Author Topic: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment  (Read 38693 times)

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Offline the-chauffeur

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Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« on: August 19, 2008, 03:59:23 PM »

Evenin' all.

Thought it was about time I added a post to keep track of my adventures in rebuilding.  My phone tells me that I took the image below on 27 July ('bout four weeks ago), which was the date I acquired what has turned out to be a bag of bolts with a sound engine and a few shiny bits hidden underneath.



44,000km since 1972 (appears to be the right numbers from the little history that came with the bike). 

Since that time, much has happened.  Oh yeah, lots and lots.

It took about four hours to completely strip the frame and work out what parts were good, what was ugly and what just sucked.

On the upside, the frame and engine are fine (always a good start).  Carbs, electrics, front end, rear end and oil tank are all good.  Also good is the choice of seats - it came with 2 (the cafe racer seat thingie is bungie-d on the back in the photo).

Rear mudguard, shocks and tank are best described as serviceable. 

On the downside, the exhaust lasted the fifty mile journey home and then literally disintegrated.  Just fell apart in my hands.  The front mudguard was made out of something like cardboard, so that went too.  And rather unsurprisingly, the fork seals were shot to pieces.

On the wierd side are the extended side panels - these things are outright strange.  A previous owner has had them professionally plastic welded and then painted, but for the life of me I've no idea why.  I'm not keen.

_____________________________________

And so to work.

Frame and ancilliaries went off to be powdercoated - that took all of two days.

Next, the engine was opened up and the cases sent out for dipping and stripping.  Removing the engine inners turned out to be less tough than I thought it would be, probably because by splitting the cases and lifting the insides out, you don't need any special tools (unlike disassembling the engine bit by bit).   Unfortunately, the muppets who dipped the engine cases washed them off with tap water and left them sat in a damp warehouse for a week - so I've spent a good few hours getting the surface rust/crap/oxidising off.  The case/head are going to be painted satin black, to contrast with the gloss black frame.

In the meantime, I sent the side cases and other potentially shiny parts off to be polished.  Something I learned very quickly was that the UK is not the place to get chromework done . . . at least, not unless you're talking commercial quantities.  It also seems that we've lost either the industry, or the art, or both for producing high quality plating.  At the four chroming places I tried, I got the same two responses - either polish instead of chrome, or send the bits to the 'states.  Given the mounting cost, and the sheer number of bits that I wanted working on, I went with the first option.  I guess only time will tell whether I made the right choice.

And while all this was going on, I was scouring t'internet for bits.  Like a new exhaust.  Hmmm . . . OEM 4-into-4's aren't cheap, are they?  And a marginally better tank/panel combo.  Uh-oh.  But if the UK isn't the home of decent chrome, we make up for it with suppliers like David Silver.  And earlier today, a box the size of a small coffin arrived at my door with a few quid's worth of NOS parts.  The aforementioned exhaust, front and rear mudguards, primary and camchain tensioner assemblies and so on.  An eBay search also turned up a half decent tank and panels.  What I need now is a centre stand and MPH clocks, but they're not exactly essential - yet.

So I sit here surrounded by boxes of shiny polished bits, NOS stuff and freshly powder coated frame parts, which I'd love to show y'all, but it's dark here right now.  I'll add some more photos shortly.  Fortunately this weekend is a bank holiday (read public holiday), so with any luck, the bike'll be back together by Monday evening.

He says.

More news as it's made . . . Neil

martino1972

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2008, 04:30:12 PM »
pictures...we need more pictures... :P :P

Offline kghost

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2008, 04:30:44 PM »
Very cool Neil.!!

Ref. those side covers....which are definitely unique...did the bike have pods?

The thought that struck me looking at them...was..perhaps they were designed to limit air turbulence with pod filters.
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Offline the-chauffeur

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2008, 05:41:50 PM »

Hey guys

Strangely the bike didn't have pods when I picked it up.  That's not to say that it didn't have them fitted at some point in the past, but since it came with a standard airbox and filter attached, it seems unlikely.  What makes it even more confusing is that the bike was fitted with cafe racer style drop handlebars (very hard to see from the photo).  I'd always thought the ultimate goal of a racer was to minimise weight, not add more.  But hey, what do I know?

My guess is that at some point over the last 30 years or so, one of the owners decided that more plastic acreage was the way forward.  The external finish suggests that the conversion wasn't cheap, but either way, it really isn't my taste.  Perhaps more annoyingly, they've got a couple of cracks in 'em, and so can't really be salvaged.  That said, one of my new ones is missing a mounitng lug, so at least I've got a donor.

My goal with this machine is to get it pretty much back to standard, without going completely beserk on the finances front.  At the same time, I intend to gently modify bits the factory could have improved on - like coating the exhaust inners with heatproof paint to prevent them rusting from the inside out.  I've already Waxoyled the undersides of the mudguards for much the same reason.  I'll also be doing stuff like rewiring the lights so that when the ignition is on, the P position puts them on dipped beam, L is main beam and H is full beam (doing away with the additional switch on the right handlebar).

I like the idea of a cafe, but I reckon one of the 500's would be better suited to that task, being lighter and perhaps more agile.  Maybe I'll move onto one of those if this one turns out OK . . .


Offline Hush

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2008, 01:39:56 AM »
How did you get on with finding an exhaust for your bike?
I'm rebuilding a CB650 and have had to buy one off Ebay from states.....well lets say I have paid for one, afor mentioned exhaust has yet to turn up here in New Zealand. >:(
I think the thing I most like about motorcycling is the speed at which my brain must process information at to avoid the numb skulls who are eating pies, playing the ukulele, applying make-up etc in the comfort of their airconditioned armchairs as they make random attempts to kill me!!!!!!!

Offline DarkRider

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #5 on: August 20, 2008, 08:23:15 AM »
From the looks of the paint scheme and the plastic panels it almost looks like they were trying to emulate either a later DOHC 750F or a VF750F Interceptor.
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Offline tortelvis

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #6 on: August 20, 2008, 08:33:13 AM »
Is it safe to assume that it's raining? Every bank holiday I ever suffered through was wet (Dorset). It used to be a sure fire way to predict rain!!! Good luck with the project.

Offline the-chauffeur

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #7 on: August 20, 2008, 02:45:04 PM »

Ar'tnoon all.  Yup, it's raining alright.  Wouldn't be a British summer without frequent downpours.

And so to business.  First order of the day was to pull the ends out of the exhausts and spray the internals with heatproof paint.  Not much to see, really, but if you ever wanted to know what new pipes look like . . .



Yes - there are four of them.  And they're all stamped with Honda's numbers.  That's the upside.  The downside is that I forgot to order the mounting bolts (which seem to have disappeared when one of the PO's fitted the 4-into-1).  Anyway, they're ordered now.  Hush - mine were easy enough to find.  They were just bloody expensive!

Moving swiftly on, carb cleaning.  Guess I got the picture back to front, but it's surprising what you can do with some petrol (yes, I know - I should've used parafin), degreaser and a paintbrush.  Incidentally, the float bowls and caps were off being polished when this was taken.



Finally, most of my time has been taken up with prepping and spraying bits of the engine.  I'm sure you all know what the before looks like.  Here's the progress so far:

Lower crankcase



Upper crankcase



Barrels



 . . . must remember the camchain tensioner assembly outer . . .

That's enough for now.  Reassembly is due to begin on Saturday morning, so I'll need to sort a few things before then, but things are looking up.


Offline kghost

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #8 on: August 20, 2008, 02:46:24 PM »
Looking really good  8)
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martino1972

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #9 on: August 20, 2008, 02:59:30 PM »
looking good..
one little remark.....where the oil pan meets the engine you painted the surface as well...
me personally would remove the paint from the gasket surfaces for a better seal..
also i see that on most places you put bolts in,where you didnt,you might wanne clean up the treads with a tap..
otherwise looking pretty sharp...

Offline Hush

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #10 on: August 21, 2008, 12:33:18 AM »
New pipes drool drool, I could have got some made up for $2000 but they wouldn't have been Kosher so getting a full set of reasonable ones which will match the bikes age at $550 all up with freight costs included wasn't bad.
Still you gotta love them new pipes, more drooling....... :P
When I first saw the bike you bought I thought I bet this guy chops it or makes a bobber out of her. >:(
Full marks from Hush for going the other way and doing what is going to be a beautiful restore (obviously with your own touches like the black motor which looks deadly cool). ;D
Gonna watch your project with interest dude..........Hush.
I think the thing I most like about motorcycling is the speed at which my brain must process information at to avoid the numb skulls who are eating pies, playing the ukulele, applying make-up etc in the comfort of their airconditioned armchairs as they make random attempts to kill me!!!!!!!

Offline the-chauffeur

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2008, 03:55:13 PM »

Aren't bench grinders great?

Not a great deal of activity to report over the past few days - real life (and work) kinda got in the way.  Still, one or two more jobs have been completed in readiness for the big push over the weekend.

First up, the swingarm has new bushes fitted (glad I got someone else to do that) and the steering stem has been fitted with tapered roller bearings.  Other small stuff like replacing a busted reflector happened when yet another envelope from Silver's arrived.  Just in time, too.

Next, some general 'tidying' of bits and pieces.  Like these exhaust flanges(?) . . .



The one on the left is how all four started out.  After some work on the wire wheel, they cleaned up quite nicely.

And then the shocks.  I gotta say, I don't think they're savageable - they looked scruffy as hell and I've kinda budgeted for new ones.  But since I can't start putting bits back onto the frame just yet (at least, not 'till the engine's in), I thought I'd see what I could do with 'em.



Again, the one on the left is how they started out.  I've taken the paint off the strut on the left, and as we speak I'm waiting for new paint to dry.  I've also had a go at polishing the brightwork with some success - and fortunately the springs are in very good shape.  Anyways, I'm not holding out a great deal of hope, but we'll see what they're like when they've cured overnight.  The paint's heatproof, so I might stick 'em in the oven for a bit.

Thanks for the suggestions about the engine cases.  I'll clean up the mating faces (if that's the right expression) with wet and dry before reassembly.  Hush - I'm hoping it'll be a reasonably high quality resto, but I'm certainly not gonna chop or cafe.  This one's safe buddy.

It's gonna be a l-o-n-g weekend.

Neil


martino1972

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #12 on: August 22, 2008, 04:43:04 PM »

When I first saw the bike you bought I thought I bet this guy chops it or makes a bobber out of her. >:(
Full marks from Hush for going the other way and doing what is going to be a beautiful restore (obviously with your own touches like the black motor which looks deadly cool). ;D


oh,hush...........hush.........your saying you don't like my bike,don't ya..... :'( :'(....

Offline the-chauffeur

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #13 on: August 23, 2008, 04:55:42 PM »

Long, long day.  And I'm off caffiene, which really doesn't help.

I think it's easiest to just say . . .

11am



1pm



4pm



10pm






Whew.  That was tough.  In case you're wondering, yes, the black is the same shade - and the tops of the pistons are fine, but the side cases need a whole lot more fixings in.  Flash doesn't help.

No individual section was particularly tricky.  Putting the whole lot together was a bit more awkward.

The lower crankcase internals went back together very easily.  Like I said, I simply unbolted the cases and lifted the assemblies straight out - and didn't undo any of the odd stuff like the clutch, which all comes out in one piece.  I didn't go as far as pulling out the bearing shells - because I was getting the cases dipped, I didn't see the point.  Assembly is pretty much the reverse of disassembly - it pretty much goes back in the same way.  No special tools, no wierd science.  But by God is it heavy.

The barrells weren't that much harder, but getting the piston rings in was fiddly.  Taking the barrells off again because we hadn't put the camchain tensioner assembly in was a nuisance.  Back on again was a bit easier than before.  Off again to put the camchain guide blade in.  On again for the third time.  Thanks Haynes.

One of my mates was giving me a hand and took care of lapping the valves, re-fitting them and pretty much putting the head back together. 

And it was only when we started to put the side covers on that I realised just how low on stainless fixings I was running,

Things I learned. 

- If you get your cases chemically stripped, use a firm that a) wash the stripping agent off with distilled (and not tap) water and b) won't leave your stuff in a wet shed.
- Unlesss you've got an Aga or commercial oven to cure the painted pieces before reassembly, don't expect a durable, factory finish from a can.  You'll just end up disappointed (albeit mildly).
- Oil the bearing shells before putting the bearings back in.  Then oil them again.  And again.
- A Vesrah full engine gasket kit isn't.  Neither is a full engine oil seal set.  Both are missing at least two or three essential pieces.
- Refer to the Haynes manual sporadically if at all.  It's crap.
- The oil pressure/temp sensor (or whatever it is) is a pig to put back in place, 'cos it's an odd shape and a tight fit.
- Work out how long you think the job'll take.  Then double it.
- Did I mention just how heavy the engine was?  Unless you've got lifting gear, you really need two people.

Would I do it again?  Probably - and especially an air cooled engine.  Because of the additional complexity, I'd think twice before breaking open a water-cooled engine.  Bearing in mind that this was my first big engine strip, it seems to have gone pretty well.  I'd also take much, much longer next time.

And so the frame rebuild begins . . .

Offline burmashave

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #14 on: August 23, 2008, 05:52:35 PM »
Sooper set of progress pics, chauffeur. I'd just add that a restored 750 K2 is most definitely an investment. I look at my 750 K7 as an investment. On the other hand, I dunno if I'd call it a financially profitable investment. ;-)
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Offline HondaMan

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #15 on: August 23, 2008, 05:59:35 PM »
It's too bad it's this year, not next: I'm doing the K2/K3 for 'the book'. Publish date: sometime this winter.

Haynes and Chilton are both pretty uninformed manuals, at best. Honda's own isn't a 100% device, either...  :-\
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Offline the-chauffeur

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #16 on: August 24, 2008, 05:20:39 PM »
Long day . . . short update.

Today was kinda all over the place.  Speed of work varied wildly - at some points we were flying; at others, it was as though we'd ground to a halt.  Anyways, the first job was to get the engine into the frame.  Put the engine on its side on the floor, and drop the frame over the top.  And with some wiggling and giggling . . .



Get in you beauty.

So it's back in.  What followed was building up components around the frame.  Like the shocks and swingarm.



And before we knew it, it had grown wheels.



And so that was it for today.  Actually, that's not strictly true - some other odds and sods went on, like the rear mudguard assembly, and some bits in the frame and handlebars - but we ran out of light.  So no more pictures today.  I also sat the tank and panels on to get an idea of what it'll look like, and it looks good.

Tomorrow brings the carb fitting and sorting the electrics.

Did I mention how heavy the bike was?  That rear paddock stand in the picture?  It's buckled that.  Jesus.  I need a centrestand.

Offline kghost

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #17 on: August 25, 2008, 03:31:37 PM »
Do you not have a centerstand?  ???

Looking good by the way  ;)
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Offline SohcCBs

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #18 on: August 25, 2008, 04:13:25 PM »
....lot of nice work there, but considering......

I spent a bit over 2k, after the purchase, on parts and other stuff to get mine to 85% perfect and I know I'll never get that out of it.  I can't say the bike was worth that, but the experience was something I'll never regrett.....and I intend on keepin' the bike the rest of my life anyway.  I'll last that long, I'm sure.

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #19 on: August 25, 2008, 06:54:07 PM »
....lot of nice work there, but considering......

I spent a bit over 2k, after the purchase, on parts and other stuff to get mine to 85% perfect and I know I'll never get that out of it. 

...don't bet on that...  ;)
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #20 on: August 25, 2008, 06:55:40 PM »
Did I mention how heavy the bike was? 

540 lbs, dry weight...

Hey, Chauf...what is your frame serial number?
See SOHC4shop@gmail.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book

Link to website: www.SOHC4shop.com

Offline the-chauffeur

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #21 on: August 26, 2008, 02:29:31 PM »
3...2...1...and you're back in the room.

Sadly, no centrestand.  It's one of the few bits that are on my list of non-essential essentials, along with MPH clocks.  I'm really beginning to wish that it had one though; it would make jobs like swapping the fork legs soooo much easier (the more observant of you will no doubt have noticed that my glamourous assistant Dave put them in the wrong way round.  He's very much an engine/modern bike person, so he kinda expects things to be more or less interchangeable - he's less good with working out exactly why the brake caliper wouldn't mount correctly).  Still, no biggie.

After something of a fight, I got the carbs mounted.  There was plenty of messing about with the airbox, which bears the stamp CB750F on one side.  I'm not entirely sure whether that means anything - it looks like a K airbox, without the inlet at the top (which I see from the fiche is on the F models) and it seems a bit strange that any former owner would switch just the airbox.  Any suggestions on that front?

At the same time, I found a real strange anomily with the left hand side panel - the bottom lug doesn't match up with the mounting hole in the frame.  The lug is about half an inch too high, which makes no sense to me whatsoever - particularly because the right hand panel fits perfectly.  Again, very bizarre.

Completed a few other jobs too.  Most of the cables are fitted and working fine.  The switchgear is also mounted on the bars, with minor modifications to allow the cables to exit the rear of the switchgear.  I know, I know - I should've run the cables through the bars, but the prospect of drilling the bars (and therefore weakening them) scares me with a bike this heavy.  Incidentally, anyone know where I can get hold of crash bars?

I've still not fitted the pipes yet.  No particular reason (other than a couple of missing nuts from my kit which I've now located), but that's probably the biggest remaining job.  Another job that I've got to do is to cut down some stainless set screws to fit the side cases.  I just keep putting that one off 'cos it's such a labour intensive, thankless pig of a task.  Then there's filling it with oil and letting it sit for a few hours.  I think the engine internals would benefit from a good coating before I attempt to fire it up.  Oh, and putting the chain back on too.  And bleed the front brake. 

Anyhoo, no pictures today - sorry 'bout that, but it really doesn't look a whole lot different to the last one I posted.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.

HM - frame number is 2043XXX and engine is 2051XXX.  Does that help/make sense? 

And I'm pretty sure that 540lbs is heavier than my ST1100.  Zoinks, Scoob.

« Last Edit: August 27, 2008, 02:37:37 PM by the-chauffeur »

Offline the-chauffeur

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #22 on: August 27, 2008, 02:15:28 PM »

Wow.  's quiet round here, innit?

So it's still not finished, but I thought an artist's impression of the finished article might generate some excitement . . .



You'll notice that I've avoided a head-on view - mainly 'cos the electrics still need work.  Still can't get my head round why the left hand side panel doesn't fit right.  And I'm a little apprehensive about starting it for the first time since the rebuild, but it shouldn't be long now . . .

Neil

Offline Roach Carver

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #23 on: August 27, 2008, 02:29:18 PM »

Aren't bench grinders great?

Not a great deal of activity to report over the past few days - real life (and work) kinda got in the way.  Still, one or two more jobs have been completed in readiness for the big push over the weekend.

First up, the swingarm has new bushes fitted (glad I got someone else to do that) and the steering stem has been fitted with tapered roller bearings.  Other small stuff like replacing a busted reflector happened when yet another envelope from Silver's arrived.  Just in time, too.

Next, some general 'tidying' of bits and pieces.  Like these exhaust flanges(?) . . .



The one on the left is how all four started out.  After some work on the wire wheel, they cleaned up quite nicely.

And then the shocks.  I gotta say, I don't think they're savageable - they looked scruffy as hell and I've kinda budgeted for new ones.  But since I can't start putting bits back onto the frame just yet (at least, not 'till the engine's in), I thought I'd see what I could do with 'em.



Again, the one on the left is how they started out.  I've taken the paint off the strut on the left, and as we speak I'm waiting for new paint to dry.  I've also had a go at polishing the brightwork with some success - and fortunately the springs are in very good shape.  Anyways, I'm not holding out a great deal of hope, but we'll see what they're like when they've cured overnight.  The paint's heatproof, so I might stick 'em in the oven for a bit.

Thanks for the suggestions about the engine cases.  I'll clean up the mating faces (if that's the right expression) with wet and dry before reassembly.  Hush - I'm hoping it'll be a reasonably high quality resto, but I'm certainly not gonna chop or cafe.  This one's safe buddy.

It's gonna be a l-o-n-g weekend.

Neil


i scanned the thread so forgive me if I am wrong or if this has been addressed already.....

If those are stock shocks, then the plastic sleeve should go between the body and spring, not the shaft and spring.
also, that thing looks great! nice job

Offline andy750

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Re: Keep telling yourself - a restored 750 K2 is an investment
« Reply #24 on: August 27, 2008, 02:41:25 PM »
Can you take a photo of the left side cover not fitting? Havent seen that before as I though all early K sidecovers were interchangeable. Wondering if you have a stock left sidecover.....

The CB750F on the airbox  -not uncommon for K airboxes. No idea what the F means ....probably "fast"  ;)....or if more unkind "fat"  :o

For crash bars try DSS (since I see you are in England)..Yamiya also have them but they are outrageously expensive, though super-cool. I have a large square on that fits across the front and you are welcome to it if you want to pay postage (from Boston, MA). But I think its kind of ugly....

As for oil in the engine...Id put bike on sidestand...open up tappet cover #4 and pour in a quart of oil and leave overnight....before starting remove spark plugs and turn engine over with engine kill switch "on" press starter button in short 10 sec busts...this gets the oil to the head and circulating a little - when finally do start it remove #4 cover tapper cover and check oil is making it to the head....should be good to go!


Good luck!
Andy





Current bikes
1. CB750K4: Long distance bike, 17 countries and counting...2001 - Trans-USA-Mexico, 2003 - European Tour, 2004 - SOHC Easy Rider Trip , 2008 - Adirondack Tour 2-up , 2013 - Tail of the Dragon Tour , 2017: 836 kit install and bottom end rebuild. And rebirth: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,173213.msg2029836.html#msg2029836
2. CB750/810cc K2  - road racer with JMR worked head 71 hp
3. Yamaha Tenere T700 2022

Where did you go on your bike today? - http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=45183.2350