Author Topic: K1 resurection . . . (Read 16265 times)

Red750K1 · « **on:** April 21, 2009, 02:03:00 PM »

Finally got around to working on the "other" 1971 Cb750 I have. The one with the white face gauges; still trying to find information about them.
Planning on a total frame-off resto, motor ran awsome before ripping into it but had a small head gasket leak, so out it comes! So far I've gotten it down to a frame, some rims, a motor and 3 or 4 boxes of parts in only 2 afternoons of work.
Going to paint the frame, paint the bike, motor gets new rings/gaskets/seals and a polish. Rebuild forks, tapered roller bearings in the tree, new wheel bearings and shocks. Plus lots of NOS stuff like wiring harness, rubber parts, engine screws and other random bolts that are pitted. I'm in need of a K1 front fender as the original owner decided to drill 3 holes in it to mount a running light. On the plus side, it has an AWSOME set of real-deal HM-300's that are in very nice shape.

Heres the progress! More to come soon!

HM-300s! Hmmmm . . .

Heres a picture of the gauges, they sell repo ones on the yamai website. I e-mailed them and they never got back with me. I'm thinking they have to be some sort of dealer option or period aftermarket overlay, although the gauges dont look like they've been taken apart. Hmm . . .

754 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2009, 05:12:57 PM »

Looks like a dashboard on that one!

Did you sell the 69 cases?

Hush · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2009, 01:43:51 AM »

White gauges cool as, they look like mine....hmmm maybe they are from a Police bike, scratch the frame somewhere and see if it's original colour was white?
Some American and Canadian states bought the Honda CB750P (P for Patrol) in the 70's so not beyond the realms of possibility.

Nice looking project, looks like fun and being a traditionalist (don't like cutting up perfectly good road bikes to make strange barely rideable contraptions) I applaud your choice of new parts, great list, you must have deep pockets.

This is one rebuild I'll watch till it's finished, good luck with this Red..........Hush.

Hush · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2009, 03:05:27 AM »

No hang on I just looked again and mine are the exact opposite of yours?

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2009, 03:54:09 AM »

Hi guys, the Aussie 750/4 police bikes had white faced gauges and a white frame so its still a possibility.

Mick

Red750K1 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2009, 04:58:22 PM »

No, its not a police bike . . . a while ago Hondaman said he saw a bike with these gauges in a shop he worked at; he said it was a factory prototype with a longer stroke and smaller bore and radical cam than the regular 736cc cb750s. I'll know when I rip into the motor and measure the pistons for sure but anyways. . .
I'm not really going to put a TON of money into this bike since I'm still technically a starving college student.

I'm still in need of a nice K1 and earlier single cut front fender . . anyone?

No I havent sold the '69 cases from the parts bike. I'm thinking about just saying $250 to whoever gets here first. Thats for the entire engine (well whats left of it) I cant speak for the condition of the remaining rods, crank or the trans but the cases seem to be in great shape, and they're early 69 cases so I think thats a very reasonable price. See my post in the SOHC4 bike section for pictures of it.

Red750K1 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 26, 2009, 01:59:59 PM »

Went nuts with some simple green a toothbrush and lots of paper towels yesterday for a couple hours. This has to be my least favorite part of engine work; cleaning nearly 40 years of road grime and crud off.

I saw that VintageHondaPaint.com is selling engine paint now. . . anyone use it yet? I'm curious how well it works, I've only used the 500 degree engine paint from the auto parts store in the past. It works alirght but tends to peel off pretty easily.

I had a question also, from the factory was the valve cover polished or painted? I polished the stator cover, chain guard and sprocket cover and the clutch cover. I think the valve cover was also polished but not 100% sure, I'm going for bone-stock on this restoration. Anyone know?

The beer isn't required for this sort of work but it helps!

My gasket kit, engine seals, standard rings, cam chain and tensioner parts, tapered roller bearings, clutch and throttle cables will be here from Z1enterprises.com on monday. Oh got a t-shirt too!
I'm going to order my NOS stuff today or tomorrow. I've made a list after studying the micro-fiches to get all the correct screws so I can order those. It seems that Bikebandit.com has the best NOS prices, about 40 cents a screw compaired to 2 or 3 bucks a peice on the other sites.
Ordered my paint and decal set from Don at Vintagehondapaint.com, hope to see that by friday and get the tank, sidecovers, fork ears and headlight bucket preped in the meanwhile. Also hope to have the engine all preped for paint by then as well.

Its comming along . . .

754 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 26, 2009, 06:53:21 PM »

To the best of my knowledge, it a finely brushed finish, that is to say not full out polished, then clearcoated at the factory.

I know people have done very close finish to this by hand, after the aluminum is smooth.

I know for sure the whole motor on Goldammers TROUBLE bike was done this way, with Scotchbrite pads by hand. Must be done in same direction across the piece, pretty sure it was done by wire wheel brushes at the factory.

andy750 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 26, 2009, 07:26:23 PM »

Ask Andy (SOHC name - 736cc) about finishing on the cam cover - he is listed in Services offered and shows off his beautiful work.

I like Bikebandit as well (AMA discount if you are a member) - but also try Servicehonda.com - they are usually the cheapest.

keep the pics coming!

cheers
Andy

Red750K1 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2009, 07:14:26 AM »

Finished cleaning up the engine yesterday and ripped it all apart. It looks really good inside, good bores and pistons. Head gasket looked fine, I think it was the base gasket that was leaking a little.
Got all the parts from Z1enterprises. That website is awsome, shipped to my door in 2 days. Going to try sodablasting the motor and paint/polish it this weekend. Rebuilding the head now and getting it all put back together.
My paint from vintagehondapaint.com will be here tomorrow so its time to get the tank and everything else prepped for paint. Going to pick up some heavy duity epoxy paint for the frame so it doesn't chip and peel.

Red750K1 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2009, 07:43:31 PM »

Got the head all rebuilt today. Valves looked really good so just did a lap-job and cleaned it up. Put in new valve seals and cleaned the gasket surface really well. This thing will NOT leak oil!

I also continued to go crazy with the soda blaster. That thing is awesome! Blasted all the engine covers and polished them then clear coated with high temp engine clear. Its looking good!
Painted the frame today also . . . almost forgot to mask the vin plate . . . that would have been annoying!

This week the engine should be back together. Got my NOS screw set in the mail, I can't believe I paid $40 for a bag of screws lol . . .

If all goes according to plan (does it ever?) I should be dropping the engine in this weekend and maybe fire it up. Still have to order tires and get them mounted. The rims cleaned up really nice with the help of my 50 pound bag of baking soda and blaster.
Next comes the paint job! That has to be my favorite part, but saving it for last.

MCRider · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2009, 08:13:30 PM »

You mention you have a sodablaster. From where, etc. and tell us (me at least) about it.

Hush · « **Reply #12 on:** May 18, 2009, 02:53:26 AM »

Lookin good Red, still lov'n those white guages....did you find out any more about their lineage?
Are the conrods any longer than stock?

Red750K1 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2009, 07:20:05 AM »

I was going to make a soda blaster like I saw in the "tricks and tips" section about cleaning carbs but ended up buying one instead. I got the blaster from harbor freight for $10 with a plastic container on the bottom. It works great and you can use any type of media with it. They also had a 50 pound bag of soda for $30 so I got that and have used 3/4 of it already. Works really well! Best part is you can blast your carbs inside and out then just dip them in warm water and blow em out with compressed air. No nasty carb cleaner junk.

MCRider · « **Reply #14 on:** May 18, 2009, 07:57:49 AM »

Quote from: Red750K1 on May 18, 2009, 07:20:05 AM

I was going to make a soda blaster like I saw in the "tricks and tips" section about cleaning carbs but ended up buying one instead. I got the blaster from harbor freight for $10 with a plastic container on the bottom. It works great and you can use any type of media with it. They also had a 50 pound bag of soda for $30 so I got that and have used 3/4 of it already. Works really well! Best part is you can blast your carbs inside and out then just dip them in warm water and blow em out with compressed air. No nasty carb cleaner junk.

Thanks. I saw the DIY model too, but for $10 why bother. I'll look into it.

Red750K1 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 21, 2009, 08:58:31 AM »

Yeah thats what I thought too. $10 blaster works great and you can adjust the amount of media with it too.

I'm going to put the engine together this weekend and hopefully get it in the bike. After that its going to be prepping everything for paint and spraying. I ended up being accepted to medical school a couple weeks ago and have to move for that so the bike is going to be put for sale. I'm going to need the money for school more than a second K1 Cb750. It's a bummer about the bike since its going to be so much nicer than my current ride but oh well.

MCRider · « **Reply #16 on:** May 21, 2009, 09:07:52 AM »

That's great news about school! Hope it all goes well. Not so good about the bike but priorities.

I looked at harborfreight.com for the soda blaster, all they had was $100. Did you typo the $10 or am i not looking hard enough?

They had some handheld gravity feed guns, but the containers were on top, not bottom, and they didn't say they would work with soda, just glass, plastic, etc.

Red750K1 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 21, 2009, 04:51:32 PM »

No typo, it was $10, maybe $12 or so. It was a plastic cup that screwed into the bottom. Not the gravity fed type; those are a pain to use, this one is very nice. I'll post a picture of it in the next day or two.

I'm hoping a couple weeks and this thing will be ready to sell. I've been keeping and eye on E-bay and should be able to get between 4 and 5 grand. All original, not "perfect show quality" but about the nicest bike I'd feel comfortable driving to bike night and on the weekends.
-Clean title 1971, bike built in 1970 I think 09/'70
-Original HM 300's
-Rebuilt motor base gaskets and up, all new oil seals.
-Engine covers polished and cleared, engine painted and cleared
-Fresh paint/decals (candy gold with black tank stripe)
-New cables all around, new chain/sprokets, plugs, points, bulbs
-Carbs gone through and cleaned, look like new after being soda blasted

The only "down" side is the front fender, its correct single cut but the original owner drilled a couple holes in it to mount a running light. It looks cool and retro; I was going to get a fender but can't find anything other than NOS and don't have it in the budget anymore. I'll leave it alone or dig up a later model front fender that looks nice.

I did have a "Bonus" yesterday though! As I was pulling the engine out of my '69 race bike to ship to Canada for a guy on here I discovered something: The race bike had a MINT '69 to '71 wiring harness which saves me money since mine was spliced for the faring and running lights. I love it when that happens.

What do you guys think about the 1971? Oh, and anyone interested??? I just can't afford to have two bikes now that I'm starting school and since I'll be moving back to the "big city" I wont be riding daily anymore (too much traffic around there).

Red750K1 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 25, 2009, 06:45:04 PM »

Got the rest of the engine together today and painted the head / cases. They look awsome after 3 coats of engine paint and then another 3 coats of engine clear. Put all of my polished covers on and they also look awsome! Its comming together . . . did the carbs today too, they were a little sticky but are very nice now and look brand new after soda blasting them on the outside.

I've got a bunch of stuff for sale on E-bay by the way. . . anyone need parts check out my auctions JRZfishboy is my e-bay name. I have my dunstall rear-sets and clip-ons, a few seats, a tank or two, some early carbs, a set of KONI shocks and a few other things. I still have to post photos on my auctions though so check for thoses tomorrow.

Red750K1 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 15, 2010, 02:17:36 PM »

Ok, well it's been almost a whole year but I'm back at it! Been off in the land of medical school since last summer . . . good for my future, not good for restoring my old bikes lol . . .
Just had my spring break and decided that going to a beach or somewhere warm (I live in Michigan FYI) wouldn't be nearly as fun as working on a 40 year old Honda!
Got my paint from Don at Vintagehondapaint.com, that guy is great, even met him in person to pick it up. Finished prep work on the tank and got everything sprayed at my friend's spray booth in his garage. Turned out pretty darn nice! Candy gold stock color: Gold metallic base, candy gold and 4 layers of clear. Have to take the clear down with some 1000 grit still, put the badges on and then put another 5 or 6 layers of clear on. Hope to get around to that soon depending on my exam schedule these next couple weeks.
Also got the bike down by my place in a nice storage unit to be able to work on it locally here and there; it doesn't need much more till shes done! Very exciting.

Ordered some NOS fork boots and NOS tank trim. That stupid tank trim is getting almost impossible to find!!! Scored a great deal on a NOS K1 seat on e-bay too, don't know where all the other bidders were, guess you get lucky some times; I'm not going to complain!
Have to put in the tapered roller bearings and once the fork boots get here the front end will be done and the bars/gauges can be installed. Then just have to put on the exhaust pipes and carbs and she should be ready to fire up!
Stay posted . . .

Johnie · « **Reply #20 on:** March 15, 2010, 02:32:12 PM »

Did your painter use House of Color paints or www.vintagehondapaint.com?

Red750K1 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 15, 2010, 02:35:15 PM »

I (I'm the painter) used vintagehondapaint.com paints . . . but I used my own high gloss PPG clear coat.

Johnie · « **Reply #22 on:** March 15, 2010, 03:50:57 PM »

Quote from: Red750K1 on March 15, 2010, 02:35:15 PM

I (I'm the painter) used vintagehondapaint.com paints . . . but I used my own high gloss PPG clear coat.

Looks nice.

greenjeans · « **Reply #23 on:** March 16, 2010, 01:57:46 PM »

Always liked the orange the best. Looks fantastic.

traveler · « **Reply #24 on:** March 16, 2010, 07:07:13 PM »

Well, I'd love to have this bike....but something tells me that "Ol' Doc" is going to keep it now!

Better PRAY universal healthcare doesn't happen, or your money making ability will be shot.

.....ya know...a restored K1 sounds pretty darn good!

~Joe

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Author Topic: K1 resurection . . . (Read 16265 times)

traveler