Topic: Resurrection of a K0 (Formerly "Ko Club post")

[techy5025]

I wonder how much the shop got for that "missing" kill switch....a rare and expensive item..at least the correct one for that bike.

Guard all that plastic stuff...more expensive stuff. You're lucky, the headlight bucket is one of the cheapest parts to acquire..only a couple hundred dollars.  Each of those keys is a hundred at least. Even in that condition, I would have probably given at least 3 grand for the bike knowing that all the expensive stuff is there.

Great find...now get that thing running! 

Jim

[Terry in Australia]

I was rapt to win this one on Ebay, Andy Morris (736cc) sold me my K0, (which has a K1 switch currently fitted) and being the top bloke that he is, he's sent it to me for a Christmas present! Woohoo! 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEBTOX:IT&item=220181833486&_trksid=p3984.cTODAY.m238.lVI

[JLeather]

The bar on the front of the frame was for a huge and ugly fairing.  Dude said it was an original Vetter.  it was big and square, and covered your legs and everything.  He kept it, said he was gonna fix the fiberglass and sell it later.

I told him I figured the shop sold the throttle/kill switch.  I bet I'll have atleast a grand into finding the missing parts.  Are the sidecovers not supposed to be like that?  Like I said, he's owned this bike since 1971 and claims he never really did anything to it.  I do have the correct blue/green headlight ears.  And, I've got a real early K1 I plan to steal the headlight from (if it's correct).  Would my early K1 (11/70) have the correct throttle/kill switch too?

Oh, I picked up copies of all the documentation he has on it today.  Including the EPA import in 1989.  He gave me the receipts from the shop that totally screwed him over on this bike.  He had almost $1900 in work done in 2004.  All 4 carbs rebuilt, valve adjustment, some oil seals, fork seals, front MC rebuild (it's soft again and the caliper sticks), new tires, etc, etc.  Dude kept telling him he couldn't get it to run right.  The bike did (supposedly) run while at that shop.  The guy said he couldn't get it to run right.  I'm willing to be anything it needs a SERIOUS carb job with all new guts and a good synching.  I'll betcha she purrs right along after that.  That shop shafted this poor dude, on the bike he's owned since he was 16.

What am I missing, and how much is it gonna cost me?  I've got all 4 turn signals in a box.  I've got the headlight ears, but no bucket (unless a K1 works).  Same with the killswitch/throttle.  The unstamped pipes are really rough in spots.  Can I get away with my nice set of HM300s?  This is gonna be a serious project, and I already got a chopper CB750 that's being built that keeps rackin' up the dough this winter.  These bikes are gonna bankrupt me

[JLeather]

I'll bet one of y'all have MY kill switch on your bike.  Alright, I'm gonna close my eyes, and when I open them I want my switch back on my bike.  ONE........TWO........

[techy5025]

The kill switch on the K1 should be the same configuration, but the switch needs to be black to be correct. The Honda replacements were red. From what I can see, all the plastic is correct except no stripes on the side panels. I hope all the mounting posts are there....three on each side. People broke them removing the panels.

Be very careful removing the air box and hope that the internal divider does not have cracks around the mounting posts. That plastic is easy to break...also around where the rubber connectors to the carbs mount. People overtightened the screws that hold the bottom piece on and broke the plastic inside. Also you will probably find that the upper half has been melted in places where the gas leaked into the box and ignited....don't ask me how I know these things!

At some point in the K0 run they fixed? the wrinkle tank. You may or may not have one.

You might want to consider removing all the easily removed "expensive" stuff and store it in your personal "vault" somewhere. I personally have a bad habit of stepping on stuff regardless of it's value! 

Jim

[Terry in Australia]

Ha ha, don't hold your breath matey, or you'll expire! But you're probably right, no-one throws out this stuff anymore, I just wish I could go back in a time machine collecting all that stuff, but I've seen "Back to the future" and believe it's dangerous to change history?

I was over getting a new pipe built for my Suzuki GS1000S a couple of years ago, and the guys there had a huge "rubbish skip" full of newish OEM pipes for GSXR's, CBR's, etc, and I almost asked if I could take them home? I reckon in 20 years time, they might be worth something?

It appears that someone has painted a stripe on your sidecovers (could have been the original dealer) and the sidecover badge on your right sidecover is a left side one? If you're gonna use your nice set of HM300's, I'd be happy to buy one or two (or all 4) of your rough ones, mine are probably rougher, ha ha! I do have an excellent set of correct K0 cylinders, if you're interested in a trade? Your K1 headlight bucket is correct for a K0 too, from memory.Cheers, Terry.    

[Terry in Australia]

The only problem with the K1 switch/throttle assembly is of course, that it is set up for dual cables, so you'll have a spare "hole".

[techy5025]

...and excellent point Terry....hadn't thought of that.

Maybe we need a special section on restoring K0's as they had a lot of oddities from K1's up.

...and check for holes in the brass floats in the carbs. 

Jim

[Terry in Australia]

That's it Jim, I've got a spare set of K0 carbs that have been fitted with the later plastic floats, I believe that was the "fix" back then, but lucky for me the ones on my K0 (another EBay bargain, they were listed as Yamaha carbs, and I got them for 50 bucks!) were in almost "as new" condition, and I just cleaned everything and put them on, no problemo!

[techy5025]

I am running K1 carbs on both bikes...yes I know not correct...but they do stay adjusted and came with the plastic floats. The "correct" K0 ones are overhauled with "non correct" plastic floats sitting in storage in case I find a reason to reinstall them. Of the eight K0 carbs, four had holes in the brass floats. Funny how when you shook them they sloshed! 

Jim

[Terry in Australia]

Ha ha, yeah, well I do like the cable carbs on my K0 Jim, (mine had K1 carbs on them when I bought it from Andy) apart from being correct, the throttle is sooo much lighter and responsive! Cheers, Terry.

[techy5025]

Agreed, I have never understood the need for that stiff spring when the whole setup had push/pull cables. If they were worried about breakage, how about a inner/outer lighter nested spring like cars have?

Jim

[Terry in Australia]

Mark Paris (Hondaman) was telling me that he used to stretch the spring on K1-K6 carbs for customers, to give them a lighter feel? I've got "CV" carbs on my Suzuki GS1000S, and their so light, it's like the injection on my BMW K1100LT! Cheers, Terry.

[736cc]

The only problem with the K1 switch/throttle assembly is of course, that it is set up for dual cables, so you'll have a spare "hole".

Use a single cable CB450 throttle housing

[techy5025]

By any chance, is the 450 throttle housing the same as the K0 housing...with the black kill switch.... or it just a will fit single cable solution? I'm not familiar with any 450 stuff.

Jim

[754]

1 or 2 of them are.. another 450 - 750 crossover part.

I think one may be Black knob.

[JLeather]

How would I find a 450 housing that's correct for my bike?  Also, on the "very rare" striped covers they actually appear to be decals.  At the bottom edge of the right cover the stripe is peeling a little and looks to have been a decal.  Where would these decals have come from and who would've applied them?  I very seriously doubt the owner did it.  He doesn't work on stuff (at all from what I can gather).  It is also puzzling that the one emblem is from the wrong side.  Can I fix that without damaging the cover?

I'm going to be pulling the pipes off soon I hope (when I get time) and I'll snap pics of the damage/rust on them.  Maybe they're repairable, maybe not.

[Bob Wessner]

It is also puzzling that the one emblem is from the wrong side.  Can I fix that without damaging the cover?

Should be held on by speed nuts over the posts from behind. If you can carefully get something under the inward facing prongs and bend them up a bit, you should be able to slip them off. Avoid putting any pressure on the side cover plastic though.

It might be worthwhile to give the side cover posts, where they go through the rubber grommets, a shot of silicone spray. I'm guessing these haven't been off the bike in a while and if you have to apply too much pressure to pull them off, you might crack them. Just gentle pressure and grip close to the posts.

[techy5025]

Someone sells the complete set of six grommets on evil bay also....a wise investment as the ones on your find are probably hard as a rock. Bob is right. Use some form of silicone grease to ease the tabs into the rubber mounts.

Looking forward to posts about the condition of the various parts as you look closer..especially the pipes and gauges.

Jim

[JLeather]

well, you guys like pics so i snapped a few more.  Up for starters are the gauges:





There's some very fine speckles of rust that I'm certain will clean up with a little chrome polish.  As you can tell, even from the crappy dark pics, the faces are not very faded.  They're clearly not NOS or anything, but they're good enough for a rider (and I'm gonna ride this one).



The tank does not have a lock on it.  It is also not a wrinkle tank (atleast from the top there aren't any wrinkles).  It is very rusty inside.  What's the best way to clean it without ruining the paint?  Or and I better off just having it pressure flushed and repainted?



Unstamped pipes 



Double-cut fender WITH a speedo grommet.



Now, from the outside I can't see any cracks or melting of the airbox.  It appears to be in very fine condition from the outside.  It'll be a while before I really delve into it though.

[JLeather]

The sidecovers are in EXCELLENT condition:









As you guys can see, there are NO cracks, repairs, or anything wrong with these covers.  All the prongs are in tact.  The only thing wrong with them is that the paint is worn off where your legs go.  Also, one of them is missing one of the clips that hold the screen in place (but there are 5 more, so it's ok).  I took 'em off and put them in my closet until I get the bike running.  I'll probably just step on them while playing with the carbs.

[mj_honda]

Glad to see that someone on here picked this baby up. I seen it almost as soon as it was posted on CL. Since I don't have the time, money or space it wouldn't do me any good:)

I was going to post the for sale ad here but .RJ beat me to it. What a great find:)

[andy750]

This is turning into a great thread - more pics!! We are sharing the excitement  So far unstamped pipes look ok - any more shots of the damage?

Cheers
Andy

[Bob Wessner]

The sidecovers are in EXCELLENT condition:

Sure are! You even have the screening behind the louvers.

[scottgarland]

I have a 1/1970 CB750 Frame number 750-1021689 and Engine number 1021846 With a vin plate on
the right side of the neck as you sit on the bike. No numbers on the left though.
Scott