Topic: 1976 CB750K Stock/Cafe Hybrid

[goaarongo]

Great color on the tank.  I was kicking around the idea of something similar - maybe "Molten Guinness Stout". 
Can't wait to see it all assembled.
 

[heyjones]

BTW, I'll be using bullet signals, I was crushed to hear you didn't like them.    

Sorry man! I almost got the bullet ones since I really don't dig the rectangular signals, but then I saw a pic of an older model 750 and dug the beveled signals. I still have the stock ones, I'll probably post them in the donations thread as soon as I get everything wired and confirm the new ones work.

[MCRider]

BTW, I'll be using bullet signals, I was crushed to hear you didn't like them.    

Sorry man! I almost got the bullet ones since I really don't dig the rectangular signals, but then I saw a pic of an older model 750 and dug the beveled signals. I still have the stock ones, I'll probably post them in the donations thread as soon as I get everything wired and confirm the new ones work.

No problem, just kidding around here, and we likes what we likes.

I almost stayed with my stocker K2 signals (like yours) but the chrome was in bad shape, so I decided to break away from my "everything in beige" personality.

[heyjones]

"Everything in beige"? That's a GOLD frame! I think that your build is the least "beige" on the boards!

[MCRider]

"Everything in beige"? That's a GOLD frame! I think that your build is the least "beige" on the boards!

Well that's what I'm going for. This is a "breakaway" project for me in many ways.

You know: the old me and the new me.      

I hope I can come up with something as striking as your tank for mine. That's a very nice color!

[rickmoore24]

I rode by San Buena Ventura over the weekend through the 101. Even though I don't know you personally, except for on these boards, I though for a sec about how your build was going and now I know. I dig the color, can't wait to see the final look of the bike. Great job on it!

[heyjones]

Cool man, once I get this thing into one piece we'll have to do some riding.

[rickmoore24]

Sounds good to me. Keep up the good work!

[heyjones]

Got the cylinder and head taped off and painted today. I think curing them in the oven is out of the question... I'm going to let them dry inside tonight then set them out in the sun all day tomorrow. Hopefully that'll do the trick. Next up is drilling the rockers per Hondaman's suggestion, along with softening up the carb boots and reattaching them. Then my top end is going to be all ready to go. Still have to get the bottom end cleaned up and painted... a lot of oil and dirt to get off of there. Good times...





All in all pretty pleased with how they turned out. I went with the Duplicolor Gloss Black Engine Enamel (DE1613).

[wannabridin]

polish the tips of the fins.  i'm going to do this on my build.  i think it looks very clean and make the engine pop more!  just get a scotchbrite pad and rub the paint off the tips of the fins, should look VERY clean!

[heyjones]

Yeah, I've seen the polished fins before... I've got a couple chips in mine so I'm not sure how uniform they would look. My tank is in the mail, can't wait to come home from a weekend of fishing and get that thing mounted up!





I've been piecing together all the different gaskets getting ready to get the top end reassembled next week. Hopefully the engine will be ready to mount by next weekend.

[traveler]

For what it's worth I really like the way you're heading with your build.

Looks great!

Are you going to paint the engine cases silver or black?

If you can afford it, a Carpy/yosh exhasut pipe would be fantastic!

~Joe

[rickmoore24]

Oh man the tank looks siiiick!

[heyjones]

Thanks for all the encouragement! I was up in Lake Arrowhead all weekend fishing, came home to find my tank waiting for me. It turned out amazing! I'm going to go out tomorrow and take some photos of it out in the sun. Josh did an excellent job, I'd highly recommend him. Here's his website:

http://www.dimalepainting.com/

I took some time tonight to get the piston rings installed. I figured I'd try to do it without a tool and it worked out just fine. I made sure to stagger the oil rings by 120 degrees, then I staggered the top two rings by 180. Should do the trick.

[sangyo soichiro]

I made sure to stagger the oil rings by 120 degrees, then I staggered the top two rings by 180. Should do the trick.

I think I read somewhere that the rings naturally rotate on their own as the engine runs....

[heyjones]

I could see that happening... but I don't mind spending the extra couple minutes to rotate them for peace of mind. I made a graphic for how I positioned the rings, which probably took me longer than putting the rings on!

[MCRider]

I made sure to stagger the oil rings by 120 degrees, then I staggered the top two rings by 180. Should do the trick.

I think I read somewhere that the rings naturally rotate on their own as the engine runs....

Yes that seems to be the case per this example, and the consensus of many others, though some dispute it. Kinda like a low key oil thread:
http://www.sacskyranch.com/piston_ring_rotation.htm

So if the rings rotate, (and I think they do, BTW) then why would we care to "properly" position them at 120deg apart? They are going to rotate in and out of the spacing as I doubt they rotate at the same speeds. At times they are likely completely lined up.

This is to me another of many examples where we just get in a rut and do what has always been done, often to no avail other than to make us feel comfortable.

I'll still set my ring end gaps at 120deg apart, knowing that it likely doesn't really matter.
No harm no foul.

[rickmoore24]

Yeah, I can't see them not eventually rotating but it's common practice to space the gaps that way. Every book/manual I read said to do so, so I did. You busted out the graphic examples too, that'll help somebody down the line, I'm sure. Good stuff.

[heyjones]

Took some photos of the tank on the bike and out in the sun today:

[traveler]

Well....I think it looks fantastic!  In fact I visited the website you sent me, and will keep it in mind.

But....how do YOU feel about them???

~Joe

[wannabridin]

MAN that's a pretty color!!!!  looking GOOD

[heyjones]

Long time, no post! I've been so busy with work... some summer. So today I got impatient and just taped off the side covers and rattle canned the bottom end. I didn't even get to the bottom, I'm sure it's going to peel a bit down there but I just want this thing back in one piece.









I'm gonna let it dry overnight then tomorrow after work I'm going to try to get the pistons attached and the cylinders on. I posted an ad in the Services Wanted section, but I figured I'd mention it here... does anybody offer polishing services? I'd like to get the valve and side covers shined up but I don't have the time, experience or equipment.

I also ordered a new wiring harness from Parts N More. Most of the connectors seem to match up, I might have to make some slight modifications but I'm hoping that it will end up saving me some time in the long run.

[heyjones]

I was getting the stock oil filter cover cleaned up and ready to paint when I saw that Randakk sells an adapter plate so you can use the automotive type filters:

http://www.randakks.com/Engine%20Parts.htm#1

I think I'm going to go this route, should make it much easier to change the filter. The only complaint I've heard about these is that you can't really torque them down so some people have had them spin off when they remove the filter.

[heyjones]

Got the pistons clipped in! It was much easier than I was expecting, I managed to get them in with my thumbs then rotated the clips with a small flat head screwdriver. Tomorrow I'm going to get up early and if it's light enough outside (today was pretty overcast, bummer) I'll try to get the jugs on.

[heyjones]

I got the spin-on oil filter adapter from Randakk this morning and bolted it on. I've read some complaints about the adapter coming off when you swap oil filters, but it seems to me they weren't following the instructions. I'll scan and post them here in case anybody runs into any issues, but basically you torque down the adapter without lubricating the adapter o-ring since you want it to "stick" to the engine case, but make sure you oil up the o-ring on the filter itself.



I've also ordered replacement cam rollers since mine were pretty chewed up, so once those come in I can get this thing back into one piece.