Topic: This should get people talking Mike Rieck

[Sam Green Racing]

I found this on Facebook and thought, never in a million years as did several others but the guy couldn't remember who built it.
This is where Mike Rieck needs to come in, but have a read of this first and I'll post a picture.

This is for the ole Honda 750 Four fans (single overhead cam version) circa 1969/1978. I do not know where this bike is today but i had the opportunity to ride it one weekend in 1987 at the Piedmont Dragway, NC while an IDBA venue. Bike was owned and riden by a gentleman named Bob Jones of Whitakers, NC.
As i know to be true, the bike was the quickest naturaly asperated on carbeurators and gasoline single overhead cam 750 four ever modified and built to drag race at the time. The cylinder head was so highly modified that it had chevrolet 2.02 intake valves with improved intake tracks that effectively flattened out the valve angle. Made it a pretty good 1080cc air pump as i remember. Popular body by "Tracy" with a custom paint livery named "BLACK GOLD". If i remember correctly the bike ran 5.90's in the 1/8th mile @118mph on average. Bob raced under the name J&L Racing as he had a partner. Bob was and may still be good friends with Ron Ayers of Greenville, NC. Ron Ayers was riding a Pro Stock last i remember.

[PeWe]

Cam?

[Sam Green Racing]

Cam?

No idea PeWe, it was the size of the inlet valve that had everyone doubting it.

[Sam Green Racing]

The above picture is a stock head with the vernier set at 2.02 but in mm.

[Sam Green Racing]

It was eventually found that the head was far from stock and had been converted by a very good friend of Mike's.

[Cb750 Racer]

51mm intake valves....  I'd love to see it

[Sam Green Racing]

51mm intake valves....  I'd love to see it

I've not seen it either and even I thought it impossible until the guy remembered and told us who did it.

[kmb69]

51mm intake valves....  I'd love to see it

I've not seen it either and even I thought it impossible until the guy remembered and told us who did it.

It is impossible. Turns out, Rick Stetson purportedly used a 2.02 Chevy valve as a "blank". It was machined down to something less than 40mm.

But it had a 2.02 Chevy valve in it!       

[754]

Well they are cheap 10 bux for a stainless one from Speedway.
But the .34 stem is a concern, that is just under 9mm.. a tad big.
 I am sure there are closer choices..

[kmb69]

Well they are cheap 10 bux for a stainless one from Speedway.
But the .34 stem is a concern, that is just under 9mm.. a tad big.
 I am sure there are closer choices..

Yep. But that's the story they're sticking to. 

[754]

After the second dragrace in the world, the BS stories started........
 Maybe even earlier than that..

[Sam Green Racing]

Keith and Frank, I guess anything is possible for a good machinist if the blank is to big for the job, even the stem could have been turned down to CB size.
We will have to wait until Mike see's this and hopefully he can ask Rick.
The guy in the facebook post did say that the head had been drastically modified, valve angles, the lot.

[MRieck]

 Whoa, whoa , whoa fellas....pump the brakes.
 I think Rick originally used turned down GM valves....I thought the were Pontiac pieces but it is hard to remember. I am sure the stem OD was reduced too. I think Volkswagon valve springs were used.
 It would be physically impossible to fit a 2" valve in a CB head....no matter what the valve angle is changed to. Plus a max bore is like 74mm....why would you need a 2" intake valve?
 Anyway....Rick switched to titanium valves towards the end of development and those were coming from either Russ Sr or Byron. I know valve to valve was stupid close....something just under .030 or so. A light valve was needed as earlier spring pressure was causing the spring base to break into the port. Even with the Ti valves he used a top hat set up under the spring base.
 The intake ports were straight and I don't know what the valve angle was compared to stock...maybe a 1 degree shift.
 The cam profile was crazy and required major valve sinking.

[kmb69]

2.02 is IMPOSSIBLE! I don't care how much you change the valve angle! The valve would have to be straight up and down - right through the cam!

Just spoke with Mike. He is out of town visiting family this weekend. But he did say he would try to nail it down with Rick and let us know what they were doing at the time.
Sorry, did not realize Mike had posted.

I'm guessing 38mm, 1.496", 40mm MAX.

[MRieck]

 Also...the entire package was very fragile. After a weekend meet the valve job was all over the place and everything had to be gone over. I saw trans shafts so twisted they belonged in a pretzel bowl next to a brew. He used CR750 primary chains and they were surprisingly tough. I don't know exact CR....I'd guess around 15:1 or so.

[MRieck]

2.02 is IMPOSSIBLE! I don't care how much you change the valve angle! The valve would have to be straight up and down - right through the cam!

Just spoke with Mike. He is out of town visiting family this weekend. But he did say he would try to nail it down with Rick and let us know what they were doing at the time.
Sorry, did not realize Mike had posted.

I'm guessing 38mm, 1.496", 40mm MAX.

38mm sounds about right to me.

[Sam Green Racing]

Cheers Mike, that will do fine by way of an explanation, you are the tops my friend.

[MRieck]

Cheers Mike, that will do fine by way of an explanation, you are the tops my friend.

You know you are most welcome brother.

[kmb69]

Also...the entire package was very fragile. After a weekend meet the valve job was all over place and everything had to be gone over. I saw trans shafts so twisted they belonged in a pretzel bowl next to a brew. He used CR750 primary chains and they were surprisingly tough. I don't know exact CR....I'd guess around 15:1 or so.

Not surprised at all to hear that. "Fragile" might be an understatement!
There is relatively little head material left at 38mm much less sunk deep for a big cam.
Thanks for clarifying Mike. You da go to #1 head man!