Topic: The CB750 Book: now available!

[Simpson]

Wow, I can't wait. Just came back from a nice ride on mine.

[myhondas]

Looking forward to getting mine......sent the $ and a PM to hondaman for the inscription....waiting...panting....waiting....wagging tail.....waiting....

[Skonnie Boy]

I am buying this.  The only question is which method of purchase better benefits the author?  Is it better to buy it through Lulu or from HM?  Such an outlay of time and effort should be rewarded.  The difference in price of a few dollars isn't a big deal IMO.   

[HB-1fan]

Congrats Mark!! I'm sure from the sounds of the reviews, it was well wort the wait.
 In your opinion, which of the two bindings is the most durable for longevity(shop wear and tear). I have noticed in the past that most of my books that have come apart at the binding were hardback. My Bimota hardback is coming apart, probably from looking at the HB-1 too much!
 Can't afford one of each as yet!!

HB
 

[HondaMan]

I am buying this.  The only question is which method of purchase better benefits the author?  Is it better to buy it through Lulu or from HM?  Such an outlay of time and effort should be rewarded.  The difference in price of a few dollars isn't a big deal IMO.   

The way Lulu set things up, I make a buck extra from them if someone orders one direct, compared to the ones I have here (that's their marketing lure). I think it is $2 difference in cost overall for the customer (more expensive at Lulu) because their price is higher, but shipping lower, than the ones I'm signing and sending out. The paperbacks have a $2.50 higher "return" than the hardcover edition. The one who makes most of the money is the printer, but I can't argue: neither will anyone who sees the quality of these nice books! Even the paperback is coffeetable quality, and my favorite because the print and pages are slightly larger (0.75" taller).

So, it's about the same, either way. I guess it just depends on the "signed book" thing, in the end! I'm just really glad to have this info "out there" now. I am having trouble keeping up with the (almost 100 per month) e-mails I get about fixing the Fours: I hope to point to the Book instead for many of the answers, now! I think anyone who has (or plans to have) a 750 will benefit from it, one way or another.

HM

[HondaMan]

Congrats Mark!! I'm sure from the sounds of the reviews, it was well wort the wait.
 In your opinion, which of the two bindings is the most durable for longevity(shop wear and tear). I have noticed in the past that most of my books that have come apart at the binding were hardback. My Bimota hardback is coming apart, probably from looking at the HB-1 too much!
 Can't afford one of each as yet!!

HB
 

Hmmm...I think maybe that's hard to tell at this point. I got my first couple of "proof" hardcovers today (complete with typos) and I like the binding: it is a "lay-flat" style, like a leather Bible usually has, where the pages are cloth-bound (or appear to be cloth, anyway) and separate from the cover itself. It lays flat pretty well, at least toward the center pages. I have to beat one up a little tomorrow to see how the long-term effects might play out...

The pages are noticeably smaller, as is the print, on the hardcover sheets. The paper is 10.75" high with larger top & bottom margins, instead of 11.00", and a portion of the width is used for the binding, so the text and pictures are accordingly shrunk to fit. So in the end, the paperback has the larger pictures, which may be important if your eyes are like mine!

[Zaipai]

Any thing coming for the CB550F, anytime soon? 

[HondaMan]

Any thing coming for the CB550F, anytime soon? 

It will take a while. 
It only took 4 years for the 750 book! 

I'm considering making one for the 500/550/350/400 series as one book, because the bikes are almost identical outside of cam chain setups and cosmetics. The engines were all mastered from the CR250F and the 250 Six that Honda raced at the time.

...and when it's all done, I'm gonna KEEP the CB350F that I have to find to rebuild for the project! I've wanted one ever since they showed up in late 1973, with their silly little hydraulic cam chain tensioners that didn't work and had to be retrofitted in a big recall...that mistake let me touch a lot of the Baby Fours, making me want one every time. 

[Zaipai]

Any thing coming for the CB550F, anytime soon? 

It will take a while. 
It only took 4 years for the 750 book! 

I'm considering making one for the 500/550/350/400 series as one book, because the bikes are almost identical outside of cam chain setups and cosmetics. The engines were all mastered from the CR250F and the 250 Six that Honda raced at the time.

...and when it's all done, I'm gonna KEEP the CB350F that I have to find to rebuild for the project! I've wanted one ever since they showed up in late 1973, with their silly little hydraulic cam chain tensioners that didn't work and had to be retrofitted in a big recall...that mistake let me touch a lot of the Baby Fours, making me want one every time. 

Awesome, I hope you do one for sure.. Any good tidbits in your 750 book that would be helpful for us 550 owners? My Dad's first bike was a 350.. So some fond memories, he brought it home in milk crates and after starting it up there were lots of sparks shooting out.. fun stuff.. he had it a LONG time.

.: Scott :.

[HondaMan]

Any thing coming for the CB550F, anytime soon? 

It will take a while. 
It only took 4 years for the 750 book! 

I'm considering making one for the 500/550/350/400 series as one book, because the bikes are almost identical outside of cam chain setups and cosmetics. The engines were all mastered from the CR250F and the 250 Six that Honda raced at the time.

...and when it's all done, I'm gonna KEEP the CB350F that I have to find to rebuild for the project! I've wanted one ever since they showed up in late 1973, with their silly little hydraulic cam chain tensioners that didn't work and had to be retrofitted in a big recall...that mistake let me touch a lot of the Baby Fours, making me want one every time. 

Awesome, I hope you do one for sure.. Any good tidbits in your 750 book that would be helpful for us 550 owners? My Dad's first bike was a 350.. So some fond memories, he brought it home in milk crates and after starting it up there were lots of sparks shooting out.. fun stuff.. he had it a LONG time.

.: Scott :.

About 90% of the Electrical section directly applies, except the spec for the alternator output of 210 watts on the 750. The 500/550 makes less power (I think it's 170 watts peak?), but the system works the same way.The rest ofthe electrical applies 100%.

The Suspension section is also 80% valid: many of the measurements given are 750-specific, but the theory sections are the same for any bike.

The Carburetor section applies to all but the accelerator-pump carbs on the 1960s through 1990s bikes. There's quite a bit of theory in that section, too.

The engine teardown/rebuild/hopup/history (of changes) is largely 750-specific, though. This part comprises more than 50% of the book.

[cb750k7]

Hi Mark.

Got your book this week,  THANK YOU !!!!!!
AMAZING!.

Can't thank you enough for your suppot,  keep up the good work.

Cheers,

Jona

[andy750]

I got my Hondaman book last night and WOW!! Simply amazing! If anyone is in doubt this is a MUST HAVE for any CB750 rider. Waaaay better than the Haynes/Clymer and even the shop manual. Photo quality is excellent and the info is first rate. A lot of work has gone into this and it shows!! Outstanding!!

Here is mine..



Look at those crisp COLOUR photos!



And I got my rebuilt swingarm with it  as well (with fool-proof instructions  ) I cant wait to try this out!! Garage time today 



Thanks Hondaman for both of these services!

Andy

[Johnie]

Sounds like Christmas at the Andy household!!! 

[HondaMan]

Hi Mark.

Got your book this week,  THANK YOU !!!!!!
AMAZING!.

Can't thank you enough for your suppot,  keep up the good work.

Cheers,

Jona

Thanks, Jona, I'm glad it made the long trip. Enjoy! 

[HondaMan]

I got my Hondaman book last night and WOW!! Simply amazing! If anyone is in doubt this is a MUST HAVE for any CB750 rider. Waaaay better than the Haynes/Clymer and even the shop manual. Photo quality is excellent and the info is first rate. A lot of work has gone into this and it shows!! Outstanding!!

And I got my rebuilt swingarm with it  as well (with fool-proof instructions  ) I cant wait to try this out!! Garage time today 

Thanks Hondaman for both of these services!
Andy

My pleasure, Andy. Thanks for letting me be a part of your great adventure plans! (I'm still jealous...  ).

[grumpy]

Hey Mark -

By chance does the book have a section on rebuilding starters ?
Your book is on the way & I have a rebuild kit here 

[Doctor_D]

And I got my rebuilt swingarm with it  as well (with fool-proof instructions  ) I cant wait to try this out!! Garage time today 

Does that axle have zerk fittings at each end?  Is there a link to a discussion about this?

Anyway, I've ordered a book myself and am looking forward to spending some quality time with it.

[HondaMan]

Does that axle have zerk fittings at each end?  Is there a link to a discussion about this?

Anyway, I've ordered a book myself and am looking forward to spending some quality time with it.

That's a swingarm bolt from a K4. The K0 through early K5 750 had grease zerks on this bolt, which greatly extended the life of the swingarm bushings, as compared to the later versions.

All "F" bikes (400F, 550F, Euro 500F and 750F models) and the 750 K5-K8 bikes had a single grease zerk in the middle of the swingarm, which doesn't grease the bushings for beans. They wear out real quick unless you do some changes to the swingarm pivot system: this is covered in the Suspension chapter. 

[Doctor_D]

"this is covered in the suspension chapter"

   Good thing my book is on the way then, isn't it?

[HondaMan]

Hey Mark -

By chance does the book have a section on rebuilding starters ?
Your book is on the way & I have a rebuild kit here 

Not the starters themselves: since I could not find a rebuild kit or parts for them, I did not include that in the chapters. Is there a place where I can buy some parts? I have 2 bad starters here. They are easy to rebuild, so long as the windings have not been damaged. Most of the time, the brushes get broken or the commutator gets crisped by the loose carbon from the worn brushes, making it short out. You can chuck the armature up in a lathe and gently turn off the damaged portion of the armature, clean with lacquer thinner, dry overnight, and usually reasemble with good results. If the windings are burned (like from a stuck motor and someone still trying to "break it free" with the starter) it may require unwinding the pole(s) and rewinding with new wire: count the turns as you remove them and make the same number of turns upon rewinding. The hardest part will be in finding the metric-sized wire to rewind with. I used to do this with old Superhawk alternators because the insulation would crack off on those and short out some turns: I just used the next smaller U.S. wire gauge size and they worked OK.

[grumpy]

Starter rebuild kit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220349333958

 

[HondaMan]

Starter rebuild kit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220349333958

 

Thanks, Grumpy! 
I've never seen such a kit, only the brushes when Honda used to supply them long ago.
I have to get one of these. No, two...

[Zaipai]

Thanks HM after your comments I think I will go ahead and get the book, I want my next project to be a 750 anyway so it will come in handy for that as well..

Tho I am eyeballing a 82 VT750 Shadow I have in my back yard.. not sure its a real basket case so not sure..

.: Scott :.

[dbritt]

Mark,
I received the book last night and stayed up half the night reading! Being new to the build I have a lot to learn. The 76 is down to the frame and I can't wait to finish. Anyway thanks for sharing the knowledge. Best wishes.
Dave

[myhondas]

Mark, I haven't received mine yet, any way you could check on what happened? been a whole month since payment was sent. Thanks in advance.

ray