Author Topic: 1976 CB750F Restoration (Read 19267 times)

NobleHops · « **Reply #100 on:** February 21, 2016, 01:26:43 PM »

Great update John.

kap384@telus.net · « **Reply #101 on:** February 25, 2016, 11:22:12 AM »

Phenomenal work!! Can't wait for the next update!

przjohn · « **Reply #102 on:** March 09, 2016, 08:44:33 AM »

Got back from vacation, put out some fires at work, and couldn't wait to put the battery in. The battery is an Antigravity 12 Cell Small Case.

Hooked up the bike to an IV.

And fired her up. The bike started just about instantly and idled well after about a minute of warming up. The carbs still need to be synched, but I think they are damn close for bench synching. For me, a rebuilt bike that starts well and idles well off the bat is a good sign, hope I just didn't jinx it but this engine is running smooth and fires up instantly on the lift.

I like the sound of the Kerker Exhaust. It is throaty but not obnoxious, and I am not a loud bike guy. Give me a bike you can ride all day without all the noise. Not much left, need a new front brake light switch, redo the seat, a few odds and ends, and just paint. Oh, and the gauges too. I am just going to order another set of faces and not use any Loctite on them. These reproductions look good and will work fine but I want the OEM style on, besides, they are still sitting on my bench and are going to drive me crazy now that the bike is nearing completion. With the weather predicted to go to 75 degrees tomorrow I'm looking forward to finishing, and putting a few break in miles on this bike soon. There are always Gremlins but the bike is at a good point now to be ready for Deals Gap in May.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #103 on:** March 09, 2016, 08:51:42 AM »

Awesome!! I bet that's a relief!

NobleHops · « **Reply #104 on:** March 09, 2016, 09:38:51 AM »

BRAVO John. Fantastic!

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #105 on:** March 09, 2016, 10:46:03 AM »

GREAT NEWS!!

I'd change out that tach face anyway ;-) That is unless you want to use 9350rpm as your shift point (big grin) but only if you have stronger valve springs in it.

Stev-o · « **Reply #106 on:** March 09, 2016, 03:24:46 PM »

Successful first start ups are fantastic! Congrats.

przjohn · « **Reply #107 on:** March 13, 2016, 02:30:27 PM »

Got the carbs synched Saturday and a few other things done.

The patient hooked up. 2 fans, one so that the motor doesn't overheat and die, and the other so I don't die from CO poisoning. Actually, with the wind Saturday that fresh air fan did squat, it was quite breezy in this room with the 2 garage doors open just behind it. You would think that someone in the HVAC field would have a fancy exhaust and fresh air system in their shop? Nope, chalk it up to the Shoemaker's Shoes, a couple of Walmart fans work fine. Well, at least I didn't make that Dumbest Ways to Die show this week.

Idle synch, the bench synch was pretty close, only number 1 was out, and not that bad.

Got the chain on and the rechromed chain guard on with new chromed bolts and washers. Ya know, I'm not much for the "Guido Gold Chain Look" but I do like a new Gold "O" Ring Chain. The passenger pegs got replated with new rubber. I had bought some repro whole units that were garbage. If you are going to replace the passenger pegs don't waste your money on the Ebay repro whole unit garbage, replate and buy new rubber.

Not the best pic for this but replaced the Kerker shock mount bracket. It is still their bracket but bent, drilled, and repainted to mount to the passenger peg bolt and rear lower brake assembly bolt. This mounting offers 3, instead of 2 mounting points, and is considerably less conspicuous then the Kerker top shock mount strap.

So, things are winding up here. I spoke with the Painter and the paint is coming together well and should be ready soon. Other items are a replacement of the front brake light switch and some odds and ends.

Got the seat finished today and it came out very nice. I had taken pics of the procedure and how I filled in some foam, and a couple other things I do. Oh, and I had a nice tip about how your Wife won't know you borrowed her iron but forgot to put the card back in the camera last night, (Damn Jaegermeister) so, no pics. You guys will have to wait till next Winter and the next bike to learn how to take greasy fingerprints off your Wife's Iron. I will tell you that I gave up on coming up with stories about the Blow Dryer and finally bought one, but I don't use her Iron enough to justify the cost. Next Step: Paint.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #108 on:** March 13, 2016, 02:34:13 PM »

The new Kerker mount looks SO much better.

Stev-o · « **Reply #109 on:** March 13, 2016, 06:22:16 PM »

Kerker sure has gotten proud of their products, that name plate is nearly 10 times bigger than the one on my vintage pipe.

przjohn · « **Reply #110 on:** April 01, 2016, 03:16:52 PM »

Little break in the action, but we are back. Larry sent me some pics yesterday of the paint and it looks great! I can't wait to get these tins on the bike. The hard part of the paint is done. You'll notice that the tank access door and side covers are the same color as the tank. The original door and panels were originally done in Black. I think doing them the same color as the rest of the bike is the way to go, and this is one area where we stray from OEM. Speaking of OEM, from these pics it looks color wise like the VMR Candy Antares Red is pretty damn good. We'll see what the finished product looks like soon. Larry explained a lot of the painting process with this paint to me but I forget the details, sorry, but I just trust Larry. Ya know, I do have a corporate empire to run ,so I can't just chit chat all day about motorcycles.

We should be putting check out miles on this bike soon and look to be on schedule for Deals Gap in May.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #111 on:** April 01, 2016, 03:38:24 PM »

Color is always so tricky. The posted pics look a little more on the purple side of Antares Red, but it could be a trick of the light. Who freaking cares, anyway. It looks great! I like the matching fuel door, too.

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #112 on:** April 01, 2016, 05:04:44 PM »

Bad ass!! You gonna put stripes back on?

przjohn · « **Reply #113 on:** April 02, 2016, 06:19:48 AM »

Quote from: Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er on April 01, 2016, 05:04:44 PM

Bad ass!! You gonna put stripes back on?

Yes, the stock stripes, Super Sport logo, and side cover emblems will be going back on. He is also painting the center of the seat/tail piece trim that originally was done with tape.

przjohn · « **Reply #114 on:** April 16, 2016, 06:51:55 AM »

Getting close to the finish line now. Most of the paint is back and the tank should be back today. The paint came out fantastic. The Candy Antares Red is a very nice color. The side panels being painted are the way to go IMO over the stock Black. The emblems stand out much better and I think they will go well with the emblems on the tank. I think Honda originally did them in Black to save money because they look so much better the same color as the bike. I was able to reuse the pins that hold the seat/tail trim piece to the seat and got some new push clips at the hardware store. The tail section was originally attached to the trim piece with 4MM molding bolts that don't have a bolt head but have a flat that slides in the molding. I took 6MM Flange Bolts and ground off the head so that just the flange remains and will slide into the molding. Some pics, I apologize for the quality as I didn't have my camera and had to use my phone.

I apologize to the Eastern Seaboard for the cussing at around 3:00 yesterday, and it wasn't you Mother in particular that I was referring to when this happened,

I had tried to tap that corner on when it cracked on me due to the fact that I am not smart enough to notice that an electrical plug had gotten jammed underneath the panel. I pop the covers off and on the RZs all the time. I guess these are a bit more delicate. Anyway, the new panel has been ordered and Larry can paint it to match before Deals Gap. With that knowledge and a few beers last night it now seems like just another part of the break in period where the Gremlins come out.

Stev-o · « **Reply #115 on:** April 16, 2016, 02:40:15 PM »

Ouch....I bet that hurt. Looks like you have a relatively easy fix though.

I like the Triple's metal side covers so much better for that reason.

przjohn · « **Reply #116 on:** April 17, 2016, 03:15:22 PM »

Got the tank back from Larry and it came out great. It appears this tank is from a 77/78 and will need the smaller petcock and a new cap. Both have been ordered, but the important part is it fits the frame. Here are some pics of the tank mocked up on the frame. I moved the bike out into the sun to try and get a better picture of the great Candy but my photo skills aren't the best, it looks best in person.

So, those were all pictures from the "Good Side". In keeping with the, "Bull In A China Shop" weekend I broke one of the tank emblems. The Repro Emblems did not match up perfect with the tank holes, and well, the rest is history, more parts to reorder. Actually the emblem only broke once. The second break came when it hit the wall

And we are also back to the meters. No Loctite this time, and I am very hopeful that was what was causing the cracking. They will get assembled later, after I am sure they will not crack, usually took a couple of days for that to happen.

For those that aren't lucky enough to live in Connecticut, the DMV here has been going through some rough times. The Governor thought it would be a good idea to make a Crony of his, (a Social Studies Teacher with Zero Experience), the commissioner, he's gone now. Take that and mix it up with a low bid new computer system and you have Connecticut DMV with a 4 hour wait. But, it got done.

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #117 on:** April 17, 2016, 03:41:00 PM »

Wow!! Looks fantastic.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #118 on:** April 17, 2016, 06:03:38 PM »

That candy is pretty in the sun.

przjohn · « **Reply #119 on:** April 21, 2016, 05:06:40 PM »

2 Days of break in, 50 miles each day, time to find the Gremlins. The bike is 99.9% complete but needs to be ridden because items like Emblems are going to be close to deadline for Deals Gap. Yesterday was a great ride. The bike runs perfectly, has strong power, and idles well. Only Gremlin was about 10 miles from home when the downshift wouldn't go, the shift lever decided to depart from the rest of the bike. I rode it 10 miles in 5th gear and hit all lights except one back to the shop. Looked everywhere for the lever with the truck but as you guys know, once something important falls off your bike, the Gremlins have it now. A couple of Teenagers smoking butts on the way home from school 2 years from now will probably find it. The lever off my 1980 750F did the trick for today.

I got the muffler to come in about 1 inch more but that is about it. Back in the days of these bikes and Kerker Exhausts, bikes were going bar to bar and not corner to corner, unless of course, you were Eddie Lawson or Freddie Spencer. We loved the races, but we loved the ladies too.

This is what we look like now. The new side panel is in Larry's hands for paint and should be back next week. I am hoping the new emblems are in from Australia by May 6th, but if not we will go with plan B for Deals Gap.

Stev-o · « **Reply #120 on:** April 21, 2016, 05:11:22 PM »

You going to DG with the Triples group? That would be fun...

przjohn · « **Reply #121 on:** April 22, 2016, 05:06:10 AM »

Yeah, I will be bringing this bike, and for 2 strokes, an H1 and 2 RZ 350s. We also bring our Dual Sports and ride some off road, mine is an 08 KTM 990ADV.

Stev-o · « **Reply #122 on:** April 22, 2016, 05:44:26 AM »

Quote from: przjohn on April 22, 2016, 05:06:10 AM

Yeah, I will be bringing this bike, and for 2 strokes, an H1 and 2 RZ 350s. We also bring our Dual Sports and ride some off road, mine is an 08 KTM 990ADV.

Nice selection of bikes! Have an RD that I need to get back out on the road.

tweakin · « **Reply #123 on:** April 22, 2016, 05:50:09 AM »

Excellent build!

przjohn · « **Reply #124 on:** May 10, 2016, 06:43:47 AM »

We are finished, TA DAAA. The gauges came together, tank emblems are on and the bike has about 200 miles on it. Some small bugs got worked out like a problem with the center stand stop but no biggies. The bike runs extremely well, leaks no oil, and I am very happy with the way it came out. I think the bike hits the mark for the minor mods it has being period correct like the Kerker Exhaust and the Low Bars. The painted side panels and drilled discs just make for a better look to me. Other than those minor mods it is another Survivor F Model. Thanks to all who have followed this build, and a special thanks to Larry Kilgore for the great paint! We'll see what we can find for next Winter's project, but for now, it is riding season and that means closing up shop and enjoying great rides with great friends. Some finished pics,

All set for The 2 Stroke Meet next Saturday at Deals Gap. Not in picture are 2 RZ350s.

News:

Author Topic: 1976 CB750F Restoration (Read 19267 times)