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

[MCRider]

You might want to look at a set of these MCR.  This isn't the only source, just the 1st link I could find easily.

http://www.discovolantemoto.co.uk/honda-parts/billet-honda-tappet-cover/prod_151.html

Those are really, really nice. Too many choices. I'd been leaning towards the offerings from Joker as i already have some of their parts. For expediency sake, I'll scrub up some stockers and defer any purchases to winter.

I've got those CNC caps on my K1, Mike Reick sourced them for me many years ago, and they are nice, for sure. Hey Ron, if you want to do a trade, I've got a nice set of new unused chrome plated stock caps I'd trade you for those HA's? Cheers, Terry.

Tempting.... Yes! Let's trade. I'll send PM.

[MCRider]

Well, its 99.9% sure the head gasket is leaking oil.     I emailed several people over the last week about this and advice on a modern fix. I think I'll go with the MLS from CycleX. We cleaned up the shop and got everything ready for a surgical attack on the engine ASAP.


But, before that, we took it for a ride!  Bruce on the camera, got the obligatory anonymous shot for the internet.


Then decided to let it hang out and disclose my identity. Some regular shots:



CAn someone photoshop out the smoke? Man don't know where that came from.

Can't blame Bruce for the shots, my camera has a big delay from pushing the button to actually taking the picture.

Blipped it several times up to 5000+, very littlesmoke and seemed to take the throttle willingly.

There's always the chance that my gasket settled and a retorque would fix it. Wishful thinking perhaps. I'll check the head nuts first, before just spinning them off.

Anyway, feeling pretty good.   

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Looking like it wants to go!

I'm giving you another head start Ron. Gotta work then vaca with 1 day in between for the next 3 weeks. Surely you can get in a ride in that time. My front brake bled itself while I was gone the past 4 days. My right wrist was sore from all the pumping (brake) that didn't work so I just tied the lever open and cracked the Speed Bleeder and left town. That's the next to last pain to get done. Gotta figure out the clutch  when I have time. It'll still start up though  I just have to hear it every now and then  Gotta check the top end oiling too. I'm thinking I'm good. Can't wait! 

Didn't I already say damn you! We were typing at the same time. Keeping my fingers crossed on your head gasket. No leaks here YET and I was really surprised that there has not been the first hint of smoke on the new engine.

[MCRider]

Yeah, it was running real good, got it into second gear. Has the nicest snick into first of any of my bikes I know of. It didn't smoke at all in the shop, or as you can see in the other pictures no smoke. I goosed it pretty good in the shot where it's smoking.

Besides using an old head gasket, I had this smarty pants idea that i'd use K0 style exhaust guides, which carry no seals. I wouldn't do that again, hope I don't regret it this time thru. Nothing that can't be fixed later though. K0s didn't smoke either so, it may just be some break in issues.

Any way, another step, I'm going to see how fast we can swap it out.

[Really?]

WooHoo!  Way to go Ron!!!!  Looking forward to that video with sound!

[Terry in Australia]

Looking good Ron, that smoke puzzles me though, do you think it's running really, really rich? That's a lotta smoke! Like you say, K0's in good condition didn't blow smoke like that, do the pistons have 1 piece oil rings? My K1 with used RC 836 pistons and 1 piece oil rings puffs a little blue smoke on decelleration, but not like that, that's massive!

Anyway, I'm sure you'll sort it out, I get a little oil weepage from around my rocker cover screws that dribble oil down the fins and make me think that the head gasket's leaking, and my tach cable seal was allowing a little oil dribble out before I fixed it. A good re-torqueing will probably fix your gasket if it is leaking, I torque mine down, then leave it overnight, then re-torque it again the next morning, and mine don't leak. Have fun! Cheers, Terry.

[754]

 If you have oil in the pipes, or oil that was in the barrels for assembly, got into the pipes..it takes a while to get good and hot and burn off.. might be what happened.. Good luck with it and congrats..

[MCRider]

If you have oil in the pipes, or oil that was in the barrels for assembly, got into the pipes..it takes a while to get good and hot and burn off.. might be what happened.. Good luck with it and congrats..

Yeah lets hope, there was plenty of oil around. Including some that wicked into the collector. I started to fill the tank without the drain plug in and it dumped all over the pipe at the collector joint. That's 4 separate headers into the collector.

Thanks!

[MCRider]

WooHoo!  Way to go Ron!!!!  Looking forward to that video with sound!

My nephew is my video guy. he said he would do it, edit it and put it on youtube for me which is all greek to me. We were going to do it on the 4th but it was too dang hot and I bailed.

Soon though.

Its got a real good sound by my standards. ITs probably the quietest 4-1 aftermarket pipe out there.  Likely it'll sing a different toon with more rpms.

[MCRider]

Looking good Ron, that smoke puzzles me though, do you think it's running really, really rich? That's a lotta smoke! Like you say, K0's in good condition didn't blow smoke like that, do the pistons have 1 piece oil rings? My K1 with used RC 836 pistons and 1 piece oil rings puffs a little blue smoke on decelleration, but not like that, that's massive!

Anyway, I'm sure you'll sort it out, I get a little oil weepage from around my rocker cover screws that dribble oil down the fins and make me think that the head gasket's leaking, and my tach cable seal was allowing a little oil dribble out before I fixed it. A good re-torqueing will probably fix your gasket if it is leaking, I torque mine down, then leave it overnight, then re-torque it again the next morning, and mine don't leak. Have fun! Cheers, Terry.

They're ARIAS pistones with 3pc oil rings. Gonna try to retorque them tonight, and reasemble.

Meanwhile have the new gaskets on order. CycleX has a new gasket set. Not only is the head gasket MLS, your choice of size, but all the other gaskets are MLS too. Lifetime reusable, no sealer. A bit pricey. But gotta wrap this thing up. I figure anything I don't use is sellable. Or usable eventually.

[Old Scrambler]

If it sounds good I would not do anything to the motor until its got 150 or more miles on it..............I'm with Frank on the shot of smoke burning up the excess oil in the head and pipe.  I have the Cycle-X gaskets in my K3 and will be using them in a K7 motor project.....follow the HONDAMAN advice about head-gasket and O-ring thickness.

You look the part ..........so keep the shinny-side up!

[KB02]

Sweet. About time, and just sweet! 

[Tintop]

Looks great, well done.

[Terry in Australia]

Hey Ron, the bores wouldn't be glazed, would they? I've seen it happen a few times when people have used too much assembly lube and babied the engine a tad? All I do nowadays is give the bores a quick squirt with WD40 when I assemble them, maybe you should re-hone them before reassembly?  I've got RC Arias pistons in mine, but they must be older than yours, as they've got one piece oil rings. Cheers, Terry.

[MCRider]

Hey Ron, the bores wouldn't be glazed, would they? I've seen it happen a few times when people have used too much assembly lube and babied the engine a tad? All I do nowadays is give the bores a quick squirt with WD40 when I assemble them, maybe you should re-hone them before reassembly?  I've got RC Arias pistons in mine, but they must be older than yours, as they've got one piece oil rings. Cheers, Terry.

Anything's possible I suppose. The bore is fresh for the 888cc kit. New sleeves, and fresh bore and hone. The work was done back in 2000. I just kept it lightly oiled all those years waiting for assembly. I'm not anticipating pulling the cylinders...yet.

Ron Scrima (RIP)  of Racing Engine Service (reputable) in TX did the work and sourced all the parts for me, pistons, rings, head gasket etc., again in 2000. Don't know how that matches with your timeline, but I definitely have 3 pc oil rings.  The composite head cheeze sat in a drawer for all those year, and I probably should not have used it as it may have dried out. I lightly coated it with oil for a few days before install, thinking that might revive it.

[Mcwilliams570]

Ron very nice build and is good to see you riding it again. The main thing I got out the 96 pages of your build is all the very good and usefull information in it..Hats off to you and enjoy the ride..

Matt

[MCRider]

Ron very nice build and is good to see you riding it again. The main thing I got out the 96 pages of your build is all the very good and usefull information in it..Hats off to you and enjoy the ride..

Matt

You're welcome and thank you.

We covered about every little thing that could be covered from front to rear. Not done yet. But the character of the build has changed from resurrecting a corpse to working on a live body.   

[Damfino]

But the character of the build has changed from resurrecting a corpse to working on a live body.   

 

It's alive

[MCRider]

I was thinking of that scene when i said it!   

[Ecosse]

i am so happy for you ron! brought a smile to my face to see a proud dad (it's franken- steen!) on his "monster." bike looks even better on the road.

too bad about the leak. good thing for the frame mods tho.

[MCRider]

i am so happy for you ron! brought a smile to my face to see a proud dad (it's franken- steen!) on his "monster." bike looks even better on the road.

too bad about the leak. good thing for the frame mods tho.

Got down to the cam last night. Take it out, retorque, reassemble and start it. If it still leaks, the CycleX MLS gaskets should be here soon and I'll do it again.

[MCRider]

The head was low on torque let's say. Especially in the area where it seemed to be leaking, left front. So  torqued it down last night to 14lbs, tonight to 16lbs. Should be high enough, I'll give it another night.

Met a guy who is on the pit crew for KV Racing. (Tony Kanaan main driver) Their Indy Car headquarters is virtually in my backyard. He and another pit crew member said they'd like to help me with the finishing details! I had Saldana Racing Products helping me and they did a great job. But they're 30 minutes away  so having a next door machine shop may be nice.

Anyway, they took my sidestand to shorten it. Should have it back tomorrow. Got a few other details to sort, but nothing that will keep me from running. Fork brace, front fender, exhaust mount, chain guard all need attention. The stand was a problem as the bike was just too vertical to be comfortable.

Phaedrus was nominated for BOM. It was finished and street legal for a few days. So if any one cares, this will be my one and only solicitation for votes.

Product placement:

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Are you using heavy duty studs? If so aren't they torqued to 22lbs? Memory figure so it could be wrong.

[MCRider]

Are you using heavy duty studs? If so aren't they torqued to 22lbs? Memory figure so it could be wrong.

Yes I have HD studs. My approach has been to take them to the highend of the stock range maybe a tad more. That should be more than enough to seal a leak. But stock studs can stretch at those levels.

No need to go to 22 although that's what they're good for, unless i was a lot hotter engine. The HD studs provide more than a max torque. They provide more consistency of torque, more retention. And some people have snapped the HD stud in the 20+ lb range. So to me if its not necessary, why risk it?

My loss of torque at the head nuts I'm writing off to settling of the gasket. I may be wasting some time here. But that's what I'm doing.

[lucky]

Here is your Photoshop fix.
Click on the photo to enlarge