Author Topic: Late Thread - Ratrod/Cafe Project (Read 5330 times)

750rus · « **on:** February 25, 2007, 08:53:04 PM »

since i just recently joined the forum, i already have most of the work done. i thought some of you would find the project enteresting anyway.

i started out with a 1974 CB750, mostly stock aside from the rattle can paint job and the super sweet home made luggage rack/sissy bar. i bought it righ, only $500 and i rode it home. i took the rack off, gave it a set of carb kits, pod filters, and clubman bars and rode it most of the summer.

750rus · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2007, 08:58:46 PM »

once it turned cold i decided it was time for tear down.

bill440cars · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2007, 09:03:32 PM »

Hey, nice buy there 750.

Nice ride too!

Nothing wrong with that. at all.

Anybody who picks up on one of these bikes and refreshes it, no matter what he does to do it, is all right and is too be commended. Take care guy and DO take care of that bike.

Later on, Bill

750rus · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2007, 09:15:53 PM »

i really wish i would have taken more pics. the forks were terrible shape. the steering/triple tree bearings were gone. the wheel bearings were shot. i quickly learned that nobody had pulled any maintenance on this bike...ever. i decided to paint the frame with "hammered finish". it as called bronze, but it looks dark grey.

its late, i'll try to continue tomorrow.

Loas 78 CB750K · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2007, 09:43:40 PM »

Nice ride. I got my 78 750K for $700. Seems that people get these bikes and some how miss how great they are. I am in the middle of taking care of maintenance that hasn't been done in a while.

scunny · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2007, 10:06:45 PM »

in all fairness, you should strip the bike completly, then we can have a pic by pic rebuild to watch.
we like pictures

ProTeal55 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2007, 07:31:25 AM »

Quote from: scunny on February 25, 2007, 10:06:45 PM

we like pictures

The above statement is true..
Looking forward to seeing more pics of your bikes progress....

750rus · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2007, 09:03:44 PM »

i hear you on the pics. i really wish i would have been better about taking them. i guess i was too worried about what i was doing with the bike. if not taking enough pictures is my only regret, i'll be very happy.

chime in if this has happened to you. my buddies are always wanting to help me with the bike. aside from my one friend that is a honda certified mechanic, i haven't really let them. well, one time i let it slip that i was going home to put on my new shocks that had just came in. my buddy showed up so i gave him a chance, he is a really great friend. to shorten the story i ended up tearing the frame down again and repainting it. ( sorry, i had to vent a little )

on with the project. i bought new spokes for my wheels and had my honda dude lace and true them. he also painted them while they were apart. at the same time, we replaced the wheel bearings and rebuilt the brakes. his help is all in exchange for some tattoo work. i think i have still spent more time on him.

750rus · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2007, 09:12:20 PM »

i wantd to do something original with the guages. i looked on ebay and at carpy's and nothing really caught my eye. so i asked my brother to help me. he works at a company that makes vinyl signs and i knew he could make me a really cool overlay. i gave him a few ideas and this is what he came up with. i think he did a great job.

750rus · « **Reply #9 on:** February 26, 2007, 09:14:27 PM »

here we have the wheels on the bike.

mrblasty · « **Reply #10 on:** February 26, 2007, 11:42:35 PM »

Looking sharp, keep up the good work.

xtalon · « **Reply #11 on:** February 27, 2007, 07:30:32 AM »

Looking awesome so far.

More! MORE!

--xTalon

bill440cars · « **Reply #12 on:** February 27, 2007, 08:10:32 AM »

I'm enjoying this, I'm not so much on painted rims myself, but that's just me. I am really liking that speedometer! That is so cool. I've always like that lettering. Keep up the good work and also the posting with the pictures. Looking Good!

Later on, Bill

Loas 78 CB750K · « **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2007, 11:46:40 AM »

That gauge is hot. Any idea how much for that job if your not related to the guy making them? I've always liked white gauges and the Cafe was a great touch.

750rus · « **Reply #14 on:** March 02, 2007, 09:32:55 AM »

laos- my bro probably shouldn't have been using company product and company time to make my guage face, but i'll ask him anyway. if it would help you, he made me several different samples and i would gladly mail you one. i'm only using my speedo, so that is all i have for a face.

750rus · « **Reply #15 on:** March 02, 2007, 10:00:56 AM »

the engine didn't need any work, it already ran great. so all i wanted to do was clean it up and paint it. i couldn't decide if i wanted it silver or black. i decided on VHT brand GM satin black. it went on smooth and thick. then to give it a little bit of flash i ground the paint off the edge of the cooling fins on the head, and the top of the tappet cover. i had a chrome points cover and clutch cover and the opposite side of the motor was completely black. so i was very carefull and ground the paint off around the 'Honda'.

750rus · « **Reply #16 on:** March 02, 2007, 10:03:05 AM »

here is another view

750rus · « **Reply #17 on:** March 02, 2007, 10:06:25 AM »

here is our balancing act puting it in the frame. and a pic with it in along with a few other things like oil tank and new pegs.

bill440cars · « **Reply #18 on:** March 02, 2007, 10:23:41 AM »

I know that I said previously that I wasn't much for painted rims but, your bike really is looking tough and they (the rims) just seem to go with what you are doing with your bike.

Great job! Keep up the good work there.

Later on, Bill

xtalon · « **Reply #19 on:** March 02, 2007, 01:12:10 PM »

Quote from: 750rus on March 02, 2007, 10:03:05 AM

here is another view

That engine looks AWESOME!!!

--xTalon

750rus · « **Reply #20 on:** March 02, 2007, 08:22:34 PM »

thanks for the kind words, guys. a little modivation is always welcome.

all my posts from here on out are what i am currently working on. i've basicly got three projects going on right now. i'm working on getting my tank, rear fender and side covers painted. i'm getting mt exhaust put on. and i'm trying to straiten out my wiring nightmare.

i've currently got my tank, fender, and covers in primer. only after block sanding my freakin arm off. i could never do bodywork for a living, i was ready to take my own life after only a few hours. the only real modification is that i bobbed my rear fender.

750rus · « **Reply #21 on:** March 02, 2007, 08:39:54 PM »

my exhaust is off of a cb750 DOHC super sport, i'm not sure what year. it is a 4 into 1 Kerker. i sand blasted it and painted it with VHT black header paint, and it looks brand new. i also used the flanges from the DOHC after drilling out the bolt holes and rigging some super cool spacers. give it that real "old school" ratrod look i used 1 inch header wrap. i then had to make rear hanger that mounted to the passenger foot peg.

750rus · « **Reply #22 on:** March 02, 2007, 08:57:47 PM »

my wiring really hasn't been too bad so far. somebody had hacked it up and put in some pretty dumb jumper wires and splices. so while my harness was off my bike, i unwrapped it and fixed all the problems, i hope. i won't really know untill everything else is put together and i can try it. another hurdle is that my starter/kill switch was junk. i came up with one off of about a '83 cb750 that was brand new. hopefully i have it wired correctly.

750rus · « **Reply #23 on:** March 12, 2007, 09:19:41 PM »

so, its been a little while since my last post, but i have been busy working on the bike and have gotten a lot done. and once again i'm waiting on parts. i'v pretty much assembled averything, minus a seat. my girlfriend's dad i refinishing it for me as a gift, so i'm going to be patient. my tank, fender, and side covers are now painted and put on the bike. all of my lights are installed and after a full afternoon, they actually work correctly. i've rebuilt my master cylinder this week. it was pretty easy aside from the snap ring in the top.i'm hoping that tommorrow i can put a little gas in it and see what happens. i put in a pour in tank liner. the instructions said to wait till i couldn't smell any fumes before i put any gas in it. after rebuilding my wiring harness, i'm sure what is going to happen.

750rus · « **Reply #24 on:** March 12, 2007, 09:28:49 PM »

here is a really crappy pic of my tail light. it is off of a Whizzer motor bike.

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Author Topic: Late Thread - Ratrod/Cafe Project (Read 5330 times)

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Loas 78 CB750K

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