Author Topic: Frame / Engine Serial Mismatch  (Read 2825 times)

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Offline heyjones

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Frame / Engine Serial Mismatch
« on: July 11, 2009, 12:33:53 PM »
Has anyone else run into this problem? I bought this bike a little over a year ago and am JUST now realizing that the frame and engine serials don't match. So I've got a '76 frame with a '74 engine. I noticed when I ordered a stainless steel engine screw set that the frame and the engine don't quite center up under the tank... do you think this could have something to do with the difference in years between the frame and the engine, or do you think that the frame might be bent? I'm planning on rebuilding it this winter, so I'm wondering if I should start trying to track down a '76 engine or if that makes any difference at all.





« Last Edit: July 11, 2009, 01:05:32 PM by heyjones »
1976 CB750K
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Frame / Engine Serial Mismatch
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2009, 12:43:29 PM »
Has anyone else run into this problem? I bought this bike a little over a year ago and am JUST now realizing that the frame and engine serials don't match. So I've got a '76 frame with a '74 engine. I noticed when I ordered a stainless steel engine screw set that the frame and the engine don't quite center up under the tank... do you think this could have something to do with the difference in years between the frame and the engine, or do you think that the frame might be bent? I'm planning on rebuilding it this winter, so I'm wondering if I should start trying to track down a '76 engine or if that makes any difference at all.






Always nice to know what bike your working on. Your pictures aren't coming through.

First, on Hondas, frame and engine numbers never match.

If you've done the homework to see that your frame and engine numbers are actually so far apart as to be in different model years (or K numbers) then you do have a mystery.
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Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline heyjones

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Re: Frame / Engine Serial Mismatch
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2009, 12:52:08 PM »
Yeah, here's a Model Identification Guide that I found online (not sure how accurate it is):

CB750K0   1969-1970   CB750-1000001
CB750K1   1970-1971   CB750-1044650
CB750K2   1972   CB750-2000001
CB750K3   1973   CB750-2200001
CB750K4   1974   CB750-2300001
CB750K5   1975   CB750-2500001
CB750'76   1976   CB750-2540001

Weird about the photos, they show up for me, but I'm trying to use my MobileMe account to post. My frame serial is CB750-2548893, and the engine serial is CB750E-2437947. I might contact the original owner and ask what the story is.
1976 CB750K
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Frame / Engine Serial Mismatch
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2009, 01:14:20 PM »
Yeah, here's a Model Identification Guide that I found online (not sure how accurate it is):

CB750K0   1969-1970   CB750-1000001
CB750K1   1970-1971   CB750-1044650
CB750K2   1972   CB750-2000001
CB750K3   1973   CB750-2200001
CB750K4   1974   CB750-2300001
CB750K5   1975   CB750-2500001
CB750'76   1976   CB750-2540001

Weird about the photos, they show up for me, but I'm trying to use my MobileMe account to post. My frame serial is CB750-2548893, and the engine serial is CB750E-2437947. I might contact the original owner and ask what the story is.
Those are frame only numbers. Your frame is a K6. The engine numbers that go with that frame start at 2428762*, so your engine series goes with that frame series. 1976. All's well.

The K7s engine and frame both start at 270....

* according to the "Original Honda CB750, Restorers guide to K and F series..." by John Wyatt. and the "Honda Motorcycle Identification Guide" copyright American Honda 1999

PS: I skipped your issue with the frame and engine line-up. that is standard with all CB750s, no problem there. Relax. The center of the cam cover is not the geographical center of the engine.

PPS: I can see your pictures now.
« Last Edit: July 11, 2009, 01:26:44 PM by MCRider »
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline gane

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Re: Frame / Engine Serial Mismatch
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2009, 06:15:46 PM »
Heyjones, agree w/ both posts to a degree. to wit; engine  & frame #'s dont agree. and while center of eng, may or not agree w/center of valve cover point is mute. period 750 motors carried more weight on l/h side of engine, Just look down. the alt. hangs out what 4-5 inches? early riders complained to Honda that their bikes would ease left w/hands off bars. Honda's answer. Don't take your hands off bars... engine swaps from pre-k to K6 just drop in. and even w/ original sometimes requried shimming engine mounts to keep from stressing members. unless visually obvious, bent frames usually exibit tendancys to turn one direction or the other with different degrees of effort. if you're concerned, look for frame straightening specialists. era tool was a girder framed box which attatched to bike at swing arm pivot boss. and w front end removed and an indicator bar installed thru neck used to measure/alter rake, trail,center of neck, and plumb of swingarm. warning, it usually costs same to straighten as to check. probly more than you wanted to know. luck G

Offline hav150

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« Last Edit: July 11, 2009, 11:01:45 PM by hav150 »

Offline Gordon

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Re: Frame / Engine Serial Mismatch
« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2009, 10:42:20 AM »
Both your frame and engine numbers are K6 numbers.

Offline heyjones

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Re: Frame / Engine Serial Mismatch
« Reply #7 on: July 13, 2009, 10:04:46 PM »
Thanks for all the info! I haven't been to the regular sohc4.net site in so long... looks like it's been overhauled!
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