Allright, its time to jump in both feet. I have been avidly keeping up with the posting on this site, and it makes me drool! Sitting in an office all day, wattching the progress of guys like Proteal, TVAG and Doug_id was been making me itch to get the ball rolling on my projects. Over the mild early winter, I took a well running '76 Goldwing from a tatty looking Bagger back to its factory configuration. I have not dug into the carbs and steering neck bearings, which it will need before I am comfortably able to ride it more than a mile from the garage. But I was happy with my progress.
So now I have a great '76 CB750F that I got for not much money. I did not think It was a runner when I purchased it, but I was wrong. It had a dead battery, but the battery box was really nasty with lots of acid damage (and lots of acid still sitting all over it). To see what kind of condition it was in, and if it would turn over, I hooked up a starter to the battery leads, gave it some fresh gas with Seafoam, choke and a quick hit of the starter - she fired right up and settled into a very decent idle. Needless to say, I was pretty pleased!
The bike came with a cruddy seat and rear cowl, Fugly Sissy Bar, Vetter fairing (with working stereo - I almost hate to get rid of it.... but its got to go!), and really nice Textile Hondaline Saddlebags (the tinted Plexiglass was used to keep them away from the rear wheel) and a bunch of Red Wing and Rocky and Bullwinkle Stickers (since removed, but when I removed the tank yesterday, I found Boris and Natascha at the tanks nose!). I have a OEM seat and fairing in the Candy Antares Red which will go on the next time I am out there.
Here are some pics:
So, the bike is at my Mom's house until I complete my garage project at my home in Upstate NY. And whenever I get the chance I pass by and start her up and let the fresh gas and Seafoam run through the carbs. She smokes a little at first, but idles smoothly, requires very little choke and stops smoking as she warms.
I was over yesterday for the Holiday, and to avoid NYC Holiday traffic, I came early and found myself with a bunch of free time to play with the bike. My first concern was the nasty battery box. It is completely full of acid and rust and and I wanted to attempt to clean it. I tried Baking soda and water after removing the battery box, but it did not make much of a dent. Also, the Tubes, hoses and other components have been affected by the acid as well.
I was able to pull the electrics off and clean them up, but I can see there will be some corroded wires that will need to be replaced, especially at the pin-connectors.
So here are a few questions I have to proceed:
1. What is the best way to neutralize and remove the battery acid on the frame and components?
2. The Battery breather tube (the clear one that came with the battery) looks like it should be inserted into the breather tube at the front of the battery box (it has a metal collar inside of it, I think #7 on the parts fische), is this correct? I am also assuming that this tube should vent to atmosphere out the bottom of the bike, below the swingarm.
Anyway, thanks in advance for any help. If was not for this Forum, I would never have the confidence to attempt this. I am looking forward to learning alot about our bikes and having a lot of fun in the process.
Can you say...Garage Therapy!
Gersh
