Topic: RE: F'nK project bike.

[Don R]

  My brother and I made a deal on a pair of bikes, I had to clean gl1000 carbs and got all of his 750 stuff.
   I drug home a really bad F2 that I parted out and cut up and a taken apart but titled 75/76F as it was when he got it.  I pulled the cylinder to inspect. It had a little rust so the motor will need a bore job or a different cylinder.  I did get it turning over but knew it needed a good look. I'm still looking for the carbs and airbox. It's in one of two packed junky spaces, either my brothers garage or storage unit.
  The plan is to re-assemble it complete without a restoration and pass it along to someone that can finish it.

[Medyo Bastos]

Ahhh, fun in the horizon!


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[Don R]

 Fact. I've decided three 750's and a goldwing are enough. The problem is I have 5 750's that I like and a couple more I'm not attached to.

[Don R]

 I dug out a nice GE sealed beam headlight but struck out on sidecovers. I have two headers but no stock muffler.  The storage unit has a complete head and a couple rocker covers. I have a center outlet caliper off of a 76A which matches the F0. Not sure I want a double disc on a bike I'm not in love with. Yet. I missed a stock seat for a hundred off Ebay with a tail cowl. That was a deal even though it needed a cover.
  Doing the math, the parts may be worth more than the sum. 

[Don R]

 I'm still short the original carbs and air box but Sunday I'll scope out the garage where it was stored one more time. Then I need to find someone that needs an F. I have a chance to procure something I really want but need to move a few projects bikes.

[Medyo Bastos]

A matic airbox? I will look under my bed.


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[Don R]

 Sorry, F airbox. I think it had round tops so should match a K.  I looked under the spare bed at my house, all firebird trim and glass.

[Don R]

  My brother traded me this 76F for working on his 76 Goldwing. The PO took it apart because that's what he does, and the parts tote got lost at my brothers. Anyway, I parted out a wrecked 75F a couple years ago and have everything it needs. The cylinder had a bit of rust so I'll either hone it and see or swap a nice 75 cylinder I have.

 When I began this affliction, I drug home a late K0 frame and matching engine with a 71 title. The frame bars were cut and I borrowed a few parts over the years. I'm repairing the frame and having a pro racecar builder weld the tubes in for me. My plan is to put all of the spare K0 parts I have on it and pass it along for a massive profit. L0L! I only have one K0 front hub and it's for my Lester mag bike. But I do have a spare two hole rear hub, footpegs, engine bolts, brakes, a possibly correct fork assembly. etc. we'll see how far I can take it without spending mega bucks.
 Neither will be keepers. I need the room and am working full time on the bikes until Jan. 1, then I'm off the bikes and full time on the Firebird. 

[Don R]

 Tomorrow I'm taking the Louisville bike to storage and bringing the F home to put together. 
  edit, Well, that didn't happen. I started repairing the K0 frame with a freeze split and removed lower frame bars.

[Don R]

 I drug out the original F0 engine for the 75. The one that was in it when I got it looks like a 75K motor. It had a wee bit of rust in a cylinder. This motor had a broken spark plug and an easy out had been stuck in it. I promptly broke off another champion plug, new head time!
  I popped off the head and checked the cylinders, they look really clean. I dug out another 392 head that my brother got for it a while back. I gave it the once over and cleaned in the parts tank. The gasket box had a new old head gasket and seals, so on they went with the freshly cleaned replacement head. I'll measure the cam for wear and if it checks out, re-use it on the same rockers and cam holders.
  My new torque wrench came out if it's box and it got checked against my old trusty Craftsman inch pound wrench, they read pretty close. I'll re-torque it tomorrow and order some rocker cover gaskets.
  That makes a complete correct motor that doesn't need bored for a change.  Next up, find some F0 or F1 carbs from the tote of carb racks we collected and look at the air boxes. The orange F0 is in the storage unit so it needs to come home to be re-united with its engine.

  We never found the original parts tote that came along with these bikes but I parted out a wrecked F0 a long time ago and still have the important things to use on this one.

[Don R]

 While finding the parts for the F0, I began to sort all of my stash by what it is. I'd like to build a complete late K0 to sell but also need to keep enough set aside for a correct no number K0 motor for my K0 diecast.
  The two drag bikes added more parts to the mix and it's become clear I need to assemble each engine with its best parts so I can reduce what's here to usable engines and pass the extra along to those that need it.
  I found myself looking at more storage but realized what I really need is less stuff to store.

[Don R]

 The head that came off of the Engine that was in the F had 1 broken off spark plug, now it has 3. I tried the usual easy outs, left hand drills, torx bits, a chisel, I even mig welded a bolt into a drilled shell from the chamber side. No dice. I really don't need the head, not sure why I'm wasting time on it.

[Don R]

 I ordered two seat covers, one for my gl1000 and one for the n'F I'll need to go by storage and grab the seat or the bike. If I get the bike, I'll put it together and get it running. Depending on the snow removal in the storage unit.
 The seat is an aftermarket top on a stock pan. I'm going to whittle it down and get some high density foam to build up the pad a bit. I'm planning to leave a slight step in the front.

[Don R]

  I dug out a set of carbs for the n'F bike today. It looks like 086a or 7a. I'll probably re-jet the 7a, they are clean and were on a performance engine recently. 110/40 worked well on my 76F.

  Thye 86A carbs had the F float valves in them. Also, the seat covers were delivered, they both look good, gl1000 and 76F   

[Don R]

 I got the seat off the n'F (pronounced enough) from storage.
   It wasn't a stock Honda pan with an aftermarket seat like I had hoped. It actually has a large H2 molded into it. I peeled the cover and began sculpting the foam into the shape of something I don't despise. After an hour I despise it less. I'm looking on ebay again.

[Don R]

 I ultrasonic cleaned the trim for F carbs today, they even had the air screw covers still on them. I did however twist off a bowl screw. My grabit set is missing the correct size easy out. I'll swap to a good bowl for now.
  Edit, I spent an hour trying to remove the broken drain screw only to find out the overflow tube is split. I'm almost glad I ruined it.
  Trimming that double saddle seat down to near stock size is making a genuine mess. I'll need the shop vac and leaf blower when this is done.

[Don R]

 I got the set of carbs done. Thank goodness for spare parts carbs. One bowl had a bent overflow, it straightened without breaking. 

[Don R]

 I've been sanding down the seat foam from the double bucket seat, oh my. It looks a lot closer but still a little kawi LTD'ish I'm not going to get the cafe bike shape I wanted and still make this cover work. 
 There are pieces of foam grit everywhere. Shop vac and a leaf blower may be required.
  I quit and bought a seat off ebay for $5 plus 33 shipping.

[Don R]

 My thought is, re-cover this stock seat, the foam is eroded a bit so go with that and let the front part sit a little lower. I'll sand it smooth and put the upholstery padding on it.
   I'll drop in a used battery, and if possible, more recent tires. If not, I'll get some new ones. CB400F handlebars, short cables and I'm thinking I should lose the orange paint.
  I have the paint match for sulphur yellow in duplicolor, it could get spray bombed yellow or satin black with gold stripes. I think that's the F model equivalent to resale red. I'm going to make a 2.5" glasspack stainless steel muffler to fit the F0 header. 

 Does this make sense?

[Don R]

 I got the shop warmer than normal, the n'F seat foam is sanded smooth, padding added, garbage bag over it to make it slip on easily and am test stretching the cover over it all to see if there are wrinkles to worry about. 
 This one will only be slightly lower than stock, if at all. I'm going to Lowes for spray glue to attach the uphoulstery padding to the seat foam and my wife got large flat binder clips to hold the cover until I'm ready to poke the tabs through.
 If this goes as well as I expect I'll do another one for the F'nK

 Next up, the NOS GL1000 seat. It's showing its age if not use. 44 years, even on a shelf in a garage in a box takes a toll on the vinyl.

[Don R]

  Seat re-cover for n'F. I got a $5 seat off ebay, $35 shipping. Around $40 for the cover but no Honda logo.
  I sanded the foam smooth with a 60 grit disc and added upholstery padding from the local fabric store. The garbage bag helps the cover slide more easily over the foam and padding.
   The padding resembles white scotchbrite I bought a yard of it at Joanne fabrics, I glued a bit in a few holes but it seems pretty smooth.
  I still have the cut down double saddle seat, it's still a wee bit too thick for a stock cover but I intend to get another cover and do it too.

 Edit, man this thing came out nice. I'll get a pic today while I'm out in the shop. When the snow goes away I'll bring the F home for a motor and seat install.

[Don R]

 Here it is sitting on a K bike I'm still sanding the paint on the tail.

[Shtonecb500]

looks  good

[Don R]

 This is the first one I did.

[Don R]

 I got the 76 F home and threw on all of the missing parts that I have. Looks like it needs side covers, an airbox and rubbers. A few nuts and bolts and it's good to go. I think I'll pop the engine back in but that's all. I'll trade it even for a set of Dynomans 836 turbo pistons. lol.