Topic: Remove Oil Hose B to Replace

[74CB750K4]

New to the forum and have been lurking for a while now.  I have a '74 CB750 in the Flake Sunrise Orange.  My dad originally bought it brand new in '74 and has kept it in a garage ever since.  In 2000 I started riding it and it only had about 3,000 miles on it.  I rode it for a few years and it went back into the garage until this summer.  It has about 6,200 miles now.  Had a few things replaced to get it road worthy... rear shoes, front pads and a new caliper since the old one was seized up, new brake hoses and new master cylinder and brake lever assembly since nothing would pump through the old hoses, new rear shocks, oil/filter, air filter, new plugs.  Starts right up and runs like a champ.

I have an oil leak in oil hose B which I believe is the return from the engine to the oil tank.  It's dripping after a ride and the bike and oil is nice and hot.  Drips from the ferrule on the hose where it meets the braided line down near where it connects to the engine.  I assume the line in there is cracked and with the heat the thin hot oil is leaking out.  After it cools, the next day it stops dripping.  Read a ton of posts about having a shop make a new hose using my connectors and I found one that will do it so that's not an issue.

Question is, since it's the return line, can I remove that hose without draining the oil from the tank?  The tube in the oil tank for the return should extend above the oil level in the tank, right?  The feed hose behind it looks fine, no leaks.  I just changed the oil so I don't really want to drain it again to change this hose, but I guess if I have to it's not like I have to do a full oil change, just refill the oil tank when I'm done I guess.  Any advice/suggestions?

Love all the pics of everyone's bikes.

[BenelliSEI]

Correct. You will lose a bit, have some ready for top up afterwards..... there is an “0” ring under the engine fitting an a large alloy sealing washer at the tank end. Don’t lose them.

[newday777]

Welcome aboard 74CB750K4
That's great your dad kept it for you all these years and wow so low miles on it too!
You need to post pictures of it as we like to see them too and remember...... No pictures.... It didn't happen.....

Where are you located?

Back in 75 when I was wanting more speed than my 1 yr old 74 450 was capable of I wanted an orange 74 750 to replace it with.... None were left over so I bought a Planet Blue 75 K5.
I have another 75 K5 I bought from a friend's estate that I've known this bike since 1976. Fun to be back on it again.

[74CB750K4]

Copy that on the O ring and washer, I have new ones too that will fit if needed.  I'll see how the return hose comes out from the shop and then maybe next year when I change the oil again I'll have them do the feed line once the tank is drained.

My dad actually had a '73 350 in Green and sold it to buy the 750.  He sold it to a family member and I was hoping to track it down but that guy sold it a long time ago to buy a Silver Wing when they came out in the early 80's.  My dad wanted the 750 in purple, which I think was actually maroon, but couldn't get one in stock.  The dealer called one day that a truck dropped off a couple orange ones by mistake that were to go to another dealer and if he could get there before the truck came back one was his.  Luckily he beat the truck

It's in pretty good shape, some dents here and there from him stacking wood all around it, gas tank top is a little faded like the flake orange ones get, some corrosion on the engine and chrome, but it gives it some character

I'm in PA.

Attached is a pic if it works...

[BenelliSEI]

Such a great history. Keep it just the way it is! I bought my K4 from  the original (1st) owner, but having your Dad’s bike is even better! Enjoy.

[newday777]

Yes it's great to have the history in it passed on down the generations. Those dents and faded paint are petina. Love it.

[PeWe]

Good looking bike almost new!
Still low mile bike well worth to keep original. It is part of your family.
Were the rear brake shoes really worn?

I found a used brake panel with stock Honda brake shoes that did not look worn to my K2 build.
That rear brake works really good with a good bite without locking the wheel when braking.
Maybe old good asbestos shoes

My other CB750 has new shoes but not that good. I have ridden that one over 6200 miles this year only; )

[74CB750K4]

The rear shoes were not bad at all, but I figured after 46 years I felt a little more comfortable with new ones.  The piston in the front caliper was seized up so that needed replaced along with new pads, brake lines, and master cylinder.  Should have a new oil hose early next week so we'll see how that turns out.

[74CB750K4]

I know it's been a while since I posted this, figured I'd wrap it up and say I had a local shop make a new hose a couple months back and worked perfectly. Below is the pic. I don't love the ends they used, but after telling them at least 6 times not to use brass ends I should be happy they are at least silver! No more leaks. The bottom bolt was a little tough to remove but got it replaced no problem, and no oil leaked out. Cost around $50. Stored away for winter now

[MauiK3]

I had my hoses rebuilt by a member here, I forget who it was but I could dig through stuff to find it. They look great.
Check in if you ever decide to re do them.

[PeWe]

Those black hoses look really fine.  I gave my K6 black hoses a week ago.
Look better than the old ss covered version it had before.

[Terry in Australia]

Looks fantastic mate, don't restore it, over-restored CB750's are a dime a dozen nowadays, and once they're restored, their history is wiped. An original bike with a little patina is a lot more interesting. Enjoy!

[PeWe]

Yes, a good looking original is worth extra. It has a story to tell.

A cheap rotten bike will cost a lot when new tank set, 4-4 and other parts are needed if going the stock look restore.
Find used good looking parts not easy if not knowing a long time hoarder willing to sell.

[74CB750K4]

Definitely keeping it as is. No reason to mess with it, runs and looks great. Just need some fresh rubber in the spring and I'm good to go.

[Terry in Australia]

Good job mate, and yes, definitely put new tyres on it!

[74CB750K4]

I put these tires on in 2000 and honestly they are still in good shape with soft rubber. Bike was kept in a dry garage and no sun beating on them. But the front laid flat for a while and it always leaked a bit so time to change them up. Probably a set of Shinko 712's. It's a fun bike for the weekends, not a daily driver.

[Terry in Australia]

Good Choice mate, I put Stinko 712's on both my F2 and K0, and they're excellent tyres, at a bargain price!

F2 K0 new tyres 6 Nov 2020 1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr