Topic: Maduncle has FINALLY got himself a CB750K

[maduncle]

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

Hey Tom - as far as I know it is the standard issue CB750K2 tank, just sitting there in undercoat for a while before I go all Candy Bacchus Olive on it.

[maduncle]

Hi all.

Question time again.

I think I am up to 3/.

3/. When removing valve springs - what tools do you use?

I have seen hammers and spark plug sockets used on YouTube and I have seen specific tools on eBay ranging in price from $20 to $1,000.

You see - I have built two motorcycle engines so far - and both of them have been CB450's.

[Retro Rocket]

Hi Cliff, get yourself a valve spring compressor, makes it easy, some people make their own, you should be able to work something out, I think there have been a few home made ones on the forum, a search may find something, I'd lend you one if you weren't so bloody far away... Candy Bacchus olive is my favorite color....

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=honda+valve+spring+compressor+motorcycle&biw=1366&bih=663&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIwqbA6-KoyAIVohWmCh37YQS3

[maduncle]

Well,

The rubber mallet and spark plug socket worked a treat, all the vales are out and I saved all the collets.

So today I soaked the head in degreaser and gave it a good scrub and rinse, next step hydro blasting for that perfect clean.

I also stripped down the four carbies, all parts are in little take away food containers ready for cleaning. I have soaked and cleaned the throttle bodies and I have decided to paint them (WHAT??).

And to make it more heretical - I am painting them with a "mint green" colour. It is a very silvery mint green used on Fords over here, not too far off silver but it will give them a fresh look and go well (I hope) with the tank colour.

Photos of my strange choice soon...

[maduncle]

Ice mint carbies!







I only painted the throttle bodies and the rack, everything else has just been cleaned.

I spent a few hours today reassembling and using the rebuild kits that came with the bike. I also learnt why people use one tub per carbie when disassembling - as opposed to "one tub for choke parts, one tub for float bowl parts" etc, as I did.

Got caught out twice on the choke lever selection per carbie location.

So these are almost done - just got the top ends to finish off. Meanwhile the head, cylinder and rocker cover are off getting blasted. The head and cylinder are being bead blasted for repainting and the rocker cover hydroblasted for polishing. I would like to use more of this ice mint colour somewhere on the engine but it is not high temp paint, so we shall see what components might get highlighted along the way.

[worst650ever]

Ducati forks?  I'm on board!    

For future reference, I use this valve spring keeper remover / installer with great success.  The remover part is easy, but the installer part is really trick.  I can strip an 8 valve head of keepers in 5-10 minutes, depending on how much beer I drink along the way....

http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-36200-Keeper-Remover-Installer/dp/B000P0ZJIS

[maduncle]

Ducati forks?  I'm on board!    

For future reference, I use this valve spring keeper remover / installer with great success.  The remover part is easy, but the installer part is really trick.  I can strip an 8 valve head of keepers in 5-10 minutes, depending on how much beer I drink along the way....

http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-36200-Keeper-Remover-Installer/dp/B000P0ZJIS

Neat little tool there - thanks.

I decided that the O rings on the fuel inlet T's were all a bit worn as the T's moved freely. So I googled "7.9 x 1.9 O rings Honda" and guess where it took me to?

After reading an informative SOHC4 thread I then ordered a small bag of 8 x 2 O rings for the princely sum of $4.00 including postage.

[worst650ever]

Yes, on small cylinder heads like the CB650 SOHC and CB360 it's really a godsend.  Plus you get to hit things with a hammer. 

What degreaser did you use on the head?  I normally end up using Dawn or equivalent dish soap and the hottest water I can get to come out of the tap.

[maduncle]

I generally use whatever degreaser I can get cheap at the hardware store!

I picked up the head, barrels and rocker cover from the blasters yesterday and on first inspection they all look good.



Then I noticed this - no biggie, I have another rocker cover I can use.



And then I noticed this - slightly more challenging. I guess I need to replace the sleeve and get it bored out for the 836cc piston.



I know it wasn't like that when I picked it up yesterday, so I must have knocked it when transporting. I need to be more careful with parts.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Bummer about the cracks in the valve cover and piston sleeve.

I had a badly cracked sleeve in a motor. As far as I could tell, the PO slapped the damaged motor together and put in clean oil to disguise the internal problems (now fixed). 

[maduncle]

Sorted.

I called in on Ken Colvin this morning and showed him the cracked sleeve. Ken said "ah that's easy to fix - leave it with me for a week".

Ken is currently restoring an original CR750 for Honda Australia. He showed me the fuel tank and oil tank he had made in the UK, very nice.

Then Ken showed me his original CR750 tank - very VERY nice...

[maduncle]

I am into mint.

After degreasing, paint stripping, scouring, sanding, etch priming and top coating ...



I think that will do now. I don't want to do side covers, they can just be shiny.

[fastbroshi]

That color goes perfectly on the carb bodies, nice find.  What brand and color code of paint is that?

[maduncle]

That color goes perfectly on the carb bodies, nice find.  What brand and color code of paint is that?

The brand is Dupli-color and the colour name is "Crystal Mint Metallic (Ford)". Code DSF103.

[Stev-o]

That color goes perfectly on the carb bodies, nice find.  What brand and color code of paint is that?

The brand is Dupli-color and the colour name is "Crystal Mint Metallic (Ford)". Code DSF103.

Ah, now I get the "I am into mint" line!   Nice.

[maduncle]

So anyway.

The carbies are all finished, and I got the rockers installed in the replacement cam holders so that is all good.

My frame now has seat hinge pin tabs on it and the extra stuff the PO welded onto it removed, so it is back to stock and ready for fresh paint.

I am getting the rims bead blasted, then powder coated along with the frame so I need to strip both wheels down.

Yay.

My all time favourite Honda challenge - undoing these %*#&$(# things ...



The rear drum, looks like others have been there before me.



The front disc - same deal, looks  a bit butchered.

So question 4/. time:

Does anyone have a simple foolproof way of undoing these buggers? I have tried two 6mm bolts in the rear drum fitting but those holes have been stripped. Is there an easy tool to make for undoing both hubs or is there a tool I can buy?

Long question I know.

And I bought an electric oven for $10. Pick it up this week, then I can heat up the head, pop the old valve guides out and pop the new ones in.

[oldhatt45]

Maduncle,

How about one of these (or similar) adjustable pin wrench???

http://www.houzz.com/photos/32936187/5-8-to-2-Adjustable-Grinder-Pin-Wrench-modern-tools-and-equipment

Charlie

[maduncle]

Maduncle,

How about one of these (or similar) adjustable pin wrench???

http://www.houzz.com/photos/32936187/5-8-to-2-Adjustable-Grinder-Pin-Wrench-modern-tools-and-equipment

Charlie

Hmm - I wonder.

[Bootsey]

You're probably already onto this, but if not, make sure the 4 stake marks around the outer edge of the retainer have been drilled out before you try to remove the retainer.

There some specific tools you can buy, there's also a few DIY tools people whip up -  some modify sockets, some use a piece of flat bar with bolts at the appropriate distance, etc.

http://4into1.com/motion-pro-rear-wheel-bearing-retainer-tool-honda-cb350-cl350-cb400f-cb750f-cb900f-cbx/
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,55052.msg592674.html#msg592674
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,10550.msg104243.html#msg104243
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,48599.msg1724057.html#msg1724057

[maduncle]

You're probably already onto this, but if not, make sure the 4 stake marks around the outer edge of the retainer have been drilled out before you try to remove the retainer.

There some specific tools you can buy, there's also a few DIY tools people whip up -  some modify sockets, some use a piece of flat bar with bolts at the appropriate distance, etc.

http://4into1.com/motion-pro-rear-wheel-bearing-retainer-tool-honda-cb350-cl350-cb400f-cb750f-cb900f-cbx/
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,55052.msg592674.html#msg592674
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,10550.msg104243.html#msg104243
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,48599.msg1724057.html#msg1724057

Thanks Bootsey - and it is handy to know it is reverse thread too.

[maduncle]

Well whaddayaknow - Ducati Monster Brembo discs have an identical bolt pattern to CB750K hubs.



I test fitted the disc to my spare "somebody belted the bejeezus out of this hub and it's no good for anything" hub and was pleasantly surprised (yes I did a happy dance) to see the perfect alignment.

That's one less modification required then.

Meanwhile, both wheels are over at Jeff's place getting those seemingly welded on bearing retainers off and the the tyres off. Then I can strip the wheels down and send out the rims for etching and powder coating and the hubs out for hydroblasting.

Tonight I plan to spend an obscene amount of money on the 4into1 site, lots of little things required but it all adds up.

[Retro Rocket]

Well whaddayaknow - Ducati Monster Brembo discs have an identical bolt pattern to CB750K hubs.



I test fitted the disc to my spare "somebody belted the bejeezus out of this hub and it's no good for anything" hub and was pleasantly surprised (yes I did a happy dance) to see the perfect alignment.

That's one less modification required then.

Meanwhile, both wheels are over at Jeff's place getting those seemingly welded on bearing retainers off and the the tyres off. Then I can strip the wheels down and send out the rims for etching and powder coating and the hubs out for hydroblasting.

Tonight I plan to spend an obscene amount of money on the 4into1 site, lots of little things required but it all adds up.

Cool find Cliff, will you need spacers for the correct offset..?

[maduncle]

Cool find Cliff, will you need spacers for the correct offset..?

Yep, thinking I will need spacers to set the discs in line with the callipers on the Ducati forks, as well as axle spacers for the hub to set it central between the forks. The axle spacers may be stepped so they sit inside the axle mounts in the forks - plenty to work out.

[andy750]

Subscribed for the excellent information and attention to detail - and very curious to see how it all works out

[maduncle]

Big day in the shed and the yard working on plan B.

Plan B is basically the plan you adopt when you have no money to execute Plan A, so plan B is the 'improvised' version of the bike you would have built in plan A.

Which means you don't spend $600 on sand blasting and two layers of powder coat to achieve that special matt back look you want on the frame and other parts - instead you spend $50 on spray cans and do it all yourself at home.

First up - clean the frame as much as possible to prep it for paint. Now, I knew there was a spider living in it because every few days I would wipe a web off the frame. What I did not know until today was just what kind of spider it was.



That little black screwed up thing with the red back is in fact a Red Back Spider.

Yep, they kill you.

And who said restoring bikes isn't fun huh?

So, the frame and associated parts got sprayed matt black. Nice day for it out in the back yard, warm dry day with no wind.



Then I looked at the side covers I have. They are actually painted in a very nice deep metallic black and have the badge recesses filled. Slight issue with some chipping and scratching in the edges which meant I needed to do something with them. Now I happened to have some vinyl numbers cut for my race bike that I did not use, and I had matt black spray - so ...



I then cleaned the wheels and thought - what the heck...



Gave them both a good coat of etch primer and then started with the matt black - but ran out before I could finish. No biggie - I will need more anyway.

I expect to be touching up the paint on the rims after tyres are fitted. I read somewhere that you get a deck of playing cards and slot them in between the rim and the inflated tyre to mask the rim when painting - so I will try that.

End of the day and I have a freshly painted frame ready. I fitted the new lower shock bushes in the swing arm so I now feel like I have begun frame assembly.



I am still keen on the Ducati Monster front end, but that may be plan C in early 2016. I did recently pick up a good set of forks, I already have a lower triple and I have sourced a billet CB450 upper which also fits a CB750. So I may just get stock brakes with a stock front for a few months so I can ride whilst designing and test fitting the Ducati front on the other frame.