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

[Terry in Australia]

Terry; So what you're really saying is for $8 + S&H, i scored a very rare, sandcast sidestand worth $3,000!   

Ha ha, yeah mate, probably.

[MCRider]

No pics this time, camera is still in the tankbag of the ill-fated FJR. Locked in a locals garage 3 hours from here. Hopefully safe and sound.

We got the new old CB450 sidestand on. Looks to be the ticket, short enough anyways, but I'm still going to get the welder to make a shorter one.

Started to sort the front end hop. First step check balance of front wheel as the tire was mounted at a shop. Got the front wheel off. Requires removal of both calipers, due to wider rim. Took a while to remember how to set up the PitPosse true/balance stand. Got it on, tire mounted correctly as to weight spot and direction. But not balanced as well as I would have liked and will correct that. Still probably not bad enough to cause the hop I'm noticing.

NExt step remove springs, check preload spacer, but mostly compress it to get it trued.

Slow working, ribs still pretty sore.  Once the front end is sorted, I can get enough miles on it to determine what to do with the smoking engine.

Hopefully retrieve the mighty FJR next weekend.

[Terry in Australia]

G'Day Ron, I've obviously missed a post here, "Ill fated FJR"? "Ribs still sore"? WTF? Did you come off mate? If that's the case, get well soon! Now back to your CB750, your forks aren't binding are they?

Try taking it for a ride without the forkbrace and see if that makes a difference, the problem with fork braces, is that if they're not set up perfectly, they can cause the forks to bind and of course, feel very "stiff". Cheers, Terry.

[MCRider]

G'Day Ron, I've obviously missed a post here, "Ill fated FJR"? "Ribs still sore"? WTF? Did you come off mate? If that's the case, get well soon! Now back to your CB750, your forks aren't binding are they?

Try taking it for a ride without the forkbrace and see if that makes a difference, the problem with fork braces, is that if they're not set up perfectly, they can cause the forks to bind and of course, feel very "stiff". Cheers, Terry.

Yeah, a few posts back I posted this link: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=111021.0

It was a great ride with 5 others. They'd been riding hard all summer, I was on my first outing. After 90 hard miles in the country, I chalk it off to fatigue masked by enthusiasm. Bad combo.

I did in fact loosen the brace on the last run and it seemed to improve. So while eliminating variables like wheel balance etc., I'm suspecting the brace. Will follow strict protocol on setting it up next.

[Terry in Australia]

That's no good mate, but it's good to know that your investment in good quality riding gear paid off, is your bike badly damaged?

I've gotta do something about insurance for my "old" bikes. My Triumph Rocket III is insured because if I hit a car I'd probably not be able to afford to repair both (assuming I survived) so the 120 bucks a year to cover my 25,000 buck (now, it was $32,500 new in 2007) bike, plus whatever damage I do to whatever I hit, plus my riding gear and accessories, is good value.

I don't have that luxury with my BMW or Suzuki or my CB750 as yet, but I think I can get some similar deals because I'm over 50 and don't ride them much. Anyway, I'm glad you're OK mate, and I hope your Yamaha is not too badly beat. Cheers, Terry.    

[MCRider]

That's no good mate, but it's good to know that your investment in good quality riding gear paid off, is your bike badly damaged?

I've gotta do something about insurance for my "old" bikes. My Triumph Rocket III is insured because if I hit a car I'd probably not be able to afford to repair both (assuming I survived) so the 120 bucks a year to cover my 25,000 buck (now, it was $32,500 new in 2007) bike, plus whatever damage I do to whatever I hit, plus my riding gear and accessories, is good value.

I don't have that luxury with my BMW or Suzuki or my CB750 as yet, but I think I can get some similar deals because I'm over 50 and don't ride them much. Anyway, I'm glad you're OK mate, and I hope your Yamaha is not too badly beat. Cheers, Terry.

I didn't get to see the bike before being whisked off in the amblance. I stayed still for about 20 min waiting on it, but a local first responder was on scene in 5 min. The guy following me said it was pretty exciting get off. Bike may be totalled (easy to do, 10 years old and fiberglas, saddlebags and an engine cover damage can add up fast. Others told me what they saw as damage, and arranged for a local to keep it for me. Good friends i hardly know.) I'd probably keep it to refurbish, if its not actually bent up. Sentimental value.

I got the speed down to 25 or so before i actually laid down. I got off, but it hit a guardrail and turned over. My fault entirely.

As to insurance, the FJR and all my gear and medical is fully covered, cepting some modest deductibles, higher cost than yours though. But the CB and my other bikes are questionable. I need to look into it for sure myself.

[Terry in Australia]

Ok mate, well I hope you get it fixed back up, those big Yams are nice bikes. Over here, the medical insurance comes as part of your annual registration fee, so if you crash, you're covered for all medical and rehabilitation expenses, loss of income compensation etc.

Because of that, annual registration fees are pretty expensive, say 400-600 bucks per year, depending on which state you live in, and the capacity of your engine. My 2300cc Triumph is registered in South Australia and that's great, because they have very relaxed registration laws, I can pay the annual fee quarterly, so I only register it in the warmer months, and let it lapse over winter when I'm not riding it. Here in Victoria I have to pay the fee for the full 12 months in one go, whether I actually ride the bike or not. By registering it in South Australia for 6 months of the year, I only pay around 260 bucks. Here in Victoria, where I'd have to pay for a full year, it costs around 600.

My old bikes are all over 25 years old (God I'm getting old, I can still remember when they were new!) so are covered by "Club permits". Basically, you join a club, fill out a form, and you can ride for up to 45 days per year with full medical insurance cover etc, for 68 bucks, and you can extend it out to 90 days for another 45 bucks. Both my BMW and Suzuki are on club permits, and my CB750 will be as well, once I rebuild the engine. At one stage I was paying just under 2000 bucks per year for annual registration fees for my bikes, so I'm pretty happy now, ha ha!

Anyway, all the best with those ribs, I've broken all my ribs a couple of times over the years, so I can sympathise with you. Cheers, Terry.  

[MCRider]

Yeah, I love my FJR. Its no longer the fastest Sport Tourer as it (arguably) was in 2003, but way too fast for me.

That's an interesting set up on your insurance. My medical is covered for all events by my major medical (supplied by my wife's employer, our cost is $300 per month). No medical on the bike insurance. So no matter what hazardous activity I choose, my medical is covered. Not 100% but the co-pays are modest.

My fear is for Phaedrus. My insurer said they don't insure custom bikes, but "wink wink" keep my receipts and if something happens...

So I bot what they offered for $175 per year, Based on a stock 1972 CB750. In case of an accident they would total it. IF it were stolen, don't know what they would pay. But a cherry 1972 CB750 wouldn't be a cheap replacement, provable from eBay type sales.

But I'm not comfortable with that and am looking for an insurer of custom/classic bikes. My registration for Phaedrus is about $45 per year.

Can't imagine what broken ribs would feel like. Mine are just bruised, and hurt like heck.  Anything like my broken leg from 40 years ago, they may hurt forever?

[Terry in Australia]

No worries mate, over the years I've broken all my ribs a couple of times, my nose at least three times according to the specialist who performed the rhinoplasty, one collar bone, both wrists, cracked all my vertebrae from L1-S5, squashed 4 discs, broke my left ankle, 2 toes and 3 fingers. Some were from sport, some from fighting, some were from bike crashes, and some were from parachuting. 

My back still gives me some trouble, but Veterans Affairs pays for a Vietnamese Princess to give me a back massage once a week, which at my age is the highlight of my week! Cheers, Terry.

[MCRider]

Yeowch! Does that qualify for a high mileage award?

I'll have to talk to my insurer about the masseuse!

[Rookster]

Hi Ron,
Have you looked into an agreed value policy.  I have both my vintage bikes insured with Progressive for 7k each.  It is an agreed value policy so I pick the value of the bike and they either agree or not.  The agreed value covers either total loss or theft and is pro-rated for less than total loss.  Your bike isn't really custom in that it retains the stock "unmodified" frame, engine, and basic stock configuration.  If your agreed value was say 15k, I think you would be covered in the event of a loss or theft.  Prices were pretty reasonable too.  Something to look into.

Just my .02 on your fork situation: I would suspect the brace and an out of balance tire.  I saw in your other thread that the wheel is true so rule that out and your left with wheel balance and/or binding (may be the brace).  I'm sure you'll get it sorted.

Scott

[MCRider]

Hi Ron,
Have you looked into an agreed value policy.  I have both my vintage bikes insured with Progressive for 7k each.  It is an agreed value policy so I pick the value of the bike and they either agree or not.  The agreed value covers either total loss or theft and is pro-rated for less than total loss.  Your bike isn't really custom in that it retains the stock "unmodified" frame, engine, and basic stock configuration.  If your agreed value was say 15k, I think you would be covered in the event of a loss or theft.  Prices were pretty reasonable too.  Something to look into.

Just my .02 on your fork situation: I would suspect the brace and an out of balance tire.  I saw in your other thread that the wheel is true so rule that out and your left with wheel balance and/or binding (may be the brace).  I'm sure you'll get it sorted.

Scott

Thanks! I had just come across that terminology "agreed value" in some searching. That sounds like the ticket. I don't think my guys offer that, but I'll check and then hit the shopping circuit, Progressive will be on the list.

I think you're right. The wheel was out of bablence (anther black mark against a local dealer, supposedly "the best" in tire mounting.)

The brace is suspect for sure. Its a 3 piece unit so letting it float to find its alignment, then tightening it down should help. And I'll do some things to the forks themselves.

[HonderCB]

Whoa, i musta missed that too, glad your ok Ron!

[MCRider]

Whoa, i musta missed that too, glad your ok Ron!

Thanks!

[MCRider]

No fresh pics. Camera still with the FJR somewhere in southern Indiana. No retrieval till after Sept 3. Caretaker on vacation.

Been a few light weeks in the shop. Front wheel is off and in the truing balancing stand. It was balanced by a local shop and i never checked it. It was off pretty bad. They had used lead crimp on weights. But they were sized for stock size spokes. On the OS Buchanan nipples, it looked half assed. I have some chrome tape weights, lord knows where I got those at. But I'd rather use spoke weights. Nobody had OS lead weights. Got to thinking, I'll go to Bucky's web site and see what they suggest. Low and behold they have chrome plated spoke weights. If you're willing to pay for them. Which I am. Bicky's has a $6 surcharge for small orders. Dirty bastards, they didn't charge it to me.  And one of those did the deed.

But on to the real problem. The front end was totally uncompliant on my test rides. Total bounce.  So we removed the fork brace, front fender, air caps, springs. Grabbed the lower legs and they were stuck right there. Took several minutes of rotating and coaxing before I got them to move and many more minutes of up and down massaging before they would travel the full length, each. Background: these are the early style forks with the pistons, guides. damper rings, circlips, etc, v the newer forks where the tube rides directly in the lower leg. I had all the mating surfaces Teflon coated, which reduced the OEM clearances by just a skosh more. So my guess, is with little attention to pre-lubing anything, and how many years have those forks been waiting to be used, with gravity pulling what little oil there was , out of the moving parts, they were stuck.

Also, certain forum members indicated the need for pumping the forks to get the oil everywhere, and the air out, anyway. This is probably the main thing. With hundreds of pumps, they get better and better.

So, I think I may have found the source of the extreme stiction, and after quite some time of pumping both forks they move fairly easily. Next step reassembly and test.

In the meantime I'm still swatting around with sidestands. My friend Rick Dorfmeyer of LSR Holder fame on www.Project212.com, offered to shorten one of my test stands. He actually ended up giving it to Jr. Dreyer of Dreyer Honda (USA oldest Honda Dealer) and Jr. shortened it 3/4" and rewelded it very nicely. Need wheels to test it. Soon.

[Tintop]

Just think if you had your camera, you might be @ page 100 now.

Glad to hear you solved the fork issue.  How soon before you get to road test again??

[MCRider]

Just think if you had your camera, you might be @ page 100 now.

Glad to hear you solved the fork issue.  How soon before you get to road test again??

We don't know for sure the fork is solved, but something's different now and we hope it is. Maybe next weekend.

Once i can put down some real miles we can see if it will grow out of the smoking problem (fingers crossed) or pull the head and fix it. Probably need 100+ miles to tell.

[MCRider]

I've gotten good feedback on the vid. Since its drifting into the back pages, I'll repost it here.

Phaedrus: 1972 Honda CB750

[MCRider]

Plug for "Steel Plate". No affiliation:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=112002.new#new

[knowsnothing]

Come on 100!

[Ecosse]

jeez, for some reason i stopped getting notifications for this thread. (grumble grumble)

i'll be saving your video to my youtube file but i'm not sure whether to place it in the "awesome motorcycles" file or the "unbelievable completion to a seemingly never ending motorcycle rebuild using an accumulation of parts, decades old inspiration, and a motorcycles a man will in all probability be buried with" file.

fwiw i'd delete the "steady cam" feature on the video as it's making me sea sick. otherwise... love it!   

[MCRider]

jeez, for some reason i stopped getting notifications for this thread. (grumble grumble)

i'll be saving your video to my youtube file but i'm not sure whether to place it in the "awesome motorcycles" file or the "unbelievable completion to a seemingly never ending motorcycle rebuild using an accumulation of parts, decades old inspiration, and a motorcycles a man will in all probability be buried with" file.

fwiw i'd delete the "steady cam" feature on the video as it's making me sea sick. otherwise... love it!

Thanks!   

It was my nephew's cam. I know not what i was doing. I'll mention it to him.

Once it actually has 100 miles and proven no leaks or smoke, I'll do a final vid.

After that my entries will be in the "SoHC on the road" thread. 

[Ecosse]

It was my nephew's cam. I know not what i was doing. I'll mention it to him.

if it was edited on youtube and that effect was added there it can be removed otherwise it's for good i think. but it's no big deal really. enjoyed the clip!

safe riding!

[MCRider]

It was my nephew's cam. I know not what i was doing. I'll mention it to him.

if it was edited on youtube and that effect was added there it can be removed otherwise it's for good i think. but it's no big deal really. enjoyed the clip!

safe riding!

Don't know how the neph did it. The effect surprised me, I figured i'd done something wrong.

Thanks for the comment at youTube, and what i assume was your "like" vote. 

I'm working on it now. Pumping the front shocks to death. May try to lash up the front wheel and align the fork tonight. Hard to do with no springs and the weight of the wheel. Thinking I'll use a tiedown to pull the wheel up with the fork at max compression.

[MCRider]

Did something rare, spent time on it other than Sunday. So I went to strap up the front wheel into the forks, as they were fully compressed without springs. End result was to tighten the fork and fork brace while the fork was compressed with the wheel clamped in place, to get a true alignment of tubes without binding. Well, in bumping around I came close to knocking it off the jack, which would have been a true disasster.

I slowly undid everything and got the wheel back on the ground. waited for Bruce to come over Thurs.

So looking it over, we decided on a different approach. We stacked 2 nearly full 5 gallon paint buckets at the rear of the bike. Then with a tie down over the luggage rack, we hooked it to the handle of the lower bucket. This was enough ballast on the rear, holding up the front, that we could bang around on the front end and care not about the jack.

So we winched the front wheel into place, fork fully compressed, and one by one tightened up the clamps, and the fork brace. Then with the tie down gone, the front wheel would go up and down with reasonable effort. There's still some stiction but not absolutely stuck like before.

Would like to get it back onthe road Sunday but the remnant rains from the Hurricane may limit that.