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

[MCRider]

I haven't checked in of late Ron. Well done man, it's great to see you & your bike in daylight.

Now you know you're going to need a new project. 

Thx for checking in. This one still has a way to go. Chainguard, oil cooler (maybe), muffler brckt, Frt fender looks OK in pictures but needs some work.

But its a different animal now.

In 1996 I bought a penultimate barn find: a 1968 CB77 (Super Hawk). The lady's husband bought it new, and left it completely original. Died in 1974. She parked it in a corner of her general store (heated and cooled) till I bought it. So I need to refinish it, very close to original.

And there's a few other chassis sitting around here that need work.   

Well ok then, I can see your mind won't go soft with nothing to do! The CB77 should be fun, fine motorcycles for their day. I have a recipe to create a six speed for those....with a little work you're interested.

Maye later. Initially, it'll just go back together with all the original parts it came with, just with restored finishes. But I do have a spare engine I'd like to soup up, as its fairly easy to drop an engine out of the CB, and hang another one in its place. 

[MCRider]

The plan is to haul it to the Rockers Reunion at 38th Sreet and Illinois Ave. This is a Vintage ride and show. I will buck the spirit of the event by trailering in but I have no choice.

As many as 300 bikes show up, a very few Harleys. Put on by "Ton-Up Indy" it draws the old European stuff and quite a bit of Jap stuff.

http://www.rockersreunionindy.com/

[andy750]

Excellet Ron we want photos!! Have a good time your bike is sure to generate a lot of interest!

[Blackfin5]

Haven't checked on your build in a while.  Wow!  And over 222,000 views.  I hear ya on bleeding the brake lines.  What a royal PITA.  So far the least favorite thing on my F1 build.

Congrats on a great, meticulous job!

[grcamna2]

Haven't checked on your build in a while.  Wow!  And over 222,000 views.  I hear ya on bleeding the brake lines.  What a royal PITA.  So far the least favorite thing on my F1 build.

Congrats on a great, meticulous job!

+1

[MCRider]

Haven't checked on your build in a while.  Wow!  And over 222,000 views.  I hear ya on bleeding the brake lines.  What a royal PITA.  So far the least favorite thing on my F1 build.

Congrats on a great, meticulous job!

+1

Thanks for checking back in. I know what my bleeding protocol is. I simply have to raise the rt side caliper to its highest possible position. The Speed Bleeder is a huge help, if you don't have one or two. ITs when I shortcut the protocol that I get frustrated.

Now on to the weekly update!

[MCRider]

We got Phaedrus polished up, for the trip downtown to the Rocker's Reunion. More later, but I'll say it has gotten BIG.



More after work tonight.

[IndyFour]

Hey Ron. I was at the show (I actually made it this year without being plowed over by a van!) and looked for you, but you must have arrived later in the day.  Sorry I missed seeing Phaedrus.  Is that the old Simplex we saw parked next to you?

[MCRider]

Hey Ron. I was at the show (I actually made it this year without being plowed over by a van!) and looked for you, but you must have arrived later in the day.  Sorry I missed seeing Phaedrus.  Is that the old Simplex we saw parked next to you?

I got there at 2:30+, were you there before then? If you saw the Simplex and didn't see me, you were early, or I was late. Didn't leave till it was over. But when I went on a walking lap of the lot to see the other bikes, then looked back at mine, it was sort of hidden by the background. We didn't get a lot of foot traffic.  But those that did  come by and saw it gave good comments including "that's the most beautiful motorcycle I've ever seen" twice, and a couple less good, less verbal, but visual, "yecch"s. You could see it in their eyes.

So I guess we succeeded!   

Yeah that was the old Simplex, ca. 1944, evidently lots of people knew of it and came to see it, but didn't give a glance to Phaedrus. The Simplex and the other well made restored scooters that guy had drew a weird crowd. He started it (with a rope) and the others and rode them around. I've got a better picture I'll post later.

[edwardmorris]

Indy is only a few hours away, if tickets are open to all, I might try attending the next event. Would LOVE to see Phaedrus in person, rare honor.


And I can make funny faces back at those naysayers for you

[MCRider]

Indy is only a few hours away, if tickets are open to all, I might try attending the next event. Would LOVE to see Phaedrus in person, rare honor.

Yeah, its open to all. Free. Always in May. Google "Rockers Reunion", Ton-Up Indy, and such. Ton-Up puts it on and they are primarily Cafe Racer. But all styles are welcome.  Got really big in last few years. They closed a street and got some parking lots from the neighborhood (big) Church, so plenty of room. $5 if you're going to show, or going to After Party which was 20 minutes away at a micro brewery downtown.

Honor? Don't know about that, but more is merrier.  I've still got some finishing touches to do, so it will be new again, and again. Chainguard, muffler mount, front fender, carb polish.

[edwardmorris]

6 years, 132 build pages and still going strong. For a first timer like me, I assure you, it's an honor.

[Old Scrambler]

The 'sunshine' on the bike and your shoulder must feel great

Congrats on getting the bike out into the world..............and BTW.........when I go to a show, I don't particularly like all of the bikes..........but I appreciate the rider/owner effort to make it presentable and be proud to show it off

I keep thinking a small sidecar rig with a matching paint-job would get the wind in your face again

[MCRider]

A ittle John Denver reference?
It was a fun event. I mstly laid in the shade and talked to anyone who showed some interest.
I won't rule the sidecar out, but it and the 2 rear wheel and 2 front wheel trikes just don't appeal to  me. What does, as it performs as a single track vehicle is the MP3 500 Piaggio;
http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/12/10/2014-piaggio-mp3-lt-first-look-review-photos/

BAck to the topic at hand:
the PHAEDRUS "List". This was printd and hung from the hadlebar:

PHAEDRUS
1972 Honda CB750K2
Owner: Ron Dison
Co-Builders: Bruce Campbell and Ron Dison
Special Thanks to: www.SOHC4.net
CHASSIS:
Paint: Henley’s Kustom Paint
Powder Coat:  Indy Powder Coating
Tank Reconditioning: Moyer Fuel Tank Renu
Mods, Gussets, Fork Brace, CenterStand, Engine Mounts: Saldana Racing Products
Double Sided Rr Engine mount: Voxonda
SideStand: Soupy’s Performance
Chrome and Polishing: Brown’s Plating
Wheels: Fr=2.15x18; Rr=3.5x17; OS Stainless Steel Spokes:  Buchanan’s Spoke & Rim
Wheel Assembly: Co-Builders
Recondition Instruments: Marcel (Lecram)  CB750faces.com  (Netherlands)
HD Primary Chains, SS Oil Hoses: Classic Cycle City
Brake Hoses: Clearcoated Stainless Braid: Goodridge
Control Cables: Clearcoated Stainless Braid: Motion Pro
Steering Damper: Period Dunstall 7 click adjustable
Repro Side Covers, Flaked emblems, Clear points cover, more…: Frankenstuff
Luggage Rack: Period VENTURA Luggage system: New Zealand.
Misc. Suppliers: Yamiya, Carpy’s, MotoGrid, CRCII, eBay, KV Racing Tech, HondaMan, Voxonda, Joker Machine, more…
ENGINE:
Top End Machine Work: JMR Racing; Boston; Thanks Mike Rieck
ARIAS Piston Kit 888cc, WebCam 41, SS Valves
OS Intake, Titanium bits, HD springs, Porting, Seats, Guides, Mikuni VM29 Smoothbores
Bottom End Work: Crank, Crower Rods, Transmission Undercutting, Clutch: APE Racing; Thanks Big Jay
Cryogenics: Engine parts, disc rotors, clutch, etc.: Cryogenics of Indiana
ELECTRICS:
   Ignition: Andrews Coils and Wires; TEC OEM Points Plate; HondaMan Transistorized    booster;
   Lights: Period CIBIE Lens, H4 bulb, HondaMan Dual Relays.
   Horns: 2-J&P Cycle Mini Horns, relays from Eastern Beaver
EXHAUST: Marshall DeepTone (Netherlands)
SUSPENSION:
Front: OEM Fork, Tubes by Franks, Springs from RaceTech, Teflon coatings, Cryogenic lower       legs, LeakProof seals, DIY Air Forks adapter, Fork Brace
Rear: Period S&W Shocks
Swingarm: Handmade and fit bushings w/ Oilite Bronze. Handmade pivot bolts: HondaMan
Brakes: Fr=OEMx2, SS caliper pistons: Rr=”ARCED” by RaceTech
SEAT: One-off Corbin w/ backrest.



I'll post a link to a fresh post for the Rockers Reunion 2014. Take a look.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=137954.new#new

[Stev-o]

Good to see you got it out to a show, Ron. 

[CBJoe]

Great to see Phaedrus out in the real world....still peeved I missed the show.  Soon...soon

[MCRider]

Thanks Steve and CBJ.

We took a break from the bike and worked on the trailer. The left lamp quit working. I thought buying a new trailer would insulate me from working on trailer lights. Hate those things!

But I know it's 99.9% of the time bad ground. So we removed the lamp, and filed the powdercoat off the the inside of the bracket holes. Refreshed a couple of ground wires. Sneared it with dialectric grease.  That should do it.

Noticed on maiden voyage the license plate bracket was a bit puny and the plate flapped. Lost one of the plate bolts on the way back from Rockers REunion.  So we worked up a reinforce bracket.

We'll need to shift the front wheel chock back a few notches. Bike rides too far forward. Shouldn't be a problem, just time.

[MCRider]

This weeks shop time was spent on the trailer. While it has a 12" strip of diamond plate on either side of the rail, the CB is too wide, and the peg positioning to intrusive for this to be comfortable duck walking the bike onto the rail and into the chock. Fine for Harleys which is their and nearly ewveryones main market, as they are so narrow and pegs up front and out of the way.

So we are adding the most the frame will allow, about another 6 inches of deck width, on each side, with pressure treated lumber and non slip surfacing. Not quite done yet.

A curious comment by a spectator at the Rockers Reuion show. One guy just couldn't get over the grips! Where did we get them, how much were they, etc. so cool.

I always thought they were nearly the gaudiest piece on the bike, and there are some contenders for the prize. They came from eBay/Alibaba, for 18¢, ($8.50 shipping from ShangHai).

I wanted some grips trimmed in gold and that's all I could find. Figured for 18¢, I could always trash them for something better...or not.   



So I sent the chainguard back to Carpy for an exchange on stuff. I settled on 2 of his 3 retainer pin wrenches and a new battery strap (mine has a nick in it  ). With freight that skewed the exchange a little in his favor for his trouble.

He sent me all 3 of his wrench styles, the strap, and sent the guard back! Mixup in the shipping dept?

I bought some stuff from Joker. Hard to resist. The eBay valve covers are pretty, cheap, but they leaked. Turn them tighter and the ORing rolled up on itself. Get what you pay for. And the one closest to the petcock wouldn't clear it, so had to use an OEM in that position.

Can't stand it, so I sprung for what I deem the best, Jokers caps. And some other misc, drain plug, chain adjusters, brake adjuster, with the signature dimples on them.

VJMC Show June 28th.   

[grcamna2]

That is one Nice custom project 750 Ron;is it complete as far as you're concerned ? 
I'd like to ask about that 'cryogenic' work you had done to some of the parts 

[MCRider]

That is one Nice custom project 750 Ron;is it complete as far as you're concerned ? 
I'd like to ask about that 'cryogenic' work you had done to some of the parts 

Thanks! The original plan was to ride the wheels off of it, as I had in the past. So for that we could say its done. But since that ain't gonna happen, I'll just keep doing things to it and ride it if my skill and ability allows. It needs a chainguard. I've got some real good ideas for a minimalist one, to be made by Saldanas Racing PRoducts who has had their fingers in this pie off and on.

Also needs a combo muffler mount and centerstand stop. It has one now cobbles together from parts. The front fender is off a CB350F (18" front tire). It has holes in it where we removed the crossbrace mount. They are visible from a closer look. The chrome is also bad in spots though it photographs well. So they need to be welded up and Brown's said they could grind it down smooth and chrome it.

Then there's the controversial Chrome Oil Cooler. Been so long since I've seen it I forget what it looks like. It will need a mount and stainless lines. IT has either a on/off switch or a thermostat, I don't remember. Bot it from a forum member.

With those items, we'ld say its done. I do have a chromed master cylinder which just needs me to get to it adn mount it up.

Got several projects in the wings, the sum total of which will be less budget than Phaedrus has been. One is a 75F, I'd like to Cafe. Not as a rat, but with little attention to finish. A workhorse thing.  Then the all original CB77. NEeds to be refinished and reassembled as original.

My original theme with P II was to do all (or most) of the things to it that could hav been done at the time. RC Engineering had a heat treated/shot peened kick starter shaft to keep from twisting when kicking the hi-comp hi cc engines they were making. So I wanted one of those, though I'd likely never use it, especially now.

I got the shotpeening done locally, but no one would heat treat it. No specs and if specs, high price. So somehow I stumbled into CRYOGENICS of Indiana. They were cryo ing blocks for drag racers, said to triple their life span. Also, Indy bus fleet disc brakes, again triple the rotor life. You can go on-line and find lots of testimonials, and some naysayers. What's the oint if its not controversial eh?

Cheap too. So I had virtually everything that wasn't already assembled, cryoed. Trans, lower legs, chains, all valve train, pistons, clutch, etc. Got real good testimonials from sports car guys about the transmissions. Shift smoother, last longer, less power loss. I'll never know the difference, but its somethign to talk about.   

[grcamna2]

I was always relating that word 'cryogenics' to something that had to do w/ me watching movies where they would freeze a guy and wake'em up again in the future     

[MCRider]

Got a lot of catching up to do. But the teaser for today... Just got back from the VJMC National Rally in Springmill State Park.
Phaedrus won 1st Place Trophy in the Custom category!

Pictures for proof, at 11P.

Besides, a lot of very fulfilling discussion/contact with interested persons.

[Stev-o]

Phaedrus won 1st Place Trophy in the Custom category!

Congrats Ron.

[Phoenix]

CONGRATULATIONS!
I chickened out because of the forecast.  Didn't even go to Lima Flat Track because iT said 80% rain also.  Looks like people finally got a chance to see your bike.  It was out in left field at the Mods and Rockers or I think you would have gotten some gold there also.  Your bike is a pristine work of gauche art that has to be appreciated.  Every nut and bolt has been lovingly contemplated and dealt with in a well-thought out way.  The results are spectacular.  The build has come in spurts leaving visitors with a feeling of not knowing when it will be complete.  With your permission, I DECLARE IT COMPLETE!  With all your posts, people know what he looks like. I don't know how to do it, but I think Phaedrus should be considered for BOY or at least BOM.  I hope someone makes that move.

I don't know about anyone else, but I got tons of ideas from your posts that I've used on my restoration.  This site is unbelievable.
Good luck.
Ed

[Tintop]

Congrats Ron, well deserved.