Topic: My (Beautiful) F2 is on it's deathbed, time for a new project?

[Terry in Australia]

I discovered with horror yesterday that my (still) beautiful F2 has developed a "blister" under the magnificent candy maroon paintwork, and when I pushed it with my pinky (finger, that is) a little jet of stale gas squirted out!

This bike hates me, just like God hates me. I've only ever given it my full attention, and I've lavished new parts well beyond my means to bring it from a pile of rusted steel and furry aluminum back to "Better than Showroom" condition, but in return it's:

a. Leaked oil from the two crankcase halves from day one,
b. Leaked fuel all over the painted engine, and lifted the 12 month old VHT engine paint (crap) wherever it made contact,
c. Refused point blank to allow me to remove the alternator rotor causing all sorts of ribbing from you guys at my ineptitude with the spanners, even though the factory puller that Mike sent me wouldn't remove it.
d. Blocked the idle jet in #4 cylinder to the point where I had to clean and synch a second set of carbs before I could get it to run correctly,
e. Laughed mercilessly at my efforts to make the clutch work noiselessly,
f. Threw away the new and expensive left sidecover and new badge, and
g. Rotted out it's own fuel tank in an effort to thwart my riding plans for summer, just as the weather improves to the point where I was just thinking about venturing out on it to avoid any puddles.

Now you may remember me rambling about my vision of a "perfect" 750/4, basically utilising all the F2's superior mechanicals (Comstar wheels, triple discs, better forks and punchier engine) in a marriage of K Bike (no, I'm not talking about the 77/78 "Red Haired Step-children") frame and cosmetics. I tagged this project the K9 "Junkyard Dog". (for no other reason than K9 is a doggy term, and I thought it was "catchy")

Problem was, finding F2 parts in , er, these parts, was harder than I thought. One pissed off CB-er who I'd been teasing about the un-attractiveness of the F/F1 told me that "the wreckers are full of Comstar Wheels" which I found to be untrue, when I actually tried to buy some. I did get hold of an F2 bottom end and a K1 frame, but these were subsequently consumed in my recent "Racer" and K1 Rat Bike" projects, so I'd just about written this dream of building the perfect K bike, until now...............

Now as much as I love-d my F2, I've never been a real fan of the F2 styling. Although more pleasing to the eye than the "Fugly" F/F1, I always thought that the 69-76 K bikes looked much nicer. Now as I intend to transfer everything offa this bike except the obvious cosmetics, I figure I'll only need a frame, seat, tank, sidecovers, rear fender and tail-light bracket, so the expense won't be enormous. Whattya reckon, good idea or not? Cheers, Terry.

[seaweb11]

Sure, but your wife is so much happier when you are out in the shop.

Gremlins you say.........

[6pkrunner]

There are some mechanical devices that absolutely hate their owners. for those that have never had this happen to them, they cannot believe it and try to blame the owner of the device. All kinds of ribbing and good humored "advice" and doubts cast on the poor chap's abilities. however they will soon sing a different tune when they get one. The spiteful machine will eat every bit of available, and not-available cash, refuse to operate like thousands of its brethern and spend its entire life sitting idle while owner scrapes more cash, time, and effort to fix it.
I've had one and it was a quest between me and it. 8 months and too many dollars late I admitted defeat and dumped it. Life got better immediately.

[Raul CB750K1]

It happens to me all the time in my work with computers and servers. My motto: "never let an unanimated object know you are in a hurry". I have experienced many kind of strange gremlins making things going wrong.

Also, sometimes object -like humans- simply like to be despised and treated like #$%*. I once bought a moped in a very sorry state for 60 euro. I thought to myself: "let do a thorough clean up, re-do those lousy splice electrical connection and tidy things up. It was a runner, but has never run again like it did when it looked like a piece of junk.

It has the same gas in the tank for the last three years and starts second kick. I have it at my in-laws and use it scarcely, mostly for off-road riding as I don't have insurance. No matter how bad the road is; the worst you treat it the better it goes.


Raul

[mick750F]

   A grown man reduced to such whining...and most likely tears...by an innocent machine. Pitiful...just pitiful. I hope you haven't reverted to kicking the dog again.

   Suck it up man, fight back....it's all just a test you know.

Mike

[Jonesy]

c. Refused point blank to allow me to remove the alternator rotor causing all sorts of ribbing from you guys at my ineptitude with the spanners, even though the factory puller that Mike sent me wouldn't remove it.

I say you ought to keep at it, Terry-

After all, without you on here telling us your latest tales of woe, 3/4 of us wouldn't look at the board anymore since the all entertainment value was gone, ha ha!

[mcpuffett]

hey terry i have a spare k7 frame if you need it but i guess shipping might be a bit expensive   mick.

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks very much Mick, but I need to find a K2-K6 frame so I can fit the other bits I've already got for the project. If anyone in Oz has a spare frame please let me know, I've been dreaming of "The bike that Honda should have built" all night, and I'm now more than happy to tear the F2 down again and do it better this time, not that I thought that I was cutting corners last time, I think that this particular bike just didn't want to be saved? Crazy? Who said that? Cheers, Terry. (not crazy) 

[MRieck]

Terry
 Where is it leaking at the case halves- sounds wierd. BTW....some of us think the F/F1 was the best looking CB built.

[Terry in Australia]

Terry
 Where is it leaking at the case halves- sounds wierd. BTW....some of us think the F/F1 was the best looking CB built.

G'Day Mike, it's dribbling oil behind the points plate. I'm assuming that I didn't use enough case sealant either side of the crank seal, as a temporary measure I've splotched some "Three bond" along the seam, but when the engine comes out again I'll strip it back to bare bones and start again, as I need to paint it anyway, and probably fit a "K" head as well.

No offence intended re: the F/F1's, great bikes for sure, I just prefer the K bike styling, it seems to suit the style of that magnificent looking engine better. As you know, I've owned an F1 and two F2's now, so I'm not biased! (well, not much anyway!) Cheers, Terry.

[mrbreeze]

I hate to blow anybodys stance on a Supersport model but hey welcome to the beautiful world of K!!!!! You're gonna love that rat bike!!!! Hope you got you seat hinges though cause it shouldn't be like holding your ass down against the floor to keep your seat on!!!! ENJOY!!!!!

[Mark M]

Terry,
I've got most of 2 F2's and a cople of K2's in parts in my shed. Too much to ship to OZ but perhaps I could follow
your build up and then there will be a K9 in both hemespheres. 

[Terry in Australia]

Terry,
I've got most of 2 F2's and a cople of K2's in parts in my shed. Too much to ship to OZ but perhaps I could follow
your build up and then there will be a K9 in both hemespheres. 

Good one Mark, maybe we could start our own cult? You do the recruiting and brainwashing, and I'll mix the Koolaid! Ha ha, I'm probably getting ahead of myself, but I'll take a few pics as it develops, to bore the pants offa you guys. I'm gonna try to keep mine as OEM as possible, so that it actually looks like somerthing Honda could have built, and see how many "experts" out there I can fool when I tell them it's a "grey import" K9, ha ha!

I'm checking out a bike wrecker in another small rural city here in Victoria, he's been in business about 25 years, and unlike most of the big city wreckers, he didn't sell all his older stuff off for scrap, so (fingers crossed) I'll find a frame that I can quickly modify for the rear master cylinder etc, get it powder coated, and start transferring all the mechanicals.

I'll tear the engine down again, (dammit!) strip and repaint the cases, (dammit to hell!) make sure that the sealant I use between the case halves is correct (probably Threebond?) this time, (Dammit to New Zealand, via Hell!) replace the F2 head with a mild K2 head and cam I've recently aquired, (not the race head that Mike Rieck waved his magic wand over, that's another project) and all going well, it'll be on the road by Christmas! Woohoo! Cheers, Terry.

[kghost]

Way ahead of ya Terry,

Already got the 77 K frame in mock up with all the F2 parts 

[Terry in Australia]

Way ahead of ya Terry,
Already got the 77 K frame in mock up with all the F2 parts 

Hey Tim, well I'm disappointed that you've missed the point of this project that I've been planning, and talking about since about this time last year. The marriage of F2 mechanicals and EARLY K frame and cosmetics was to build the bike that Honda should have built, not the K7/K8.

No offence at all to K7/K8 owners, I'm sure they're great bikes, but (IMHO) they're the least attractive of all the sohc 750's, hence my quest to make it right! Toss that K7 frame mate, and come join the K9 cult! Cheers, Terry.

[kghost]

Not allot of difference when you get it right down to the frame Terry.

The rear foot peg attatch points are stamped tubes that bolt together. (gonna cut them off)

The top of the stearing head has the lock. (gonna cut that off too)

The left front engine mount bolts on instead of beening a lug welded to the frame. (kinda like the symetrical look with the right).

Other bits and pieces will be cut off to make room for the Aluminum tank and tail.

Love the comstar wheels too. Mine are now all polished up and ready for paint.

[Terry in Australia]

OK mate, not strictly a genuine K9 in it's purest sense( ) but sounds like a good project! Post some pics! Cheers, Terry.