Author Topic: 750K4 - Should I Buy - Update... (Read 8209 times)

mrbreeze · « **Reply #50 on:** August 06, 2009, 03:15:04 PM »

I also have the right side 341's that are in ok shape allthough the baffles are gone.The left side pipes are blown out on the bottoms but could probably be repaired by the right person. I recall someone saying the left ones usually go first due to oil off of the chain. I have headlite ears but the left side is kinda tweeked from a tip over. I haven't seen it for awhile (packed away in boxes but might be repairable.)

ekpent · « **Reply #51 on:** August 06, 2009, 09:52:54 PM »

Sorry Breeze but I think when this bike is done, its going to be BETTER than what the guys were rolling off the showroom,any comments Johnie-

Johnie · « **Reply #52 on:** August 08, 2009, 06:18:42 AM »

Quote from: mrbreeze on August 06, 2009, 03:15:04 PM

I also have the right side 341's that are in ok shape allthough the baffles are gone.The left side pipes are blown out on the bottoms but could probably be repaired by the right person. I recall someone saying the left ones usually go first due to oil off of the chain. I have headlite ears but the left side is kinda tweeked from a tip over. I haven't seen it for awhile (packed away in boxes but might be repairable.)

Mr. Breeze...thanks for keeping me in mind. If you run across the ears please let me know what you have there, condition and all. I am still on the hunt for those dang ears. Ebay was close, but those are all for the 1972. These ears are specific as they have a seperate hole for the blinker stud in the middle of the ear area. See the pic...click to enlarge. Thanks again for checking.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #53 on:** August 08, 2009, 06:44:12 AM »

John, are the '72 ears otherwise the same dimensionally? Could you drill them? I know, not original, but might work otherwise if they are until you find correct ones.

Johnie · « **Reply #54 on:** August 08, 2009, 07:46:00 AM »

Quote from: Bob Wessner on August 08, 2009, 06:44:12 AM

John, are the '72 ears otherwise the same dimensionally? Could you drill them? I know, not original, but might work otherwise if they are until you find correct ones.

You are correct Bob...they look the same except missing the hole. I thought about your idea earlier, but you would have to add some strength to the ear as that thin metal would bend easy without it. Then you would have to rechrome and stuff. Since the ears, forks, and steering bearings will be done in the winter I have time to keep up the hunt. Guess the search is half the fun.

HondaMan · « **Reply #55 on:** August 08, 2009, 08:26:54 AM »

The K4 was also the 'era' when the fork ears changed from having the K2-like hole for the blinker, with longer, tapered stalks for those lights, to the shorter stalks that came out the headlight mounting nuts (cheaper to make). here's a shot of the Hondaman Special, showing K4 ears with K2 turn signal stalks. For this bike to be otherwise perfectly period correct, the shorter stalks would have to be installed, but I only have rusty ones right now. I wanted for Bryan to have a nice chrome set, at least.

It does cause the turn signals to be emphasized, though: never a bad thing when riding in traffic.

Johnie · « **Reply #56 on:** August 08, 2009, 11:35:42 AM »

Quote from: HondaMan on August 08, 2009, 08:26:54 AM

The K4 was also the 'era' when the fork ears changed from having the K2-like hole for the blinker, with longer, tapered stalks for those lights, to the shorter stalks that came out the headlight mounting nuts (cheaper to make). here's a shot of the Hondaman Special, showing K4 ears with K2 turn signal stalks. For this bike to be otherwise perfectly period correct, the shorter stalks would have to be installed, but I only have rusty ones right now. I wanted for Bryan to have a nice chrome set, at least.

It does cause the turn signals to be emphasized, though: never a bad thing when riding in traffic.

Now you have me confused Hondaman...my parts book shows the correct blinker stud for the K3 & K4 as the longer stud. It shows the short stud for the K2 only. Plus, I have a K4 brochure that shows the longer studs like in the Honda parts book.

myhondas · « **Reply #57 on:** August 08, 2009, 02:20:07 PM »

Johnie,

you have it right....the longer tapered stud was 74 era... like the pic that I sent you. if worse comes.... I will basically give you mine in that pic....they will need to be cleaned and rechromed though. even hondaman can type confuse stuff huh....

ray

Johnie · « **Reply #58 on:** August 08, 2009, 03:06:39 PM »

Quote from: myhondas on August 08, 2009, 02:20:07 PM

Johnie,

you have it right....the longer tapered stud was 74 era... like the pic that I sent you. if worse comes.... I will basically give you mine in that pic....they will need to be cleaned and rechromed though. even hondaman can type confuse stuff huh....

ray

Thanks Ray...I did find NOS OEM blinker studs last week. I sure appreciate the offer. Now if you happen upon those fork ears...I am all ears!!!

myhondas · « **Reply #59 on:** August 08, 2009, 04:52:03 PM »

sorry, i meant the ears in the offer. I think I have decided to part out the bike rather than rebuild it...but then I am not firm on that.

Johnie · « **Reply #60 on:** August 08, 2009, 05:44:34 PM »

Quote from: myhondas on August 08, 2009, 04:52:03 PM

sorry, i meant the ears in the offer. I think I have decided to part out the bike rather than rebuild it...but then I am not firm on that.

I hate to take your ears if you are not sure yet. Let me know when you decide for sure. I am in no big hurry so you can think about it for a while. Are they straight? I had planned to rechrome anyway so that is no big deal. I saw some on eBay but they were rusted almost through the metal.

myhondas · « **Reply #61 on:** August 08, 2009, 06:10:20 PM »

Just went out and looked at them real close.... Both have some good rust on them,.....right one could be used, but left has a 1" x 3/8" hole rusted through on the tube below the ear.... so...not sure you can use both of them, but if you want them, I'll pull them off.

Johnie · « **Reply #62 on:** August 08, 2009, 06:39:00 PM »

Quote from: myhondas on August 08, 2009, 06:10:20 PM

Just went out and looked at them real close.... Both have some good rust on them,.....right one could be used, but left has a 1" x 3/8" hole rusted through on the tube below the ear.... so...not sure you can use both of them, but if you want them, I'll pull them off.

Thanks for looking them over. Since I am not in a big hurry, leave them on the bike for now. You may decide to restore it too.

Johnie · « **Reply #63 on:** August 10, 2009, 04:25:58 PM »

Per Bob's request, here are a couple pics of the new 341's installed today. Took a bit as I wanted to get the bottom of the engine cleaned and both kick stands repainted before I put the exhaust on. Now I have to check the points, timing, etc. Starts hard but I know the points were pitted and probably out of adjustment too. The look is really an improvement with the OEM seat, sissy bar gone and exhaust in place.

andy750 · « **Reply #64 on:** August 10, 2009, 04:36:39 PM »

Looking good Johnnie!

Reminds me of something....

cheers
Andy

Johnie · « **Reply #65 on:** August 10, 2009, 06:17:37 PM »

Looks hot there Andy!!! Hey, would you suggest just some model paint for the white lettering and black edging on the HONDA emblem on that tank? Sure would improve the look once I get that painted.

andy750 · « **Reply #66 on:** August 10, 2009, 08:16:25 PM »

Nope Id recommend a NEW HONDA badge - the pearl white paint with gold underlay is quite special

ekpent · « **Reply #67 on:** August 10, 2009, 08:16:59 PM »

Looks nice Johnie.Have you heard the pipes yet?? I have touched up the white and black on the tank emblems before with Testors and a very small brush. The white is kind of "thin".fairly translucent,will need several coats. One hint is to leave the little bottle of white open for awhile so it can evaporate some of the thinner off and become a little thicker.Try to keep it in the low areas which is almost impossible,but when you are done,take a small block of oak wood and some very fine wet/dry paper and "sand" gently the high spots or top of letters to remove slop etc. and which is already an unpainted metal and it will look really professional and make the letters really pop.Sidecovers can be done the same way but do not let the paint cure really good and very gently sand with 1200 grit or use a fingernail as those are chromed plastic.This is my 836 with crappy emblems Looking forward to future updates. Eric

Johnie · « **Reply #68 on:** August 10, 2009, 08:31:38 PM »

Quote from: andy750 on August 10, 2009, 08:16:25 PM

Nope Id recommend a NEW HONDA badge - the pearl white paint with gold underlay is quite special

New badge? From where??? Honda says nope.

Johnie · « **Reply #69 on:** August 10, 2009, 08:34:30 PM »

Quote from: ekpent on August 10, 2009, 08:16:59 PM

Looks nice Johnie.Have you heard the pipes yet?? I have touched up the white and black on the tank emblems before with Testors and a very small brush. The white is kind of "thin".fairly translucent,will need several coats. One hint is to leave the little bottle of white open for awhile so it can evaporate some of the thinner off and become a little thicker.Try to keep it in the low areas which is almost impossible,but when you are done,take a small block of oak wood and some very fine wet/dry paper and "sand" gently the high spots or top of letters to remove slop etc. and which is already an unpainted metal and it will look really professional and make the letters really pop.Sidecovers can be done the same way but do not let the paint cure really good and very gently sand with 1200 grit or use a fingernail as those are chromed plastic.This is my 836 with crappy emblems Looking forward to future updates. Eric

Thanks for the details Eric. I have to figure out what I am going to do. I do not think I can find the OEM tank badges. I have not seen this style on eBay either. Oh, I did hear the pipes and they are quieter than the 300's for sure. But I still like having a stock bike.

Simpson · « **Reply #70 on:** August 10, 2009, 09:21:45 PM »

looks great Johnie! A fun project. That bike was lucky to find you as a home.

Any detectable issues with your compression?

The numbers seemed fine.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #71 on:** August 10, 2009, 09:37:46 PM »

Hi Johnie, try Z1 enterprises for the tank badges...

http://www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=2129

Mick

Johnie · « **Reply #72 on:** August 11, 2009, 05:46:40 AM »

Quote from: retro rocket on August 10, 2009, 09:37:46 PM

Hi Johnie, try Z1 enterprises for the tank badges...

http://www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=2129

Mick

Thanks. They list that as K2 - K5, but those are different than the K4 but are correct for the K2. The OEM has a straight edge across the top. See pic below. The Z1 metal plate follows the contour of the letters which is not period correct. Maybe I should give them a call. I did check Yamiya, cmsnl and silver spares with no luck.

Johnie · « **Reply #73 on:** August 11, 2009, 09:54:26 AM »

Quote from: simpson on August 10, 2009, 09:21:45 PM

looks great Johnie! A fun project. That bike was lucky to find you as a home.

Any detectable issues with your compression?

The numbers seemed fine.

I have not checked the compression since the first time I saw the bike. Points were pretty far off and were pitted. I cleaned them up with a points file and reset. Carbs are done. Timing light burned up last night. Coming along nice. I still need to locate the fork ears and tank badges. Started hard yesterday, but that was before I checked the points. Should get better as I time and do the valves. I should really put a new set of points in there too. So in a nutshell, I am now working the bugs out of it.

myhondas · « **Reply #74 on:** August 11, 2009, 11:34:27 AM »

Sounds like you are moving right along...... tank decals will be hard to find. You will probably have to restore yours or find some that are in good shape at a bike salvage yard.... or .... check around....here are a few places that are good for the 750....

http://www.babbittsonline.com/
www.hdlparts.com/default.asp
www.davidsilverspares.co.uk
www.cmsnl.com
www.hondanuts.com/cb750.html
www.loudfastugly.com
www.cb-4zylinder.de/index.html
www.four-schmiede.de (German)
www.honda-cb-four.de (German)
www.sayonara-cycles.de (German)
www.classicbikes.com
www.cycle-salvage.com
www.denniskirk.com
www.servicehonda.com
www.westernhillshonda.net
www.cb750.org
www.hondacb750.com.au (Aussie)
http://cb750k2.tripod.com/page1.html
www.stilettocycle.com.

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Author Topic: 750K4 - Should I Buy - Update... (Read 8209 times)