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.