Author Topic: 1978 F2 restoration (Read 19426 times)

UK Pete · « **Reply #25 on:** March 07, 2010, 10:01:51 AM »

Hi this weekend i really got my finger out, and got loads of work done on bike, i cleaned and blasted the lower crankcase half, then masked up & painted both cases black 2 coats, i also put the first coat on my front calipers , i also finished off my forks and fitted these to the bike so now i have a rolling chassis wooo hooo things are starting to move again now spring is almost here i have full really got the working on bike bug back again and am planning my next jobs out so i keep momentum i just love it when i am in this sort of mood
Pete

HedNut · « **Reply #26 on:** March 10, 2010, 09:16:42 AM »

WOW that's awesome...and it looks sooo nice and clean! Good Work... I need you to keep me inspired and give me the juice to do mine too!
Cheers to you!!! Looks great

motocyconomad · « **Reply #27 on:** March 11, 2010, 02:44:46 PM »

Very nice work, keep it up, this is very very inspirational to me.

UK Pete · « **Reply #28 on:** March 13, 2010, 10:35:48 AM »

I am making progress really fast now, spring is almost hear and i am on a mission to get this bike done, i am trying my best to keep my attention to detail but it is really hard, i think i am winning take a look at the photos let me know what you think, this week i have rebuilt the bottom end , finished reconditioning all the parts for my front brakes ready to reasemble, and done some spraying of engine parts
Pete

kap384@telus.net · « **Reply #29 on:** March 13, 2010, 05:08:37 PM »

Quote from: UK Pete on March 13, 2010, 10:35:48 AM

I am making progress really fast now, spring is almost hear and i am on a mission to get this bike done, i am trying my best to keep my attention to detail but it is really hard, i think i am winning take a look at the photos let me know what you think, this week i have rebuilt the bottom end , finished reconditioning all the parts for my front brakes ready to reasemble, and done some spraying of engine parts
Pete

Don't worry, you're winning. Keep up the good work. Unfortunately, I've been busy and haven't been able to make much progress on mine.

HedNut · « **Reply #30 on:** March 15, 2010, 05:51:08 AM »

I'm jealous!! Looking SLICK man!! Keep the good stuff happening! Looks like you're doing GOOD!
Cheers!

UK Pete · « **Reply #31 on:** March 15, 2010, 10:31:44 AM »

Thanks guys , i get alot of my inspiration from this site, which then makes me get my stuff done and in turn hopefully inspire you guys, so i will keep posting the progress
Pete

sdmsc · « **Reply #32 on:** March 20, 2010, 11:30:25 AM »

That all looks fantastic!

I'm doing a lot less to an identical 1978 F2. She has low mileage for the years, the only problems were cosmetic and electrical (at least until I started taking stuff apart...). This is _not_ a restoration, in fact there has been a bit of customization along the way.

Anyway, I'd hoped to come back and see you a smidge farther along, since I can't get the engine to start for the life of me! I spent days finding a wire that had been pinched to short under a bolted joint. Now I've got spark but the carbs aren't even drawing fuel. Oh well, that's for another thread.

Thank you for keeping the faith - someone has to keep lovin' on these old gals.

edit: it would seem I put all the carb bowl floats in upside-down. Doh.
Now that she runs, time to get the exhaust fit and put away the ear muffs...

UK Pete · « **Reply #33 on:** March 28, 2010, 01:31:15 AM »

I have been doing some more spraying, while i had the paint mixed up i done both my cylinder heads and rocker covers, i have to say they look great, when i have reasembled the engine its going to look almost new, i do hope the finish lasts a long time.
It takes a huge amount of time to get it all to this stage, ie all the repairs and the cleaning and preperation, i am quite glad this is done now
I have slowed down a bit on the rebuild as i have been riding my bikes alot more now the spring weather is hear, the next stage for me is to reassemble the top end, and get the engine into the frame, that is when things get really exciting its that stage where you see liight at the end of the tunnel
Pete

kap384@telus.net · « **Reply #34 on:** April 12, 2010, 08:40:34 AM »

Any updates?

UK Pete · « **Reply #35 on:** February 26, 2011, 04:07:00 AM »

The f2 restoration has been sitting there gathering dust over the summer, we had such a good early spring and summer that all i wanted to do was ride my bikes that are on the road, the poor old f2 has just sat there, anyway all the parts i needed for the bike have been bought all i need to do is assemble it, my intention was to restore it to a decent original condition and as near to the factory spec as possible, the only thing i new i could never get was an original exhaust system, they just do not come up for sale, well f---k me i have only gone and found one in ok condition take a look at the pictures, the front pipes came from the USA, and the back was bought in England but came originaly from Canada, the front pipes are really good and were taken off the bike 31 years ago and stored, the back pipe was taken from a crashed bike slightly road rashed on the underside but still looking respectable with no rot or loose baffles .
I paid good money for the system , but on reflection it all came to about what a new motad would of cost me, so i am one happy chappy
Pete

UK Pete · « **Reply #36 on:** February 26, 2011, 04:09:26 AM »

Ok here we go again, i got the urge to crack on with the f2 so in the week i assembled the top end of the engine, fitted new rings, ground the valves in ,and put in a new cam tensioner wheel,
When it came to assembling the cam tower i put everything together went to torque up the cam tower bolts , and no surprise 2 of the bolts just kept turning not even getting 5lbs on the torque wrench, this is about the 6th or seventh 6mm bolt to just pull clean out of the aluminium on this engine, either Honda used cheese for aluminium or the prevoius person who dismantled the engine and rebuilt it was an arse and overtightened everthing to the point where it just started to break, anyway off with the cam and towers out with the helicoil kit and reasemble,
With engine now together i decided to put it in the frame, i was going to lift it in and at the last minute, thought i would take the wheels off and lower the frame on to the engine, it turns out this was real easy and only a one man job, although i did manage to chip some paint on the engine and the frame , but on the whole a job well done, i took a few pictures to show my progress, hope fully i will post a bit more on this project as i just want it done as it has been too long ,
Pete

UK Pete · « **Reply #37 on:** February 26, 2011, 04:13:37 AM »

I have realised that i had not updated my thread here so i have copied my progress from the UK site with the last 3 posts

Well i have just taken the F2 for an MOT, and its passed so i have been and taxed it and taken it for a ride, i clocked up about 40 miles, and every one of them was an absolute pleasure
The F2 is by far the best of the Sohc bikes IMHO, its fast , smooth, brakes well, good looking and sounds nice, and even better they are still cheap to buy
The build has had many ups and downs, but i have got over each one of the downs, and turned a negative into a positive, the other day i dropped a hole tool tray of heavy tools right ontop of the engine, chipping and denting the rocker cover , head fins, and alternator housing,
today a sharp lace rivet on one of my boots rubbed and scratched its way through the transmission casing paint, so the appearance of the bike is tatty already and i have only had it on the road 1 day
Also i have brought the restoration to a finish before i have done everything , as i could not see me ever finishing it so i have many things that need to taken off and repainted, things like the foot pegs front and rear, the tank tail unit and side panels could do with a respray, the brake calipers at the front have been ruined by brake fluid (yes i know i should have used silicon), the seat could do with recovering , and lots of the fasteners need replating
But on the whole it is one tidy looking bike , with all the body work being untouched it retains a patina that is quite appealing,
I could have easily gone the whole hog and made it,almost new looking , but then i have spent way more on the bike than i ever intended to ,and can not justify relieving myself of another K just to make it a show piece. below are some pictures of it , please bare in mind that this has not been cleaned or polished yet, as i am still doing the shake down riding and cant be arsed to clean it yet
I think the best thing about this bike is it is factory standard, only a few nuts and bolts being different
Oh yes and for the eagle eyed amongst us , yes i did put the front brake lines on the wrong sides LOL

Pete

MoMo · « **Reply #38 on:** February 26, 2011, 06:18:18 AM »

Very nice, I am partial to stock rebuilds and admire the dedication you have put to your resto...Larry

tweakin · « **Reply #39 on:** February 26, 2011, 07:05:47 AM »

Beautiful F2 Pete! I am also a huge F2 fan.

UK Pete · « **Reply #40 on:** February 26, 2011, 10:50:57 AM »

Thanks guys it means alot to me when people take the time to comment
Pete

fastbroshi · « **Reply #41 on:** February 26, 2011, 11:27:48 AM »

I'm not even an F fan but that's a great build, congrats sir.

rickmoore24 · « **Reply #42 on:** February 26, 2011, 12:49:40 PM »

She's gorgoeus! Well done.

kap384@telus.net · « **Reply #43 on:** February 28, 2011, 09:06:40 AM »

Great to see you've been able to get her finished and on the road! Looks good! Now only to get back to mine. Neglected it for way to long

You've inspired me Pete. Back to mine tonight!

jaguar · « **Reply #44 on:** February 28, 2011, 02:23:12 PM »

great looking bike!

where did you get those banjo bolts?
they dont look OEM

UK Pete · « **Reply #45 on:** March 01, 2011, 05:31:57 AM »

Thanks for the compliments guys
The banjo bolts are from Wemto in the UK
http://www.wemoto.com/

pete

andy750 · « **Reply #46 on:** March 01, 2011, 06:12:56 PM »

Excellent build Pete and I also think the F2 bikes are very good - I used to have one (92 -98) when I was in Scotland/England. It took me all over the UK (a lot of back and forth between London and Oxford, London and Glasgow), to the TT and to France. Really fun to drive.

Here it is in Scotland:

Your superb build has brought back some good memories. Enjoy it and ride lots!

And I admire your perseverance!

cheers
Andy

Trav-i · « **Reply #47 on:** March 01, 2011, 06:43:45 PM »

Beatiful resto!! Makes me wish I had the time and funds to make my F3 look that awesome.

noahspop · « **Reply #48 on:** March 03, 2011, 09:56:07 AM »

Nice, very nice.

brandEn · « **Reply #49 on:** March 04, 2011, 08:33:20 PM »

Nice work on a nice bike. You don't see many restored stock F models. As a fellow F'er Great job!

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Author Topic: 1978 F2 restoration (Read 19426 times)