Author Topic: Just picked up a 1976 CB750F in St. Paul, MN (Read 2605 times)

spacemonkey · « **on:** December 04, 2006, 07:42:42 PM »

Hi all-

I just picked up a 1978 CB750F at the end of last week. It had been sitting for about 20 years. The inside of the tank is really rusty, but the outside of the bike looks good. I got this bike for a couple of reasons. One, I have an urge for a vintage machine. Two, I want to learn more about engines and repair. Right now this bike isn't running. I don't know what I got myself into, but I sure hope I learn a lot from this. I have to have the inside of the tank refinished and probably lots of other stuff.

It is really cold already here in Minnesota, so I don't know how much work I will get done over the winter. I hope to make some progress though.

This board seems great, I am sure it will be a wonderful resource for me. I have already posted a couple of messages, on the dead electrical and cracked sidecovers. I have been delighted by the replies and the other info I have found here. Thank you to all!

Daves_76_SS · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2006, 05:32:58 AM »

Welcome!

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2006, 06:43:41 AM »

Welcome to the group. Hope you get as much work done on it as you can during the winter, because when spring arrives, you'll want to be riding it, not working on it.

Have you any pictures?

spacemonkey · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2006, 09:20:36 AM »

Here's a pic...

The tank is now off and out at a company called Tank Renu having the inside sandblasted and sealed. I'll have to remove the fairing and put on a better seat, of course. I am curious about the muffler. Do you all think it is stock?

Next up I have to fix the starter button and learn about fixing the brakes. I have never worked on brakes, so I have a lot to learn!

750goes · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2006, 01:58:57 PM »

If it's been sitting for 20 years, then take your time with doing things - use lots of penetrating oil etc... also clean all your electric connections and terminals etc... before you try to fire it up......

by the way the cost of this advice is both your sidecovers or your first born - please send them to me asap...........only joking .....unless you want to take it seriously.....I don't want your first born....just the sidecovers...

I wish mine looked like that when I got it......

spacemonkey · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2006, 02:05:11 PM »

I cracked my sidecovers already trying to get them off.

I am really not happy with myself for that.

750goes · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2006, 08:22:13 PM »

send them to me and I might repair them and return them - in a few years.....

as I said, take your time - bull at a gate is not the right pace...........slow and steady is better- not so many backward steps then....

750 4ever · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2006, 02:49:40 PM »

Hey SPACE. like you Iam in Minneesoda-

-- a little north of you in Mounds View--just started workin' on my 1974k4 like they said ''slow & easy- another bit of advise --use the'' SEARCH''-on the home page--I got 10 pages of What to do with rusted /stuck brakes It's really helped, mine was in ''storage'' since '76, but my tank was in the house

hence NO rust-but the brakes are another story--GOOD LUCK maybe I'll see you at PORKYS,my second home in the summer----ceeeeeeya --

paxtonpony · « **Reply #8 on:** December 13, 2006, 01:26:12 PM »

Welcome fellow F model owner! This board has been the handiest thing I've found since I bought my bike a few months ago. Goopd people, experience and advise floating around here.
Good little find you have there. Should turn out real nice no matter what direction you go with it (cafe, stock, resto-mod, full dress). Have fun and don't get frustrated.

andy750 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 13, 2006, 01:50:31 PM »

Welcome to the board and good looking bike (although Id ditch the fairing as you said

).For the cracked sidecover get some fiberglass resin on the back to hold it all together and do the other one at the same time to reinfoce it (so it wont crack). Your muffler is not stock - its aftermarket as far I can tell. Check the brake FAQ as others have suggested and take it one step at a time. Get a manual (shop manual is best or next best thing is a Clymer manual - although there are plenty of free manual downloads - see FAQs for this as well as parts sourcing.

good luck and keep us posted on progress.
cheers
Andy

spacemonkey · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2006, 01:55:20 PM »

Thanks all! I am really learning a lot from this site. Great people and great information!

I got my tank back from Tank Renu. They sandblasted the inside and sealed it too. It looks great! It was terrible before. The previous owner left fuel in it for 20 years. Now it is clean and smooth inside.

750goes · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2006, 04:30:13 PM »

hopefully the carbs may be cleaner than the tank was...but if not, just to cause you no further grief from the tank - put an inline filter in - then do the carbs if they need it....the bike looks pretty good by the way, any chance of a picture of the renu tank inside ??

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #12 on:** December 13, 2006, 04:36:26 PM »

Quote

The previous owner left fuel in it for 20 years.

It wasn't the PO, but rather me.

I can beat that by 2 years.

spacemonkey · « **Reply #13 on:** December 23, 2006, 08:23:47 PM »

Quote from: 750goes on December 13, 2006, 04:30:13 PM

hopefully the carbs may be cleaner than the tank was...but if not, just to cause you no further grief from the tank - put an inline filter in - then do the carbs if they need it....the bike looks pretty good by the way, any chance of a picture of the renu tank inside ??

Here is a picture of the tank. It isn't a great pic, but I am having trouble getting a good shot of the inside of the tank. You should have seen it though, it looked like a rusty cave in there before!

750goes · « **Reply #14 on:** December 23, 2006, 09:39:30 PM »

what did they seal it with ?? pictures are not easy to take or even look into the tank....

spacemonkey · « **Reply #15 on:** December 23, 2006, 09:47:43 PM »

They sealed it with an air dry epoxy and pressure tested it. I think it turned out pretty well. They said they could have done a baked on sealer if I didn't care about the paint.

Next up I have to fix the start button. After that both the front and back brakes need to be fixed. Any advice on those?

750goes · « **Reply #16 on:** December 24, 2006, 01:26:06 AM »

starter button if it is all there it should be fixable..but they are fiddly for people with lots of thumbs....

front and rear brakes -will need patience - start from the master cylinder and progress through the system checking each piece or section in turn (this presumes the piston will move and retract on both the master cylinder and brake piston)
1- master cylinder - drain/empty fluid - wipe the reservoir out nice and clean
2- put in fresh fluid
3- open up the bleed valve and let some fresh fluid pump through.
4. check the adjustment on the front brake
5 - check for cracks in the lines - check for leaks
6 - check the pads for wear and if in doubt replace them\
7 - check discs for scoring..

read your manual or look in faq for lots more information....

mikedialect · « **Reply #17 on:** March 29, 2007, 11:03:28 AM »

I saw that guy for sale I believe!

How's the progress coming?

spacemonkey · « **Reply #18 on:** March 29, 2007, 05:52:47 PM »

I haven't started yet, apart from getting the tank cleaned and sealed this winter. I don't have a large, or heated garage, so the winter was too cold. I have a LOT to learn with this and I really ought to take it slow.

Maybe we should start a MSP SOHC club?

mikedialect · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2007, 12:08:55 AM »

Quote from: spacemonkey on March 29, 2007, 05:52:47 PM

I haven't started yet, apart from getting the tank cleaned and sealed this winter. I don't have a large, or heated garage, so the winter was too cold. I have a LOT to learn with this and I really ought to take it slow.

Maybe we should start a MSP SOHC club?

well, so far I've had much more fun working on this bike vs my magna! So, I'd say you're in for some fun (frustration & gratification)! If you have an official garage you are one step ahead of me. I have a heated space to work in, but it's not ideal in terms of auto work.

I'd definitely be interested in seeing if there were any other folks around who have SOHC's and want to come out and play this summer.

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Author Topic: Just picked up a 1976 CB750F in St. Paul, MN (Read 2605 times)

spacemonkey

Daves_76_SS

spacemonkey

spacemonkey

750 4ever

spacemonkey

spacemonkey

spacemonkey

spacemonkey