It was last UK road legal between Oct 2001 - Oct 2002 so I assume it was running in those 12 months at sometime. The PO did kick it over every so often, engine is not seized so with fresh oils and a carb clean it should start and I will see what needs to be done engine wise after that.

Cheers Geoff

Zunspec · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2015, 11:57:15 AM »

Today I hooked up new MotoBatt AGM battery.

Lights work
Indicators work
Starter turns the engine over
There are sparks at all four spark plugs
Horns not working

I have a 5 ltrs of Rockoil Mineral 10-40 to go in and a new oil filter, might have it running by the end of the weekend

Cheers Geoff

calj737 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 17, 2015, 12:48:21 PM »

The horn gets switched power to it directly, the ground from the handlebar switch. The BLK is power, GRN is ground. I bet you'll find a poorly grounded connection or power connection corroded.

Zunspec · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2015, 02:15:29 PM »

Hi calj737

I'm sure you're right, it's something simple like a bad connection, it has lain dormant for 13 years after all

.

I will have to drain the engine as the oil tank appears empty and I suspect it has "wet sumped " into the crankcases. I'll try a start before pulling the carbs for a strip down, you never know your luck they might be clear of gunk (always an optimist).

Cheers Geoff

01Thomas · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2015, 04:18:05 PM »

subscribed

Zunspec · « **Reply #12 on:** July 18, 2015, 08:46:22 AM »

New battery, fresh fuel and after a bit of playing around she burst into life

Oil light goes out, no smoke, although I have a slight misfire on the right inner cylinder (#3 ?) A new set of plugs and a bit more running and I will see if I need to pull the carb for a proper clean.

Cheers Geoff

Zunspec · « **Reply #13 on:** July 18, 2015, 11:10:24 AM »

A rather poor bit of video of the bike running.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zunspec/19809635671/in/dateposted-public/

01Thomas · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2015, 12:10:35 PM »

Hello George
I see on the SOHC UK site that you're looking for help with the Pagehiln rear brake master cylinder? Spares for them are unobtainable here in South Africa and if you can't find them in their country of manufacture...
I solved that problem by having the m/c resleeved to take a seal kit for some or other Mini ('Issigonis' Mini, not the BMW Mini) but don't ask me which one. I think I still have the plastic packaging of the seal kit flying around and if I find it I'll take a photo for you.

Another option is to approach a company which makes seals and ask them to custom-make you a seal to fit your cylinder and piston..

regards
Thomas

Zunspec · « **Reply #15 on:** July 29, 2015, 05:59:35 AM »

Hi Thomas,

I have stripped and honed the section that was corroded. It all moves smoothly again but until I get it all hooked up again I won't know if the seal is good and it takes pressure. Airheart make a m/cyl which I think is a copy of the Pagehiln but I'm still looking for a UK distributor.

Thanks for the info on the Mini alternative, I am sure I could get the Pagehiln unit re-sleeved. I would like to keep it as genuine as possible, don't really want to fit another unit (Lockheed, Brembo etc.)

Cheers Geoff

Zunspec · « **Reply #16 on:** August 21, 2015, 07:09:40 AM »

Progress is being made

. The Pagehiln rear master cylinder seems to be functioning correctly after a thorough clean up. The bike has passed it's UK MOT inspection, is taxed and insured so I can do some road testing.

After removing the front callipers to extract the front wheel for it's new tyre (Avon AM26 Roadrider 100/90-19) I then cleaned everything up. Upon getting the wheel back in I then had severe binding on the left disc. To cut a long story of strip and re-assembly (many times) short I finally found good info on this site on how to do it properly. Shimmed the floating calliper arm to be parallel to the disc and all is now good.

So this morning I was looking forward to getting a decent ride, Nope

. The new rear tube had punctured so back to the bike shop to get a new one installed. Funny one, the puncture was on the inside of the tube, the side that is closest to the rim. No obvious snag on the rim so with wheel now holding air I got the chance for a little ride. Wow, what fun, I really like how this machine feels. Still have a slight miss-fire I think, there is a sort of "harmonic" tone to the exhaust note and it does not seem to rev as freely as I think it should. Still, getting there, now to investigate that engine a bit more closely.

Cheers Geoff

RAFster122s · « **Reply #17 on:** August 21, 2015, 12:45:22 PM »

Good luck sorting her out Zunspec/Geoff

Zunspec · « **Reply #18 on:** August 21, 2015, 04:38:03 PM »

Thanks David,

A quick inspection of the plugs shows #3 well sooty compared to the others. It is firing as the pipe gets hot, only not firing every time I suspect. Ignition or carbs I have yet to determine. I can't wait to see how this bike feels when all is working as it should

.

Cheers Geoff

scottly · « **Reply #19 on:** August 21, 2015, 05:50:08 PM »

Geoff, you can rule out ignition and move straight on to the #3 carb. No spark equals no fire equals no soot.

Even a non-firing pipe will get hot from compression, but not nearly as hot as the firing ones. The sizzle, or "spit" test is a quick and dirty way to find which is which, but your check of the plugs has already confirmed #3. Also, #3 and #2 share an ignition system, so it would be affected as well.

Zunspec · « **Reply #20 on:** August 26, 2015, 11:42:05 AM »

Another carb clean and the engine seems to be running better. However after a quick blast the end of left silencer has parted company with main body

internal corrosion being the culprit I expect.

An unrealistic request but is there anybody who manufactures the Seeley style silencer ? OR has anyone got a pair of Seeley silencers they would part with. A repair to mine is I suspect feasible (right silencer also has corrosion issues) using braze/polish/re-chrome routine but will take time and I wanted to get some riding in before the British summer fizzles out.

Cheers Geoff

jaguar · « **Reply #21 on:** August 26, 2015, 11:54:10 AM »

Unsure if the pipes are really a "Seeley" part.

Zunspec · « **Reply #22 on:** August 26, 2015, 02:08:04 PM »

Hello jaguar,

I have assumed they were a Seeley unique part. Having had a quick look at mine the right silencer has "Seeley" stamped on it, but, the left doesn't (strange ?). I would guess the internal corrosion is the result of standing idle for so long, I'm hoping they can both recovered. If not I will have to look at the options.

Cheers Geoff

RAFster122s · « **Reply #23 on:** August 26, 2015, 03:14:02 PM »

They may have been made for Seeley by a manufacturer. Or just a Seeley application like some racks and other accessories.

Zunspec · « **Reply #24 on:** August 27, 2015, 03:41:11 AM »

A photo of the silencer problem:

There are also cracks on the underside, and the right hand silencer also has at least one rust hole. I am hoping these can be repaired but if this is typical of the general degradation of the base metal it may turn out that fixing one hole will lead to another failure somewhere else.

As the likelihood of sourcing a replacement set of Seeley silencers is pretty slim I may have to get some replicas made as I would like to keep the bike looking factory std. if I can.

Cheers Geoff

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Author Topic: Seeley Honda 750 SH7-672F (Read 16104 times)