Topic: CB750K7 Nine Lives Cafe Racer - au revoir

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

No sign of Rob at Voxonda, so I may have to use the (kinda ugly) stock GL1000 triple trees.  I'm hoping he resurfaces soon.

I'd much rather use the triples he is machining; if necessary, I will swap them out when I get the new ones. 

The fork lowers are powdercoated black, as are the stock trees, GL calipers and rotors.




 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Engine is painted!!  I'm supposed to have a slew of parts back from the PC next week, too.  Can't wait to see some progress.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I heard back from Rob/Voxonda.  The triple trees are still alive, so I will upgrade to his once he can get them machined.

The engine is still not in the bike (painter was delayed getting the motor back), so here she is with the forks off and the motor out.

006_zps9dd80a0c by Donald Leonhardt, on Flickr

007_zpsb5b25ac0 by Donald Leonhardt, on Flickr

Hopefully next week will see some progress.

[snowman]

Subscribed, curious to see where this goes, as well as getting a few ideas for my K7 cafe build.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I spoke with the painter.  Apparently, the motor is painted and curing, so hopefully I will have it to re-install into the frame soon. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Some engine pics:
Suspended from a cherry picker by the mounts.
image_zpsd317a421 by Donald Leonhardt, on Flickr


Primed
image_zpsd1524a60 by Donald Leonhardt, on Flickr

VHT Aluminum
image_zpsd0dff77e by Donald Leonhardt, on Flickr

image_zpsdfd33e23 by Donald Leonhardt, on Flickr

[Viktor.J]

Some engine pics:
Suspended from a cherry picker by the mounts.

Primed


VHT Aluminum

The engine looks great, what primer did you use ?

[snowman]

Looking good, curious to find out how the paint will stand up to the elements. Usually VHT engine paint is for car engines that are basically protected.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

We used VHT stripper, VHT prep cleaner, VHT primer and VHT aluminum paint for the crankcases. 

[Vincent]

Hey, Don, that engine looks sharp! Let's see that thing back together!

Vincent

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Hey, Don, that engine looks sharp! Let's see that thing back together!

Vincent

Thanks, Vincent. I hope to get it back together soonish.

[Viktor.J]

We used VHT stripper, VHT prep cleaner, VHT primer and VHT aluminum paint for the crankcases.

Let me know how it turned out once you heaten the engine. I paintet my caliper and caliper arms with VHT flameproof primer then VHT caliper paint aluminium and the paint boubbled up

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

We used VHT stripper, VHT prep cleaner, VHT primer and VHT aluminum paint for the crankcases.

Let me know how it turned out once you heaten the engine. I paintet my caliper and caliper arms with VHT flameproof primer then VHT caliper paint aluminium and the paint boubbled up

Yikes. That's a major downer.

I'm hoping the meticulous cleaning and cure time will avoid that experience. The motor is back at the shop waiting for powder coated covers and then gaskets will be installed.

[Viktor.J]

We used VHT stripper, VHT prep cleaner, VHT primer and VHT aluminum paint for the crankcases.

Let me know how it turned out once you heaten the engine. I paintet my caliper and caliper arms with VHT flameproof primer then VHT caliper paint aluminium and the paint boubbled up

Yikes. That's a major downer.

I'm hoping the meticulous cleaning and cure time will avoid that experience. The motor is back at the shop waiting for powder coated covers and then gaskets will be installed.

I glassblastered my parts, then 2 sessions of soaked clean rag in Chemical clean acetone, a Tak-rag session and then a final acetone 15 min beafore painting. Allways wore plastic gloves. My parts cured in room temperature for about a week before the oven.
 I do believe my problem was that the flameproof primer wasn't cured before the caliper paint.

Hopefully your result will be better !

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Trying to source some decent looking 37mm fork ears.

I might go with the Aztec 8 (http://www.aztec8.com/catalog/i39.html).

I also emailed Rob (Voxonda) to see if he can go forward in machining a set of triple trees for my GL1000 fork tubes.

Going to race NASCAR light cars tomorrow morning at Irwindale Raceway (http://laracingx.com/)!! 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Got my machined velocity stacks with screens for the CR carbs and some 37mm fork ears from Aztec8.com. Both look great.

[brandEn]

Have you seen these?
http://www.motolanna.com/ourshop/prod_2062517-Headlight-Brackets-37mm-Die-Cast-Alloy.html

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Have you seen these?
http://www.motolanna.com/ourshop/prod_2062517-Headlight-Brackets-37mm-Die-Cast-Alloy.html

I actually have a pair of those too. I forgot about the Motolanas (since this project has been delayed so long!!!!) and bought the Aztec8s. Haven't decided, but will probably use the Motolanas.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

So my painter is MIA with my K7 tank. I am tempted to ditch the tank for a Super Sport (IMHO it has better lines). I just picked up this specimen. It will still need paint but at least it's a usable vessel.
image_zps91ebae4a by Donald Leonhardt, on Flickr

The engine should be going back in. Just waiting on PC covers along with a host of bits formerly black chromed.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

So I rolled up to my painter's shop today to find out he had been evicted!!

I'm hoping to recover my parts (including an already painted side cover).

I wish the paint wasn't so complicated (black metallic overlayed with ice pearl checkers) that I could not attempt it myself.

Luckily, I enlisted a new painter to repaint the Super Sport tank.  I dropped it off to get re-lined at the radiator shop -- to remove the DIY creme cote lining and re-line it. 
 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

This project has never ceases to amaze me how flakey certain tradesman and builders are.  I can see why so many forum members go completely DIY on their rebuilds, so they won't have to rely on non-reliable people!!

On a good note, I'm picking up my newly lined tank this weekend to have it painted.  I pretty much decided to forego knee dents, since that would just add time to pound and body fill them.  Instead, I want to get this sucker road-worthy ASAP.  I want to enjoy riding it again, and not just think about all the negative crap and a-holes the build has endured.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

One of the things that always strikes me is how wobbly the stock 35mm forks are compared to modern USD sportbike forks.  I am hoping to improve this with the '76 GL1000 front end, but I am also thinking that a fork brace wouldn't hurt.  Not sure if I will ride it before ordering one, or just order it now.

I saw that Tsunami used a Superbrace fork brace on his GL front end swap.  Tarrozi does not appear to make one for 75-77 GL models.  However, Telefix does make one.

Are there any opinions on Superbrace versus Telefix???

[Bankerdanny]

I haven't tried the Telefix, but I am happy with the fit of the Superbrace on my '77 GL1000.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Progress to report.

The motor is back in the frame and it's beginning to look like a motorcycle again!!  The engine covers are now powdercoated black, including the valve cover.  It was discovered that the finned starter cover from my prior builder did not fit properly, and needed to be milled just so it would properly bolt in place and seal the starter compartment.  I am really happy with the new look of the motor, with the fresh painted crankcases and powdercoated bits. 

image_zps910ced20 by Donald Leonhardt, on Flickr

IMG_2670_zps77bade2d by Donald Leonhardt, on Flickr

Right now the bike is fitted with the CB750 milled forks.  The GL1000 forks lowers are being powdercoated black and then they will swap in place with the rest of the GL1000 front end parts (trees, brake calipers, brake discs.  The front will look similar to this mock up, but have the slightly larger diameter (37mm vs 35mm forks).  This will cure the brake caliper to disc fitment issues. 

The tank has been stripped of the creme-cote and is now being re-lined.  I will be picking it up from the radiator shop this week and dropping it off to my new painter to get some house black with ice pearl checkers. 

[Tsunami]

Don,

Couldn't agree more with your observations on some service providers!  Your bike is coming in good, looks great.  I too can vouch for the SuperBrace worth ever penny, well built and the folks there have great customer service.  Remember persistence counts!