Topic: Bringing a 750 K1 back to life

[Laids]

Starting a new project , a 750 1971, 6/71 build date 32,000k on the clocks. Bought this in October after seeing an ad on marketplace. Got in touch with the seller right away and 2 hours later made a deal. My son who lived close confirmed the condition and picked it up.
Condition wise, wasn’t pretty but the potential with quite a few parts (many new) and extra engine , carbs etc sweetened the deal.
The seller had bought it in 1999 in a estate sale, so couldn’t say as to its history before that. His intention was to restore it and had bought many new parts over time to do that. Including having all the bodywork painted Candy Ruby Red. He never got to it though and it sat in his shop for those years.
There is rust on most parts but the engine turns over and shifts. From what I can see the engine has never been out of the frame and all the screws and bolts are unmolested.
I really wasn’t looking for another CB750 but the K1 has been my favorite has I had one in the 70s, plus it was red and in my mind would be a nice complement to my Candy Blue KO. That logic eludes most people I talk to, lol.
I’ll bring the project up to date but here are some pics of what was bought.

[rocket johnny]

looks like a good project  !    hope you got a good deal on it ,

[newday777]

Nice! Definitely a good find not to pass up! Have fun with it. I'll be following along.

[Laids]

I thought it was a fair  price. You know the most expensive bike is usually a free one

[BenelliSEI]

Looks like a great project and my favourite year.

[Don R]

  Needing the other color makes perfect sense. After you get the two colors, what's next?

[Laids]

Bike is dismantled, and surprisingly came apart without any drama. Some wiring has been bodged but overall the bike seems to be very original. Still had the original shocks as they are 3 position. The tires look pretty ancient, the rear was one of the early generation K81s. My guess is the mileage was put on into the mid seventies then sat. The seller never changed the ownership and when I went to the licensing office learned there was no record of registration which started here in Ontario I think in the early eighties.
I have on past bikes stripped and painted the frame and parts myself. This one though has been sent to the powder coater. Cleaning, stripping 50 year old oil, grease and paint is my least favorite jobs. Painting during winter is also a problem, my garage is heated but this has been a cold and snowy winter. Nice to avoid that aspect of the work.

[newday777]

As you are going with powder coating, did you remove the aluminum vin tag on the steering neck before you sent the frame off? That has to come off if you want it preserved, the heat of baking will give it a fast death.
Drill out the rivets and carefully razor blade the glue holding it to the frame.

[Laids]

I asked the powdercoater about that and he said they protect it. I did notice a bit of overspray on the edges but other than that I’m happy with the job.

[Don R]

 My powder coat guy assured me he would remove the tag and he does it all the time. When I picked the frame up the tag was gone. It had been vaporized by the sandblaster. He had no explanation except to say sorry. As an added benefit, they tapped the rivets in flush.
 I bought a new one off of ebay from the guy in Switzerland and it is perfect in every way.

[BenelliSEI]

I asked the powdercoater about that and he said they protect it. I did notice a bit of overspray on the edges but other than that I’m happy with the job.

Looks good! It looks like you ground down the lip on that left front, lower engine mount before powder coating? I never remember……..

[Laids]

I asked the powdercoater about that and he said they protect it. I did notice a bit of overspray on the edges but other than that I’m happy with the job.

Looks good! It looks like you ground down the lip on that left front, lower engine mount before powder coating? I never remember……..

If it has been ground that’s the way I got it.

[Laids]

As there was surface rust on about everything, I purchased a couple jugs of evaporust. I put it in a wallpaper trough and have basically given a bath to all the chromed parts and all nuts, bolts and screws. I am amazed at how well everything came back. The rear fender at first looked as if it should be replaced but after a few days in the evaporust bath only a couple of small pitting shows, which I will cover with a period sticker from a long gone Dealer, Ontario Honda.
The wheels and spokes looked a little forlorn as well , they went in the bath to, turning them every day till the complete wheels got a good soak. The spokes took a bit of elbow grease but cleaned up acceptable. The wheels got new bearings as did the swingarm and All Balls in the steering head.
It’s not concours quality but it is original. I have decided only to replace what I need to on this bike, pretty much every nut and bolt will remain. I should add that everything gets a treatment from the buffing wheel.
The bike did come with quite a few new parts included, one being a new wiring harness which  I have put on with new ground wires as well.
I put on Kenda Challenger tires, cheap and cheerful as they say. This brings the project up to date.

[BenelliSEI]

I asked the powdercoater about that and he said they protect it. I did notice a bit of overspray on the edges but other than that I’m happy with the job.

Looks good! It looks like you ground down the lip on that left front, lower engine mount before powder coating? I never remember……..

If it has been ground that’s the way I got it.

Sorry…. I should have said right front, lower engine lug. If you grind off the top of the inner lip now (I can see it’s still there in your most recent photos), putting the engine back in is a LOT easier. Lovely build, it already looks great.

I use those same Kendas on almost everything. The ones on my K1 have been on there so long, I should probably replace them this year! Great value.

[RAFster122s]

If in doubt about tires, then look up the date code on the tire.

When buying helmets ALWAYS check the date inside the helmet. Especially if you observe the 5-7 year life on most helmets.

[britman]

Nice work, going to turn out to be a great looking bike......

[Stev-o]

Great start to a project, subscribed...

[Laids]

Well the snowmobile season is officially over here in Southern Ontario, a couple of days of 66f sure starts the snow melting. Even at that we still have 1 1/2 ft still on the lawn and 19” thick of ice on the lake. But the bike season is just around the corner.
I’ve been noodling away at the K1 in any case. The new wiring harness which came with the bike is now on as is electrics, turn signals and switch gear.
On the right hand switch gear the yellow/ red wire became disconnected, this has happened to me a few times. To fix it requires a dexterity that I am losing rapidly over the last few years. I feel like I have Bell’s palsy trying to negotiate the soldering iron to that tiny little tab. This time went not to bad.
The glossy black wire shroud was so hard it just snapped in pieces. Someone on the forum had recommended Vintage Connections where I got replacements for a few sizes, good to know.

[BenelliSEI]

You guys certainly got more than your share of snow this Winter. We’ve been on this farm S.W. Of Peterborough for +30 years and this one was a record!

Your K1 is looking great and kudos to you for your switch repair. I gave up on the last one and just replaced it! I’m doing a bit of a “refresh” on my K1 too. When you’re done we have to “meet in the middle” for a coffee.
Cheers, John D.

[BenelliSEI]

Your mention of Ontario Honda reminded me that I also have a few vintage stickers.Years ago I built a 1970 K0 for Steve Nelson. He has a small collection of bikes and memorabilia about his Dad, John Nelson. John started Toronto Honda, that became Ontario Honda, and ultimately built the Shannonville race track for motorcyclists in Ontario. I asked Steve for an old sticker to use on the Sandcast (and forgot about it until today). Which one did you use and where did you find it?
 Cheers, John D.

[Laids]

For sure John, a meet in the middle sounds good. I have a couple of the round Ontario Honda decals as well as some Dicks Honda. I still am in touch with a couple of the mechanics that worked at Ontario Honda, in fact I’m having lunch with him tomorrow, he lives in near Gooderham..

[BenelliSEI]

For sure John, a meet in the middle sounds good. I have a couple of the round Ontario Honda decals as well as some Dicks Honda. I still am in touch with a couple of the mechanics that worked at Ontario Honda, in fact I’m having lunch with him tomorrow, he lives in near Gooderham..

Would be great to meet! Enjoy lunch tomorrow. You say when and where. J.

[newday777]

Those are a very cool find!

[Stev-o]

Well the snowmobile season is officially over here in Southern Ontario...

What snow machine do you have?     I rode a buddies El Tigre years ago, that thing was fast! 

[MauiK3]

What a great project! Also, the picture in the gigantic shop, I'm jealous.
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