Topic: What did you do to your bike today ?

[Ace Blackwell]

I sprayed my 77 550F down with Gunk Cleaner to see what Im getting into by restoring it.  Took chrome chain guard off and polished with WD40 and 0000 steel wool to see what the results would be.  Went and bought aircraft cleaner to strip the tank, which oddly enough plainly states on can "Do not use on aircraft".

Will probably strip tank tomorrow.

Ace

[edwardmorris]

SAFETY TIP: Be sure to wear proper riding boots that dont have shoe laces

Fixed it for ya Mo.  No boots?? Should I start a collection?!

My Caterpillar steel toes have laces but I trust no other boot that I own Time to put some new gear on the xmas wishlist this year

[mrbreeze]

I think all those colors will look good with the frame Jerry but I'm thinking only the blue will look good with the wheels. Hell....what do I know....I'm colorblind!! Looks like you're coming into the home stretch with the build though. Keep up the good work.

[mrbreeze]

SAFETY TIP: Be sure to wear proper riding boots that dont have shoe laces

Fixed it for ya Mo.  No boots?? Should I start a collection?!

My Caterpillar steel toes have laces but I trust no other boot that I own Time to put some new gear on the xmas wishlist this year

Couldn't you wrap the top of your boots with some Velcro to keep the laces in check? Then you could still wear your favorite boots. One time long ago I got my work boot lace stuck on the clutch pedal in my old Chevy truck. It happened as I was coming to a stop at a stop sign. I couldn't push the clutch in and came chug a lugging to a stop in the middle of the intersection. Luckily nobody else was there.

[evanphi]

SAFETY TIP: Be sure to wear proper riding boots that dont have shoe laces

Fixed it for ya Mo.  No boots?? Should I start a collection?!

My Caterpillar steel toes have laces but I trust no other boot that I own Time to put some new gear on the xmas wishlist this year

Couldn't you wrap the top of your boots with some Velcro to keep the laces in check? Then you could still wear your favorite boots. One time long ago I got my work boot lace stuck on the clutch pedal in my old Chevy truck. It happened as I was coming to a stop at a stop sign. I couldn't push the clutch in and came chug a lugging to a stop in the middle of the intersection. Luckily nobody else was there.

Double knot AND tuck the laces/loops into the top of the boot. I do this with my Doc Martens.

[oldhatt45]

Edward,

I would make a rash assumption that you wear socks when riding.   
If so, just roll the top of your socks over the top of the boots and tuck the laces inside the socks. 

And with what you have into the K, I think if you do get a Christmas present, any present, consider yourself lucky with a very, very understanding wife!!!!     

Charlie

[edwardmorris]

@mrbreeze, I like that idea! Will try it thanks!

[PeWe]

Center stand back on the CB750! It was easier than expected. I was thinking about to stretch the spring longer and put something between the wounds. But it is very stiff. So I just used a screwdriver and bent the spring onto the hook on the center stand at first attempt. Click, and it sat where it should without scratching the center stands fresh powder paint.

Another thing to use it, difficult on a flat and smooth concrete garage floor.

Next step is 4-4 that must be mounted for keeping center stand away from the drive chain. Now contact. Miss the nuts for long bolts holding the exhaust on each side and the passenger foot pegs. Strange thread, 12 x 1.25 mm, not std threads for bolt nuts. Hopefully nuts tomorrow. (I have had 1 year to check the bolts, typical to see that now)

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Decided on tackling the rear end first. Test fitting everything.

+1 on the center stand PeWe. A little rough inside the pivot. Tube was binding. Sanded inside. Took the tube to the brass wheel and cleaned it up. 30w and it slid in. Installed the spring THEN installed the stand. Not as bad as expected but it is a bare frame.

Installed the swing arm. That was more difficult. Took a file to the powder on the frame and got it on.

Installed shocks.



Time for the wheel. Pulled out a rear caliper which will need to be rebuilt and painted/powdered. Using a 78K engine in a 75F frame presents some issues mainly alignment with the offset front sprocket. STILL not so sure. I picked up a 77/78 rear sprocket carrier thinking that was going to be required but I now have my doubts. This is where it's getting tricky. Using it there is no room for the left side spacer?! Will my original work? Gotta install the front sprocket tomorrow and take a look. Has to be something separating the sprocket from the swing arm.

Installed the brake stay but did not find the 2 bushings/collars! Damn! It's gotta be blasted and painted. Grabbed my rear master etc. It will need to be rebuilt I'm sure OR I might/can adapt 1 of the 2 NOS GL 1000 masters I have by removing the fitting for the GL brake line from the threads if I can figure out how to remove it?? Maybe leave it and let it act as a flow restrictor/reducer?? Will need to see if it will work with it still in there maybe. These 75/76 rears will lock up in a heartbeat anyway. We'll see.   





Anyway...... Need to use the blast cabinet tomorrow on half dozen pieces and get a can of the silver spray touch up to paint the pieces, install the front sprocket and look at that then start installing the front end at get it off the floor so my back doesn't #$%* at me.   

[Retro Rocket]

Jerry, If you have a K8 engine you'll need the k8 sprocket carrier, one problem you will have, apart from getting the correct spacers is that the chain will be very close to those shocks, the stock Honda shocks have more room at the bottom of the shock due to a longer bottom section which is a lot thinner than the spring section , on your rear shocks the spring sits lower and may foul the chain.......

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I'll compare shocks. Think one pair I have is stock but one of them is a leaker. That shock is a Red Wing. It is set on the lowest setting right now. I also have a pair of Bettor shocks. Slightly shorter with narrower springs. The ones on my orig bike are now Koni with shrouds and wider springs and coils spaced farther

That 3rd picture is with the K8 carrier and there is NO room for a spacer. The carrier is up against the swing arm. The spacer is there on the floor. I have the stock F0 spacer installed on the right side and its tight there also.

Cashed it in for the evening at that point. I want to get a better idea with the front sprocket installed. There is always tomorrow ;-)

[Retro Rocket]

I'll compare shocks. Think one pair I have is stock but one of them is a leaker. That shock is a Red Wing. It is set on the lowest setting right now. I also have a pair of Bettor shocks. Slightly shorter with narrower springs. The ones on my orig bike are now Koni with shrouds and wider springs and coils spaced farther

That 3rd picture is with the K8 carrier and there is NO room for a spacer. The carrier is up against the swing arm. The spacer is there on the floor. I have the stock F0 spacer installed on the right side and its tight there also.

Cashed it in for the evening at that point. I want to get a better idea with the front sprocket installed. There is always tomorrow ;-)

I don't have one here but i think the K8 swingarm may be wider on the left, the rear shock mount on a K7/8 and f2/3 frame is also slightly wider....Red wing shocks are rubbish...  

[madmtnmotors]

the K8 swingarm may be wider

+1

[Terry in Australia]

What about installing an F2 swingarm Jerry? That setup just doesn't look right, and the F2 rear caliper was improved over the horrible F item, to reduce the F's habit of locking up the rear end and spitting the rider down the road. I think I've got an F2 swinger you can have for free if you can't find one on your side of the pond, I might have a rear caliper too? Cheers, Terry.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Some great ideas. I'll go play in a while.

Does anyone know if the F2/3 swing arm is the same width at the pivot?

The K8 swing arm can't handle the rear brake mount as is. That is one concern.

Terry, Honda would have done everyone a favor had they installed a double piston FRONT caliper instead of on the rear! Gotta watch how you use the rear for sure. May need to get back to you on the offer. Thanks.

I'd heard that about Redwings. Mocking up for now.   

[BPellerine]

don't know much about the fs jerry,but my rc swingarm was made for earlier bikes,mine is a 78,used 78 carrier and early brake side spacer and it all fit with chain alignment nice and straight,the shock mounts on the 78 frame were another story that I had to overcome,so if your chain is good,then the other side is the problem,I have two 78 hubs and the chain side spacer is dff,one being thicker ,I used the smallest.bill

[madmtnmotors]

Some great ideas. I'll go play in a while.

Does anyone know if the F2/3 swing arm is the same width at the pivot?

The K8 swing arm can't handle the rear brake mount as is. That is one concern.

That's correct. I would be inclined to use an F2/F3 swingarm before modifying a K8 swingarm. I just happen to have an F1 and an F2/F3 swingarm, just not sure how to tell them apart! 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Latest 'engineering' attempt. Really didn't have the time late yesterday to take a serious look. What do you see in this picture?



No spacer. Check. Seems to line up pretty well with the conversion CB650 front sprocket on the 78 K shaft and the 78 rear sprocket carrier. Check. Yes, you saw that the sprocket plate is hitting the swing arm.

NEXT somewhat expected problem



SIGH..........

Looking to me like it's going to take a 77/78 F swing arm and chain guard?? My spacers match part numbers. Chain guard would be ANY 77/78 750. Now to find one hopefully closer than Terry. At least I'll have a spare powdered silver arm with new bronze bushings.....

Anyone heard the song S.O.B.? Sonofa#$%*, gimme a drink! 

[joeyvans]

Anyone heard the song S.O.B.? Sonofa#$%*, gimme a drink!

Ha! Yup... And can be quite a fitting song while working on these old bastards.

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats. If you others haven't heard it... It is definitely worth a listen. Kind of a soul/stomp band fusion. Aren't they from your neck of the woods, Jerry?

[Retro Rocket]

Latest 'engineering' attempt. Really didn't have the time late yesterday to take a serious look. What do you see in this picture?



No spacer. Check. Seems to line up pretty well with the conversion CB650 front sprocket on the 78 K shaft and the 78 rear sprocket carrier. Check. Yes, you saw that the sprocket plate is hitting the swing arm.

NEXT somewhat expected problem



SIGH..........

Looking to me like it's going to take a 77/78 F swing arm and chain guard?? My spacers match part numbers. Chain guard would be ANY 77/78 750. Now to find one hopefully closer than Terry. At least I'll have a spare powdered silver arm with new bronze bushings.....

Anyone heard the song S.O.B.? Sonofa#$%*, gimme a drink!

F2/F3, K7/K8 are all the same width at the pivot, once using the wider swingarm you may have a small problem at the top shock mount on the frame on the left side, its wider on the above models , probably only 10 mm, you may get away without changes there, just be aware of it. ....

[madmtnmotors]

NEXT somewhat expected problem



SIGH..........

Looking to me like it's going to take a 77/78 F swing arm and chain guard?? My spacers match part numbers. Chain guard would be ANY 77/78 750. Now to find one hopefully closer than Terry. At least I'll have a spare powdered silver arm with new bronze bushings.....

Anyone heard the song S.O.B.? Sonofa#$%*, gimme a drink! 

If that chain guard will mount to the F2/F3 swingarm, the wider swingarm would correct the chain guard issue.

[maduncle]

Been busy in the garage getting this finished:



Should be on the track in October, which means I can make space for my next Honda CB project, another F'ing F.

[Stev-o]

Been busy in the garage getting this finished:



Should be on the track in October, which means I can make space for my next Honda CB project, another F'ing F.

WOW...nice!   What is it??

[seanbarney41]

Been busy in the garage getting this finished:



Should be on the track in October, which means I can make space for my next Honda CB project, another F'ing F.

WOW...nice!   What is it??

not sure...but think it is IMPRESSIVE

[Retro Rocket]

Been busy in the garage getting this finished:



Should be on the track in October, which means I can make space for my next Honda CB project, another F'ing F.

WOW...nice!   What is it??

not sure...but think it is IMPRESSIVE

Nice work Cliff, I gather you'll be putting a fairing on for the track..?  That bike would look great fully clothed...