Author Topic: Phaedrus: CB750 RestoMod - Update: 09/23/21 w/ new video  (Read 867966 times)

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Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 12/30/12 w/ new pics
« Reply #2625 on: January 07, 2013, 03:34:40 PM »
Yep, I wouldn't do without the tool bag Ron, especially on a new build, nothing is more frustrating than needing a 10mm spanner or star screwdriver 20 miles from home.

I tested Mark's first ignition amplifier and it came with a piece of tin strap attached, which just folded around the bottom of the battery box, and it held fine. I'm surprised to see that you're still running points though, didn't you have an electronic ignition? Cheers, Terry. ;D 
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

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Offline brandEn

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 12/30/12 w/ new pics
« Reply #2626 on: January 07, 2013, 04:28:07 PM »
Ron....You DESERVE a bike lift brother. You don't know how much life is improved with such a device. ;)
I've been resisting it as it takes up so much floor space. But, it may become a higher priority as my back falters. I can build a larger storage shed to store dormant project pieces.

TAO (The Annoying Orange) lives on my bike lift so it doesn't take up much more space than the bike itself. I just ride it up there when I get home and there she stays. ;)

Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 12/30/12 w/ new pics
« Reply #2627 on: January 08, 2013, 08:18:57 AM »
Yep, I wouldn't do without the tool bag Ron, especially on a new build, nothing is more frustrating than needing a 10mm spanner or star screwdriver 20 miles from home.

I tested Mark's first ignition amplifier and it came with a piece of tin strap attached, which just folded around the bottom of the battery box, and it held fine. I'm surprised to see that you're still running points though, didn't you have an electronic ignition? Cheers, Terry. ;D
Yeah it would be a compromise to run without. Esp since I have  NOS toolkit to show off.

That tin strap is what i saw in his book, I can cut one from flashing, noprob. Surprised it wasn't mentioned in the instructions with the unit, I'll have to talk to him about that.   ;)

What would be way cool is if the box were a little thinner it could be tie wrapped under the seat, thru the foam breathing holes in the seatpan. Then one wouldn't have to mess even with the battery to put it in.

PS: Yeah, I had a Prestolite left over from the previous iteration. I thought I could use it, it worked fine when i parked it. Famous last words. After 10+ years in a box, I couldn't get it to time up. And the Dynas were suffering from too many reported failures. Mark's transistor set, with a new TEC point plate became an intriguing way to go. Especially with a clear points cover, put on a show.  ;D
« Last Edit: January 08, 2013, 08:55:35 AM by MCRider »
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 12/30/12 w/ new pics
« Reply #2628 on: January 08, 2013, 08:51:49 AM »
Ron....You DESERVE a bike lift brother. You don't know how much life is improved with such a device. ;)
I've been resisting it as it takes up so much floor space. But, it may become a higher priority as my back falters. I can build a larger storage shed to store dormant project pieces.

TAO (The Annoying Orange) lives on my bike lift so it doesn't take up much more space than the bike itself. I just ride it up there when I get home and there she stays. ;)
That would help too. But I've got some skeletons taking up floor space. I should either finish them, or otherwise move them out.
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 01/07/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2629 on: January 10, 2013, 02:12:34 PM »
Man I'm sold! Infrared is the way to GO!  Like standing under a heat lamp, Along its entire length plus several feet, and the perpendicular about 10 x 10 as adveryised. X2 the whole shop is covered. Though the ambient is higher today you can feel what's going to happen. The whole metal topped workbench is warm to the touch. My watchcap is toasty. Had to take it off. Then my balding head gets hot. The lamp is 9ft off the ground. My buddy standing on the other side of the shop got a hot hat too.

And its silent and can be trimmed to "simmer" with the controllers.
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1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
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Offline CBJoe

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 01/07/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2630 on: January 10, 2013, 03:20:15 PM »
Very cool Ron.  Just in time for the 62 degree's were supposed to get tomorrow and Saturday  ;)

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Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 01/07/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2631 on: January 10, 2013, 04:09:30 PM »
Very cool Ron.  Just in time for the 62 degree's were supposed to get tomorrow and Saturday  ;)

Joe
I know, darn! Well it'll be cold again by Monday.   ;)
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Offline Tintop

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 01/07/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2632 on: January 10, 2013, 06:44:06 PM »
OK now I'm envious, a work bench that's warm to the touch.  I like the idea of radiant, but don't think I'll have the ceiling high to accomodate it. :(
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 01/07/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2633 on: January 13, 2013, 06:30:30 PM »
OK now I'm envious, a work bench that's warm to the touch.  I like the idea of radiant, but don't think I'll have the ceiling high to accomodate it. :(
My heaters suggest minimum 8ft, I'm at 9. They have them that come at you from the sides as well, but that takes wall space. 

I only have 1 of the 2 hooked up as one of the elements was broken in the package. They are sending mea replacement no questions asked.

The temp dropped from 60 to 27° today as cold front moved in, shop stayed at 62. Might not be able to hold in prolonged cold.  Got my hat and gloves wet working outside, laid them on the workbench. Dry in 20 minutes.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2013, 06:38:30 PM by MCRider »
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 01/07/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2634 on: January 13, 2013, 07:15:07 PM »
Controllers:

Ah Heat!

Very good book stand from Office Depot:


Back to work: material for bracket for HondaMan transistor ignition booster: Aluminum flashing:

Cut a strip about 7" x 2.5":

Screw to top of ignition using existing screws:


Insert under battery box:

Bend flaps inward:

Reinstall rubber base and battery. Good to go.
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1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 01/13/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2635 on: January 14, 2013, 12:04:14 AM »
That's it Ron, on the one Mark sent me the "tabs" overlapped each other to help lock it on, but that's the idea. Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 01/13/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2636 on: January 14, 2013, 06:01:14 AM »
That's it Ron, on the one Mark sent me the "tabs" overlapped each other to help lock it on, but that's the idea. Cheers, Terry. ;D
That would have been good. I didn't pick that up from the sketch in his book, My flaps are about 1.5" each, ain't goin nowhere with the battery on it. Nice install, completely hidden yet protected by the inner fender.
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1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 01/13/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2637 on: January 14, 2013, 04:50:36 PM »
Nice touch, Ron!  :)
I mount them like that on all but the bikes with the PVC 'stuff' under the battery. It's a little bit too tight under there, then.  :(
My original test unit (#2 after Terry's) is still under there on my K2, with the extra-long tabs: they act like a spring when I unhook the battery, lifting it up about 1/4" and making it easier to nab for extraction!  :D
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

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Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 01/13/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2638 on: January 14, 2013, 05:51:19 PM »
Nice touch, Ron!  :)
I mount them like that on all but the bikes with the PVC 'stuff' under the battery. It's a little bit too tight under there, then.  :(
My original test unit (#2 after Terry's) is still under there on my K2, with the extra-long tabs: they act like a spring when I unhook the battery, lifting it up about 1/4" and making it easier to nab for extraction!  :D
I see.

That would be nice too, but the flashing I used doesn't have enough memory to lift the battery. Still I'm sure everything will stay put and only I will know it's not points only. Now if i can just get Joe to sell me a clear points cover...
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Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 01/13/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2639 on: February 04, 2013, 01:03:31 PM »
Well its been 3 full weeks since last we spoke. Over 1500 views in that time so I guess there is some interest in the story even when dormant. A confluence of events, weather, sickness, personal, interrupted a nearly continuous flow of weekly shop days. I think we'll be back on track now.

I'd ordered 2 infrared heaters for the shop. Not willing to mess with it, I hired an electrician and he got them wired (we did hang them ourselves to save that money at least) but when he got to the second heating element, it was broken. They resemble 4 ft fluorescent tubes, but less girth by half. About like the new T8 tubes. They have a wire coil inside and a glass shell. The heating supply house sent a new one no questions asked. Took 2 weeks and...it was broken too. AS was the next replacement!. The third try came double boxed with 2 trash cans full of foam wrap. It was OK, the electrician just left and it is working now. Yay!

We actually worked Sunday with just the one heater and it was fine for a while. The workbench got warm and the tools. But when stepping out from under the tent of radiation to where the bike was, it was colder. More on Sundays work when I download some pictures tonight.

I've spent so much time on the heaters as several of you asked how they would work and actually do work. Infrared heats things, it does not heat the air. It heats the workbench, the tools, the liquids on the shelf, and yes the floor and the footpad. The air gets heated as a consequence of heating the "things". The best example I know was a picture I saw of a Hospital where the overhang over the emergency room had a bank of IR heaters. In the wide open. They heated the road surface beneath the overhand to free it of ice. On either side of the overhang was heavy ice.

So they cost more, but if its in the budget, highly recommended.  My 5600W fan forced was about $250, sat on the floor taking up precious space, not reaally efficient, and was noisy. 2 3000w IRs hang from the ceiling, are silent, and cost about $750 with proper controllers. I would never buy fan forced again. They both use about the same amount of electricity. A watt is a watt I'm told. I figured about $10 for a 12 hr day. x 5 shop days a month = $50. 3-4 really cold months, 3-4 cool months. A pittance for a hobby.

A reasonable knowledge of residential wiring would get them hooked up. Otherwise you've got to add in some electrician fees.

Next we're back to the project.  :D
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Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 02/04/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2640 on: February 04, 2013, 07:44:48 PM »
Where'd we leave off? Oh yeah. There was a puddle of oil in that cavity above the clutch on the right side of the engine. No real trail of oil from anywhere though. So I'm suspecting the cam chain tensioner. We pulled it off for checking. The gasket came off clean with the tensioner body. A while back there was a thread on the ORing in the body that the plunger passes thru. But its not sold as a separate part. If it did leak the oil would only come out the end of the housing? Should be obvious.

The housing itself was actually very dry inside. In fact there was a fibrous material (spiderweb?) in the housing!

I'll figure something out. Clean it up real good, goop the gasket and reinstall.

Remembering back to the summer when we actually started and ran it a while, it was smoking real bad. Mostly a blue white color.  Besides my problem there have been other threads here about smokers. Some posters said they had luck leaning the carbs down a bit. I know all about its not the right color smoke blah blah. People said it worked and they had their reasons. So I want to be ready to give it a try. And the baseline is to know what is in there now.

I got my spare set off the shelf to practice removing the jets. This can be done with the floatbowls still on, thru a cute access hole in the bottom. The main jet and the emulsion tube will come out.

It had 112.5 mains and some odd numbering system on the tube. I'll have to call Z1 to see what else is available. Having refreshed my memory on the removal, I took the ones out of the carbs on the bike. They too are 112.5s. Both carbs set up the same way.  So I'll get a set of 110s. I don't really have much hope that is the problem, but can't hurt.

OThers suggested that i simply didn't have enough run time on the motor to expect it to be smoke free. That doesn't comfort me much either as I have built many motors (not recently) that never smoked after the briefest of run times. Nevertheless...  But i couldn't get much run time on the bike as the front end wasn't working, locked solid. So that took some time to rectify. Got many suggestions the best being to simply disassemble them at least remove the wheel fender brakes, springs, then work them up and down and round and round.  This was discussed a few pages back in the thread. IT actually took some effort to get the lower legs to move. But after several sessions like a physical therapist they finally loosened up. They are the older style forks with bushings and collars and I think the oil just never got a chance to get in everywhere and coat everything. Then it sat for quite some time and just stuckified.

Today when I dropped it off the center stand to push it out of the electricians way, it sagged about an inch and half and was easily compliant with my efforts. Hoping it will ride nice. I'll put some miles on it when the weather breaks. IF that doesn't fix the smoking, it'll be a top end job. Of course everything is fresh in the top now, so that's a little discouraging. I suppose I could have put the scrapers in upside down. I used the old style exhaust guides that don't have seals. But that should be allright, the K0s didn't smoke. Course they didn't have the mind boggling compression this thing has. The well respected machinist reused the Manley valves I had in the previous engine. I'd asked him too if they were still in spec. He said they were, but maybe I should have gone new. But whatever it takes is what it will get.

So even though it was running and nominated for bike of the month, I knew it was premature. Someone else more deserving, and complete, won.  We still had several subsystems to work out. The oil tank was wet sumping, so we pulled the pump, cleaned the check valve and reinstalled. That was good Karma as the pump screen was covered with fibrous material, diagnosed to be the old clutch I tried to reuse. So now its got a new APE clutch.

Horns, relays, trans ignition, functioning sidestand, were all things to be done, and now are. The instruments are next. I've got a NOS K1 tach I'm going to have a K0 face with the 8500 redline installed. Then for the speedo, I'm having it recalibrated to be accurate with the 18" wheel. Now that Lecram has repro housings I can send them off for the work. We'll put a K0 face in it as well to match the tach.

There's probably something else I'm missing...oh gotta have a centerstand cut down for the lower ride height. And about finally, I'll have a minimalist chain guard made to keep the lube from flinging on me and the other. That's all for now. This is my busy time of year at work. Squeezing out shop time will be difficult, but I think the plan has enough time before May. If it doesn't quit smoking, the motor will be a summer job. Not the best timing for asking Mike for help. But I'll just get in line and wait my turn.  I've got other things to work on and hopefully ride.
« Last Edit: February 04, 2013, 07:53:48 PM by MCRider »
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1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 02/04/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2641 on: February 05, 2013, 02:18:14 AM »
Thanks for keeping this thread going Ron, I'm still enjoying it, and I'd envy you your IR heating if it wasn't for that fact that it's so damn hot here at the moment I can't work in my steel garage!

You probably haven't had a dumb question recently, so I'll go first, you haven't messed up the breather hoses, or they're not blocked are they? The K0 exhaust guides wouldn't allow it to smoke like that, even with monster compression, Russ Collins was building 970cc race engines with the same guides with no smoke, so that won't be the issue.

It could be something as simple as upside down rings, but it won't be your Mikuni jets, 112.5 sounds just about right, and anyway, that was oil smoke, not rich mixture, so unless you're running it on 2 stroke fuel, that aint it either.

Anyway, as always, keep up the good work Ron, considering your horrible weather, you're doing a great job. Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 02/04/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2642 on: February 05, 2013, 05:41:09 AM »
Thanks for keeping this thread going Ron, I'm still enjoying it, and I'd envy you your IR heating if it wasn't for that fact that it's so damn hot here at the moment I can't work in my steel garage!

You probably haven't had a dumb question recently, so I'll go first, you haven't messed up the breather hoses, or they're not blocked are they? The K0 exhaust guides wouldn't allow it to smoke like that, even with monster compression, Russ Collins was building 970cc race engines with the same guides with no smoke, so that won't be the issue.

It could be something as simple as upside down rings, but it won't be your Mikuni jets, 112.5 sounds just about right, and anyway, that was oil smoke, not rich mixture, so unless you're running it on 2 stroke fuel, that aint it either.

Anyway, as always, keep up the good work Ron, considering your horrible weather, you're doing a great job. Cheers, Terry. ;D
Thanks for your support.  ;D  I lived in Tucson back in my wilder days. Worked outside a lot. I remember how hot things got, you couldn't leave a tool in the sun if you expected to pick it up again.

Breather hoses are new and unblocked.

I agree with your assessment of everything else. Same with the ex guides. No matter how good my engine is, others were better, so it shouldn't be the guides. Could be the valves though, the stems may have been worn down. If it comes apart, it'll get new guides and valves.

Same on the jets. At least now I'm a bit more educated about what I have. I used those carbs just as they sit on the prior 888 motor and it ran wonderfully and didn't smoke or use a drop of oil for many miles.

Just going to go thru the motions, but it's 99.9% assured its gotta come apart.  :(  I just remembered another of these obscure possibilities. I think it was wet sumping from the first start up. I remember checking the oil and it was never up on the dipstick even while running. I knew that I had put 3+ qts in the tank so the oil had to be there and I just went on with other issues. But if it had 3+ qts in the sump the whole time I was running it would that cause some internal pressures that would force oil up into the chambers? Now that the oil pump is fixed, may it stop smoking? Clinging to hope.   :D   :D
« Last Edit: February 05, 2013, 05:42:51 AM by MCRider »
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1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 02/04/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2643 on: February 05, 2013, 05:58:40 AM »
PS: Terry: I love reading about your CXs and GLs! What fun, makes me wish I was out of this project into something new. But this is a legacy project and I'll see it through.

Then I'll get into some odd stuff too!   :D
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 02/04/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2644 on: February 05, 2013, 02:54:08 PM »
Well well: I googled "will wet sumping cause an engine to smoke" and I found this:

http://www.britcycle.com/Manuals/wetsumping.pdf

Look at symptom #2 and reason #1. Here's hoping.   :D


PS: I've read maybe 20 hits from that Google search. All Brit bike references, all indicate excessive exhaust smoking can be a symptom of wet sumping. Gives me a shot of adrenline to get it started again.

The other symptom of breather pressure applies to the Brit stuff as they are all (mostly) huff and chuff motors. The inline 4 is basically neutral on crankcase pressure as 2 pistons go up as 2 go down, causing no net pressure.

My wet sumping was the most severe I've heard of as my stopper valve was stuck full open and it returned no oil to the tank.
« Last Edit: February 06, 2013, 06:51:33 AM by MCRider »
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Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 02/04/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2645 on: February 10, 2013, 05:54:01 PM »
Great evening in the shop. YOu'll have to humor me on thsi, but the new heaters are AWESOME. 40° outside, 75° inside. But not only that, all the surfaces were warm. And standing at the bench required disrobing (partially) and turning the heater down. Silent, no drafts, ummmmm.

Someone else started a thread about the hole in the end of the can chain tensioner. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=117588.msg1329229#msg1329229
After all these years I had never noticed it. Turns out its for a tool that pulls the plunger back to un tension the cam chain for disassembly. The hole is threaded for a 3mm x .5 x 20mm (in my example). A nut and flat washer converts it into s puller for the purpose. Run the screw in till it bottoms. Then tighten the nut down to pull the plunger away from the chain (After loosening the plunger lock bolt.)

Having never known of this tool, we (the shops where I worked) would loosen the lock bolt, turn the engine backwards putting the slack on the front, tighten the lock bolt, turn the engine back forwards and all the slack goes to the back with no tension on it.

Either or.
We prepped the cam chain tensioner for reinstall only to discover I have no spare gaskets. One didn't come in the CycleX MLS kit I bot earlier.  :(  So that's on my buy list this week.

Upon further exam it became more apparent that the leak is more likely from the oil pressure light switch. So removed that and put it on the buy list. I undoubtedly have others, but not time to swap around, new it is.

Talked to Z1 about the VM29s.  ("smothies" as he called them.) Had used these on the old 888, with nary a change from the set up that came on them. But time passes and I bot the SUDCO VM29 manual frm Z1 and some jets I might need. Reinstalled the parts I had removed from the carbs on the bike.

Rain outside kept us from starting it, maybe next week. In the meantime, itsy bitsy details being resolved.

Photobucket is locked up. Seems to happen on Sunday night, maybe high traffic. Maybe later.
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Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 02/10/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2646 on: February 11, 2013, 10:34:59 AM »
OEM nearly virgiin toolkit. Been sitting in the box for 20+ years waiting for its day in the sun, er under the seat.

Cam chain tensioner: end of plunger hole, makeshift "puller" to relieve tension for dsassembly:




Next details to finish: alt cover and shift cover leaks.

Then time for restart.
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 02/10/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2647 on: February 11, 2013, 11:34:44 PM »
G'Day Ron, looking good mate! Sorry I haven't been around much of late, I've been hanging around Goldwing and CX500 sites, I've just bought another GL1000 roller for a future project, a CX500 Shadow for my son, and a CX650 engine for my CX500, which, with a few mods will give it nearly 30 more BHP than my current CX500. Good fun! Oh, and I found a "ride off" main stand for my GL1200 on Ebay yesterday, so that'll make things a bit easier too.

Anyway, your most recent "wet sumping" theory certainly holds water mate, I reckon you might be on the money, so don't strip it down until you've fired it up and allowed time for the smoke to clear, and if you're right, I'll lock that one away in the old CB750 memory bank! Glad to see that your heaters are working so well too, I'm actually looking forward to cooler weather here, the older I get, the more I vaccilate between getting off my arse and doing something outside in the heat, or just staying in my cool rumpus room and drinking........ Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

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Offline MCRider

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 02/10/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2648 on: February 12, 2013, 12:32:12 PM »
I can understand the appeal of those other models.  A friend of mine scored a GL1200 for $600. About 25,000 miles. The guy had it since new, rode it and then parked it for...decades! Finally had to clean out the garage. My buddy cleaned the carbs, tires and off he went.

Don't know what it was that made me google the wet sump/exhaust smoke potential relationship, but in the BRit Bike world its common place.  There is a cottage industry around Brit bike oil pumps and stopper valves, both internal and EXTERNAL. Like a petcock where you actually turn off the oil to sump line.  Disaster waits upon startup when the operator forgets to switch it back on.

But phrases like "smoked like an insect fogger" were used and gives me hope. Never really heard of it happening on a CB750 that way. Wet sumping seems to be happening more as our oil pumps get older I suppose. But no one else has reported smoke as a result, that I know of.

But springtime is still a bit off and thre are a few details left to iron out.  If its completely finished and needs the top end refreshed, I'll deal with it. But hope not.

I don't need warmth outside to start it, but it needs to be dry outside as I push everything out of the shop before lighting it off.  Maybe next weekend.  Won't get any miles on it till April though.

Was just visited by my buddies who wrench on an Indy Car team headquartered not far from here. When I mentioned the smoking the first thing one said was, "give it a few heat cycles. It may come around". Surprised me. Even million dollar Indy cars have gremlins.
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

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Re: Phaedrus II: CB750 "Super Standard"-Update 02/10/13 w/ new pics
« Reply #2649 on: February 12, 2013, 12:43:03 PM »
I'd like to know how 3.5 quarts of oil in a completed lower end would look. Could it actually fill the cases to overflowing? meaning it would come up into the bottom of the cyl sleeves?
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."