Topic: New Bike 73 750 K3 (Pictures added)

[Sd455]

I guess I've been bitten. Just picked up another bike, its a 73 K3 with 4800 miles, one owner. Paint (green) is excellent, but in addition to the usual stored-improperly run through, I need to brighten the motor, spokes and lower fork tubes.

Any ideas welcome.

[Alan F.]

Did you just buy it locally?  There was a green K3 on ebay that the seller ended early, sweet looking bike.

[Hush]

Um you've got 4 bikes, that counts as bitten mate.

[Sd455]

Yep its the MA bike

[heffay]

storing a bike properly is by not storing it at all!   

if you're just cleaning up the outside chrome and what not... i like never-dull and steel wool.
and of course Honda Polish, which is no longer honda polish but some other look alike, smell alike, work alike, etc.

[Sd455]

Its the motor and the fork tubes that I am concerned with. I want it to look stock. It looks like the bottom end of the motor is painted silver. Is that paint available? I'm also springing for a new set of pipes,I hope its worth it.

[heffay]

forks... light steel wool and never dull

engine... degreaser, elbow grease (interesting that you use elbow grease and degreaser at the same time, isn't it?    )  please don't repaint your engine.

please don't use a screwdriver as a utensil for scraping grease from the motor... personal experience watching someone else do it while cringing.   

[Sd455]

The motor is clean, just weathered. Need to brighten it.

[Alan F.]

well amid the advice to not paint your engine, I'll offer that VHT paints has a color referred to as SP127, summitracing on ebay if you can't get it locally will have it... Check out this thread for pics http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=3545.0;all  I'll be using it on my K3.

[heffay]

well amid the advice to not paint your engine, I'll offer that VHT paints has a color referred to as SP127, summitracing on ebay if you can't get it locally will have it... Check out this thread for pics http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=3545.0;all  I'll be using it on my K3.

i just have bad experiences from previous owners... if you can get your finish to last anywhere near the time that a stock engine finish will last... then by all means.

[Tower]

I'd be careful with steel wool.  It scratches not only paint but also chrome.  The original fork lowers were painted, so be very careful.  If there are stone chips, then a mild chemical rust remover will eliminate metal oxides and expose the metal without harming the paint or chrome (unless you leave it for along period on the chrome).  Then, I use paints with ceramic content only as touch up. White buffing compound will shine up metallic surfaces and paint alike.

Its labour intensive, but worth the effort to disassemble where practical.

[coyotecowboy]

Steel wool can also get embedded in aluminum causing rust (or so I hear  )

go here>>>  http://www.ntnoa.org/Finish.htm  Tons of reading in general there.

[heffay]

ok, here's my opinion, for what it is worth... possibly a grain of salt.

if there's rust, a little bit of steel wool mixed in until there is no rust... is fine. 
if you're repairing/restoring from rusty condition... good luck if it looks good when done, if it does, i'll bet you used some steel wool.

[andy750]

Yep its the MA bike

You bought this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330283229011&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=

Glad to see it went to a good home :-)

good luck with it,

cheers
Andy

[chrislib]

I have also heard of the steel wool/corrosion thing. Because of that i use schotchbrite pads , same effect but no corrosion issues, my .02

[Really?]

One of the spray gun cleaning tools is good to get deep in the fins to clean.  Below is an image of what I am talking about.  ou can get them most anywhere you can buy spray guns.

http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Spray-Gun-Cleaning-Brush-Set-3pc-Sealey-BSGC-3

[754]

Flitz, if that doesnt do it, then Steel wool & Flitz.. Flitz will brighten the black paint on your frame  very well

 if you are worried about steel.... brass, copper and stainless wool exist, but may be hard to find..

.. also a green 73 owner..

[Sd455]

I'd like to post some pics so you guys can see first hand. What size is best?

[Alan F.]

I have also heard of the steel wool/corrosion thing. Because of that i use schotchbrite pads , same effect but no corrosion issues, my .02

I've been using Scotchbrite since day one, it's available in many grades and is great for almost any job.  Plus it won't work its way into your skin....

Does everyone know about Coca-Cola and aluminum foil?  ball up some foil and dip it in Coke, then rub the offending rust from chrome, or corrosion from aluminum without scratching anything.  Rinse with water or solvent when done. 

If you've never tried this one, give it a shot on a rusty part you figured you'd never use again, I cleaned up one of my original mirrors very well this way.

I'll be using some foil and denatured alcohol to prep between the fins on my engine before painting.

[heffay]

I'd like to post some pics so you guys can see first hand. What size is best?

here you go, dude...  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=14605.msg93296#msg93296

our forum auto resizes photobucket pictures to 600 max pixel width or height, whichever is more... but if you right click on a photobucket hosted picture in our forum you can view it the actual size.

[coyotecowboy]

I remember reading somewhere about using powered oxalic acid (wood bleach) to clean rusty chrome.  Just put some into water, soak the offending rusty parts for a few hours then go over them with a white scotch-brite pad and toothbrush.

Hell, its already been explained in detail here>> http://www.vintagebmx.com/community/index.php?showtopic=4004702  No need for me to retype everything

[chrislib]

.. also a green 73 owner..

Yeah! way to represent the CBO!...alright I`m biased

[750K2]

hey, great score! i'm south of boston and i'm pretty darned sure i saw that bike about four years ago being serviced at weymouth honda.  i thought it was gorgeous and a great example of a classic bike.  congratulations!
frank

[Sd455]

OK so here are some pics. I would really like to do a very meticulous correct-as-possible restoration.

[Really?]

One of those bikes, aye?  lol, what I mean is too nice and clean looking for me to change.  I have to have one that needs a lot of work to change.  Sentimental kind of thing I guess.

Other than that mess I just wrote, nice looking bike.

[Sd455]

Here's some pics of the 77

[Really?]

Perty clean lookin' bike!

[Sd455]

I remember reading somewhere about using powered oxalic acid (wood bleach) to clean rusty chrome.  Just put some into water, soak the offending rusty parts for a few hours then go over them with a white scotch-brite pad and toothbrush.

Hell, its already been explained in detail here>> http://www.vintagebmx.com/community/index.php?showtopic=4004702  No need for me to retype everything

As far as rust removal goes, I've used this on my 77 f gas tank and its great http://www.safestrustremover.com/ . My concern is getting the finish (the stock look) right.

Thanks for all the feed back.

[chrislib]

droool...wanna trade sidecovers?lol. Very nice looking bike, that aluminum looks as though it`ll clean up nicely with a little (ok alot) of elbow grease. Best of luck with it!

[gasshog2]

I polished all the alum and chrome using BLUE MAGIC and a small buffing wheel that I put on my 1/4 angle air grinder with a 1/4" arbor. Looks better than new....     I left the painted portions of the engine alone.

[GammaFlat]

I polished all the alum and chrome using BLUE MAGIC and a small buffing wheel that I put on my 1/4 angle air grinder with a 1/4" arbor. Looks better than new....     I left the painted portions of the engine alone.

WOW - thanks for the pics - I was wondering how my 77 and 78 would look with polished front forks.  I am so in.   Very nice!

[754]

Well the clear on the Aluminum is coming off so just polish away..



If you want you bike to look cleaner, try this, put 72 headlite ears on it, and change sidecover emblems to 72 style......JMO.. but hey, I dont subscribe to "Stock Life"... ..

[andy750]

Well the clear on the Aluminum is coming off so just polish away..

If you want you bike to look cleaner, try this, put 72 headlite ears on it, and change sidecover emblems to 72 style......JMO.. but hey, I dont subscribe to "Stock Life"... ..

+ 1 

The 72 style is probably the best out of all the years.


cheers
Andy

[HondaMan]

+ 1 
The 72 style is probably the best out of all the years.

cheers
Andy

My thoughts, exactly... 

Hey, Heff: what is "never dull"? I've always used Simichrome, and lately, also Mother's. Mother's is more work, but gives a real pretty sheen, a little diferent from Simichrome.

[chrislib]

Nevrdull is awesome. It`s now distibuted by Eagle one
http://www.eagleone.com/pages/products/product.asp?itemid=1006&cat=5006

[heffay]

i learned about nevr- dull for my trumpets when i was a band geek in grade/high school.  go ahead... i've heard them all!   

when i really learned its worth was the time i decided that cleaning up some old Cragar wheels on my firebird might be fun.  i started w/ LIGHT steel wool for the surface rust and then used the nevr-dull wadding polish (its kindof weird like insulation soaked in silver polish that has dried back to the feel of insulation)... works like a charm.

i like the stuff because of it being wadding instead of a gel or fluid or paste... you just grab a wad, use it, realize its not too bad and stuff it back in the can for next time.

[HondaMan]

OK so here are some pics. I would really like to do a very meticulous correct-as-possible restoration.

Man, that is one gorgeous K3! 
I can't believe the finish on that tank paint!
That crashbar takes me back: had to give mine up when Vetter came out with lowers, went to just case guards instead. And used them, too often...   Your crash bar will do a better job, and brings that retro right home!

As far as the "original" look goes: the rear tire appears to be the wrong size, although it also appears to be a safer profile type than the original K87 rear type (looks like 120x90 metric, maybe?). The front was originally a ribbed pattern, which Avon makes in the original 3.25x19 size, in much better rubber (I have one on the front of mine now, OK until the pegs start to scrape, then drifts a bit, at 36-38 PSI). The ribbed ones tend to be more stable at speed than the "non-linear" variety, and Avon rubber is second to none for grip in all weather.

Nice work!

[Sd455]

Thanks, still deciding weather to polish up the motor and hubs or let them be.