Topic: 1975 CB750 K5 cafe build - first bike, first build - almost there!

[the architect]

Gauge bracket update --

My first batch of brackets are almost ready for sale.  The 3 mild steel ones I did first will be in paint and primer today, so I should be able to get photos of them tonight.  They can go out to by the end of the week.

For this first batch, I did one polished stainless, just to see how they'll turn out -- see pics below.

Once I have the finished product in my hand, I'll contact my list to see who's a taker.  This will be tomorrow or Thursday.  I just don't want to promise a product without having it in my hand to show someone what they're getting.

This stainless one will be up for grabs, too.  My list folks get first dibs at it.  Message or email me to get on the list, too, if you'd like me to contact you about buying one of these before they go up for general sale.

I'll be making enough of these to keep up with demand -- this first run of 4 is just my first batch.  From here, I have what I need to produce a good number before I'll have to get more pieces cut.  I hope to have 10 or so ready by next week, so inquire within!

When you buy one of these from me, you'll receive everything pictured:  the bracket and all the necessary mouning hardware in stainless steel, so it'll last as long as the bike.

[the architect]

Finally, an actual build update.  I've been making progress, just taking time to do the brackets at the same time.

So, here we go.  This will take catch us up to current progress.  In fact, the last photos I just took last night.


Mocking up the electronics box that I'm building to house the battery, fuses, starter solenoid, voltage regulator and rectifier.  You can see my cardboard stand-in beneath the seat.  It should keep a streamlined look while giving me the space I need for all those items.




After what feels like a million coats of paint (and sanding) and clear paint (and sanding) and clear coat (and sanding) . . . .  the tank is almost done.  I still have to do the final wetsand, buff, polish and wax.  Not too shabby for a spraycan.




I have a piece of fabric I'm planning to use for my seat.  I practiced my stitching.  My upholstery skills need some work.  I'll sub out the seat cover production.  But you can see my pallette coming together.




Building the box to house the bike's electrical components.  Sheet metal and rivets -- what's not to love?




Attaching the sides to the pan.  This will get shot with the same low-gloss black as the oil tank and headlight bucket.




Test-fitting my new electrical box.  It nestles in nicely.  I sourced my AGM battery based on footprint.  After that, I just got the shallowest one I could that still had capacity to keep the bike running happy.  Since I'll be switching all my electrical components to solid state units, they'll need far less room than before.  And they'll do their job more efficiently, too!




Rear foot pegs:  SORTED!  The orginal configuration uses the orignal mufflers to keep them from rotating.  I'm not using the orginal mufflers.  So, after much engineering, consulting and Lone Star, this was my solution.  Bingo!




And they fold down right.




And they work correctly.  What more can you ask for?  A seat, maybe?  Stay tuned.




Testing out the riding position.




The beginning and end of my modelling career.




The seat came back from the upholsterer today.  You can also see my electrical box, beneath it, in primer.




The place that upholstered my seat had a turbo slant-nose 911 at their shop last week.  When I picked up my seat, I stood right next to a freshly re-upholstered Maserati seat with an embroidered logo headrest.

This shop knows what they're doing.




This is my new solid state voltage regulator.  It's smaller than the original, and it's circuit-board thin.  I dipped it in rubber for protection.  We'll see how this strategy stands up.



I really want to get my carbs clean this week.  With the seat done, the major tasks remaining include the carbs and the electrical.  I have a good start and fairly firm grasp of the electrical work, so the carbs are my only big question mark right now.

Cheers, everyone!

[Little_Horse]

very nice! I like what you are doing with the bike. The tank looks really good for being rattled.

[jasonseasen]

Love the build and esp. the tank. What kind of paint did you use (brand, color, etc)?
Thanks!

[the architect]

Love the build and esp. the tank. What kind of paint did you use (brand, color, etc)?
Thanks!

It is Duplicolor Truck, Van & Suv paint, code T408

I used this process as my go-by:  http://dotheton.com/index.php?topic=10993.0

I got mine from O'Reily, Autozone and Pep Boys.  This is the stuff:  http://www.autoparts2020.com/rsdev/part_detail.jsp?PART_HDR_ID=31396&cat=4

[the architect]

First round of gauge brackets are ready.

The photos show 3 low-gloss black painted brackets and 1 polished stainless steel bracket.

[Little_Horse]

looks like a very slick setup, you should be able to sell those pretty easy.

[sinister902]

really love the color scheme you have going here!

I'm staying tuned

[knowsnothing]

Looks awesome.  Now you are in the home stretch, keep it up!

[the architect]

Thanks, guys! 

I have some obligations this weekend and will probably make little progress until next week.  Aaaaarrrrgggggghhhhhh, it's killing me to be this close and not be able to seal the deal yet! 

[cosmo]

Thanks, guys! 

I have some obligations this weekend and will probably make little progress until next week.  Aaaaarrrrgggggghhhhhh, it's killing me to be this close and not be able to seal the deal yet! 

Did you build that regulator?  Nice idea.  Really enjoy reading your thread.

[the architect]

Thanks, guys! 

I have some obligations this weekend and will probably make little progress until next week.  Aaaaarrrrgggggghhhhhh, it's killing me to be this close and not be able to seal the deal yet! 

Did you build that regulator?  Nice idea.  Really enjoy reading your thread.

The voltage regulator is an off-the-shelf item from AutoZone, specifically for a mid-70's Ford pickup (I had the parts counter guy look up a 1975 model).  The regulator is a Duralast, model # VR730, and it's less than $15.  I cut it down to its bare essentials.  In trying to figure out a good way to mount it, I was concerned about the circuit board being exposed, but I still wanted to maintain its tiny form factor.  So, I thought, "why not dip it in rubber to protect it, and we'll see how long it holds up."

I can't take credit for adapting this regulator.  This thread helped me out a lot:  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=12465.0

[Laminar]

Looks fantastic so far, subscribing.

[Colonel]

Splendid...

[sangyo soichiro]

That seat is going to really turn heads.  Very nice.   

[greasy j]

I'm putting off work reading through your thread. you've made me lose about an hour!

I just saw a movie called Geronimo: american legend, in it Robert Duvall has a funny line, as he's dying: "Texans, the lowest form of white man". well you at least prove that's not true.

nice work! I like that you are doing your own thing, it doesn't look just like all the others. the seat is very cool.

I am trying to decide how to redo the seat on my bike and it's nice to see something w/out a hump. my gfriend kinda hates the plastic bum stop and likes my current seat. I think it sits up too high off the frame and doesn't hit the tank right. anyways I wanna redo it. thanks for the in depth progress pics and whatnot. I'll do the same when I get into it a bit more.

[the architect]

I'm putting off work reading through your thread. you've made me lose about an hour!

I just saw a movie called Geronimo: american legend, in it Robert Duvall has a funny line, as he's dying: "Texans, the lowest form of white man". well you at least prove that's not true.

nice work! I like that you are doing your own thing, it doesn't look just like all the others. the seat is very cool.

I am trying to decide how to redo the seat on my bike and it's nice to see something w/out a hump. my gfriend kinda hates the plastic bum stop and likes my current seat. I think it sits up too high off the frame and doesn't hit the tank right. anyways I wanna redo it. thanks for the in depth progress pics and whatnot. I'll do the same when I get into it a bit more.

My pleasure -- even if I did take a (nonrefundable) hour from your day.  I know what you mean about the seat.  I wanted to keep the two-up possibility, in case I ever coax my g.f. onto the back.  Without the hump, you have to be creative with your electronics and oil tank, if that's a concern.  I'm thinking my next project bike won't have remote lubrication and may have simpler electronics.

Great quote, btw.  I'll have to remember that one 

That seat is going to really turn heads.  Very nice.   

Thanks, soich!  And I hope you mean that in a good way 

Splendid...

Colonel, I especially appreciate your compliment, coming from a fellow K5-owning Houstonian.

Speaking of Houstonians and vintage bikes, does anyone ever go hang out with Ton Up Houston at the Darkhorse?  They're meeting tomorrow night, and I was thinking about joining for a few pints.  Looks like they'll be heading to the House of Blues to see Flogging Molly, though.

http://tonuphouston.com/

[Mayor08]

Chris,

I've read through your entire post just to make sure I didn't miss it but what are the dimensions of your clubmans?  I'm sorting through 3 or 4 variations and trying to decide what would be best for me.  Did you have to modify the stops to keep them from touching the tank?

And lastly, the bracket arrived and looks great!  I can't wait for reassembly of the bike so I can get the clocks mounted to them...in a couple of months!

Jamie

[traveler]

REally looks nice, andthe gauge brackets might help fund the work on your own sccot, huh?

I hope the paint you paitned your tank with has the "catalyst" that stands up to gas...

~Joe

[sangyo soichiro]

That seat is going to really turn heads.  Very nice.   

Thanks, soich!  And I hope you mean that in a good way 

Of course I do!  It is unique (only seen a few others comparable), and the quality of it looks first tier.  Plus, the pillion rider will appreciate it for the comfort.

[the architect]

That seat is going to really turn heads.  Very nice.   

Thanks, soich!  And I hope you mean that in a good way 

Of course I do!  It is unique (only seen a few others comparable), and the quality of it looks first tier.  Plus, the pillion rider will appreciate it for the comfort.

That's what she said!    No, literally -- the g.f. has complained that it won't be comfortable.  I'll have to show her your post as reassurance.  Thanks!

REally looks nice, andthe gauge brackets might help fund the work on your own sccot, huh?

I hope the paint you paitned your tank with has the "catalyst" that stands up to gas...

~Joe

I read so many different things about paint and gas before I started.  The best evidence I found pointed to ensuring a good clear coat.  So, I have a few coats of clear enamel paint (yeah, paint) on top of my enamel color, and then some coats of clear coat on top of that.  After the final wetsanding and orbital buffing, I also followed it with two coats of polish and three coats of wax (see my forthcoming build update).

Chris,

I've read through your entire post just to make sure I didn't miss it but what are the dimensions of your clubmans?  I'm sorting through 3 or 4 variations and trying to decide what would be best for me.  Did you have to modify the stops to keep them from touching the tank?

And lastly, the bracket arrived and looks great!  I can't wait for reassembly of the bike so I can get the clocks mounted to them...in a couple of months!

Jamie

Jamie --

I'm glad you like the bracket!  I was planning to email you to make sure you received it alright.

I know exactly what you mean about the clubmans.  I kept a record of measurements for as many as I could find for comparison.  For me, the magic number was the  pullback dimension.  Some bars seem to drop almost straight down, but I didn't want that.  I wanted them to angle back toward me.  Because of the CB750's gauge cluster and head configuration, I knew where I wanted the bars rotated to line up (as looking at them from the side). Basically, I wanted to get as low a pullback dimension as I could and still have them wide enough for the gauges in the middle. 

I ended up with a set from eBay vendor Sportingforless.  They shipped from NY.  They sell a couple of different ones, and I bought the ones with the lower pullback dimension.  These are the ones:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cafe-Racer-Ace-Clubman-Handlebar-bars-7-8-XS650-XS850_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem33509b1db3QQitemZ220395675059QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

I found some that had lower pullback numbers, but they all seemed to be considerably more money.  For less than $20, I figured I would give these a shot.  So far so good.  I'll know more after I actually get to ride this thing . . . eventually.

I did end up installing an adjustable steering stop.  I don't think I would have needed one if it weren't for the previous owner having managed to bend the stop on the steering head (thus allowing the bars to turn farther one direction than they're supposed to).  On that one side, the headlight bracket would actually contact the tank.  I never had a problem with the controls touching the tank. 

I'll post photos of my steering stop, shortly, when I update my build thread.

[the architect]

More progress.  Just not as much as I would have liked    Blame it on prior obligations.  Blame it on the weather.  Blame it on anything but me 

The final wesand is done.  Two rounds of orbital buffing is done.  Prepare for polish + wax!





Wax on!  Wax off!  Two coats of Meguiar's Deep Crystal system polish and three coats of Meguiar's Deep Crystal system carnuba wax.  Stick a fork in it.  This thing is done.  Finally.





This is a tough color to photograph.  But close up, you can see the metallic character of the paint.  The color is called pewter.





Drilled and tapped the original steering stops and installed a stainless steel screw, locknut, lock washer and flat washer.  This new adjustable steering stop will allow me to fine tune the amount the handlebars can move from side to side.  And it will prevent the handlebar controls from denting my freshly painted tank.





My new adjustable steering stop making contact.  I will probably coat the metal piece that contacts the screw head with rubber, to ensure that it doesn't start to rust.





Front view of the adjustable steering stop.





Alrighty.  Tackling one of the last couple of tasks:  the wiring.  I have collected quite a few factory and custom wiring diagrams.  It's interesting to see how different individuals approach the same situation.





Fitting it all in.  Or, at least hoping it'll all fit in my battery box. 

Battery:  check
Ignition switch:  check
Solid state voltage regulator:  check
Solid state rectifier:  check
starter solenoid:  check.





This is only a preview to the mess that's coming.





After testing all the switchs' circuits, I have a good understanding of how everything works.  Now I need to start tying it all together.





Here, you can see the factory wiring harness coming from the engine.  I've dismantled bike-side of the connector and re-run the wires.  You can see them going into the opening in the front of my battery box.  It'll get a rubber grommet to prevent abrasion of the wiring.  And the wiring will all be sheathed in weatherproof wrap.





This is the right side of the bike.  You can see my key switch location and the wires going into the battery box.





I'm hoping to connect everything up and button it all down this week.  From there, I need to clean the carbs and then start her up!

[greasy j]

pretty cool! can't wait to see it all together.

[kfratz3]

do you know if your gauge mount will fit a 73 500-4???

[grandelatte]

it's all about details, isn't it.  i can't wait to see the finished product!!!!