Topic: Newbie From VA

[ericlws66]

Hey guys,

I've been lurking for a couple of days, figured I'd go ahead and introduce myself.
My name is Eric, and I'm a Mechanical Engineering student at Virginia Tech.
I just picked up a 73 cb750. Its in OK shape, but definitely a 10footer lol
Its got a couple of problems that need addressed right away to be able to ride it before it gets to cold. But this winter I plan on making it a cafe racer. I cant afford to go all out on it, but it will get new seat, headlight and handle bars for now. I'll get another tank and attempt to modify it, and find something to replace the stock shocks/springs.
But first I need to fix a couple of problems, in the first picture it looks like something is missing for the tachometer cable. Can anyone tell me what goes there or take a picture. Also, the starter has barely enough "power" to start the engine. The battery has a full charge, but the engine wont turn over fast enough to start it. Luckily I can kick start it on first or second try. Everyonce in awhile it will have enough "power" to start the engine but usually not. Is this just a sign of the stater needing rebuilt?
Also the bike seems like it is dragging, like a brake is stuck. Its hard to push, and bike wont move easily without revving it up alot. I'd lift it up on center stand and try to see which brake is sticking, but the previous owner removed the center stand.






The rest of the pics are http://filebox.vt.edu/users/jlowes/bike/

Back to lurking the forums for info.
Thanks,
Eric

[burmashave]

Welcome, Eric.  Your 750 looks to be in pretty decent shape.  The pic of your tachometer mount looks a bit odd; however, it looks as if it's mounted correctly.  The end of the tachometer cable has a fitting that slips inside the hole on the head cover, and the nearby screw locks it in place.  There should be a small oil seal fitted inside the hole in the head cover.  So, your pic looks OK, but it appears that a previous owner soldered or welded the cable end in place.  If he neglected to put the seal in place, the head cover would weep oil around the tachometer fitting.  Mebbe he "fixed" it by welding it.

By the way, the Honda parts diagrams are available several places on the web.  Diagrams for your '73 CB75 can be found here

Go Hoakies!

-BS

[seaweb11]

Make sure you get the old oil seal out before putting it back together. It is almost impossible to see, just keep trying to hook it with something. You will know if you don't get it out, the screw in the side will feel very hard to get in when re assembling.

If the screw feels loose, it's probaby not there now anyway.

Did I explain that OK?

[ericlws66]

BS-  Thanks, the previous owner cleaned it up well before he sold it. I looked at the cable some more, and its just Silicon spread around the whole, and the screw is there but stripped to hell.

Seaweb11- Thanks, I'll try to find the replacement part and seal and do it right. Cant tell if its there b/c the screw is so stripped, but i'll try to get it out later.


Also, the tachometer jumps around alot. Sometimes it will work like normal other times it will just stop at a random rpm. Do the insides of the tach go bad often, or is mostly the cables?

Thanks,
Eric

[burmashave]

Seaweb11- Thanks, I'll try to find the replacement part and seal and do it right. Cant tell if its there b/c the screw is so stripped, but i'll try to get it out later.

The seal is pretty cheap, and you can usually find them on ebay -- like this one:
tachometer seal.

BS-  Thanks, the previous owner cleaned it up well before he sold it. I looked at the cable some more, and its just Silicon spread around the whole, and the screw is there but stripped to hell.

If you're interested, there was recently a long discussion about using helicoils to repair stripped threads: To helicoil, or not to helicoil

[mrbreeze]

Before buying that seal on ebay,check the dealer(I don't say that much,but in this case...).I bought mine for aprox.$3 but had to wait a few days. The ones I've seen on ebay are always at least$6 + shpping + you still have to wait. Is the head of the retaining screw stripped or the threads in the head?

[SteveD CB500F]

Before stripping out the starter, check and clean the high current cables that run from the solenoid to the starter and the earth cable from the battery to the chassis. Also check the earthing of the starter body to the chassis (frame).

Any dirty connections will cause large voltage drops and the starter won't turn very fast (if at all)

If that doesn't help, post in the Tech forum about starter probs.  I've never stripped one and can't really recall anyone mentioning it (read - they don't break very often).

There are several ex-Honda mechanics on here who will chime in with real experience on all these little faults.

[ericlws66]

Thanks guys.

It is the head of the screw that is stripped. I can probably just use needle nose pliers to get them out, just waiting till i get a seal.

Ill try cleaning the connections before tearing the starter out. I love the fact that i can kick start this thing with one try though.

Just ordered throttle cables, only $25 on ebay for both, because I couldn't clean the rust out of them to get them to spin freely and snap back. And there weren't any kinks.

Eric

[IndianRider]

welcome ..im a newbie too and joined today ..what a clean looking bike ..hopefuly u can get the minor kinks fixed ..

ive been looking for a CB740 four and wish i could i find a beauty like that for cheap .. 

[ic455]

Welcome, Eric!  I love those bars, I recently removed some very similar ones from my 750 K6 (and threw them as far as I could)

[ericlws66]

Welcome, Eric!  I love those bars, I recently removed some very similar ones from my 750 K6 (and threw them as far as I could)

hahah I plan to do the same.

[sailorman55]

Howdy Neighbor.  That is one sweet ride.  I am new here as well, but after reading your post I want to make an offer.  If you are going to change that seat out I would be very interested in getting it from you.  Same thing for the handlebars.  Let me know if you need any help.

[dusterdude]

welcome eric,i can see it now,us virginians is going to take over this forum.

[ic455]

welcome eric,i can see it now,us virginians is going to take over this forum.

no way in heck, Aussies have already got all of us beat

(might be fewer of them, but they wrestle crocs for fun, you know) 

[Rushoid]

welcome eric,i can see it now,us virginians is going to take over this forum.

I think the virgins have a better chance of that. 

Welcome Eric! Nice bike!

My dad's family is from VA (Winchester mainly). Unca Mike even graduated from VA. Tech! I'm a Buckeye fan m'self but the Hokies aren't far behind.

[ericlws66]

Howdy Neighbor.  That is one sweet ride.  I am new here as well, but after reading your post I want to make an offer.  If you are going to change that seat out I would be very interested in getting it from you.  Same thing for the handlebars.  Let me know if you need any help.

I'll prob be taking them off during thanksgiving when I have some time. I'll hit you up.
The seat material is in good shape, but one hinge is missing and the piece that goes into the lock isnt the right style. Ill take some pictures to show you what im talking about.


Thanks for the welcome guys. I have two friends buying CBs, and they'll be on the boards shortly. Us virgins, i mean Virginians are taking over!!!!

[ericlws66]

Update:
I moved to Richmond back in June.
I finally got the bars and seat off and installed a drag bar and a Guilari seat.
Still in the process of cleaning the bike up and deciding what replace/fix first.
Look for other riders in Richmond to ride with or just shoot the #$%* with.
Heres an updated pic of the bike and my finally got my high school car back, 1967 Galaxie 500. 

Later,
Eric

[Blueridgerunner]

Hi Eric. Just down the road from you in Stuart.
Go Hokies