Thanks guys, I'm still basking in the glow of my own success, as you'd expect. I really am happy that I could save the engine, I did wonder when I first brought it home whether I'd be able to use the engine for anything more than parts, so I'm very happy that, like Bill says, it's a tough old engine.
Coincidentally Larry, I had my 9 month consultation with the Bariatric Surgeon tonight, and she's happy that I've lost 120 pounds, I do still struggle a bit with getting some foods down, but all in all, I'm doing ok. I don't know what it is about medical folks though, I had a blood test last week for my GP, so I gave the results to Salena (the bariatric surgeon) tonight, but she needed other tests done, so I'm having another blood test on Friday, then yet another blood test in a couple of weeks as part of my 5 year Army medical, fcuk, my arms look like a heroin addicts!
Per, yep, I spent a little time cleaning the sh1t off those points, they were burned and ugly, and the spark was so weak compared to the nice fat blue flash I'm used to from an electronic ignition, so I'll throw that ignition away and install one of my ancient Martek ignitions with some Martek coils, I had a Suzuki GS750 happily idling at 250 RPM with one of them (GS750/1000 ignitions will work in a CB750, and vice versa) a few years back, just for fun I'm interested in seeing how low I can get a CB750 to idle with one installed.
Frank, I took that cam cover with those Webco valve caps off the US import engine I bought for my "Bitsa" build, but I've also got a complete new set of 8 that Ron (MC Rider) sold me a few years ago, I know they were all the rage back in the day, but I can't really see any practical purpose for them? Back when I was making and selling oil cooler kits for CB750's I made up a special adapter to pump oil directly up into the cam cover via the exhaust side valve caps, but I can't remember why? I've still got it in a box somewhere. I've got a set of new Honda cam caps that I bought some time ago, I might install them eventually.
Lars, yeah mate, I will check the gears next time I fire it up, I'll work the clutch and run it through the gears, I'm not expecting any problems though, there was no metal in the sump pan, and even the primary chains didn't appear to have any slop in them from the check I did with the oil pump removed. I did think about throwing a chain on it and running it around my street before I pull the engine, but I can't be bothered, as I'd have to put my other wheels on it, a clutch lever, throttle etc etc, and it's all gotta come off again when I pull the engine. If I can run it thru all the gears with the engine running, I'll call it "good enough".
I think the fact that four litres of oil had drained into the engine probably saved the internals, as everything I looked at was coated in a black sloppy goo. I'll hook up an oil pressure gauge before I run it again just to make sure oil is circulating properly, then I'll dump the oil and new filter before I take it out on the road with new oil and another new filter. Hmmnn, I better order some new filters, the bitsa could probably do with an oil change too.
Okay, as I said I was at my surgeons tonight, so got nothing more done, but tomorrow, (weather permitting) I'll get some more done, and post some pics. Thanks again everyone, I'm really enjoying this project!
