Topic: What did you do to your bike today ?

[Kanticoy]

Cool. Thanks for the info.

Hey Sopo, here's a link to the light.  Couldn't manage it on my phone yesterday.

http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-caferacer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-electronic-lighting-parts-chrome-6-1-4-inch-h4-headlight-assembly-66-64312.html

[Tree]

Hey Tree, did it work?

Really? -  No.  I tried it about 3 times (ATF and gas in the cylinder, let the gas burn off, and then cool) and the engine still wouldn't turn using a long handled socket wrench on the alternator bolt.  I've been putting acetone and ATF in the spark plug holes since mid September too.  Decided today to try and split the case, unbolt the rods from the crank shaft, remove the cylinders and then try to get the pistons out.   This is spare engine that I was going to try putting an 836 piston set in, so as long as I can eventually get the old ones out I think I'll be OK.     (It's all new to me!)

[Spanner 1]

Rode the 750K8 for 5 miles ( Brr...30 deg. this morning ) to test the re-built front brake . A. O. K.
Next is new tires and put it on the road to give the 'ol K1 a break !

[IndyFour]

I think I must have burned about a gallon of diesel in the heater keeping the garage toasty yesterday.    

The drag bars that were on my bike always annoyed me a little bit because there was just not quite enough room for the MC to fit without the brake handle being at a strange angle....so I got a set of clubman bars to try for a while.





Next to resolve the issue with the stock front blinkers.  I want to keep them as I like the look of the originals, but they will need to move forward as the bars interfere with them in their original spot.  The headlight bucket mount holes would be ideal, but the threaded ends on the blinker posts are too large.  A project for another day.

[WhyNot2]

Got another seat from fleabay, and installed it.

The 2nd snapshot is the before seat.

[myhondas]

I'm sorry to say that I don't really have anything to do on the SOHC4 74CB750K4 except to clean in prep for the 2012 IMS Cycle World Show in the end of Jan.
What I have been doing is working on my DOHC V4 !  Stripped it down and cleaning, repairing, replacing all the parts and rebuilding it. Would like to have it together enough to put in the show with the other two bikes...but we'll see. Mainly trying to get it together for the spring to start riding it.


http://s564.photobucket.com/albums/ss89/myhondas/83VF1100V65/?albumview=slideshow

[Picasoo]

Santa visited me... 

[maduncle]

Ah, life is good with the "Rainbow Warrior", ha ha!

I call that the technicolor dream bike Terry!

Ha ha, thanks mate, as long as you don't call it the "Technicolor Yawn" (Aussie slang for vomit) bike, I'll be happy!

A little known fact about Terrry's multi-coloured fuel tank folks...

This tank was not painted - in fact Terry hand made it from three old tanks (a red one, a blue one and a yellow one) that all had dents in certain places.

Terry cleverly cut each good section out of each tank and expertly welded them together to create one perfect tank in three colours.

True story!

 

As for what I did today - took the CB450 crank cases, jugs and head, frame and swing arm off to the blasters to get stripped and cleaned. Won't see them until late January (damn Christmas!) so that gives me time to work on the wheels.

[maduncle]

Nice VFR - what model and year is it?

[IndyFour]

Nice VFR - what model and year is it?

Hey thanks maduncle.  It's a a 1987 VF700F Interceptor (aka the "tariff beater").  I haven't had it all that long...just picked it up back in early June.  I wanted something that was a bit more comfortable long-range on the highway than my CB and was a bit more powerful.  Been very pleased with it so far.  It feels like a rocket compared to my 550 and gets great mileage.....always 45 miles/gallon or better.  The CB is still my favorite bike.....but it's nice to have another riding option.   It doesn't get as much attention as the CB from folks...but almost.  There don't seem to be too many of them left on the road from this era and I get lots of people asking what year it is.  The previous owner did a nice job of keeping it well maintained, so people are often surprised to hear that it is nearly 25yrs old.

[:c:]

Pulled the slow jets and gave them a carbcleaner bath

[MadHatter]

IIIIII cut off my blinker mounts n moved them...............











:-D

[maduncle]

Love your work MadHatter - that 2 colour seat is a beauty.

IndyFour - don't think we ever got the VF700F Interceptor here in Australia - real pity! I am looking for a mid to late 80's VFR750 to add to my stable for the same reason you bought yours.

Meanwhile - after dropping off parts for stripping and cleaning, I spent some time stripping the paint of some CB450 small parts.

[IndyFour]

IndyFour - don't think we ever got the VF700F Interceptor here in Australia - real pity! I am looking for a mid to late 80's VFR750 to add to my stable for the same reason you bought yours.

The 700cc bike like mine was a U.S.-only model in 1987.  The rest of the world got the 750cc bike, while the U.S. got both a 700cc and a 750cc.  At that time, there was a heavy tax on motorcycles of 750cc or more (an attempt by our govt to keep Harley Davidson afloat  ), so this was Honda's way of getting around that.  Most people bought the 700cc model simply due to the significant $$ savings.

[Terry in Australia]

Hey Tree, did it work?

Really? -  No.  I tried it about 3 times (ATF and gas in the cylinder, let the gas burn off, and then cool) and the engine still wouldn't turn using a long handled socket wrench on the alternator bolt.  I've been putting acetone and ATF in the spark plug holes since mid September too.  Decided today to try and split the case, unbolt the rods from the crank shaft, remove the cylinders and then try to get the pistons out.   This is spare engine that I was going to try putting an 836 piston set in, so as long as I can eventually get the old ones out I think I'll be OK.     (It's all new to me!)

Get someone else to turn the crank while you tap the pistons down with a piece of wood for a drift and a mallet mate and it'll free right up. Make sure you use some ATF/Acetone mix as a lube while you're doing it. Cheers, Terry.

[Greggo]

Valve adjustment on the 500.  A few of 'em needed a second touch after the new cam.

[Tews19]

Removed the springs from the front forks, now I have to figure out how to get the 6MM allen bolt to free up.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Removed the springs from the front forks, now I have to figure out how to get the 6MM allen bolt to free up.

Easiest way is to loosen it... while the spring is still in the tube.

[Tews19]

Should I put the springs back in tighten the top fork bolt then attempt to loosen the 6 mm bolt.

[Bob3050]

My CB500K2 has been suffering from the dreaded two piece clutch push rod, so today I fixed it. Member Lorbaez from Spain had posted he used a rod from a CBR1000RR so that was what I got. The diameter is great except on the clutch end I had to use a belt sander to reduce the diameter slightly to fit into the center piece of the pressure plate. I only sanded about three quarters of an inch, just enough so it fit nicely into the piece. The CBR rod is considerably longer than the original so I used a cut-off wheel to trim it to length and give it a square end to fit into the lifter mechanism.
 So thanks to Lorbaez, his tip works great.

[Tree]

Get someone else to turn the crank while you tap the pistons down with a piece of wood for a drift and a mallet mate and it'll free right up. Make sure you use some ATF/Acetone mix as a lube while you're doing it. Cheers, Terry.

Thanks Terry. I had already split the case tonight before I saw your post.  It's a good learning experience anyway. 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

After some recent events ie divorce winding down, Godzilla completing North America and Scorcerer beginning the rebirth of his dad's RC machines, I got motivated. FINALLY! Back to the garage. Last attempt at the engine was at a bad time and my inattentiveness resulted in twisted rings and stuck cylinders. Back off and regroup! Wait for the right time. Today I got the new rings installed and put the 2 pistons back on. Cautiously I attacked the cylinders. Not real easy but they went on fine. I rotated the crank a few turns and all seemed well. I then proceeded to install the head. 2 of the holes for those 4 "special bolts" that go in the middle of the head needed chasing to clean them out as well as the bolt threads themselves. Head needed to come off and guess what, yes, I dropped a nut right down that damned cam chain tunnel! MF'r! Couldn't locate it so I dropped the oil pan and searched. Moved the engine in various directions. No luck. Fished with a magnet without luck. #$%*! Off came the dreaded cylinders. That REALLY sucks considering what I went through. Looked around and twisted the engine around, up and down. Lo and behold head nut #16 was on the bench. Sure hoping it's not a spare! I'm using new shiny ones and I was very cautious to order the exact quantity so I think I'm good. Tomorrow is a new day! Wish me luck as I hope to have the top end done and ready to dial in the cam on my next attempt. 

[mrbreeze]

You go Jerry!!!!!! I would be confident after all the probing around and then finding the right amount on the bench. I can't see it being stuck anywhere after what you said you did to search for it. Good luck and cool that ya got back to working on it!!!

[Terry in Australia]

+1 Jerry, doing a rebuild on your own can be a scary, frustrating time. Take it easy and don't try to finish it in a hurry and you'll be fine. I've got one of those telescoping magnets and it's the best thing, well, it WAS the best thing until I recently bought one of those camera thingies that's so small you can poke it into a SOHC4's spark plug hole, AND it has a built in light and a magnet attachment! All the best mate, have fun!  

[Trav-i]

Just gave my new to me fuel tank the "works".  I love that stuff, all nice and clean on the inside now.  Now all I need is a petcock, and it'll be good to go.