Topic: One More

[britman]

I will be off to North Carolina in two weeks to bring home another project.  Of course it is blue and I have to travel to get it, damned if I can ever buy anything local and any other color but blue.  1974 CB750K with a speedometer showing 7k.  Has not run since 2015, rough as 40 grit sandpaper, but looks to be all there to include original pipes, rusted of course. Found it on Cycletrader, at a decent price.  From talking to the seller it was inherited after her Father's death, one stipulation of the sale is that I have to keep her updated on the restoration process which I really enjoy.  Very nice Lady, restores my faith that there are still good people around.  I will post some shots when the bike is sitting on Virginia soil.  I will turn 72 prior to picking this one up. They are taking a little longer to get done now, sometimes I will have at least three 10mm wrenches pulled because I can't find the first one, but damn I still enjoy the process.......

[MauiK3]

No worries, keep it up, at 70 I never thought I’d be doing another but I’m just getting started on my 73 Z1 Kawasaki I found here. It’s very rough and was one step away from the scrap heap out in a tarp barn here on Maui. Looking forward to the thread. I have a K3 tank and side covers available if needed.

[britman]

Just unloaded, 500 miles total for the trip, half of it in the most driving rain I have ever encountered.  It is a K5 and shows 8K on the clock.  Clean Virginia title, good compression when kicked over, inside of the tank looks new, outside not so much.  I believe the pipes are intact except for rust out in the tips, will know more when they are pulled.  Cleaning this motor is going to be a real test of my patience and endurance.  I believe it has good bones, but doing the necessary odds and ends to see if it runs is first on the agenda.  One of these days I am going to buy a 750 this is not blue, at least I have some left over paint from the last one...

[RAFster122s]

They park that near the ocean for a few years?

[Hoosier Honda]

Looks like a great project. Nice find.

[desertrefugee]

Nice score if a bit of a project.

So, what's wrong with Planet Blue?  Arguably one of the nicest of the SOHC 750s colors...

For the record, mine looks a bit better on the outside than inside.

[britman]

They park that near the ocean for a few years?

Nope, no where near, just sitting for over 15 years in a dank leaking shed in the Carolina foothills.  I am surprised the only thing frozen is the front master cylinder.  Of course I was in the garage a few minutes ago doing a more in-depth walk around with a cold Diet Pepsi and forgot I hadn't checked under the seat, all there including a long gone battery and the biggest mouse house I have ever seen in the tool tray.  Sorry no photos, damn I hate those little vermin, shop vac to the rescue.....
A nice owners manual with the plastic intact was still in the seat compartment, made up for the furry SOB's...

I really do like Planet Blue, a great Honda color, one of the best, but this is my third one in row.  Be nice to see a little orange or green now and then....

[BenelliSEI]

I will be off to North Carolina in two weeks to bring home another project.  Of course it is blue and I have to travel to get it, damned if I can ever buy anything local and any other color but blue.  1974 CB750K with a speedometer showing 7k.  Has not run since 2015, rough as 40 grit sandpaper, but looks to be all there to include original pipes, rusted of course. Found it on Cycletrader, at a decent price.  From talking to the seller it was inherited after her Father's death, one stipulation of the sale is that I have to keep her updated on the restoration process which I really enjoy.  Very nice Lady, restores my faith that there are still good people around.  I will post some shots when the bike is sitting on Virginia soil.  I will turn 72 prior to picking this one up. They are taking a little longer to get done now, sometimes I will have at least three 10mm wrenches pulled because I can't find the first one, but damn I still enjoy the process.......

Nice find! I too swore I was not going to do another one, then the Sandcast came along with the chopper..... I’m 68 and slowing down a bit too. But, I’m convinced these projects are the “healthiest” thing I do. Keep up the excellent work!

P.S. the #561 engine for the Sandcast is still sitting on a trolly. Not my favourite part either! My K0 and K1 are red. Guess what colour the Sandcast is?

[MauiK3]

Here we go, have fun with it, keeps the mind working.

[Jimcg]

But, I’m convinced these projects are the “healthiest” thing I do. Keep up the excellent work!

So true! A Harley mechanic who comes to us frequently said a few months ago about his customers that as long as people keep and sometimes uses their bikes, they stay young and functional. Once they sell the bike they age quickly. First they buy a convertible and a few years after that you see them somewhere with a walker...

So keep your bikes! 😁

/Jim

[britman]

Sometimes a good bath will make you feel a lot better, unfortunately it only makes you look better if you are an old neglected motorcycle.  I took one also, but I am still not that pretty.  Hooked up a battery via jumpers, all the lights are there, turn signals don't blink, bad flasher I am sure, cranks over beautifully.  Oil is draining overnight, black as hell with a slight gas smell, petcock probably stayed on for years.  I apologize for the blurry shots, it is my old digital camera, I am still not able to load shots from my phone. I will figure it out one day hopefully......

 

[newday777]

Sometimes a good bath will make you feel a lot better, unfortunately it only makes you look better if you are an old neglected motorcycle.  I took one also, but I am still not that pretty.  Hooked up a battery via jumpers, all the lights are there, turn signals don't blink, bad flasher I am sure, cranks over beautifully.  Oil is draining overnight, black as hell with a slight gas smell, petcock probably stayed on for years.  I apologize for the blurry shots, it is my old digital camera, I am still not able to load shots from my phone. I will figure it out one day hopefully......

It definitely cleaned up much better.......

My phone pictures always turn up not posting here either. This forum has way too small requirements on picture size.......

[newday777]

My K5

[Stev-o]

Nice find Britman...I too like a nice Planet Blue K5 [sold the one I had]

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

The bike cleaned up pretty well with a wash.  A polish and buff and that Planet Blue should sparkle.  I love that color so much, I used it to paint my 550 bodywork.

[70CB750]

Dang, I did not know we are neighbors. 

I am near Warrenton.

[RAFster122s]

Happy Birthday Britman! Hope your 72nd bday was a good one full of smiles, good memories and laughter.

[britman]

The bike cleaned up pretty well with a wash.  A polish and buff and that Planet Blue should sparkle.  I love that color so much, I used it to paint my 550 bodywork.

The tank may be my biggest dilemma in the whole process.  The inside is perfect, I don't even think it will need coating, but the outside does have rust through the paint surface on both the blue and black.  The decals however are in good to great condition.  I am pretty sure I can save the black with minimal touch up by breaking though the clear coat with light sanding.  The planet blue is going require going down to bare metal, primer, and a entire re-paint.  I don't know if I can accomplish this with careful taping and hand sanding, or strip the whole tank and order new decals do the tank from scratch.  I do not own a paint sprayer, never have, I always have rattle canned with pretty good results, ordering quality automotive paint and 2k clear coat.  The final option would be what I did with my everyday rider K4, cover the imperfections with a couple of good coats of clear and let the patina show, which has grown on me immensely.  I am going to stare it a while longer while getting it up and running and go from there.  The left side cover is broken beyond repair so I know I will probably ordering a repo set, so there will be painting regardless....   

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

The bike cleaned up pretty well with a wash.  A polish and buff and that Planet Blue should sparkle.  I love that color so much, I used it to paint my 550 bodywork.

The tank may be my biggest dilemma in the whole process.  The inside is perfect, I don't even think it will need coating, but the outside does have rust through the paint surface on both the blue and black.  The decals however are in good to great condition.  I am pretty sure I can save the black with minimal touch up by breaking though the clear coat with light sanding.  The planet blue is going require going down to bare metal, primer, and a entire re-paint.  I don't know if I can accomplish this with careful taping and hand sanding, or strip the whole tank and order new decals do the tank from scratch.  I do not own a paint sprayer, never have, I always have rattle canned with pretty good results, ordering quality automotive paint and 2k clear coat.  The final option would be what I did with my everyday rider K4, cover the imperfections with a couple of good coats of clear and let the patina show, which has grown on me immensely.  I am going to stare it a while longer while getting it up and running and go from there.  The left side cover is broken beyond repair so I know I will probably ordering a repo set, so there will be painting regardless....

I didn't realize the paint had so many issues.  I like the idea of keeping the patina.  Alternatively, I'd skip the rattlecan and have a professional painter spray new paint.  ColorRite has great reproduction paint and their Planet Blue Metallic is pretty spot on. 

Low Pressure Mouldings in the UK makes great reproduction side covers.

[RAFster122s]

Frankenstuff makes good side covers too here in the US...

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Frankenstuff makes good side covers too here in the US...

Yes, I've used his 550K covers, too.

[britman]

The carbs are off an on the work bench.  For a bike sitting this long, I am truly impressed.  A good cleaning and new bowl gaskets should do the trick.  Not all that dirty and very little varnish. 

I used Frankensuff covers on my last one, good quality and fast shipping.  Will order them again.

I am moving rather slow here now, hit almost a 100 degrees today and tomorrow is going to be worst.  I believe good old Virginia humidity ranks right up there with the best of them....

[britman]

When you hit that point that you have three of every size wrench out, it is time to clean up, go in and shower, and fix a couple bologna sandwiches.  Valve lash set, slight tweak on all, but not all that bad.  Static timing dialed in fairly close, may be a test fire  relatively soon.....

[Stev-o]

When you hit that point that you have three of every size wrench out...

I call it quits when I have two of every wrench out!  Looking good Britman

[richmagee7]

Nice project Britman.  I'll always have a soft spot for the planet blue.