Topic: Progress report

[spitfire]

Well things are slowly going back together, oil tank, battery carrier, breather pot, electrical board and the wiring harmess are all back on, all electrical connections have been cleaned and treated with dielectric grease. Paint has been removed from all ground connections and checked for continuity.
I'm working in sub assemblies like building a model aircraft, so a lot of components are ready to refit but I'm doing it in sequence.
Just got the aircleaner box down to temporarily refit while I fit the breather line from the KO pot, but was not happy with the state of the bolts, so I took it apart and they were a mess, just ordered replacements, Custom Fasteners in the UK can supply zinc plated panhead screws (philips) that match the Honda originals, so I am using those where necessary, the rest of the bolting is polished head SS or chrome were applicable. It may not please the purists but will look good and last longer, all the Honda bolts are going into a container just in case I get a fit of the purist later on in life !
A lot of the more specialised bolts have been made up for me in SS by a guy in the UK who is also a member of this forum, thanks Paul, all engine bolts, side stand bolt, footrest clevis pins, clutch and brake lever pivot bolts, headlamp bolts (CB750F) and they look great.
Just put the footrests back together and will be fitting them today.

Cheers

Den

[hcritz]

Hey Spitfire...
Looking Very Nice there....
Thinking about starting on a frame off like you...I've got a 77 750k...in really nice original condition...but want to freshen it up.
Looks like you are doing a great job there and I like the idea of the SS bolts...Old sail boat owner...so I LIKE Stainless!
It would be great if your UK friend would make up a bolt kit for these bikes...I would sure be interested.
My only problem with a tear down is that I couldn't ride!!!

[spitfire]

It was supposed to be a quick cosmetic job and get it back on the road for last summer but it was too far gone for that, I had left it standing for 12 years while I was out of the country, did not really want to strip it right down as I have owned it since new in 1976, but hopefully when I'm finished it will be ready for another 30 years.
Paul advertises on eBay when he makes parts for sale and he will make up parts on a one off basis, he is very knowledgeable about CB750's, at the moment he is restoring a CB400, he trades under the name sweetpeauk.

Cheers

Den

[Hop on a Honda]

Very professional indeed.
Bravo Zulu
Dave in Australia.

[hcritz]

Thanks Spitfire...
I'd like to go the stainless route as well...
Maybe I should just buy another bike to ride while this one is down for a resto!!!
HMMMMMM.....Yeah....That's the Ticket!!!

[medic09]

From the FAQ section:


Jim Spillane, SOHC/4 Member #28, sells stainless-steel philips-head and allen-head screw sets:
Email Jim at spillane@metrocast.net for prices and availability.

He sent mine (Thanks James!).  He often pops up on Ebay as well.

[Rsnip988]

Looks awesome so far, keep up the great work


P.S. ignore the purists, its your bike and as long as you love it it doesnt matter what they think

[BSA_Mikael]

  That looks great! A question: How did you handle the ID plate with frame #? I assume you sandblasted the frame before having it painted.

That small thing actually kept me from repainting my frame since I want to have my bike on the road this summer, no later. I assume glass blasting would work better than sand but in my community no one do glass with such gross objects as frames..

Good luck with the rest, I did the same level with my BSA 650 and I can tell you your project will be a headtwister!

[supersport_CB400F]

Looking good, it’s your bike use whatever bolts you feel appropriate ….I did and used polished SS!

[BSA_Mikael]

Hey, I see you have a 1964 BSA, I have a 1965 A65. Do you have any pics of your 1964? I have to say that riding both Jap and Brit bikes is great. Highly recommended but you need a strong heart and a very understanding wife

[jtb]

I got my bolt set from Jim Spillane, he's also a member here, and gave me a discount, so let him know you're a member.

That looks great! A question: How did you handle the ID plate with frame #? I assume you sandblasted the frame before having it painted.

That small thing actually kept me from repainting my frame since I want to have my bike on the road this summer, no later. I assume glass blasting would work better than sand but in my community no one do glass with such gross objects as frames..

Good luck with the rest, I did the same level with my BSA 650 and I can tell you your project will be a headtwister!

I drilled the rivets out on mine, and then riveted them back when I was done.  Worked fine, and since the # matches the one stamped in the frame, no one gave me any crap when I registered it.

Spitfire, your pictures make me want to tear mine down and start in again.  It looks great!, and I remember how great I felt each time I hit one of those milestones.

Keep  it up.

John

[spitfire]

Hi guys,
          Thanks for the nice comments, I will be putting the plate back on the frame, it was glued on, not sure wether the rivets were real but I drilled them out anyway, so I will rivet and glue it back on.
At the moment I'm polishing up the airbox it had a few nasty scratches on it, using the same technique that I use on my model kits to polish out seams, namely nail polishing sticks, and a bit of patience, unfortunately the wife keeps pinching the sticks though !
The BSA is a 1964 A65 Rocket, if you go to my gallery there are some pics of it, bought it when I was about 18 and have had it ever since, got all the standard bits in the loft waiting for me to get round to it, well not standard Rocket bits, mostly A65L bits, as it is fitted with an A65L head and twin concentrics.

Cheers

Den

[spitfire]

Just put the VIN (ID) plate back on, coated the back with "No Nails" and rivetted it on.

Cheers

Den