Topic: Phaedrus: CB750 RestoMod - Update: 09/23/21 w/ new video

[Tintop]

OK, I'll swap you a flame job inspiration, for info on what was used for the 'gold wolf' in the original paint job.

The profile was done by the painter free hand. The gold is 22k gold leaf that has been "engine turned", also done by the painter.http://www.workingpsychology.com/diversions/jeweling.html
And then pinstriped on the edges.

That's what i would want my flames to be, engine turned gold leaf, trimmed in red probably.

I'd be using the paint in the picture if the tank hadn't disentegrated on me.

The true original Phaedrus paint was a black job with the head in engine turned gold. But I wanted a tank with the tap on the left side instead of right. Turns out the tank was a wrinkle tank and Terry ended up with it for one of his K0 resto projects.

Not sure I'm going to spring for gold for the K3, unless it comes from a can.   But I do like the engine turned look.

[MCRider]

Its just bragging rights mostly. A few sheets of gold leaf doesn't cost but maybe $25 to $50, its really thin. Knowing someone who can work it is a little harder. I've seen sprint cars and such with huge panels of gold leaf, that's where i got the idea originally many years ago, but of course its been around forever.

[Tintop]

There are a couple of good art / hobby stores around here.  I'll have to check out what it might actually cost.  Could be interesting if the cost is only in the $25 / 50 range.  Thanks MCRider.

[MCRider]

Sure. And it doesn't have to be 22k, can be 14k, or even artificial leaf.

[mrbreeze]

Can't remember which show it was but they had a biker build-off where they were layin' that gold down. Looks to be something for the pros to tackle. I thought I was seeing things when you just posted that pic. of the black tank. Looks good but I really like that 2 tone tank better.

[MCRider]

Can't remember which show it was but they had a biker build-off where they were layin' that gold down. Looks to be something for the pros to tackle. I thought I was seeing things when you just posted that pic. of the black tank. Looks good but I really like that 2 tone tank better.

2 tone? The purple one? Same color all over. Must be the light.

[mrbreeze]

Well Ron, I'll tell ya'.....like Seaweb and probably a few others here.......I'm color blind to beat all but if you go back and look at that picture on the previous page....it sure looks like the top of that tank is a darker shade. I think it looks great!!!

[MCRider]

Oh yeah I see it now! I was so used to seeing it fully, I didn't recognize the visual. Now that you mention it I think the painter told me it would do that in the light. It was 10+ years ago it was painted.

Too bad I couldn't use it, that tank is in the trash heap at Moyers Tank Repair. Should have seen all the pinholes from sitting unprotected for many years.   

[RAFster122s]

What do you mean, "sitting unprotected"?
No fog of oil inside like you'd do piston chambers? Or, something like that?
What is the best way (i know, highly loaded opinionated subject) to preserve a tank that is going to be in storage?

Thanks!

David

[Terry in Australia]

Turns out the tank was a wrinkle tank and Terry ended up with it for one of his K0 resto projects.

You know Ron, wrinkle tank or not, I just haven't been able to bring myself to strip that old Phaedrus tank yet, I love that old motorcycle art, and it makes me smile every time I look at it. It's just very cool. Cheers, Terry.

[Damfino]

Wow Ron, sounds like Terry has a shrine to Phaedrus I in Oz. 

[Raef]

Imatation gold leaf with a paper backing to aid in installation is about 9 bucks for a little over a sq ft

[MCRider]

Wow Ron, sounds like Terry has a shrine to Phaedrus I in Oz.  

Yeah, pretty cool. That tank saw a lot of events, drew a lot of attention. And that's what events are for, something to talk about.  Luckily I have many pictures. What Terry has is after many years of abuse. It was never really finished properly and part of the leaf came off and was replaced without the turnings.

The one that really got away, about the same time of the black paint job, 1980, I had a 2.5 gal Tracy tank for my roadracer, also black. Same guy painted it, red and orange pin stripes (popular colors back then). The name was "Free Bird" in red and orange cursive. Yes from the rock anthem by Lynyrd Skynyrd of the same name.  The head was a profile of the Honda Hawk, prominent beak and talon, used on the Honda Gold Wing LSR streamliner of that time. Also in 22K gold leaf with engine turnings. It was truly beautiful. I only have 2 pictures of it and I don't know where they are.

It got sold along with a lot of other stuff when i got married in 1985.

[MCRider]

Back to the shop this week. Still bogged down with knock pins. No one has the 12 x 15s called for. After cleaning crud (if you get your cases, cyls, head, etc blasted, you will find beads and crud in crevices till the day you button it up) from the respective holes, it seems 12x 17s will work. Unbelievalby, it took an hour plus to get these to fit smoothly. They should go in and out with finger pressure. Old, rusty, nasty, now smooth and shiny inside and out.

New front cam chain slider came in, new peg rubbers and starter, shift pedal rubbers.

Then we drug out the stripped cases and dropped some cyls on them to practice putting the engine in and out. To familiarize ourselves with how its going to go in for real. 6 practice tries and we're getting real good.


No need to tape the whole thing, just the right rail is at risk.



Just a quick look at the cyls, stockers in front, 888cc in back. Can't wait!

[Really?]

Now if you could just take a week off from work and spend that time on the bike.   

Bet your getting all worked up now. 

[Ichiban 4]

Hey Ron..

With all the various iterations you've been considering for Phaedrus II's tank..I though I'd mention this guy..Andy Anderson in Nashville, TN.  Guess he's been painting custom bikes since the late 60's..and still @ it.

Here's the URL to his Website: http://www.andersonstudioinc.com/au/aboutus.html.

Thought @ the least..he may have some further ideas for you.  And..he's genuine old school.

Cheers,

Ichi/Al

[MCRider]

Not much update this week. Bruce sick in bed. I did some prep work on the engine and quit early, went to the office to get caught up on some work.

[MCRider]

Al: Some fine examples there. Purple metalflake with flames! So I know it can be done. I'm hoping my local guy can do it. But I'll be putting some miles on in primer before i finally settle on a painter. Gonna make SURE everything fits and works before the paint job.

[mrbreeze]

I think thats a wise decision Ron.............takes the risk out of marring a new paint job while shaking out the bugs!!!

[MCRider]

Update: yay! Cylinders are on! After participating in many ring compressor threads and cyl install threads, it became time for us to do it ourselves. I read in one of those threads of blocking up the pistons so they wouldn't tilt. Some pieces of 1 x something with the corners whittled down did the trick.


So the 1 and 4 pistons are blocked so they can't tilt. 2 and 3 rest lower out of the way.  The CycleX base gasket got ripped during mock up. Its cut too tight to comfortable fit the oversized sleeves. Should work fine on the kits they sell. I bot 2 OEM gaskets and they fit nicely. One for a spare. A little gasgacinch to keep it from moving around. Did a spit shine on the knockpins so they fit comfortably in the cases and the cylinders.

Used #36 hose clamps, closest size to my overbore. Lesson learned, look for the smallest buckle available. We had one odd sized clamp with a really wide buckle. It cocked on the piston as the cyl dropped. Quick took it off and used one with the more petite buckle.

So, all rigged up with clamps and assembly lube, and wood blocks,  we offered the cylinders to the case. 4 went in completely, 1 was hanging out and we couldn't figure why. Good thing I didn't beat on it as the 3M tensioner was hanging out the back.

So lifting the cylinders back up and tucking the tensioner in, we have another go. 1 and 4 dropped in with a minimum of tweaking.


Pulled the clamps and the blocks, and let the cylinders down on 2 and 3. They took a little more tweaking, releasing the clamps, resetting it, but they dropped in nicely.

Tapping the block on down with a rubber mallet, it stopper about 1/2" from home. Couldn't tell why, had to be something. Figured out that the short pin that anchors the bottom of the tensioner slider hadn't found its way into the recess in the cases where it belongs. Raised the block with a tire iron, adjusted the base of the slider, then tapped the block home.

Hope this gives some useful tips to the process, and things to look out for when dropping the block on a CB750. Took us about 2.5 hours for this operation. Really slow I know, but that's me and I was anxious about it all. Its been 9 years since I last put the cylinders on my Hawk overbored kit. And probably 20 years since I last did a CB750. We were pretty happy and called it a day.

[CBJoe]

Looking good Ron.... you still on for your memorial day finish time?

Cheers, Joe

[MCRider]

Looking good Ron.... you still on for your memorial day finish time?

Cheers, Joe

That's the plan, though it may not have a paint job by then.

[Ecosse]

fascinating stuff ron!

i don't blame you for taking your time on this. 

[Terry in Australia]

Well done Ron, keep going mate, you're not getting any younger, so you don't wanna go another summer without being able to ride that beast! Cheers, Terry.

[MCRider]

Well done Ron, keep going mate, you're not getting any younger, so you don't wanna go another summer without being able to ride that beast! Cheers, Terry.

Thanks for the props. I know you're a little tongue in cheekwith the mortality comments, but there is some truth to it.

My dad died at 51 from a heart attack. At 58 I sometimes feel I'm in the "bonus round". Luckily other than the history I seem to have bypassed all the other risk factors having great cholesterol numbers, blood pressure, weight, etc. Still, one never knows, and yes I'd like to ride this thing this summer!