Author Topic: K1 resurection . . . (Read 15321 times)

Red750K1 · « **Reply #50 on:** March 26, 2011, 05:10:21 AM »

Yea I really can't believe how nice shape all the original parts were in after I spent more time than I care to recall cleaning them! The bike is actually a Michigan bike its whole life which makes it even more nuts, Michigan is the land of road salt and rust! This week it decided to dip back into the 20s and 30s here so it's put a cramp on my working outside; its hard to use your fingers when you cant feel them $:-\$ The cold and my recent exam schedule has been making it hard to get much work done this week. Thank God this is my last semester in the classroom, starting in July I'll be doing hospital rotations so I'll get my weekends back. Looks like I'm starting off in OB-GYN delivering babies and doing surgeries, I'm pretty excited. I've never been much of a book learner- much prefer hands on learning. Thanks for the inspiration guys and keeping up with my 3 year resto!

Johnnie- I'd gladly take a nomination for bike of the month!

kap384@telus.net · « **Reply #51 on:** March 26, 2011, 05:42:05 PM »

Quote from: Red750K1 on March 25, 2011, 03:22:15 PM

I got to spend over an hour last night on the phone with the original owner, that was just too cool! He's a really nice guy! Told me some awesome stories of riding the bike and his trips that are mapped out on the box he made (see photos in earlier post of box). Bought this bike brand new when he was in his late 20's and sold it in the 1980s sometime. He was an art teacher and used to take part of his summers off each year to do cross country riding before it was really popular. I offered to give him the box back, felt that was the right thing to do, but he said his wife wouldn't be happy with any more "stuff" around their house, haha. But, He would really love to see some pictures of it when I'm finally done. Shoot, I cant wait to see photos with I'm done!!! Anyways, I spent a few hours today taking care of little things on the bike and did a final spit shine on the pipes before getting ready to put them on. Check it out! Not bad for an all original set of HM300's from 1971! Ohhhhh Ahhhhh . . .

Great work and awesome find. So, any info from the original owner on those white faced gauges?

Hush · « **Reply #52 on:** March 26, 2011, 11:23:50 PM »

Thought they might have been ex Police bike but the black surrounds squashes that idea.

Red750K1 · « **Reply #53 on:** March 28, 2011, 04:00:40 PM »

Big day today . . . 7am urology final exam and then all afternoon spent working on the bike! Gotta love spring in MI, its been in the 30's all week

now thankfully it creeped into 40's!

Almost forgot! About the original owner and those gauges . . . he said the original ones started to fade on him from riding so much that he took the faces out and HAND PAINTED them! This guy has some talent too! I can't even believe they were done by hand. Now the question is, do I keep those on the bike even though they're not original or replace them with my spare set of '71 gauges that I rebuilt with new faces. I don't know what to do about that. I'm tempted to keep the gauges and maybe even give them back to the original owner and sell the bike with my other set. Or just pull the white faces out and re-face the original ones back to stock. What do you guys think? Will it hurt re-sale value if they're not original green ? Hmmm

Almost ready to fire her up, installed battery - it cranks over with great compression and I have spark in all 4 cyls. Only thing missing right now is fuel. I popped the bowls off the carbs and pulled the main jets, needle seats, needles and floats. Decided to give them a once-over at the apartment just to avoid "sticky carb syndrome" and pee gas all over my pretty engine. I've had good luck lightly rolling the float pins on some 600 grit sand paper, it helps the float do its thing and not hang up. Put the pipes on, dam they look even better on the bike! Finished the rear end, chain, chain guard and fender. Going over tomorrow to put the carbs back together, get some oil in her, fuel it up and pray to the 736cc gods then give her a kick.

FYI- all the goofy pink and purple tubs you see, they're blood bank containers that the donation bags come in. They're AWESOME for working on engines/cars/bikes. Throw all your bolts n' stuff from that "part" of the project in, keeps it organized and they even stack ontop of eachother. Perks of my old college job I guess

Photos:

Had to give the tank a trial fit, sat back for a while and smiled

Greggo · « **Reply #54 on:** March 28, 2011, 04:28:01 PM »

What did the original owner have to say about the gauges?

Red750K1 · « **Reply #55 on:** March 28, 2011, 04:39:37 PM »

Read my post, I talked about them

Red750K1 · « **Reply #56 on:** March 31, 2011, 11:25:15 AM »

Gold bike 1971 cb750 running

Finally! Fired her up for the first time! The sound quality kinda stinks and picked up much more chain/top end chatter than there actually is, sorry, it's my camera phone.

Runs awesome, took it around for a quick spin and everything's great! Handles nice, stops on a dime, shifts nice and smooth, clutch is great! I love it, only thing left now are easy cosmetics and to wire up the headlight bucket / gauges / rear lights.
Dam those HM300's sound sweet!!

dagersh · « **Reply #57 on:** March 31, 2011, 11:54:14 AM »

Red,

Awesome, inspiring work! She sounds great, those HM300's are sweet!

I think you should leave the handpainted guages on there. If the purchaser tries to hit you up for originality, he not a true bike lover. There is a certain Karma that this excellent story adds to the bike. Besides, you could always just give him the stock faces if he really wants to put them on.

Best of luck with your exams and rotations!

Gersh

Johnie · « **Reply #58 on:** March 31, 2011, 12:21:01 PM »

Excellent...that is a definite 300 sound. Nice job. Bound to get some attention when tooling around on that bike!!!

Red750K1 · « **Reply #59 on:** March 31, 2011, 02:14:49 PM »

One more photo, forgot to post:

Going back in the morning to button up the rest of the wiring and give her a final check over. I let the motor run at 1500 for about 10 min then at 3000 for another 10. Took it for a spin and she's very happy. Going to change the oil/filter now that the engine is broken in and check the valve clearances. Looks like only one more afternoon of work and it'll be 100% done! Very exciting, I'm debating about putting plates on her and riding for a bit or just selling it and let someone else enjoy her this summer. Tough call but at least I'll have my '66 Barracuda out and about here pretty soon so that'll give me something to enjoy.

Anyone interested in a nice freshly restored 1971 CB750 K1?

I think being so original she'll bring much more attention than these other bikes that are just a pile of NOS parts. I mean, come on, anyone with some cash can build one with NOS. The real deal is one like this thats 100% original parts. That's my take at least. Plus the sweet history that's totally documented on the box adds a nice bit of nostalgia too.

Greggo · « **Reply #60 on:** March 31, 2011, 02:39:25 PM »

Quote from: Greggo on March 28, 2011, 04:28:01 PM

What did the original owner have to say about the gauges?

D'oh!

I think I responded without realizing there was a third page. The bike looks great! Love the orange, and it sounds mean too!

Red750K1 · « **Reply #61 on:** April 01, 2011, 02:33:27 PM »

Spent another few hours this morning on the bike. Set the valves and now the top end sounds much smoother, its even quieter than my old red '71 750. Got the headlight bucket on and the gauges. Now I have to sort through the wiring and find a few "little things" for the finishing touches. Just found my NOS carb-to-air box boots so I can mount the air box then still need to wire up the rear fender and turn signals. Thought I'd share a couple more photos, I just love how nice this bike turned out! Makes me

Johnie · « **Reply #62 on:** April 01, 2011, 02:39:50 PM »

Looking fantastic!!! What an EYE popper!!!

tomsweb1 · « **Reply #63 on:** April 01, 2011, 06:05:56 PM »

I can't believe you're going to sell her. I would keep that bike 'till the grave.

Red750K1 · « **Reply #64 on:** April 01, 2011, 06:45:49 PM »

Yeahhhhhhh I know $:-\$ Its just I'm living on student loans now so the only way to get some extra cash for my Barracuda this summer is to sell this girl. I would just rather see someone actually take her out and enjoy her this summer. I think she'll make someone a really happy camper. That seems better than just hanging onto the bike and having it sit for the next 5 or 10 years. Well . . . I guess I dont really need a couch in my apartment, the bike would make a nice conversation piece

I think that running light on the front fender is starting to grow on me, it really suits the bike

tomsweb1 · « **Reply #65 on:** April 01, 2011, 08:37:38 PM »

Quote from: Red750K1 on April 01, 2011, 06:45:49 PM

Well . . . I guess I dont really need a couch in my apartment, the bike would make a nice conversation piece

Now we're talkin'

Red750K1 · « **Reply #66 on:** April 04, 2011, 07:16:22 PM »

Alright! Mail man came today with my last shipment for this bike. I wasn't happy with the aftermarket speedo and tach cables I bought, didn't look right where they screw into the gauges. I ordered up a set of NOS Honda cables. The grab bar for this bike has been hiding and I gave up this weekend, ordered a NOS grab bar. Nice new chrome, I dig it! As a final finishing touch I got a set of NOS passenger peg rubbers too. The original ones were just a little too dried up and starting to split.

I tell ya, once the whole bike starts looking this good all those little stupid things start standing out, speedo/tach cables, passenger peg rubbers, haha. I have to put the brakes on before I get carried away! Man, she's looking good

Tomorrow should be the last day of finishing touches. Polished the plastic brake light lens and rear turn signals. Have to wire those up, give her a final shine and its photo time.

Johnie · « **Reply #67 on:** April 04, 2011, 07:36:44 PM »

Click!!!

Old Scrambler · « **Reply #68 on:** April 06, 2011, 01:16:24 PM »

Very nice build..............My K3 traveled some of those roads on the map in the same year..........I don't remember seeing any boxes going in the opposite direction.......nice job and get ready for BOM.

Johnie · « **Reply #69 on:** April 06, 2011, 01:52:16 PM »

We all sure like our CANDY!!!

Red750K1 · « **Reply #70 on:** April 06, 2011, 02:01:32 PM »

Yes, we sure do Johnie

What's "BOM" ? bike of month?

The rain today put a damper on my work, going to get up early to wrap things up and take some photos.

On a lousy note, started taking apart my spare K1 gauges to put in the brand new faces I bought. . . stupid tach drive needle broke off

I couldn't believe it! I've taken apart at least a dozen sets of gauges and never had a single problem! Go figure . . . now I have to pirate a tach drive assembly from one of my parts gauges. Posted on the "SOHC 4 Bikes" forum but no one has gotten back with me on the fit of different year tach drives. I guess this is one thing I'll have to find out myself- will the later drives fit the k1 tach? Man what a bummer, I can't believe a 1mm thick pin breaking ruined the whole tach drive assembly.

Lame!

Red750K1 · « **Reply #71 on:** April 07, 2011, 10:18:42 AM »

It's a beautiful day outside! Got to spend all morning doing the finishing touches on the gold bike. I poked around with the cam chain tensioner, it still seemed just a touch noisy on the top end . . . holy cow this engine is now hands down the QUIETEST early 750 engine I have ever heard! It runs like a top . . . got the air box on and passenger peg exhaust bolts. Put a cherry on top with my 1971 MI license plate. Looks good, runs good, I'm happy. Took it for a spin around the parking lot for about 10 min, just didnt want to stop! Its got all the get up and go that my old red '71 had but I think it runs even smoother.
Going back later today after class to do a final polish and wax then take some better photos with my friend's good digital SLR camera.
Man, I still wish I lived upnorth where it's actually fun to ride a bike. Now have to make a decision what to do with her . . .

Check her out!!!

HondaMan · « **Reply #72 on:** April 07, 2011, 10:39:24 AM »

Once you get all 4 running evenly, that chain rattle should settle down. If the plugs or idle air screws or vacuum balance is off a little bit, the chains rattle at low engine speeds quite a bit.

Red750K1 · « **Reply #73 on:** April 07, 2011, 10:50:25 AM »

Actually the chain rattle totally went away when I tweaked the cam chain adjuster. I think it was just a little stuck when I set it the first time. I loosened up the lock bolt/nut and gave it a few taps with the screw driver handle. It basically popped into place, tightened it up again and she runs VERY quiet. Smooth as . . . well lets just say very smooth haha. It wasen't bad before, just about as noisy as any of the early bikes I've heard. Just did a final run through with the valves, changed oil and thought I'd play with that again and it did it!
Good times , Thanks for the tips though!

Red750K1 · « **Reply #74 on:** April 07, 2011, 07:43:32 PM »

And THAT'S a wrap!

So now she's finally done

Perfect fit

News:

Author Topic: K1 resurection . . . (Read 15321 times)