Author Topic: 836 kit or not? That is the question.  (Read 2272 times)

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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: 836 kit or not? That is the question.
« Reply #25 on: April 21, 2022, 07:21:27 PM »
Even though it has low miles, the materials in the cam chain tensioner and primary tensioner are old and perhaps hardened with age. Even the cam chain.

I share your opinion, you guys seem to have a lot of faith in a mystery engine that is almost 50yrs old and possibly un touched :o
yep, that is right.  dozens of cb750's, the only ones that fail, were ruined by poor storage or meddling previous owner
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Offline HondaMan

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Re: 836 kit or not? That is the question.
« Reply #26 on: April 21, 2022, 07:49:21 PM »
Maybe just lucky but I have multiple 750's that have never been opened up still getting on down the road.

I, too, have been impressed by the internal condition of so many of the engines I have opened up in the last 15 years or so. The ones that have worn/chunked/hardened cam chain tensioner parts were also those that had incorrect oils run in them, judging by the general condition of things like their clutch discs, main bearing wear rates and primary chain wear. Once the cam chain roller gets chunked up, the cam chain suffers more wear from vibration shaking the oil out of its links while bumping over those irregular surfaces. When the clutch is in fine shape, the main bearings barely worn, the cam lobes happy and young-looking, the rubber parts in the cam chain system are also supple and not rock-hard, despite the mileage. The most impressive one I've ever seen was a 58k mile K2 engine that had always had Amsoil in it, 20w50 weight, from Wyoming (2011). The owner had removed the #2 exhaust pipe (for repair) and the shed where the bike was kept lost a wall panel in a windstorm, away from the house where the owner didn't see it. The exhaust port got packed with snow. The next Spring the owner discovered the engine was locked: that cylinder had rust enough to stop it, so he sent it to me for general rebuild. While a light honing would have sufficed, it was fully bored to oversize and sent back for what I am sure is a very happy life, still. :)
« Last Edit: June 10, 2022, 05:06:58 PM by HondaMan »
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Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: 836 kit or not? That is the question.
« Reply #27 on: April 26, 2022, 08:54:38 AM »
Even though it has low miles, the materials in the cam chain tensioner and primary tensioner are old and perhaps hardened with age. Even the cam chain.

I share your opinion, you guys seem to have a lot of faith in a mystery engine that is almost 50yrs old and possibly un touched :o

That is because a lot of us have owned multiple untouched SOHC4's of various mileages without issues. My '76 750F has over 30k miles, sat for over 20 years before I got it and doesn't smoke or show signs of needing any engine work done.
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Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200