Topic: Game Over???

[joeyboy]

Well today I was riding home and I noticed a whole lot of white smoke, I mean a lot.  I just rebuilt the enging not long ago and have put maybe 1000 miles on it.  I think the head gasket is gone, or rings, but they are new also.  I don't know what the heck to do anymore.  I have rebuilt this bike from head to toe and have put blood sweat and every other thing into it.  Not sure what to do now.  I save on average about $260.00 a month riding this thing.  That sounds like more than enough to get a newer bike without all the hassle.  I have enjoyed it very much, but I suppose the time has come.  Damnit, I just got everything else working like a charm.  Finally got the carbs right.  Well you might see this bike on e-bay in a bunch of little parts, maybe???  Khost, I might need to send your exhaust back to you to use for future use if you would like.  Maybe I am just venting, but what better place to do it.  Let me just say %&^% and %^%&6 and also $%^(***&^&^&^........etc.....etc.  If anyone lives close to the Wilmington, NC area and is looking for a great parts bike (head gasket and rings aside), I might have one for you at the right price.  Man, I feel like I'm selling my soul in getting rid of this thing, but for crying out loud, enough is enough.  It is a 1977 Honda CB750K with practically all new and rebuilt parts (practically the entire bike), so let me know if anyone is interested, and I'll have a downpayment on a newer bike.  I also still have many leftover parts from the rebuild, so in essence you would be getting a bike and a half or so.

Joe

[kghost]

Well thats not good.

No reason to give up tho.

And no I don't need the exhaust back....at best donate it to a worthy member.

[joeyboy]

Thanks for the encouragement, I spoke to a guy from the Honda shop and he said that it could be that frickin seal that has been giving me so much trouble.  I hope that is all, otherwise I am done with the bike.  I do like it quite a bit, and it's kind of like another body part at this point, so untangling myself from it could cause severe sympathetic limb syndrome, ha ha.  But I was piping mad to see all of that smoke pouring out.  The engine itself sounds fine, so all the smoke doesn't make sense, unless it is that seal.  Oh well, we'll see.  The exhaust is at the post office, so I will go get it today.  Thanks again, and I promise, for the last time, ha ha.  Take care.

[cb550 Matt]

Hope for seal, prepare for rings.  That way you will have mentally prepared to get cracking.  You cannot get rid of your bike, everytime you see one of us ride by you will be sad, and tbh we do not wave to the sportbike guys as much as they wave to us.


ON the very plus side, the carbs should still be tuned perfectly if you work fast enough.

[kghost]

Sometimes the learning curve seems mighty steep.

If you make it up the curve your on top of the mountain so to speak.

[ekim98]

Well today I was riding home and I noticed a whole lot of white smoke, I mean a lot.  I just rebuilt the enging not long ago and have put maybe 1000 miles on it.  I think the head gasket is gone, or rings, but they are new also.  I don't know what the heck to do anymore.  I have rebuilt this bike from head to toe and have put blood sweat and every other thing into it.  Not sure what to do now.  I save on average about $260.00 a month riding this thing.  That sounds like more than enough to get a newer bike without all the hassle.  I have enjoyed it very much, but I suppose the time has come.  Damnit, I just got everything else working like a charm.  Finally got the carbs right.  Well you might see this bike on e-bay in a bunch of little parts, maybe???  Khost, I might need to send your exhaust back to you to use for future use if you would like.  Maybe I am just venting, but what better place to do it.  Let me just say %&^% and %^%&6 and also $%^(***&^&^&^........etc.....etc.  If anyone lives close to the Wilmington, NC area and is looking for a great parts bike (head gasket and rings aside), I might have one for you at the right price.  Man, I feel like I'm selling my soul in getting rid of this thing, but for crying out loud, enough is enough.  It is a 1977 Honda CB750K with practically all new and rebuilt parts (practically the entire bike), so let me know if anyone is interested, and I'll have a downpayment on a newer bike.  I also still have many leftover parts from the rebuild, so in essence you would be getting a bike and a half or so.

Joe

I know the feeling, my 78 has a rod knocking and I'm having the same thoughts. Took me 2 weeks just to find some help and I'm not impressed by him now. If it was a harley he would probably be alright but he's in over his head with the Honda I think. I hate to take the loss but I'm not sure I want to put any more money into it, at least not right now.

[bozo4onion]

Can't you just get a used motor (should yours be shot)? Plenty of them out there. I have a spare ($150) 550 for mine. Beats selling out. These engines are described as bulletproof. Once it's right you're set These bikes are so cool. Do something besides selling.

[jtb]

Joeyboy, I'm pullin' for the seal.  Hope you get it worked out ok.  I wouldn't trade mine for anything.
JTB

[hymodyne]

with a slight oil leak and white smoke trailing after my bike this afternoon, I completely understand. I took this bike from parts on a trash heap to what you see in the avatar; but that's worthless unless I get to ride it and not work on it... Don't give up!!

hym

[martino1972]

DON'T GIVE UP ON IT BRO....
your driving a an all time classic and legend under the bikes...
all that newer #$%* has no class,no style....
sure enough i understand your frustration,but it's part of the game,with vintage comes wrenching,we all run into that...
parts are cheap to get,labour is labour of love...
i can garanty you that when you decide on a newer machine,you will regret it every inch of the way..
parts will be more money,engines will be more complex......and where is the charme with those newer machines?? 
take a beer,scream behind the shop for 10 minutes...and get to work on that baby...
like you said,you went tru the machine a to z,its part of you,be proud of that,fix it..

[martino1972]

any progress on the bike..

[bryanj]

Head gasket on an air cooled motor cant give white smoke. could be:-

water in carbs or fuel

Water got into exhaust if raining

On VERY rare ocassions it can be oil getting past rings and totally burning

[rhos1355]

No, Joeyboy, the games not over until the fat lady runs out of Honda parts.  My humble advice is put the bike away for a couple of months. Talk to a few people, have a holiday, cry a bit, swear a lot. Get it out of you system. (Just don't take it out on the bike!) And once you've cooled down a bit and started thinking rationally and analytically you'll start having the urge to try again. You never know, it could become a hobby-within-a-hobby, stripping engines. And pick up some valuable tips along the way.
Won't be long before you start getting PMs from the likes of me, bleating; "Help, Joeyboy, I don't know what to to, Joeyboy...........my engine's busted, and I just don't know what to do..."

Stick with it.

[dustyc]

Stick with it.  -And if you do sell it, sell it to me.

[joeyboy]

I just want to say, you guys are awesome.  I am not yet giving up on the bike.  Especially after spending two and a half weeks worth of gas that the bike would have used, as opposed to the one week I got out of my truck for that amount.  Crap, that sucked.  I am going to get back out there and take another stab at it.  I really appriciate all the encouragement.  I was really pissed off, but I got over it.  I have threatened my bike many times over, but it remains in my posession, and probably for a long time coming.  Til next post, take care, and thanks again.