Author Topic: 1977 CB750F Super Sport "Cleaning out the attic"  (Read 8314 times)

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Offline worst650ever

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Re: 1977 CB750F Super Sport "Cleaning out the attic"
« Reply #25 on: October 19, 2015, 11:51:24 AM »
More progress has happened, and it appears I'm going to need some kind of rear sets in order for the bike to be even moderately comfortable with the Interceptor clip ons. 

First off, pictures of the progress!



As you can see, the swingarm has been reinstalled, as have the shocks and front end.  I pretty much just popped the top triple off and rolled the front end away, so that reinstall was pretty easy.  I've fitted some temporary steering stops so that the tank doesn't get banged up by the forks. 



Here's a shot of it with the seat fitted for rear control location testing.  I also fitted my new 15T front sprocket and the chain, and that seems to be good enough for testing.  I'll get a new rear sprocket and chain when the thing runs enough to go up and down the street.  I suspect I won't wear the new front sprocket too badly in a few miles  ;D



After dicking around with cardboard templates and whatnot, I realized I could just make a wood template, which would be strong enough for me to put my feet on the thing. 



The top rear control bolt hole is roughly 80mm center to center from the upper (swingarm) mount bolt.  The lower rear control bolt hole is about 160mm from the engine mount / stock foot peg bolt.  I'll share the drawings when I get things a bit more precise.  I'm going to see if my local materials and milling shop can create something in 1/2" aluminum.  I might even be able to keep the passenger pegs if I'm clever! 


Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1977 CB750F Super Sport "Cleaning out the attic"
« Reply #26 on: October 19, 2015, 07:17:18 PM »
cool project...looks like you are having fun with all the "grab a part from the stash and make it fit" and looks like you are going to have a good functioning bike when you are done...did that 1100f frontend bolt right on?  I have ideas on using one someday on a cb750 sohc with "boomerang" comstars and all
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline worst650ever

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Re: 1977 CB750F Super Sport "Cleaning out the attic"
« Reply #27 on: October 19, 2015, 07:42:48 PM »
cool project...looks like you are having fun with all the "grab a part from the stash and make it fit" and looks like you are going to have a good functioning bike when you are done...did that 1100f frontend bolt right on?  I have ideas on using one someday on a cb750 sohc with "boomerang" comstars and all

Yea, I have had to buy a good number of items for the build, but there's an awful lot of commonality between Honda stuff! 

The 1100f front end required that I swap the steering stem for the shorter unit from the SOHC 750, and that I grind off the steering stops on the lower triple tree.  It also requires using the 80's style headlight mounting brackets, as the "ears" from the SOHC bikes won't fit easily without modification, and then the headlight hits the key switch assembly.  The good news is that the ugly square headlights from the '80s had about the same width as the SOHC round headlight, so that should bolt up pretty easily. 

There's other tweaking - the 1100f forks are longer than the 750 forks, so I "choked up" the tubes to keep the caster the same.  This let me mount the clip ons a bit higher, which works well for my ergonomics. 

Oh, and if you want to use the SOHC 750 front wheel, you're going to have to fab some spacers for the front axle.  The brakes from the 1100f line right up with the dual front disks from the '77 - '78 F models, however, so you have that going for you  ;D

So yea, they bolt right up*  ;D



*Some assembly required

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 1977 CB750F Super Sport "Cleaning out the attic"
« Reply #28 on: October 19, 2015, 08:05:01 PM »
are you going to use the cb750f2 comstars then?....I am assuming then, you don't have a viable set of the cb1100f "boomerang" comstars...
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline worst650ever

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Re: 1977 CB750F Super Sport "Cleaning out the attic"
« Reply #29 on: October 19, 2015, 09:04:09 PM »
Yup, I'm using the stock Comstars.  I got the 1100f forks and triple along with some Nighthawk 650 forks I bought a couple years ago.  I didn't know what they were till I did some Googling.  The dual TRAC setup was fairly unique, so that helped me figure out what they were.  I also got the calipers with the forks, so it was an easy and cheap upgrade. 

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1977 CB750F Super Sport "Cleaning out the attic"
« Reply #30 on: October 19, 2015, 09:47:24 PM »
The 1100f brakes are a solid upgrade.
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 worst650ever

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Re: 1977 CB750F Super Sport "Cleaning out the attic"
« Reply #31 on: October 20, 2015, 08:57:24 AM »
The 1100f brakes are a solid upgrade.

Indeed!  They are shared with the Nighthawks, the first gen Interceptors, and I believe some of the other '80s Honda "big" DOHC bikes.  Makes finding pads easy!

I think there's a how to around here somewhere about fitting these twin piston calipers to the SOHC bikes.  The only problem I've experienced with them (other than blown out seals and seized pistons from neglect) is the slider pins hanging up.  It's the same issue I've seen on GMs and Subarus and Fords and anything else with sliding calipers.  The sliding pins and their bores need to be cleaned out, damaged boots need to be replaced, and a good brake grease needs to be applied to the sliders. 

If I could easily fit the CBR954RR calipers and rotors I have, well...I'd probably do my best Superman impression over the front end  ;D

Offline Buckskin Bandit

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Re: 1977 CB750F Super Sport "Cleaning out the attic"
« Reply #32 on: October 20, 2015, 10:42:09 AM »
I'm having fun watching this build! It's really neat.
Keep the shiny side up and the greasy side down!

1973 Honda 500 four "Chopper" - In pieces :P
1977 CB750 K1 "The Fonz" project
2003 Suzuki GZ 250 "Little Horse" -Sold
1981 Yamaha Maxim 550 "Big Red" -Sold
2007 Shadow Spirit 750 "Blaze"


My resto threads: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,152344.0.html
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,166240.0.html

Offline worst650ever

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Re: 1977 CB750F Super Sport "Cleaning out the attic"
« Reply #33 on: October 21, 2015, 06:58:23 AM »
I'm having fun watching this build! It's really neat.

Thanks for saying so!  It's nice to be able to take my time on it since I have another running bike (my CB360T) to keep me on two wheels.  There's been times when I've had four bikes and none of them ridable. 

I picked up an 8" x ~30" piece of 1/4" aluminum from my local materials supply house yesterday.  I thought I'd need to use 1/2" aluminum, but it's pretty clear that 1/4" will hold my weight and a passenger's if I go that route.

Here's the doodling that has resulted from my rear set test fitting with the wood - the graph paper squares are 5mm each:

EDIT: I've removed this image - the distance between the two mounting bolts (~115mm) appears to be too short.  I'll measure again and create a new drawing.

It mostly describes the relationship between the four holes in the plate - the two holes (14mm and 12mm) that go over the swing arm and stock foot peg bolts, and the two holes (8mm) that are in my CBR600RR rear sets.  Your leg length and Ebay purchased used rear sets may vary. 
« Last Edit: October 23, 2015, 04:37:29 AM by worst650ever »

Offline worst650ever

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Re: 1977 CB750F Super Sport "Cleaning out the attic"
« Reply #34 on: October 23, 2015, 08:03:32 AM »
Welllll, the distance between the two mounting bolts should be ~112mm, not 115mm.  I'll tweak the drawing. 

Offline worst650ever

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Re: 1977 CB750F Super Sport "Cleaning out the attic"
« Reply #35 on: November 10, 2015, 04:34:47 AM »
Long time no post, but I have a bunch of updates!

I finally got my aluminum rearset brackets fabbed up and installed after some tweaking of the mounting hole spacing.  There's still a little more adjustment to do, and they have some flex, so they will probably need to be reinforced, but at least I can test the bike a bit.

My local hardware store has metric rod ends and metric threaded rod, so I was able to fab up a new shift linkage using the stock parts from the '89 CBR600 rear sets.  It is very satisfying how nicely the bike "chunks" into gear - I'm glad I took the time to go through the internal shift mechanisms to make sure they were working right.



The brake side was pretty straightforward - I had to make a spacer for the CBR929 master cylinder, but the hole spacing was otherwise the same.  The master cylinder cost less than a rebuild kit for the old master cylinder shipped which was nice.  I had some troubles with the rear caliper till I realized I needed to disassemble it and clean it, which I had apparently not done.  It works great now, and I have another couple spares if I have any issues with it in the future.  There's a nice set of EBC pads back there now too, so that is pretty much buttoned up. 



The tail grab rail, tail light, and "trunk" are back on as well.  It seemed like every threaded hole back here had to be cleaned up, and I was missing the 85mm bolts that hold the rail in place, so back to the hardware store with me:



I also got the CB650SC Nighthawk oil cooler installed.  I was driving myself nuts trying to get the stock lines to fit until I realized I didn't have to use the stock lines and could just use the end fittings with new lines.  Duh.  The cooler is mounted pretty high up, but that way it will get clean air between the top of the wheel and the bottom of the headlight. 

Also, Hondaman's book arrived, so that is some good reading when it's too cold to work on the bike.  I did realize that I should have gone through the head while I had it off and port matched it, but I wanted to get the motor back together.  Ah well, next rebuild.  At least I did the clutch oiling mods, the rocker arm shaft oiling mods and the 5mm bolt delete mod, which should help longevity. 

The wiring harness is reinstalled as well, as is the battery box and some of its electronics.  I still need to build a pigtail for the new fuse box and set up the headlight and ignition relays.  I'm not sure if the headlight relay will be needed with the LED headlight bulb - it only pulls 24 watts.  It's probably best practice anyway in case I switch to another light setup.  The ignition relay is good for beefier coils, as long as I don't fry the points, right? 

I'm also looking for a place to install the solid state regulator / rectifier so it can get good cooling airflow.  Oddly, the rear set bracket might be a good spot for it, if it doesn't hit my foot. 

The oil tank is also plumbed, so I decided to fill the bike with oil and see if I could build pressure with the starter motor.  I cranked it over a bit, but couldn't get oil to come out the pressure sensor hole.  After doing some reading, I realized I did not prime the oil pump when I reinstalled it, oops.  Some more research suggested that I pressurize the oil tank with air to help force oil into the pump.  I used a rubber bung with a barbed fitting I have around for pulling vacuum and pressurizing stuff and carefully used my air compressor blow gun attachment to put some pressure on the tank.  I could hear the oil bubbling and the level went down about an inch or so in the tank, so I tried to crank it over again.  Ta da, black gold, Texas tea, all over my painted engine.  At least it's new oil. 

I reinstalled the oil pressure sensor and hooked my multimeter to it and to ground, and set it to the audible continuity mode.  The sensor grounds out when there's no pressure, and goes to high / infinite resistance when there is pressure, so I knew when the multimeter stopped beeping the sensor had enough pressure.  I cranked the motor over with the starter again, and what do you know, I had oil pressure.  I used Rotella 15w-40 diesel oil with Risoline for the ZDDP, and the level looks good.  It took about half a quart more to fill the cooler as well as the main system. 

Offline worst650ever

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Re: 1977 CB750F Super Sport "Cleaning out the attic"
« Reply #36 on: September 27, 2016, 09:46:21 PM »
Holy no updates in a year Batman!

I've been working on the bike occasionally when the mood strikes me.  A '75 Super Sport tank and seat in Sulphur Yellow came my way thanks to my eagle eyed Dad spotting a pile of 750F at a yard he was getting some car parts from.  A 4-1 MAC exhaust along with some early 750 exhaust spigots came my way from a friend who builds Amen Savior 750 choppers and has no need for "sport bike" parts, and I was able to get that installed this evening.

A 2006 Honda 599 "Hornet" also found its way to me after I sold my CB360, and it has been the daily rider.  An '87 CBR600F "Hurricane" also came to live with me, so I have the Hornet and the Hurricane.  Sounds like a band name...

On a whim, I filled the carbs with gas, jumpered power to the ignition, and shorted the solenoid with a screwdriver.  The damn thing fired right up and idled for 20ish seconds.  Son of a gun!  Guess I have to get back to work on this lump...