Topic: What a cool week!! It rained SOHC's here

[Wingmonk]

Been working on the carbs on my 78 750 and eleven years of sitting dead it almost seems like a solid block of varnish! I been working with a can of carb cleaner over several days of light spraying and trying to work out the sliders very carefully. Once I get them out intact I can totally break em down for a proper cleaning.
In the accident in 1996 the stock 78 swingarm was bent and the 76 I had here fit perfectly except the two or so inches shorter. That bothered me so I placed an ad in my local paper looking for a "77-78" CB750 for parts but will consider all" ad and I found two pre 77 750's that were both pretty complete.
Not sure of the years yet, but both had the little square idiot light assembly near the speedo/tach cluster so that should be fairly easy to narrow it down some.
One had an extended front fork, and ape hanger bars along with a Harley tank, and the sportster seat. Yep, and drag pipes too!
On the bright side that bike had a oil pressure gauge mounted on the engine and brand new Dunlop tires.
This bike was in a garage that was about to be demolished and this bike was going into a big pit to be lost forever. I saved it!
Its been just over eleven years since I have heard an SOHC engine run, and whilst I still seek parts for my 78 Kate (Oil tank and swingarm) I now have enough parts to build an older one too!

I have never run any SOHC 750 except for the 78 K8 and I always assumed the older type carbs seemed like a pain. But after looking over them in detail they look fairly easy to work on and use. Guess I was wrong yet again...
And as for the extended forks...what was that idea all about? Did some consider that some statement? Sitting on that bike with the extended forks along with the ape hangers it seems too unstable to ride to me.
And removing that hokey Harley peanut tank and setting on a 76 tank from another bike I had for parts gave me hope as the true classic lines of the legend returned.
I will take some pictures of these two found machines and keep ya posted on all the crap I will happily endure in the following weeks.
I will keep my ad running here in the hopes I will find the elusive 77-78 parts bike..But until then I will grab anything SOHC that comes this way!

Bob in Colorado

[Tom Stark]

...
And as for the extended forks...what was that idea all about? Did some consider that some statement? Sitting on that bike with the extended forks along with the ape hangers it seems too unstable to ride to me. ...
Bob in Colorado

Bob, you bought the twin of my bike! Mine had extended forks and ape hangers too!  (now a normal full dresser).  I am a big guy, but I would never try to move the bike with the extended forks while standing along side it.  That thing would pull me over!  Just think, someone paid money to do that.  It is not like they were in an accident and "Oh no!  Look!  My forks are extended!"  Nope, they WANTED to do that!  go figure!  Glad you saved it.
Tom

[greenjeans]

The sliders/throttle valves were hopelessly stuck when I tore into my carbs...
I doused them with some PB Blaster gave them some heat with my trusty heat gun.
Worked like a champ.

[BobbyR]

You should read the thread on Simple Green. It will eat that varnish and harm nothing else. You can use it in the house since it has no toxic fumes.