Author Topic: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road  (Read 7248 times)

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Offline Delsolid

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #25 on: February 28, 2022, 08:31:27 AM »
The manual and note are awesome! Now if you can track down his wife's CB, you'd really be cooking.  ;D

Yeah, hopefully the flames aren't pink.

Offline Delsolid

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #26 on: February 28, 2022, 03:27:20 PM »
Nice find, I can't believe people still find these things unmolested.  Anyway I'm in the process of finishing my K4, this bike was built from three bikes.  I had a K2 in the 70's and it had a luggage rack like yours.  So if you want to part with it I would be interested. 
Getting ready to pull the trigger on the remaining parts/tires.   
Good luck on the rebuild.

That is a nice looking bike! Congratulations on the work so far.

At some point I will look to part with all the non-stock stuff on the bike but to be honest I had not thought much about it yet. I would be open for a swap for a nice K2-K4 OEM Rear Grab Bar that would go in it's place.

Offline Delsolid

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #27 on: March 03, 2022, 08:20:09 AM »
Rebuilt the carbs. The slides were free but the bowls had more varnish in them than I have ever seen. It was a major PITA to get them clean. Ultimately I was able to retain about 90% of the original brass components.

I also got new boots, clamps and air horns and air filter. The one in there was a factory Honda filter. I wonder when that was last changed, if ever.

Offline Delsolid

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #28 on: March 03, 2022, 08:32:29 AM »
Started cleaning the goop out of the tank. Got the petcock off and it's toast but I found a new genuine Honda replacement and it's inbound. Replaced the seal on the gas cap, what a #$%*.

Picked a bit of the bad repaint off of the tank mount to get a good look at the factory paint underneath and am a bit unsure what I am seeing. I assumed the OEM color was gold but the color that was revealed looks like orange-gold. Not really gold but not really orange. I know the bike was a US spec model and I have seen where the only available US colors for a K2 was Briar Brown Metallic and Flake Sunrise Orange but elsewhere I have seen that Candy Gold was also a US K2 color.

Now I am really doubting myself and the more I look at it the more I doubt.

Anyone have a real definitive list of available colors for the US spec K2? Also, care to chime in and tell me what color you think this is?


Offline Stev-o

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #29 on: March 03, 2022, 08:52:27 AM »
Candy Gold was a color, here is the model guide...

http://www.sohc4.com/cb750/cb750k/#model-guide-2
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Delsolid

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #30 on: March 03, 2022, 09:24:25 AM »
Candy Gold was a color, here is the model guide...

http://www.sohc4.com/cb750/cb750k/#model-guide-2

Yes, that plus the color of my repaint convinced me early on that my bike was Candy Gold but then I saw where http://honda750expert.com/ says it was only available in Orangs and Brown in the US (section 46 of that page).

Then I see the actual color on the tank mount and it looks like a deep gold to me. Is that Candy Cold or Orange???
« Last Edit: March 03, 2022, 09:26:33 AM by Delsolid »

Offline rickmoore24

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #31 on: March 03, 2022, 10:01:28 AM »
The Candy Gold and Flake Sunrise Orange are my favorite colors, to me that's a Gold. I have a K0 In Candy Gold I'm working on and it looks the same as your photo. When I get home later, I can post a photo if you like.  :)
1972 CB750 K2 (Daily Runner)
1972 CB750 K2 (Sold)
1973 CB750 K3 (Hardtail 836cc)
1998 CBR F3 - R.I.P., went down on the 101 in Calabasas, Ca.
1995 EG6

Offline rickmoore24

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #32 on: March 03, 2022, 10:04:26 AM »
also this:

1972 CB750 K2 (Daily Runner)
1972 CB750 K2 (Sold)
1973 CB750 K3 (Hardtail 836cc)
1998 CBR F3 - R.I.P., went down on the 101 in Calabasas, Ca.
1995 EG6

Offline Delsolid

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #33 on: March 03, 2022, 10:17:26 AM »
also this:

Yeah, I saw that photo and it actually added to my confusion since that example of the K2 in Gold uses a photo of a K1.  ;D

Offline Delsolid

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #34 on: March 03, 2022, 10:24:45 AM »
The Candy Gold and Flake Sunrise Orange are my favorite colors, to me that's a Gold. I have a K0 In Candy Gold I'm working on and it looks the same as your photo. When I get home later, I can post a photo if you like.  :)

I think I love the Sunrise Orange even more than the gold and that's what is coloring (pun intended) my perception of the OEM tank color.

I am going through all this as a precursor to repainting it so maybe it doesn't matter since I can repaint it whatever appropriate OEM color I want. Is there a color code anywhere on the bike (like on a car) that documents the original color that would tattle on me doing a color change?
« Last Edit: March 03, 2022, 10:27:56 AM by Delsolid »

Offline Stev-o

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #35 on: March 03, 2022, 12:13:26 PM »
The Candy Gold and Flake Sunrise Orange are my favorite colors, to me that's a Gold. I have a K0 In Candy Gold I'm working on and it looks the same as your photo. When I get home later, I can post a photo if you like.  :)
Is there a color code anywhere on the bike (like on a car) that documents the original color that would tattle on me doing a color change?

There is no indication on the VIN, or anywhere, of what color the bike was delivered. 
I love the Sunrise Orange...
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline rickmoore24

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #36 on: March 04, 2022, 11:01:12 AM »
Stev-o's right, the bikes just came with what they came with. No indicator, I wonder whos job that was in the factory? Did they just run the same color for a day or week, or was each bike coming off the line given a different color each time. Hmmmm....now I need to google some images of the factory from that time period. LOL   ;D
1972 CB750 K2 (Daily Runner)
1972 CB750 K2 (Sold)
1973 CB750 K3 (Hardtail 836cc)
1998 CBR F3 - R.I.P., went down on the 101 in Calabasas, Ca.
1995 EG6

Offline Delsolid

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #37 on: March 07, 2022, 08:16:47 AM »
Had a productive weekend.

Got the electrical system powered up after replacing the battery and main power connection. The old one was literally corroded down to dust. Remounted the ignition key back under the tank in the original position. Turned the key on and started checking all the electronics. Turns out everything works except for the flasher unit, turning on a blinker just turns on the indicator but it doesn't flash. Should be an easy fix. Otherwise everything seems to function properly. I had to work the switches a few times and shoot some contact cleaner on a few if them to make them work reliably but in the end it's all good.

Changed the oil and filter, pulled the plugs, shot some fogging lube into each hole and spun the motor over. I seem to have good spark on all 4 cylinders. Spun it for a bit more till the oil pressure light went out.

The carbs are still off but I'm impatient so I shot a squirt of gas down each of the individual intakes and spun it over. Success! A quick roar. Did it a few more times because I wanted to hear it run again  ;)

Next up is reinstalling the carbs and the pony tank and lets get it running for real. Then synchronizing the carbs.

     

Offline Stev-o

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #38 on: March 07, 2022, 08:42:17 AM »
I bet it was good to hear it fire!  Recommend doing a bench sync on the carbs before installation.
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline rickmoore24

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #39 on: March 07, 2022, 10:05:57 AM »
+1 on the bench synch. What are you using to sync the carbs? I'm big fan the Morgan Carbtune, great bit of kit and so easy to use. Congrats on getting it fired up, even if it was only briefly.  :)
1972 CB750 K2 (Daily Runner)
1972 CB750 K2 (Sold)
1973 CB750 K3 (Hardtail 836cc)
1998 CBR F3 - R.I.P., went down on the 101 in Calabasas, Ca.
1995 EG6

Offline BenelliSEI

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #40 on: March 07, 2022, 10:22:50 AM »
Congrats, great progress!

Offline Delsolid

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #41 on: March 07, 2022, 11:11:27 AM »
The need for the bench sync is the reason the carbs are not on the bike yet.

I'm going to try to get it as close as possible and once on the bike I have a set of vacuum gauges I will use. I am curious how they will act and how close the bench sync will be. It's all a learning process for me so who knows  ;D

It was great to hear it fire. Hell, it was great to just hear it just spin over! I assumed the worst about the electrical system and starter and was very pleasantly surprised when it all proved to be OK.

Offline rickmoore24

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #42 on: March 07, 2022, 11:33:41 AM »
It's always a relief when things do work, after being unsure about their state. Especially electrical stuff! LOL The 1/8th inch drill bit bench sync is a pretty darn good starting point. I typically find only minor fiddling is required when the vacuum gauges are finally used to dial them in, assuming everything is nice and tight, it'll purr.   
1972 CB750 K2 (Daily Runner)
1972 CB750 K2 (Sold)
1973 CB750 K3 (Hardtail 836cc)
1998 CBR F3 - R.I.P., went down on the 101 in Calabasas, Ca.
1995 EG6

Offline HondaMan

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #43 on: March 10, 2022, 06:00:31 PM »
The honda750expert listing you have there isn't right.
The K2 came in a Candy Brown Metallic (sometimes called Forest Brown Metallic and at least 2 other names), Candy Red, and Candy Gold first with gold tank stripes and later with black tank stripes. The K1 went thru the similar stripe colors on its gold tanks, with gold stripes, then black stripes, then black stripes with white inserts (New Factory paint job).
The Brier Brown (note the correct spelling here) first appeared in the K3 model. It is a lighter brown with no 'depth' to it.
The 2 'browns' are different: the first one is Forest Green Metallic sprayed over Candy Red. The Brier Brown is opposite, sometimes with and sometimes without the metallic in the top coat. They were said (by Honda's rep at the time) to be "recovery" colors on tanks with bad paint jobs: if a Candy Red went bad they sprayed the metallic Forest Green over it to get the K2 version, and the latter version was opposite, appearing until the early K4 series bikes. Then the tanks (vendor) changed and the shape with it, having a different petcock (with a spigot) altogther. These later tanks correspond to the flat-top seat, too.

My K2's green color wore off the brown during a 6500+ mile, 2-week-long tour in 1975 with a [heavy] tank bag aboard. The Green showed thru where the Red wore away. In 1979 I had it repainted to gold epoxy so it wouldn't wear away again. It still looks good! :)

The K2 also came in Candy Gold before about 3/72 production, after that it was Candy Gold Flake with very fine flakes - which became a K3 color. It also was available in Candy Red (as leftover tanks from K1 production, same tank). Honda wasn't hard-and-fast about the colors of the bikes like today's "history buffs" seem to think: it was pretty mixed through the whole run.
« Last Edit: May 22, 2022, 07:07:58 PM by HondaMan »
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Offline Delsolid

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #44 on: March 14, 2022, 02:56:05 PM »
Still waiting on a few parts to arrive before I button it up and try to take it around the block.

I replaced the flasher unit and now my turn signals work. My turn signal buzzer thing also works and man-O-man is that thing annoying. I'm amazed it is still there and functioning because I am not sure it will last a week with me.

Started checking out the rear shocks and was surprised to see they are old KONI shocks. I was looking to replace them with ones that looked more original but these might just be keepers. I wonder of they are rebuildable? If I keep them I would like to have the chrome shield/cover like the stock ones, or ideally even chrome springs as well.
 

Offline Stev-o

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #45 on: March 14, 2022, 03:50:09 PM »
Still waiting on a few parts to arrive before I button it up and try to take it around the block.

I replaced the flasher unit and now my turn signals work. My turn signal buzzer thing also works and man-O-man is that thing annoying. I'm amazed it is still there and functioning because I am not sure it will last a week with me.

Started checking out the rear shocks and was surprised to see they are old KONI shocks. I was looking to replace them with ones that looked more original but these might just be keepers. I wonder of they are rebuildable?
 

On my K4, after switching on the turn signal, you can slide it over a bit so the buzzer stops but the indicator still blinks. Not sure of the K2 as it is a different switch.

Koni got bought out by Ikon and they are rebuildable.  Click the link below for more info.

FYI - Restocycle was a dealer in AZ but has closed down.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=173257.0

'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Delsolid

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #46 on: March 15, 2022, 12:11:43 PM »
Got the carbs back on and the bike running. It has a pronounced stumble off idle and really doesn't run crisp at all. I can tune around it by really opening up the idle bypass (and increasing the idle) but then I remembered that when I rebuilt the carbs, I didn't change anything, but the guy who owned the bike for it's entire lifetime was a mechanic and he lived at around 3500 feet so I have to assume he tuned the carbs for that altitude. I'm at sea level which isn't a huge difference but it wont be the same. I cant say what the jets are or the needle position. They are what they were. The engine/carbs/airbox are 100% OEM K2 stock items. Any ideas about what the proper main jet, idle air bypass and needle height should be for sea level operation?

I will open it back up tonight and see what I have.

 
« Last Edit: March 15, 2022, 12:14:30 PM by Delsolid »

Offline Delsolid

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #47 on: March 16, 2022, 10:22:16 AM »
Got a shock off to check it out.

It's a Koni 76F-1296 with a build date of 8/1974. It has the remains of a wing decal under the spring. Supposedly they retired that logo in 74 so if true, this would be one of the latest ones branded this way.

==>  HEAVY-TURN
     SENS-REGLAGE
           76F-1296
                 8   74

KONI          SPECIAL
HOLLAND       ā€œDā€

The Spring is marked with Yellow/Blue/Yellow stripes.

Not at all sure what the Special "D" represents.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2022, 10:32:25 AM by Delsolid »

Offline Delsolid

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #48 on: April 26, 2022, 09:03:33 AM »
Sent the shocks off to Konimon for rebuild. They came back and feel great!

I stripped the old paint off of them and resprayed them a nice satin black. I actually purchased a new set of chrome springs and chrome sleeves from IKON to use but in the end decided to go back to the original black springs. They have been with the bike since ~ 1975 so why change them now. (Anybody want to buy a set of new IKON chrome springs and sleeves for cheap? hit me up).

I purchased a set of water slide KONI wing decals and after a fiddly install I am very happy with how they look.

Offline Stev-o

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Re: 1972 CB750K2, 33 years off the road
« Reply #49 on: April 26, 2022, 10:10:35 AM »
Sent the shocks off to Konimon for rebuild. They came back and feel great!

Good to hear.  Who is this "Konimon"??
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........