Author Topic: 1975 Amen Chopper (Read 30183 times)

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #100 on:** April 06, 2021, 12:56:07 PM »

Quote from: britman on April 06, 2021, 05:56:34 AM

I did an oil change change and new plugs on mine yesterday. I discovered that I have a fork seal leaking on the left side. I will start looking for an airplane hanger to rent so I will have plenty of room to pull them for the install.

So true! One advantage of my front end, NO SEALS. Good luck......

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #101 on:** April 09, 2021, 02:29:36 PM »

The “chopper” seems to have fallen to bits, this week. Removing the oil tank exposed some parts that have been hidden for years, so lots of small repairs, touch up paint and polishing. One thing leads to another..... The oil tank had some real crud in the bottom, and is getting cleaner. It’s a “C” shaped tank, with the battery mounted in the centre part. Both oil lines are well made, -6 Aero-Quip with screw in adapters at both ends. Very neat and thankfully NO hose clamps!

Both IN and OUT ports are in the lower right, back corner of the tank. Convenient, but seems kind of dumb. They are simple bungs, welded into the tank bottom. They’re very close, and this proximity would suggest that hot oil gets pumped into the tank and then sucked right back down to the pump for re-use? I won’t be using this machine for any long distance touring, so not too concerned. Looking at old catalogues, this is the standard Amen Tank. Surprised more thought didn’t go into it.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #102 on:** April 09, 2021, 03:01:18 PM »

Been collecting lots of history and info on this machine (much of it from this Forum!). I’m definately not a “chopper guy”, but this bike appeals to me more every day! So here’s what I know:

In the early ‘70’s, Maurice “Pete” D., was living on the Family Farm in Tilbury, ON. He was traveling to Michigan regularly, first for school and them his first job. He started dropping in to Carlini’s Cycle Creations, in Dearborn Michigan. His build started with an American Engineering Co. frame that Carlini modified for more rake than stock (“Carlini Hardhead”) and a Carlini front end. From the same shop, Pete bought a low sissy bar, seat, front wheel, small disc brake kit, gas tank (Made by Gary Littlejohn), chain guard and rear fender. He laced a 16” Harley rim to a CB750 rear brake hub. His family had an excellent workshop at home (he and his Dad were also restoring old tractors). He built the bike at home, and did all his own paintwork.

The engine is a Jan/Feb, 1970 Diecast CB750 from an early K0. Around the corner from Carlini’s shop, was Hensley Performance (Gary Hensley). Pete recalls the engine was built with “aluminum rods and big pistons”. The carbs are from a Kawasaki Z1000 and appear to have no modifications, other than pod filters. All the engine covers are chrome and held in place by long, chrome, shouldered bolts, acorn tops of course. The 2” exhaust system came from FUBAR in Anaheim, CA. Pete remembers they were about $80 and shipping to Michigan was free! The tail light is from Drag Specialties; a “Knight Light”.

Pete used a Finch “Neat Kit Chopper Box” to complete the wiring. Key switch, light switch (Hi-Off-Lo) and start button (one 15 amp fuse). There are no turn signals or speedometer, and since the Amen frame has no VIN number, the motorcycle has always been registered a “Honda” with the engine number as the VIN.....

Pete rode the bike on weekends and holidays and his lovely wife recalls attending a few shows with it too. She’s very small and lightweight, but said she used to love riding on the back! For almost 50 years, it was always kept, under cover, in the Farm workshop and has never been apart. Pete suffered a mild stroke a few years ago. Despite recovering nicely (he’s still running the huge farm and restoring old tractors), his riding days are over. I’m pretty sure I was being interviewed, before he sold it on to me.......

Whenever I work on it, I remind myself of the care and respect it’s been given all along. I’ll try and do the same.

Medyo Bastos · « **Reply #103 on:** April 09, 2021, 03:31:20 PM »

Great story! Thanks for sharing with us!

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BenelliSEI · « **Reply #104 on:** April 09, 2021, 05:23:30 PM »

Quote from: Medyo Bastos on April 09, 2021, 03:31:20 PM

Great story! Thanks for sharing with us!

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My pleasure! Helps me keep it in my head too!

hondaron · « **Reply #105 on:** April 09, 2021, 05:50:20 PM »

Great details and history

We are all just taking good care of our motorcycles hoping that the next caregivers appreciate them as much as we do 😀

Yours are certainly more than well cared for and given a good life 😀

Don R · « **Reply #106 on:** April 09, 2021, 06:14:05 PM »

I love the story, it's always better when it has one. I knew the previous owners of most of my bikes. When I drug the Drag bike home I felt like Tom was watching over it. Every missing part seemed to appear in my spares boxes and it fell together right up to the motor. (that's another story) A guy I barely knew even walked down my driveway one day and gave me the original 4-1 header.

britman · « **Reply #107 on:** April 10, 2021, 04:24:28 AM »

That is a very special bike that has ended up with the perfect new owner.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #108 on:** April 10, 2021, 08:58:36 AM »

Quote from: britman on April 10, 2021, 04:24:28 AM

That is a very special bike that has ended up with the perfect new owner.

Thanks for that post...... The amount of grit in the oil tank has me concerned (see my "Cleaning Oil Tank" post). Next shop day will include popping off the oil filter and checking what's buried in the folds of paper.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #109 on:** April 10, 2021, 12:57:45 PM »

Chopper is spreading out....

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #110 on:** April 10, 2021, 01:01:03 PM »

Fully sorted the LHS foot peg (no more foot boards). Note the rubber covered “peg” that stops the footpeg from ever rotating on the mounting bolt.

Also made a new spring for the side stand and “modified” the under/backside of the dump pipe (gently on the press) so the stand tucks up out of the way. The footboards totally hid the end of the stand, but now it sticks out enough to be able to kick it out with a boot. Major improvement.

Over to the other side next! Complicated. I need to get the brake pedal positioned just right. There is no return stopper, it rests under the foot peg.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #111 on:** April 11, 2021, 11:32:29 AM »

Got the oil tank really clean today! Flushed, dried and coated in oil. Install next. Dropped the filter and swapped in a new one too...... Touched up the frame with Tremclad “fire red” and seems a perfect match.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #112 on:** April 12, 2021, 01:08:12 PM »

Plodding away. Rainy forecast, so may get some stuff done this week.

Oil tank is back in, hung the electrical box below it. Sorted rear brake linkage and brake light switch. The Tremclad “fire red” dried to a perfect match.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #113 on:** April 17, 2021, 06:25:04 AM »

Got all the exhaust pipes (4), dump pipes (2), foot pegs (replacing the ugly foot boards), kicker, shifter back on. All the exposed areas got good clean up, some new hardware, and some polish. Turned out well.

Just as I was thinking I had it all nicely buttoned up, another lightning bolt struck! Check out the last photograph I posted here, a few days ago. The two large steel (chromed plates) have been reversed..... left is on the right and vice-versa. The original builder/owner made up spacers to go between the engine top bolt and the plates. If you look closely, there are spacers welded to the plates and both he (and I this week!) stupidly flipped them facing out. I checked some old photographs Pete gave me, and they’ve always been this way. Amazing what can be so obvious and still missed! Pulled everything apart, reassembled and had to make up some shorter hardware. Much cleaner look and it all fit together “as it should”.

Corrected a +45 year old “brain fart” today! Nice it wasn’t one of mine!

754 · « **Reply #114 on:** April 17, 2021, 07:50:31 AM »

The spacers are on the motor plates, when you buy the frame, and yes they go to the inside.

Tom · « **Reply #115 on:** April 17, 2021, 03:23:04 PM »

Great progress and story John, it’s coming along nicely, interesting about the rear engine plates, I have a box of new chrome and will check mine soon. I am hoping to buy a bike lift shortly and make a spot for it in the workshop it’s very overcrowded atm.

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #116 on:** April 18, 2021, 05:13:45 PM »

Quote from: Tom on April 17, 2021, 03:23:04 PM

Great progress and story John, it’s coming along nicely, interesting about the rear engine plates, I have a box of new chrome and will check mine soon. I am hoping to buy a bike lift shortly and make a spot for it in the workshop it’s very overcrowded atm.

Thanks Tom! Do you have a box of original Amen parts? As Frank notes above, the engine plates have big spacers, welded permanently to the top holes. They face with the spacers to the inside! Curious if yours have pegs or lugs on the bottom holes, to prevent the footpegs from rolling around the thru’ bolt, if they come loose? Stock 750Ks have the pegs welded to the frames. On mine, I welded small studs to the exhaust brackets, as the plates were smooth.......

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #117 on:** April 18, 2021, 05:18:10 PM »

Started marking up the rear tail light bracket today. I want to trim it to the exact shape of the tail light, and then shape and punch some holes into the lic. plate portion. It’s ridiculously heavy, and all hangs off a single bolt that secures the back of the chain guard and sissy bar.

I did receive the reproduction tail light I ordered, and it’s a perfect match for the original.

Thinking about it now; maybe a piece of aluminum would be even better......

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #118 on:** April 18, 2021, 05:28:27 PM »

Another detail. After finding so much crap in the bottom of the oil tank, I was a bit concerned. Drained the sump and pulled the oil filter. I let the filter drain completely on a bed of paper towel and then really opened up the paper folds. Any “sparkle” is usually found at the base of the folds. The filter was spotless, so seems the crud stayed in the tank. Interestingly, it has no drain plug, so the only way to empty it is pull the lines off the engine ports. Probably why it was never cleaned out properly......

Good to go for another 45 years?

BenelliSEI · « **Reply #119 on:** April 20, 2021, 02:08:59 PM »

Finished up the back end of the chopper today. Brake steady bar bolt (through the brake backing plate) was not set up for a lock pin. Modified the bolt a fitted one. Completed the the lic. plate/ tail light bracket. Started cutting a new one in alloy, then decided to clean and paint the original instead. Need to keep reminding myself to keep this project just the way Marcel built it in 1974......

Wanted to paint a few bits, but it’s so damn cold today, I’ll just have to wait. I discovered that Tremclad high gloss “Fire Red” is a perfect match.

Just John · « **Reply #120 on:** April 20, 2021, 06:27:49 PM »

We offered two modifications to the AMEN oil tanks back in the 70s. Number 1 was adding a drain plug and Number 2 was changing the cap and fill tube to the side of the tank. It cost $8.00 to have the oil tank rechromed and $20 to have it professionally painted! I could get the rechromed tank turned around in a day and a painted tank would take a week.

Medyo Bastos · « **Reply #121 on:** April 20, 2021, 06:40:51 PM »

I’d welcome a picture of either.

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Tom · « **Reply #122 on:** April 20, 2021, 08:07:26 PM »

John, I dug out my rear engine mount plates and yes they have the spacers, and some pics of other new chrome bits, I still have to get my Santee electrics box replated. I doubt I will use the coil box I dislike them and will try and hide the coils somewhere else.

Tom · « **Reply #123 on:** April 20, 2021, 08:08:59 PM »

Key box , and coil box.

Tom · « **Reply #124 on:** April 20, 2021, 08:11:53 PM »

Got the oil tank replated and some repo guides and top nuts.

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Author Topic: 1975 Amen Chopper (Read 30183 times)