Topic: Terry's new new redneck K0 "Special"..........

[RAFster122s]

Doesn't MEK melt abs plastic?
Plastic Model glues have a variety of their glue that mets the joint together.

Can't you use packing tape to adhere tge plastic pieces to one another to hold them and it not glue the tape to the plastic? I think that works. Test it before trying of course, maybe on inside of area that fits well. Glueing just a bit from outside. Or another piece of abs lying about.

Paint is looking good Terry. Nice work on repair. Often the super glue will bubble up the soda just a bit is my experience. CA glue joints tend to be pretty brittle I have found with non porous materials and if it fails it fractured the joint or just beyond the joint. You mileage may vary. Several formulas of CA glue.

[Terry in Australia]

MEK melts eyeballs, so best avoided at all costs, I've tried pretty much everything out there, and the bicarb soda and superglue beats them hands down. I especially like that it sets up instantly, so no waiting hours for it to dry, while the whole shooting match droops this way and that.I've got one of those kits with the powdered plastic and MEK(?) and wasn't all that impressed.

Anyhoo, one mans poison is another mans pork sausages, so whatever works for everyone else is fine by me. Today was another hot one, close to 90 deg F and sunshine, so I rang my client and asked him if he wouldn't mind awfully if I took off at lunchtime for a ride? We've been in and out of lockdown since March, the last stage 4 lockdown lasted 18(?) weeks, so he repeated a famous quote from one of our more colorful Prime Ministers (like the US president, but not put on the same pedestal) Bob Hawke, who, when Australia won the "Americas Cup" yacht race (yawn.....) said "Any boss who sacks (fires) one of his workers for staying up late to watch the race and doesn't front up for work the next day, is a bum". He modified it to "Any boss who refuses a biker a decent ride after 18 weeks of lockdown is a bum" but we're both old enough to remember the quote, and we both ride.

Before I went for my ride though, I needed to sort the airbox top, as the rain is coming back. To be honest, if I had a better one, I would have thrown this one in the trash. This was the worst crack, that pretty much extended from front to rear, but there were 4 other good size ones to address.

K0 airbox fix 10 Nov 2020 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

The good thing, as previously mentioned, each repair is instant, and so I just taped the outside of each crack with aluminium tape to hold it together, after sanding between each crack, then grinding out each crack with dad's dremel and a suitable burr. I did the repairs, and all of a sudden, it was one rigid assembly again. Nice.

K0 airbox fix 10 Nov 2020 2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I'm still trying to decide what drugs a PO was on when he painted over the beautiful original teal blue(?) paint with either flat black or flat brown, but either way he painted over dirt, oil, and anything else, and it was without doubt one of the worse paint jobs I've ever had the misfortune to remove. Over an hour with wet and dry sandpaper and a bucket of soapy water and it was looking better.

K0 airbox fix 10 Nov 2020 3 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I primed it, and hit it with a coat off spray putty, then let it cure for 3 hours while I went for my 100 miler on my Effing F2.

K0 airbox fix 10 Nov 2020 5 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

When I came back I rubbed it back nice and smooth, but rubbed thru the primer and spray putty, so had to hit it up with more primer, as the silver base will not cover any dark spots. Once the primer was dry (5 minutes later @ 90 deg F) I hit it up with the silver base coat, the translucent red, then the clear. I'm pretty happy!

K0 airbox fix 10 Nov 2020 6 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

K0 airbox fix 10 Nov 2020 7 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

K0 airbox fix 10 Nov 2020 8 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I had some paint left over, and decided to repaint my headlight ears. I'd painted them in a candy "dark cherry" colour years ago and they were never gonna see service on a bike in that colour, but not having a K0 or K1 to put them on, they were just hanging, gathering dust. I gave them a good wash in some soapy water, then rubbed them back to provide a "key" for the new paint. I was trying to work out how to paint them without them falling over, then I spotted my yard broom, and realised that it was a perfect headlight ear holder.

K0 headlight ears 10 Nov 2020 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

First, some primer surfacer.

K0 headlight ears 10 Nov 2020 1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Then the silver base.

K0 headlight ears 10 Nov 2020 2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Followed by the remaining lava red.

K0 headlight ears 10 Nov 2020 3 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

And finally, to make it pop, some nice glossy clear coat.

K0 headlight ears 10 Nov 2020 4 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

As previously mentioned, I've ordered another kit to do a tank and sidecovers for my K2 when I steal the K0 tank off it to go on the K0, and contacted the seller to see if I can buy an additional can of the lava red, as it seems that I have plenty of silver base and clear coat left from the first kit, but all the red is gone. He came straight back and said yep, no worries, so two cans should be plenty to give the K2 tank a good looking paint job, I'll even put a stripe kit on it.    

 

[PeWe]

Look really good, Terry!!

[grcamna2]

Yes terry,That does look good.I think you have painting skill to be able to paint those 3-step candy paint colors:they are what our bikes came with,many different colors.

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks guys, I’ve enjoyed painting stuff from when I painted my first bicycle. Back then you could buy a pump action bug sprayer, and use whatever paint you had, thinned with turpentine or lacquer thinner  to mist paint on.

I started painting army colleagues cars for spare cash when I bought a compressor and guns to paint my own car, and made a little money to buy better guns etc.

All that stuff stopped a few years ago as pre paint prep on cars is a pain in the butt, but I can usually get a good result on small bike parts with rattle cans.

[grcamna2]

Thanks guys, I’ve enjoyed painting stuff from when I painted my first bicycle. Back then you could buy a pump action bug sprayer, and use whatever paint you had, thinned with turpentine or lacquer thinner  to mist paint on.

I started painting army colleagues cars for spare cash when I bought a compressor and guns to paint my own car, and made a little money to buy better guns etc.

All that stuff stopped a few years ago as pre paint prep on cars is a pain in the butt, but I can usually get a good result on small bike parts with rattle cans.

Terry,
Do you mix your own paint based on the temps,ingredients like more or less hardener and different other things to make the paint more resistant to scratching or fuel spills ?

[Terry in Australia]

I used to do all that Bill, but nowadays I just use rattle cans, and remain mindful of temperature and humidity, the two biggest considerations when using acrylic lacquer, my fave. I never liked using 2K paints back in the day as they’re full of carcinogenic chemicals, and I know one guy who was full of cancer due to his boss not providing sufficient PPE when he was painting cars as an apprentice back in the 80’s. Good stuff to avoid.

[grcamna2]

I used to do all that Bill, but nowadays I just use rattle cans, and remain mindful of temperature and humidity, the two biggest considerations when using acrylic lacquer, my fave. I never liked using 2K paints back in the day as they’re full of carcinogenic chemicals, and I know one guy who was full of cancer due to his boss not providing sufficient PPE when he was painting cars as an apprentice back in the 80’s. Good stuff to avoid.

Could I purchase a can of acrylic lacquer in a spray can and paint-over the top of old paint on a fuel tank and hope for a decent result if I prepped-it? Or do I have to take it all the way down and start with the same brand paint(acrylic lacquer)from the beginning ? Could I use the same idea on plastic side covers & tailpiece on different bikes ?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Pretty red paint there, Terry! Nice job.

[Tintop]

grcamna2, I had a specific Chevy blue mixed & put in a spray can when I did my sidecar.  Had it done at a NAPA store that handled automotive paint (not all do!).

[Terry in Australia]

I used to do all that Bill, but nowadays I just use rattle cans, and remain mindful of temperature and humidity, the two biggest considerations when using acrylic lacquer, my fave. I never liked using 2K paints back in the day as they’re full of carcinogenic chemicals, and I know one guy who was full of cancer due to his boss not providing sufficient PPE when he was painting cars as an apprentice back in the 80’s. Good stuff to avoid.

Could I purchase a can of acrylic lacquer in a spray can and paint-over the top of old paint on a fuel tank and hope for a decent result if I prepped-it? Or do I have to take it all the way down and start with the same brand paint(acrylic lacquer)from the beginning ? Could I use the same idea on plastic side covers & tailpiece on different bikes ?

No, not really mate. The silver base won't cover anything beneath it, and the translucent (see through) color coat won't cover the old color well. If you're not looking for a minty show finish it might be OK, but not for a really good finish.  

[grcamna2]

I used to do all that Bill, but nowadays I just use rattle cans, and remain mindful of temperature and humidity, the two biggest considerations when using acrylic lacquer, my fave. I never liked using 2K paints back in the day as they’re full of carcinogenic chemicals, and I know one guy who was full of cancer due to his boss not providing sufficient PPE when he was painting cars as an apprentice back in the 80’s. Good stuff to avoid.

Could I purchase a can of acrylic lacquer in a spray can and paint-over the top of old paint on a fuel tank and hope for a decent result if I prepped-it? Or do I have to take it all the way down and start with the same brand paint(acrylic lacquer)from the beginning ? Could I use the same idea on plastic side covers & tailpiece on different bikes ?

No, not really mate. The silver base won't cover anything beneath it, and the translucent (see through) color coat won't cover the old color well. If you're not looking for a minty show finish it might be OK, but not for a really good finish.

OK Terry,understood.
I was curious if I wanted to purchase a standard (non 3-step) one-color application of acrylic lacquer from a paint supplier already prepared in a spray can and use it to paint over a fuel tank with an unknown base paint color,even a stock paint from Honda and then coat over that with clear acrylic lacquer,would that hold-up ok ?

Can I use a very good primer(does it need to be acrylic lacquer primer?)to lay a base for that lacquer and will it adhere ?

[Terry in Australia]

Anyway, today was warm, wet and humid, so no good for man, nor beast. I did have a lovely surprise in the form of a box from Yamiya though. Now as I've stressed, this is not a "Yamiya Restoration", but rather, I want to use as many of the original parts, and only use good quality repro's when I just can't get the original part. The rolling (less front wheel) chassis still had the 50 year old tach, speedo and clutch cables attached, so if they're still useable, they'll be used. Yes, shiny new parts look nicer, but they're only original once........ 

Notwithstanding the above, I received a new throttle/switch assembly with the black kill switch as the only OEM one I could find was 300 USD's, plus shipping and taxes, so fcuk that. For the same money I bought the repro switch assembly, all new engine and frame screws and bolts, the little rubber dongers that go over the top of each carb where the cable goes in, a new K0 specific front engine mount and the three long engine bolts/footpeg mounts. I probably could have found some original Honda screws and bolts in my garage, but they'd be pretty rusty and crusty, so I opted for a little bit of bling to match the engine.

K0 Wednesday 11 Nov 2020 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I was sitting here thinking how good it was that I didn't need to do any more painting, when I realised that I still had to find and paint a headlight shell. Fcuk! I went thru several headlight buckets, and found a red one, but it was filthy, and had been repainted, poorly. (I'd love to know what the proportion of good-sh1t paint jobs have been done by motorcyclists, as just about every one I've ever received was awful)

K0 Wednesday 11 Nov 2020 2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I've run out of red paint (more on the way) and anyway, it wasn't a good painting day, so I just gave it a good rub back with some worn out 320 to smooth out the sh1t red paint job that someone had probably been quite proud of, once upon a time. What surprised me, for the second time in days, was that once I'd cut thru the red, just like the airbox, the headlight was a K0 item, previously Teal blue. Maybe I should have painted it that color? Who knows.....

K0 Wednesday 11 Nov 2020 3 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Anyway, I left it to dry in the oven with the airbox and headlight ears, and I'll come back to it when the paint materialises. I am tempted to paint another tank the same red for this bike and leave the old faded K0 tank on my K2 Bitsa, but I haven't decided for sure, I'll think about it though.

K0 Wednesday 11 Nov 2020 5 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

 

     

[Terry in Australia]

I used to do all that Bill, but nowadays I just use rattle cans, and remain mindful of temperature and humidity, the two biggest considerations when using acrylic lacquer, my fave. I never liked using 2K paints back in the day as they’re full of carcinogenic chemicals, and I know one guy who was full of cancer due to his boss not providing sufficient PPE when he was painting cars as an apprentice back in the 80’s. Good stuff to avoid.

Could I purchase a can of acrylic lacquer in a spray can and paint-over the top of old paint on a fuel tank and hope for a decent result if I prepped-it? Or do I have to take it all the way down and start with the same brand paint(acrylic lacquer)from the beginning ? Could I use the same idea on plastic side covers & tailpiece on different bikes ?

No, not really mate. The silver base won't cover anything beneath it, and the translucent (see through) color coat won't cover the old color well. If you're not looking for a minty show finish it might be OK, but not for a really good finish.

OK Terry,understood.
I was curious if I wanted to purchase a standard (non 3-step) one-color application of acrylic lacquer from a paint supplier already prepared in a spray can and use it to paint over a fuel tank with an unknown base paint color,even a stock paint from Honda and then coat over that with clear acrylic lacquer,would that hold-up ok ?

Can I use a very good primer(does it need to be acrylic lacquer primer?)to lay a base for that lacquer and will it adhere ?

No worries Bill, well you can buy a "sealer" that will basically provide a barrier between the old and the new, negating a chemical reaction. The only problem I've had is that they tend to spray kind of "sandy", so when I used it to paint a whole car I rubbed it smooth, but anywhere I rubbed through, caused the new paint to wrinkle up. You're better off using aircraft stripper, taking it back to bare metal, hitting it with etch primer, primer surfacer, color coat, and if it's a metallic, a good coat of clear. If you need more specific details, PM me.

[grcamna2]

Thank you Terry  exactly what I needed.

[Thunder]

Terry! Hey man, following this eagerly mate
Its really looking amazing, and its great that all the years of collecting are coming together budd, i feel ya

BTW, tell me about the "keyhole" head , as when i put mine together (late 69 diecast), i ended up using the head which came with it, and it looked
sand cast???, well rough anyhow, so if you got any way of telling the ages of the early heads I'm all ears

Cheers
Thor

[Terry in Australia]

G’day Thor, welcome to the thread mate! A couple of years ago I had 2 different K0 heads and someone pointed me in the direction of a website where a guy has gone to the trouble of writing a brief history of the K0 head’s chronology. If he’s right, mine is for a sandcast engine, but I like it because there’s no fin damage, so it’ll be going on.

I’ll see if I can find a link and post it here.

[754]

All the heads were Sandcast till early 73, not sure after that.
 But with variations.. if it has the bolt hole up front , just ahead of 2 and 3 sparkplug, it is not early..

[754]

I keep swing reference to some ofvtge heads being due cast.
 I have a issue with that , they don't look like a diecast piece for one..
 And they have to use a sand core  or similar to get some of the features.. I do not see a die solution for that part at all.
 Maybe diecast plus cores, but  between the fins does not look it..

[Terry in Australia]

Yep, agreed Frank, there were (as far as I'm aware) 3 K0 heads without the extra bolt hole, and one with, which I have in my garage somewhere as well.

Anyway, I sneaked out at lunchtime to torque the head down, and I'll install all the rocker gear after work. One thing that's always pissed me off is the 6mm bolts with the cross head's that sit under the rubber pucks. It's hard to get a socket on them, and harder still  to torque a cross head screw, so today I shortened some stainless allen heads with copper washers, and once I'd torqued the head down (to 20 foot pounds) I torqued them down to 10 using my 5mm allen key driver on my torque wrench.

K0 headjob Thurs 2 Nov 2020 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

When I was searching for an early head and base gasket on the weekend, I found 6 new Honda pucks, woohoo!

K0 headjob Thurs 2 Nov 2020 2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I used a smidgeon of blue RTV to seal them in place, and wiped off any excess. All good.

K0 headjob Thurs 2 Nov 2020 3 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

And just as I was packing up, the Fedex man arrived with my early factory workshop manual (the green one) to go in my collection of workshop manuals, I think I have 6 now? All I need now is a K0 owners manual, I've got one for a K4, but K0 ones are as rare as rocking horse poop....

K0 headjob Thurs 2 Nov 2020 4 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[grcamna2]

Terry,This is work done 'By the Book' now.. That's better than just 'rednecking it' 

[754]

Ok , first off if using 3/8 drive you any need to turn a socket thinner , needed in a few spots.
 But a member on here showed me this for the camchain tensioner bolts, use a 1/4 drive. . Problem solved.
 Turned down 3/8 drive works on  the 4 small headbolts.

[PeWe]

The early K2 head my K6 has now has a hole too tight for a 1/4 socket to tighten one of the 4 small M6 bolts. I'll make it wider when head is off next time.
I used allen head M6 bolts withouth washer. Too risky to drop a washer inside the cavities when plugs are off.

Holes for the 4 lower studs rather tight too. I have  3/8 sockets (12mm nuts, forged 13mm on the k6) for those.

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks Guys, it was too tight on the early K0 head for even a 1/4" drive socket, but the cam chain tensioner bolts worked fine with a 3/8" drive 10mm socket. One thing I've learned on this site, is that not all "experts" are experts on all models. Actual "Hands on" knowledge is power.

So, back to reality for a moment, the next step was to install some cam towers and a cam. I ratted thru my tub of cam towers and rockers, and found a set of K0 items. Easy to tell the difference betwixt K0 and later, the K0 rocker shafts only have a cutout on on side of the shaft for the cam tower hold down bolt, and don't have slots on the end of the shafts.

K0 headjob Thurs 2 Nov 2020 5 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

As the K0 cam the seller gave me was so good, I found a minty cam sprocket and some new bolts, and hooked it all up.

K0 headjob Thurs 2 Nov 2020  7 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

While I still had a bit of sunlight, I did the valve clearances. .002 inlet, .003 exhaust, using the "Go, No Go" method, and marked each adjuster screws as I did them, due to my borderline dementia.....

K0 headjob Thurs 2 Nov 2020 6 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

So, the top end is all done, I can't screw the cam cover on until I re-install the tach gear and seal etc, but I need to go and see my mate Fred and pick up a new cam cover gasket as I don't have one here, but that's OK, I sat the vapor blasted cam cover on the engine to keep the dust off, and was happy with the look. I need to install the clutch, starter motor, alternator stator and cover, and gear change cover, and it'll be ready to go into the frame. That will happen on Monday.

K0 headjob Thurs 2 Nov 2020 9 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

K0 headjob Thurs 2 Nov 2020 8 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr   

   

[BPellerine]

and its just that easy,haha,billp