Author Topic: My first sohc4 bike. 1975 CB750F (Read 3207 times)

gsgleason · « **on:** September 10, 2008, 08:23:10 PM »

I finally picked up a bike off craigslist. My first order of business will be to remove the fairing, get the front end back to stock, and remove the ugly luggage rack thing. I'll be doing all the usual stuff for an old bike to get it more road worthy. I drove it home 10 miles highway speed with no issues. She shifts very smoothly, starts right up, and the seller even put a brand new battery in it for me, which is going to go on a battery tender.

There does seem to be an alignment issue, as when I'm going straight, the handlebars and the entire gauge/light assembly is slightly turned to the right. =/ Any thoughts on that?

I know you like visual stimulation, so here it goes. She's not perfect, and has some nicks and dents, but seems to be in pretty good shape.

Here it is. There is damage on the seat cowl and the side of the engine.

13k original miles!

Gauges:

Here is the botch job that was done for the windjammer fairing. The toggle switch on top of that homemade bracket controls the headlight, but it only works as a high beam. Where the start button should be, there are three wires coming out.

The tank has some nasty gunk in it: Is this what they call varnish?

Ugly Fairing. I'll be getting rid of it! I was hoping that this fairing used the stock headlight, but I'm not so sure it does. It's a windjammer V. Anyone know?

Ugly luggage rack:

Are these mirrors stock? They're different from each other:

Artfrombama · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2008, 08:54:38 PM »

Congratulations, nice lookin' bike!

The stuff in the gas tank is probably gas tank sealer. May have had rust issues at one time.

Hush · « **Reply #2 on:** September 10, 2008, 08:58:09 PM »

Left hand mirror is stock other is a cheap replacement.
My God how did that poor bike even move, that windrammer thing must weigh as much as the moon?

dustyc · « **Reply #3 on:** September 10, 2008, 09:00:38 PM »

Looks like it fell/was laid down/got hit -something(looks like a mirror got replaced too). That's probably where your alignment issue came from. You might have a bent triple there.

I think the gas tank is a poor liner installation. You can redo it if it becomes a problem.

Looks like a good start. Lots of fun hours ahead of you.

Edit: Dang, y'all beat me while I was typing.

Hush · « **Reply #4 on:** September 10, 2008, 09:02:43 PM »

Waddaya mean "fun" hasn't anyone warned him about the carbs?

gsgleason · « **Reply #5 on:** September 10, 2008, 09:11:06 PM »

I've done plenty of reading about the carbs and it's inevitable, so I may as well tackle it with open arms.

Oh, I found replacement left and right switches on ebay that I sniped, and ordered a manual from helm, inc.

You're right about it being dropped. The original owner's son took it out for a drive when he was 15 in 1977 and it fell over. They were very forthcoming about the bike's history. It ran and shifted and drove better than several others I tested, so it was the one I bought.

Anyone want the fairing? Pay only shipping!! The radio works, but I have no casette tapes. Maybe I should look into a CD to tape conversion thing. I used to see those when CDs were new and cars still had tape players.

dustyc · « **Reply #6 on:** September 10, 2008, 09:17:03 PM »

I wonder what the shipping would be to 30605? I need the bracket, wiring pigtail and some other bits from it.

fuzzybutt · « **Reply #7 on:** September 10, 2008, 09:18:34 PM »

that looks like kreem tank sealer

dustyc · « **Reply #8 on:** September 10, 2008, 09:20:00 PM »

If the shipping isn't too high, I'll take it. Once you've got it off, and check out the front end, I might be able to help you out with some parts.

gsgleason · « **Reply #9 on:** September 10, 2008, 09:29:10 PM »

Quote from: dustyc on September 10, 2008, 09:20:00 PM

If the shipping isn't too high, I'll take it. Once you've got it off, and check out the front end, I might be able to help you out with some parts.

Sweet. I'll definitely need the front turn signals and some headlight stuff. I won't know until I tear into it. I read through some of the stuff on the vetter website, and it looks like the installation involves cutting up the wiring harness. I was hoping to get it from chadwick70 who was parting his out, but he just sold the last of it. =(

MCRider · « **Reply #10 on:** September 10, 2008, 09:31:33 PM »

Quote from: gsgleason on September 10, 2008, 08:23:10 PM

SNIP

There does seem to be an alignment issue, as when I'm going straight, the handlebars and the entire gauge/light assembly is slightly turned to the right. =/ Any thoughts on that?
SNIP

Its likely the fork is at least "tweaked". Prop up the front end after you get the fairing off, loosen the upper and lower triple tree clamps, do like a bicycle, put the front wheel betwen your legs grab the handlebars and straighten it up. Tighten the clamps back down. Now the wheel may be straight with the handlebars, but if it still "feels" funny, the more likely thing is that you've got a bent fork tube. They are pretty spindly and won't hold up to a hard fall, I've bent many of them.

DOing the fork straightening exercize will be a half-a---d fix. Sight along the exposed fork tubes from the side, you can often see the bend from one compared to the other. Or once again prop the front end up, loosen the clamps, and spin the tubes within the trees. If one is bent you'll feel it. It likely won't spin all the way around.

Removal, disassembly and any good machine shop can straighten them/it in a press. Replacement is not necessary unless its really bent, in which case its probably not rideable.

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #11 on:** September 10, 2008, 10:14:59 PM »

Congratulations. My favorite model. I've had mine for 33.5 years. FYI - not that it matters but the tach is not a 75F tach. Also you might want to locate the headlight bracket before you take everything apart. Somewhat hard to find. Discontinued. When I finally get around to my restore I will have some leftovers that could help. Look for a headlight bucket labeled HM-32__ something or other. The HM32 part is the best way to ID it. Discontinued. Your bars may be bent too. I've been trying to locate NOS bars for 2 years now without luck. Discontinued. They have -341 as the middle part number. PM or email me if you need some help.

Jerry

helgiman · « **Reply #12 on:** September 11, 2008, 05:42:50 AM »

I have everything you need for the headlight, mounting bracket, bucket, directionals, etc.
Send me a PM.
Ed

gsgleason · « **Reply #13 on:** September 11, 2008, 06:21:50 PM »

Quote from: Jerry Griffin aka Rxman on September 10, 2008, 10:14:59 PM

...you might want to locate the headlight bracket before you take everything apart. Somewhat hard to find. Discontinued.

Are you talking about the headlight stay here, number 21 on the fiche?
http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/honda-motorcycle-cb750f-1975-headlight/o/m9233sch399202

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #14 on:** September 11, 2008, 10:59:13 PM »

Exactly. If Ed can hook you up with this stuff you might want to take him up on it. Even though I'm close it's going to be a while before I have any spares. If you want to see many boxes full of parts come on down to the Springs. My collection is slowly growing.

gsgleason · « **Reply #15 on:** September 12, 2008, 07:58:04 AM »

I have the stay. I just got the fairing and mounting bracket off last night. Here is what I have to work with:

It looks like none of those wires were cut or spliced, that I can tell, but I'm not sure what it's supposed to look like. Also, I thought the F model had the rat's nest of wires in a box somewhere instead of within the headlight bucket. I guess I'll know when I get my manual from helm inc. (shipped this week).

when I have time, I'll go through the fiche and whatnot and make a list of exactly what I need.

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #16 on:** September 12, 2008, 08:53:21 AM »

Yeah but...... Looks like they hack sawed off parts of the turn signal mounts which are part of the bracket.

The 75 F has plenty of wiring inside the headlight bucket and in the odd shaped plastic box in front of the down tubes. The wires look fine. While you're in there clean off each end of the connections to get any corrosion that will create voltage loss, get a tube of dielectric grease from a auto parts store, apply some and connect like colored male and female ends.

If you want to ride down to the Springs this weekend (don't really need the headlight) and take a look at mine for comparisons you're welcome. Plus I have at least 5 reference books including the Honda shop manual and the Honda parts book. I'm available until mid day Sat (going to santana Sat pm) and all day Sun unless my wife changes my plans. If you do ride down, bring a digital camera.

gsgleason · « **Reply #17 on:** September 12, 2008, 03:53:15 PM »

Quote from: helgiman on September 11, 2008, 05:42:50 AM

I have everything you need for the headlight, mounting bracket, bucket, directionals, etc.
Send me a PM.
Ed

I need everything shown here for the headlight:

And I need the entire signal assembly up to where it connects to the headlight stay:

75750SS · « **Reply #18 on:** September 13, 2008, 08:20:15 AM »

Oh damn! Another 75F looking for parts. Good luck with the front lights.

WFO · « **Reply #19 on:** September 13, 2008, 01:53:23 PM »

Let me know when you want to sync the carbs i got a new mercury carb sync and iam dying to use it and iam in lakewood.

gsgleason · « **Reply #20 on:** September 13, 2008, 02:27:27 PM »

Quote from: WFO on September 13, 2008, 01:53:23 PM

Let me know when you want to sync the carbs i got a new mercury carb sync and iam dying to use it and iam in lakewood.

Will do. Right now I'm locating missing parts and whatnot. I'll be taking off the carbs for cleaning next week.

News:

Author Topic: My first sohc4 bike. 1975 CB750F (Read 3207 times)

fuzzybutt

helgiman