Topic: Project Ginger Racer! 1975 CB750K COMPLETED!

[Zaipai]

Wow that motor looks awesome. Great work. I just ordered stainless hex bolts for mine, I suspect I will have a heck of a time with more then 2 screws.. but I have some tricks I can use for that. Love the black and silver.. Good work. With the weather being so warm, I just want to get out and ride. I know 40 does not sound warm, but around here it sure is.

.: Scott :.

[Mayor08]

thanks Scott, I'm pleased with the results of the paint job so far only a few touch ups need to be done but I'm sure I'll make a few more blemishes before I'm through.  My wheels are done I just need to have the tires mounted I'm trying to make time to do that this week.  All of my stainless screws are installed only had to drill out 3 so I'll call that a success. 







I'm still acquiring parts but I do have the new seat, exhaust, drilled rotor, misc. rebuild kits.  Next up is getting the frame finished so I can start putting this beast back together.

[traveler]

Really looks good, bro!

~Joe

[the architect]

Those wheels look SO good.

What exhaust did you get?

[Mayor08]

I ordered the MAC 4 into 1 black header chrome canister exhaust I really like the look of this set up and was the only factor in the decision making progress. Shallow I know but sometimes it's just that simple...

I dropped the wheels off tonight to have the tires mounted they'll be ready Friday.  The frame is clean of grime but now I need to take a wire wheel to the few rust spots then scuff the paint for a fresh coat.  Next to be cleaned are the center stand, kick stand and chain guard these will all be painted at the same time.  March is almost over but April is for reassembly. 

[Zaipai]

Those wheels look so good and clean you could eat off of them, nice work. This warm weather must be killing you.. It is me.. I just want to go out and get on the bike and ride. Then I get to the garage and sigh.. Its going to be a WHILE before I can do that....

Keep up the great work.

.: Scott :.

[Mayor08]

Tires are mounted

[Mayor08]

spare time has been hard to find lately but I have managed to prime/paint the frame, swing arm, chain guard, kick stand and center stand black then I primed/painted the lower fork tubes silver to match the engine. 







Today I mounted the newly drilled rotor to the front wheel



Saturday I have a friend coming over to help me install the motor in the frame, install swing arm and rear wheel and rebuild the carbs I hope to have the front end on by the end of the following week.  Thursday or Friday I am shipping my tank out to be acid dipped and kreemed (fantastic deal) then painted along with the side covers and headlight bucket.  I planned to have the bucket painted black but now think it would look pretty cool painted orange to match the tank.... anyone have an opinion?

This is a profile pic of the color scheme I am going for



I've been a big fan of the color orange for a number of years now or in this case flake sunrise orange and this is my personal favorite stock color or the era...
 

[Zaipai]

I say go for the Orange light bucket if that is what you want. Personally I believe it will look great and add some of your personality to the build.

.: Scott :.

[Mayor08]

A lot of progress was made today with the help of my friend Rudy we started by muscling the engine into the frame.  Even though i protected the frame and the engine I still managed to scratch both but not too badly it's okay because the bike will get dirty too as this is a rider not a 100 point show bike!  Touch up paint is cheap and so is soap and water.





Next we turned our attention to the carbs as I got out the clean kit in a can (gallon can with a basket) and readied the table for an organized tear downand as Rudy started the disassembly.  







It's a good thing I had help as I would not made as much progress without my pal and it gave me time to work on a few other items throughout the day.  I installed the shocks I ordered from partsnmore.com and of course the dog is always good for an encouraging look... next came removing the old races in the steering neck they are tough little buggers.  



I was wanting to get an idea of how the seat I ordered would look on the frame... not too bad



Here's a mock-up of the tail light and signals I won't know if it will work like this until the tank is back from paint, mounted and the seat positioned properly with the bike on the ground.  The last thing I did was mount the rear wheel but I forgot to take a pic until I packed everything back into the garage at the end of the day.





I started stripping the top and bottom fork clamps getting them ready for paint hopefully tomorrow I'd like to get the front end together so the bike is easier to move around in my small garage.  Overall good progress for a days work even with some help.

[Zaipai]

Dang that's nice!!! Where did you get the seat?

.: Scott :.

[Caaveman82]

That is a nice looking seat.

Spill the beans! Hah

You could totally make a little plastic cowel for the seat too, like the Triumph Thruxton. So you can have the cafe look but still be able to have a passanger when you want to.

[Mayor08]

I found the seat on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-1976-Honda-CB750-K2-to-K6-cafe-racer-seat_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5886fdf556QQitemZ380221912406QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories 

It looked great on the frame can't wait until I get the tank back and really see the flow from front to back.  By this time next week it should be a roller and I can get started on the electrics and controls.

[Caaveman82]

Ah an old redone seat, very clever.

[Zaipai]

I found the seat on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-1976-Honda-CB750-K2-to-K6-cafe-racer-seat_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5886fdf556QQitemZ380221912406QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories 

It looked great on the frame can't wait until I get the tank back and really see the flow from front to back.  By this time next week it should be a roller and I can get started on the electrics and controls.

I love that seat, however I am not sure it will work on my shorter 550, and I need to be sure there is room for a passenger (wife/kids) however I am going to ask the seller for more info.. Thanks for the link!!!

.: Scott :.

[Caaveman82]

I found the seat on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-1976-Honda-CB750-K2-to-K6-cafe-racer-seat_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5886fdf556QQitemZ380221912406QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories 

It looked great on the frame can't wait until I get the tank back and really see the flow from front to back.  By this time next week it should be a roller and I can get started on the electrics and controls.

I love that seat, however I am not sure it will work on my shorter 550, and I need to be sure there is room for a passenger (wife/kids) however I am going to ask the seller for more info.. Thanks for the link!!!

.: Scott :.

You should be able to take your seat to an upholstery shop locally and tell them what you want and they will make it using the old seat pan to fit your bike.

[Zaipai]

I found the seat on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-1976-Honda-CB750-K2-to-K6-cafe-racer-seat_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5886fdf556QQitemZ380221912406QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories 

It looked great on the frame can't wait until I get the tank back and really see the flow from front to back.  By this time next week it should be a roller and I can get started on the electrics and controls.

I love that seat, however I am not sure it will work on my shorter 550, and I need to be sure there is room for a passenger (wife/kids) however I am going to ask the seller for more info.. Thanks for the link!!!

.: Scott :.

You should be able to take your seat to an upholstery shop locally and tell them what you want and they will make it using the old seat pan to fit your bike.

Yea actually there is a guy here with a trailer that will come to your bike and make your seat any way you want it as long as he can use the pan you have for it. He has done a couple HD's down the street and I plan to call and get a price, I just thought perhaps this would be a quicker possibly cheaper idea.. We will see how it goes..

.: Scott :.

[Mayor08]

if you follow the eBay link and click see other items he sells seats for your bike cheaper than I paid for mine similar profile.

[Mayor08]

This week I worked on stripping the trees, repainting and reassembly







and today....







I also painted the the handlebar clamp, caliper, and an under tank ignition holder from eBay for relocating the key.  Next I will rebuild the caliper and bolt it to the front end then the oil tank and lines will follow.  The side covers , HL bucket and tank are still out to paint hopefully they will ship back to me by next weekend, though I'm not ready to put them on the bike I'd like to see the tank on the frame with the seat. 

I still need to purchase:
pod filters
tach & speedo cables
push, pull throttle and clutch cables
rear sets

these will wait until I am a little further with assembly I want to have the carbs bench synced and installed first as well as most of the wiring connected before tempting myself to rush and finish so I can start the bike.  My plan was to have the bike back together by May 1st and I won't be far off but I leave for 2 weeks the last day of this month and start will have to wait until the middle of May.

 
I think the last third of this build will be the most difficult as I have yet to hit a major snag I'm sure there is at least one lurking on the horizon. 

[Zaipai]

Mayor08, awesome looking so far. Nice painting work on that thing. Just fantastic!

.: Scott :.

[Mayor08]

Thanks Scott, 

It's been a lot of fun so far let's hope I can keep the electrical gremlins at bay while I rewire all of the components and all of the other ones too!

Here's a pic of some more painted parts



Now here is a pic of the gunk I found in the oil tank





This stuff is on the bottom of the tank not sure what it is... there was nothing like it in the oil when it was drained or in the sump when I checked the screen.  i did let some cleaning fluid get inside tonight- the carb clean solution that comes in the gallon container with the basket but this all came back out the same as it went in.  So is this just gunk from the last 35 years or something the PO did?

[Zaipai]

Wow Mayor, that is some damn fine painting..

Not sure what that gunk is, but likely its from the PO, I am not sure how to get it out either.. May have to use some thing more toxic to break it up and flush it out.

.: Scott :.

[Mayor08]

I was finally able to get all of the gunk out of the oil tank with a power washer then dried it with a hair dryer for about an hour straight. 

Now time for the bike continues to be hard to find especially when someone hits your car in a parking lot and doesn't leave a note...



No idea who did it and there were no cameras in the area to try and catch them in the act so I'm SOL..

I did manage to get something done on the bike


Gauges cleaned up and mounted  along with the clubmans


Another angle


The clocks are mounted on the bracket that the architect made check out his build here http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=63166.0 

I really like the new angle of the clocks Thanks Architect!

I leave for two weeks Thursday night so I am eager to get in as much as I can before we leave for the airport.

[Zaipai]

Sorry about the car, insurance should take care of it. Bike is looking good, those gauges turned out nice.

.: Scott :.

[Mayor08]

thanks Scott I appreciate the compliment not bad for a first build.  Nothing too risky just enough to be interesting.  I must say your build is FANTASTIC and need to check in on it again who knows maybe we'll be rolling together this summer at some point!