Topic: Maduncle has FINALLY got himself a CB750K

[maduncle]

Yes folks, I felt the only way I could continue to legitimately remain on this forum and contribute was to commit to a CB750K. Now here in the land of giant hopping rats these bikes are not lying about for free on every street corner like they appear to be in the US of A. So you need to shop around and wait a bit.

But lucky for me I know a guy who only lives up the road from me and has a huge shed (known as the TARDIS) full of CB750 stuff. So after a chat with Terry about my cravings for a particular SOHC4, he sorted me out with a bike.

Well - when I say "he sorted me out with a bike" what I mean was - he sold me this.



Basically a complete K2 in pieces, with extra spares, a cylinder already bored for 836cc, the matching 836 pistons, and that cardboard box is chock full of brand new parts for the build. This is exactly what I wanted as I want to build my own CB750 from scratch and did not want to buy a complete bike I then needed to pull apart to recondition and put back together - Terry has already done that for me.

So, got it all home and started to sort it all into tubs in the workshop.

I do like to keep things neat as I work (this is messy).



I needed to strip down the rolling black frame to get the frame ready for a couple of repairs and then powder coat. Basically the red frame will be donating the two seat hinge mounts that are missing on the black frame.

Black frame - rust free and straight, just needs seat hinge mounts.



Red frame - only here for bits.



So, frames are ready to swap bits. Now I will be asking questions along the way and to make it easier for you all each question will be numbered for future reference. So let's begin with question ...

1/. How do I remove the tube in the centre stand to get the centre stand off?



It is well in there and not moving with a drift and hammer tap.

All comments, opinions and judgements welcome along the way.

[dusterdude]

Way to go unc,proud of ya

[Restoration Fan]

Oh boy.  I'm looking forward to this one.
1)  Pry open those two little "ears" on each side to create a bigger opening and the center stand will come right out.

[maduncle]

Oh boy.  I'm looking forward to this one.
1)  Pry open those two little "ears" on each side to create a bigger opening and the center stand will come right out.

See I was wondering that - but those ears would need to be pried open a lot to let the stand and the tube inside the stand out. I thought that the challenge was to get the pivot tube out of the centre stand?

[Stev-o]

Congrats.....subscribed.

[Restoration Fan]

See I was wondering that - but those ears would need to be pried open a lot to let the stand and the tube inside the stand out. I thought that the challenge was to get the pivot tube out of the centre stand?

Not as much as you would think.

I don't know if this is the "proper" way to do it or not but I did it on Stella to remove the center stand when we were cleaning/prepping/painting the frame and center stand.  We had very little trouble getting the stand out or getting it back in and bending the ears back into place when we put the center stand back on.

FWIW, I also used this technique to remove the center stand on the 500 and 550 and they too came out easily.

[brandEn]

Nice, subscribed.

[Davez134]

Congrats! I too enjoy starting from this point rather than buying a complete bike. You have to take it apart and fix all the mistakes previous owners have made anyways. As others have suggested, pry those ears a bit and keep at it with hammer, drift, but maybe add a little heat to the mix.

[2strokeTrush]

Looks like a really nice start!

[maduncle]

Imagine this ...

One rainy Canberra night, two mad scientist motorcycle interferists meet over several beers, a beef Korma and a lamb Rogan Josh and discuss how a CB750 and several Ducati parts could be brought together...

... so now my project will be stock.

Apart from the Monster 620 USD front end with custom billet triples, gauges and headlamp.

Oh - and apart from the 4 into 1 pipes (which kind of makes question 1/. redundant now) and Tarrozi rear sets.

And the bolt on cafe seat.

But other than that - it will be stock.

I will still have a dead stock unmolested frame with an externally stock engine, on a stock rear suspension running two stock wheels.

The rest will be all "bolt on - bolt off" changes that will allow the bike to be remade 100% stock if so desired.

So - question two.

2/. Anyone had any experience with Ducati Monster 620 USD front ends on CB750's?

[Restoration Fan]

I haven't seen anyone do that one yet but it should be interesting.

I'm putting a CBR1000RR front end on a 550 for my son and All Balls makes a conversion bearings set that essentially just lets me slide the whole triple tree into my 550 neck and use the conversion bearings on the top and the bottom to make it fit.  I just checked on the All Balls site and I don't see a conversion kit for using the Ducati front end on a 750.  (If you want to check yourself, go to http://www.allballsracing.com/ and click on the Fork Conversions menu item at the top.  Then you enter the year/make/model of the frame and it will give you the list of possible conversion bearings they make.

You may want to reach out to All Balls and see if they can create a conversion bearing set for you or if it's even possible.

Good luck.

Ron

[calj737]

Might be easiest to turn a custom stem and press into the Monster triples. Then use the stock tapered bearings.

[kasper.tyler]

I'm loving this already. Subscribed.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[maduncle]

First prep session in the workshop.

I guess getting steelwork ready for paint is part of the prepping, as is stripping those annoying parts out of the swing arm that you don't want in there when paint is applied. So I used my tried and tested (done it twice) method of pressing the lower swing arm bushes out.



One vice, one socket just small enough to go through the swing arm, one ring spanner big enough to take the shock mount bush without it being stuck in there for good (lost a spark plug socket that way) and one piece of pipe for saving your wrists on the vice handle. Too easy - they both popped out like a charm.

It's funny how little there is to get painted apart from the frame though. Bear in mind that I won't be using a centre stand now and that I will have custom triples - this is all I have (frame as well).



A swing arm, a side stand, a battery tray, an electrics tray and a seat lock bracket.

So time for question 3/. "Is that all there is?" (cue song).

And this weeks endless trolling of the interweb turned up this little gem for inspiration, uh oh ...



.. well I am doing a metal fabrication course at the moment and learning how to use an english wheel so who knows?

[maduncle]

Ah - engine mounting brackets (now then, where did I put them?)

[Bootsey]

Good looking project, following.

[754]

I would maybe straighten the sidestand a bit...

[maduncle]

I would maybe straighten the sidestand a bit...

Yeah - was wondering about that, and the fact it is a bit worn away at the "ankle".

[maduncle]

My seat from Vietnam via eBay arrived today.

I think it will do nicely.

[Stev-o]

Looks good.  Plastic pan?

[maduncle]

Looks good.  Plastic pan?

Full metal pan Stev-o. With all the right latch and hinge fixings and with all the frame contact rubbers.

[hotdog]

Seat link please

[Stev-o]

Looks good.  Plastic pan?

Full metal pan Stev-o. With all the right latch and hinge fixings and with all the frame contact rubbers.

Nice!

[maduncle]

Seat link please

Sure thing.

This is the seller I got it from:

http://stores.ebay.com/daytrader-07?_dmd=1&_nkw=CB750

I can't see the exact same seat there right now, but they were very helpful and kept me informed on the delivery progress. And delivery was quick too.

[TomsK8resto]

Thanks for the seat link.  What year tank do you have sitting on the frame with that beautiful seat?  I too have a '78 750K and I'm trying to like the stock tank.  I will subscribe to this build for sure.

Thanks.

Tom