Topic: My CB750 Book, by Hondaman: a 15% discount thru 1/17/25! :)

[oohai]

Hey Hondaman,

Do you know when your 3rd revision will be published? I am starting a build and would love to have your book as my reference but I would like the 3rd revision since its near Oct.

Thanks

[HondaMan]

Hey Hondaman,

Do you know when your 3rd revision will be published? I am starting a build and would love to have your book as my reference but I would like the 3rd revision since its near Oct.

Thanks

It came out on Sunday last. If you order one from Lulu.com now, it will come as the new version. I still have 5 hard and softback copies left here of Printing 2.
I'm preparing a "typo sheet" for all those who have the earlier printings, and will post it here, so folks can correct their copies. These were finally fixed in this last Printing.

[oohai]

awesome. thanks. placing order soon here then.

[HB-1fan]

Hi Mark,
 First of all, let me say thanks for letting my friend Pam come by and get the book from you. Hopefully we can meet sometime and talk bikes. Too bad you can't come to Barber, it should be fun. I get back from St. Croix (where Pam lives) on the 7th and take off for Barber the next day.
 Ready for some time off after 6 1/2 months of 60 hr weeks.

Mark, after seeing the previous posts I am wondering which printing I recieved and/or will I need the the typo sheet. Is it safe to assume I have print. 2 and the sheet will be forthcoming.

Thanks again, and can't wait to get it.

HB(Rick)

[HondaMan]

Hi Mark,
 First of all, let me say thanks for letting my friend Pam come by and get the book from you. Hopefully we can meet sometime and talk bikes. Too bad you can't come to Barber, it should be fun. I get back from St. Croix (where Pam lives) on the 7th and take off for Barber the next day.
 Ready for some time off after 6 1/2 months of 60 hr weeks.

Mark, after seeing the previous posts I am wondering which printing I recieved and/or will I need the the typo sheet. Is it safe to assume I have print. 2 and the sheet will be forthcoming.

Thanks again, and can't wait to get it.

HB(Rick)

It was nice meeting her at work: she seemed mildly amused about it all. I've been doing 60s myself for almost a month, getting tired!

I actually hand-corrected the typos in yours: you'll eventually find them as tiny little pasteover numbers #1 and #4 in their appropriate places. 

[g_lightning]

I am planning on getting this book soon.  I have a 750f and I was wondering how much you cover the f model in your book.  Thanks again!  Not sure if you heard this before but you are the Honda CB Yoda!!  I meant that as a compliment 

[fasturd]

Got the book via LULU.

My neck got sore reading it at the kitchen counter where I opend the box... GREAT info.

Can't wait to try it your way on the next few projects!

Thanks for the effort and the will to share the knowledge.

Best,
Bill

[brandEn]

Just ordered a signed hardcover copy. Looking forward to learning a bit with this one. I have an F3 but I am sure it will still be handy for my rebuild.

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Mark,

in the current book you occasionally mention where later parts can be used in place of earlier parts.  Will you put together any additional info in this area?  For example:  Pistons, Piston Rings, Cams and Cylinder Heads - what interchanges, what doesn't - both within the K series and between the K & F models (and Automatic).  Honda doesn't give much help with their supercession info on rings and pistons, yet I know you can do some mixing and matching. 

Mark,hope all is well.Book is awesome! Just got my Stage III head from Mike.You two should definitely get together! At least A Mrieck Performance chapter or two!His work is to be envied...Stage IV next go around.Sam says we have Stage VI on CB750A! ,Bill

Most certainly: I get this question a lot. 
I'll most likely make it a table or cross-reference of sorts.
In the meantime, the short list 'preview':

The cam question is easiest: all cams interchange, but with varying performance. The 1969-1975 (K0-K6) cam yields more midrange torque than the later version, while the later version is made for more peak HP at 8250 RPM or so. Installing a CB750A cam in a K or F will disappoint the rider from a performance standpoint, but will make his wallet happier with improved MPG.    All of the cams must be degreed-in for proper performance, as Honda was fairly casual about the opening/closing timing on all of them, so long as they made 8mm of lift in production.

The piston question is pretty easy: the early pistons and rings fit everything, even if they lose about 2-3 peak (above 6500 RPM) HP in the 1976 & later "F" and the K7/K8 engines. They breathe better, though, which is helpful for improving midrange torque with hotter (longer duration) cams, and they yield a bit more valve clearance. Conversely, if the early heads are hemi-ed out (as shown in the Performance chapters of this first book) to clear the later domed pistons, and a set of K5 or K6 (i.e., taller) cylinders are fitted to any early "K" engine, and stiffer springs installed, the bike clearly changes its character to a snappier ride, thirsty for more octane, able to leap tall Mustangs in a single bound...

The gearing gets more complicated, but possible, with one notable exception: if the later K4-style shift drum is installed, the shifting will be snappier and the Neutral easier to find.

Some things will be a "replay" of the more subtle, but important things, like using high-quality tranny bearings of the RIGHT clearance, etc., where recently some vendors I've seen have been selling stuff they don't understand so well. (Not your stuff, Jeff: you're on top of it...  )

And so it goes...this will be the "flavor" of the chapters outside of pure Performance in this next one. In some ways, I think it will be more challenging, especially for getting the pictures together! I can say for sure that the Engine R&R part won't be rephotographed. 

I'm hoping MRieck will forgive me for having to exclude the things I had once put into the first book, but had to remove when the book got too big: I had to 'tone down' the overall performance stuff in favor of getting the book under $100, and the great stuff he sent me was a big step beyond the overall 'feel' of the text. I'd REALLY like to talk him into letting me have some more shots of his work, and even advice, in this next one. He does more radical mods than I have over the years, and his work is first-rate. For instance, I'd like to have a chapter of "The 90 HP engine"...   That would take his handiwork, for sure.

[y2kc0wb0y]

Purchased paperbook edition today. Thanks for taking your time to write down your experiences with the CB750 so N00bs like me can gobble it up.+

[Don R]

Seroius problem with book,,,, getting it back from my brother! Advantage, he will soon know it all by heart.

[y2kc0wb0y]

Purchased paperbook edition today. Thanks for taking your time to write down your experiences with the CB750 so N00bs like me can gobble it up.+

Received signed copy today. "The lump in my chest pocket is either a gun or a Snickers bar, I don't remember which"
Good times ahead for sure.
Thanks again

[jaguar]

DAMIT!!!!!!!!! i missed the sale...


hows the new book with the F coming along?

[HondaMan]

DAMIT!!!!!!!!! i missed the sale...


hows the new book with the F coming along?

It's still becoming pictures. 
LOTS of becoming pictures, revealing ones. 
I'm about to go through a Wiseco build of an F2, part of the 'project'.

[brandEn]

Hey Mark, I am in the middle of an F3 build and would be more than happy to provide any pictures if you need them.... just figured I would throw it out there.

[HondaMan]

Hey Mark, I am in the middle of an F3 build and would be more than happy to provide any pictures if you need them.... just figured I would throw it out there.

Cool!
I could use some good closeups detailing the rear brake (right side) casting for the lever, and the general area onthe left, just so good ones can show up in this next book. I didn't have any of these sorts of "F" details in the last one, due mostly to space and time constraints toward the end. And, if you have any details of a fancy bit of internal engine work, I think this book would be a good place to collect some of the genius we've seen here on the forums. One example that comes to mind is a 12:1 CR engine I saw here with deepened valve cutouts, Carillo rods, and the like: a bit of exotica for the back pages showing "If you had a million..." sorts of buildups of these bikes. 

[brandEn]

cool, I am going to be rebuilding my rear brake (master cylinder, and caliper)here shortly and will be sure to snap some pics. My case just got put back together but my top end will be rebuilt in the next couple months and will take any specific pictures you might want. Check out my build thread for a ton of pictures already posted and feel free to save and use any of them.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=76757.0

[pearsonm]

OK, I’ve got a ‘78 CB750F. I’ve read through the entire thread paying special attention to post#’s 89 and 109 but I still have a few questions.

The Book is a general reference guide while the upcoming F book is a performance supplement - is that correct? At this point I’m just looking to get my ‘78 F with a Mac header running well and cleaning and painting things up a bit. I know a few things about suspension and the four-stroke process but I’m an idiot when comes to carburetion and electrics so I‘m interested in any theory help there. Will The Book alone have the info I need?

[wohali]

Hi Mark - started my 1978 F3 rebuild (mistakenly told you it was a K8!), progress in this thread. Your book is my primary reference! (Yes, I have the shop manual, Clymer and Haynes too.)

You can see the photo gallery links in that thread; I'm fairly good with a camera, so I'm also happy to donate any of my photos to the effort, or take specific ones if you want. All of the pics in the galleries I can provide to you with no copyright notice and at much higher resolution. For the brake lever(s), do you just want the lever itself, where it attaches, or something else? I'm not sure I understood what you were asking for a few posts ago.

[brandEn]

Awesome! Your pics are MUCH better than mine. I am sure Mark will be happy to read your post!

[HondaMan]

Hi Mark - started my 1978 F3 rebuild (mistakenly told you it was a K8!), progress in this thread. Your book is my primary reference! (Yes, I have the shop manual, Clymer and Haynes too.)

You can see the photo gallery links in that thread; I'm fairly good with a camera, so I'm also happy to donate any of my photos to the effort, or take specific ones if you want. All of the pics in the galleries I can provide to you with no copyright notice and at much higher resolution. For the brake lever(s), do you just want the lever itself, where it attaches, or something else? I'm not sure I understood what you were asking for a few posts ago.

Well, I replied to your PM before I saw this...    .
I'll peruse your collection! Any that I 'borrow' will get recognition, like the ones in the first book. That was half the fun of writing that one, talking with folks all over the world and getting pics from their bikes!

The rear braking system on the F2/3 is poorly documented anywhere. I hope to remedy this, and show how to rebuild it, in this next book. I get them with seized-up brake lever shafts, as there is no way to lube them and they draw water in by capillary action in the OEM design. After new Oilite bushings, I also install a grease zerk in the collar. I think I posted this once, a while ago.

[wohali]

In case others wanted to see them, I have photos from my PD carb rebuild from four and a half years ago. They've not been colour corrected or anything but they're a fairly complete set.

[PHeller]

HondaMan,

How much could this book be used for work on CB "Mini-Fours" likes the 400F and 350F, as well 550 etc. And could any of the book apply to to the CBTs?

I'd really like to get some of your knowledge (i think this book will become a classic as well), but I don't want to waste my shortage of money on a book that doesn't really apply to me, as I don't own a CB750.

[HondaMan]

HondaMan,

How much could this book be used for work on CB "Mini-Fours" likes the 400F and 350F, as well 550 etc. And could any of the book apply to to the CBTs?

I'd really like to get some of your knowledge (i think this book will become a classic as well), but I don't want to waste my shortage of money on a book that doesn't really apply to me, as I don't own a CB750.

While the general arrangement of the bikes are similar, this book is about the 750. The theory sections about the carbs, Ignition, suspension, and some of the wiring diagrams will match the others, but that's about it.

After I do this next one on '750 Performance', which includes the "F" series and higher HP mods for the earlier bikes, I'll probably do a 500/550 book, as there seems to be a real poor collection of the aftermarket manuals out there for those. The 550K-F/400F/350F/250F bikes were all the same design, or at least very close, so that one should help. It's going to be a while for that one...

[wohali]

Hi Mark, I think I may have found an error in your book. While measuring my (F3) cam today I got consistent exhaust lift values of 7.50-7.55mm. Every other source I have (Honda, Clymer, Haynes) claims 7.43-7.52 mm. Your book says 7.06-7.26mm on page II-3.

Your values for inlet lift (7.64-8.00) is a lot closer to my measurements (7.99-8.04) and Honda's values (7.93-8.02), also copied by Clymer and Haynes, and the same for your clearance values.

Is the F cam just off that much from the K0-K8 cams? Or is it an error in your book? It could be my fault too, but I'm fairly decent with a calliper, and even if there was measurement error on my part, it'd be cancelled out by occurring in both measurements anyway, assuming a consistent measuring bias [ (y+x) - (y'+x) = y-y' ].