Topic: CB750k Restore by Frank>>>powdercoat pictures on page 2

[going4speed]

My name is Frank I am restoring a CB750K from 1974 

I received this bike from a co-worker who was moving out of state after retirement.  Thanks Ray!

It is funny how my plans keep changing as I go along in this rebuild and look at other peoples ideas. 

Some ideas of mine change and some are steadfast..well at this point.

Steadfast includes redoing the wiring as the wiring is the backbone of being able to use the machine.  In "past life" I built many a harness for heavy machinery and actually, believe it or not, look forward to making the harness for this bike once I get the materials.

The goals for this bike so far are to get it running, first off, and then the new harnesses and all electrics (headlight, ignition, etc).  Once that is done it will be a tear down to get the frame, rims and some other small parts powder coated.

For the motor I plan on punching it out to a an 836 with a cycle x kit and cam.

So far I have bought a new battery, which I killed last night by leaving the ignition on, the head light used to work and now does not.  Yet more fodder for me to rebuild the harness.
Once the new battery was in I found the starter solenoid was dead.  Installed a new one and low and behold it cranked over.  The carbs were in too bad shape, along with the tank, so no fuel was going in till those were sorted.

I started looking at the tank but it had a previous liner so I sourced one on ebay and coated it this past weekend with kbs-systems tank kit.  Awesome stuff by the way!  

I have been using the aqua clean and rust blast on various other items, such as the master cylinder, to clean prior to rebuild/refit.

So as of now I am in the process of rebuilding/cleaning the carbs.  I bought 4 rebuild kits from ebay and have been cleaning the bowls and bodies in 50/50 simple green and water in a gallon paint can from home depot.  Works a charm!!!

FYI the coated tank looks rough inside as there was a blob that I brushed out.  The coating is still very good.

[going4speed]

**place holder**

[going4speed]

**place holder**

[going4speed]

Started!!!  It actually started!!!   

Got a new shifter cover gasket and seal.  Installed the gas tank and oil, cranked it and at first I thought 'no ignition'.  Then it sputtered a little...    WELL IT RUNS!!!! Holy cow.

[BobbyR]

That is your Ahhhhhhhhhh moment Frank.

[Stev-o]

Nice project, I'll be watching. First time I've heard a guy say he can't wait to do the wiring!

PS. I am also restoring a 750K

[going4speed]

Yea I'm nuts.   

Nice project, I'll be watching. First time I've heard a guy say he can't wait to do the wiring!

PS. I am also restoring a 750K

[hondaface75]

These old Hondas..... 

[going4speed]

Man this is a disease!!!  I love it...next on the list:

Front brakes $65 for new hoses and two new banjo bolts, $15 caliper oring
Adjust rear brakes $0
Install airbox $50 new boots
Ignition upgrade (still way in the air with so many options) Thinking about hondaman and new points $85 for box and 2 new points
BT-45 tires $200
New Chain and sprockets $140
Paint frame and swing arm $120
New Harness $125 using parts-n-more harness modified with new connectors like molex/deutsch from http://www.namzcustomcycleproducts.com/

That should keep me busy.  

Started!!!  It actually started!!!    

Got a new shifter cover gasket and seal.  Installed the gas tank and oil, cranked it and at first I thought 'no ignition'.  Then it sputtered a little...    WELL IT RUNS!!!! Holy cow.

Bahaha!  Too late to go back now!  You're hooked!

[going4speed]

Ordered new carb to air box boots and got them today along with new tank rubber for the rear.
Man that air box is a pain in the butt!!! Even with the new rubber it took a while.  For some reason it seems my carbs sit further back than they did with the older boots.  I tried at first to leave the carbs on fully cinched down but could not get the air box on at all.  Undid the front intake boots at the cylinder head and rotated the carbs down slightly.  Now the air box would go on and I could get the rear bolts in to hold the air box upper in place.
After this I pulled up on the assembly to try and get the carb boots all the way back on at the cylinder head but ended up with a very slight gap at the top of the boot to cylinder head.  Its about 30 thou. 

Any tips on getting the boots all the way on?

[going4speed]

Got the air box on correctly. Piece of cake with new boots...money well spent.

Stripped the paint of the caliper yesterday and still need to clean it up completely before paint.  Ordered new brake pads from ebay.  Need to figure out what is going on with the spring on the front brakes.  Does not seem to spring back, may need a new one.

A good buddy of mine is letting me borrow carb sticks.  Thank goodness one less thing to buy.

Found out I could get NGK D8EA's from autozone at 2.50 a piece. Nice!

Also rented the compression tester from them.  So the plan is to adjust the valves, do a compression test, check the timing and sync the carbs and get new plugs in.  The compression test will let me know if I can paint this motor and get some miles out of it or if I need to tear into it.  Indifferent with either option as this is my toy.

I am having a heck of a time getting the tank off and on not sure why and the throttle cables are crap.  Found some on ebay for $70 so may have to bite the bullet there.

[Greggo]

Do yourself a favor and don't buy the 'push' throttle cable.  My 71 CB500 does just fine with just the 'pull' cable even though it came with both.

Anybody done that with a 750?

[going4speed]

Not sure I can do that...I see the return cable as a safety device.

Do yourself a favor and don't buy the 'push' throttle cable.  My 71 CB500 does just fine with just the 'pull' cable even though it came with both.

Anybody done that with a 750?

[BobbyR]

Do yourself a favor and don't buy the 'push' throttle cable.  My 71 CB500 does just fine with just the 'pull' cable even though it came with both.

Anybody done that with a 750?

There is a whole thread on that. When my cable started to wear I found myself pushing the throttle closed since it was faster. No amount of lube would fix that. Bought two new cables from Honda and she now snaps closed and for a few bucks why risk it. Takes no more time to install two cables rather than one.

[andy750]

Do yourself a favor and don't buy the 'push' throttle cable.  My 71 CB500 does just fine with just the 'pull' cable even though it came with both.

Anybody done that with a 750?

There is a whole thread on that. When my cable started to wear I found myself pushing the throttle closed since it was faster. No amount of lube would fix that. Bought two new cables from Honda and she now snaps closed and for a few bucks why risk it. Takes no more time to install two cables rather than one.

+1 on what Bobby said. I did it for a trial on my K4 (750) and hated it...if you have hanging rpms there is not much you can do about it with only one cable...with the second cable a simple twist forward and the rpms return to resting. Useful after a spirited highway run or on a hot day when idle seems to hang more... plus if one cable breaks you have an instant spare to get you home...so really shooting yourself in the foot using only one cable

Andy

[BobbyR]

One more thing. The K8s which we both have are equipped with a fast idle cam on the choke lever. If you try to put her in 1st when the motor is revving you get a real protest from the tranny. If you momentarily roll the throttle forward you can drop her into gear actually below idle speed, let go and she jumps back up and you can take off immediately. I like to drive my engine to warm up. We K8 owners have to stick together.  

[going4speed]

Ordered a pamco ignition module from cb750supply.com along with a new headlight.

Yesterday I ordered new throttle cables and drag bars from cycle exchange.

I am wondering if I should have bought honda cables instead or the cheaper cycle x cables...we shall see.

Bought the wife a kindle...makes me feel a little better about all the money I spend on my hobbies.   

[going4speed]

Okay so I have the new hoses but they are too short for my bars..ordered new bars.
Stripped the caliper and ordered new pads.  I have black caliper paint that I plan on using this weekend.
Still need to adjust the rear brakes.
Got the carb sticks from a buddy.  Another weekend project.
Ordered pamco ignition and coils from CB750supply.
Ordered new throttle cables and handle bars. (Duplicated info)

Still need a chain.  Why is it so hard to find a chain and sprockets?

Man this is a disease!!!  I love it...next on the list:

Front brakes $65 for new hoses and two new banjo bolts, $15 caliper oring
Adjust rear brakes $0
Install airbox $50 new boots
Ignition upgrade (still way in the air with so many options) Thinking about hondaman and new points $85 for box and 2 new points
BT-45 tires $200
New Chain and sprockets $140
Paint frame and swing arm $120
New Harness $125 using parts-n-more harness modified with new connectors like molex/deutsch from http://www.namzcustomcycleproducts.com/

That should keep me busy.  

Started!!!  It actually started!!!    

Got a new shifter cover gasket and seal.  Installed the gas tank and oil, cranked it and at first I thought 'no ignition'.  Then it sputtered a little...    WELL IT RUNS!!!! Holy cow.

Bahaha!  Too late to go back now!  You're hooked!

[Stev-o]

It's not, here: [not the cheapest!]

http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/1974-honda-motorcycle-cb750k4/o/m9235#sch396620

[going4speed]

I know I live in dream land but I was hoping a company would have a chain and sprocket package deal out there.

[going4speed]

Decided to remove the harness and carbs this weekend.

Carbs needed to be dropped a notch on the needle.  Then I found the tank liner failed 
Pulled the bowls off the carbs and the fuel had started to crystalize.  Not sure if that was due to liner dissolving or what.

I have the bowls soaking now.  New liner came in yesterday but I was too tired to get to it today.

Also tore the harness apart.  I ordered a 3 circuit solution and headlight relay kit from easternbeaver.com and once those get here I am going to integrate them into the standard harness.  I already have the kit from vintageconnectors.com to do the bullets and such as well as new covering sleeve for the harness.

I cant believe they use one bullet to get all the current through the harness!

[going4speed]

Today...boy today.

I cleaned up the frame some more and cleaned up a pile of parts that were just plain snotty!!!  FYI castrol superclean diluted in hot water will strip paint off the center stand!!  Did not see that coming but hey its getting blasted anyway.
The frame was filthy.  36 year old grime is bad bad stuff!!!!  Two attacks with oven cleaner and its finally presentable..at least presentable to the powder coaters.

I also decided that was not enough of an ass kicking so I tore into the motor.  What I would do without an impact driver I have no idea.  That thing is a God send.   Amazing how the valve cover screws corrode.  Next came the head.  I got two rocker assemblies confused but think I got them back in order. Not sure how much of an issue that is as I am getting a new cam.

Head comes off without too much fuss and then the cylinders.  Little harder to get off and my cylinders were free.  Cannot imagine how tough that would be with frozen pistons.

Got ALL the head studs out non broken!!!    I used penetrating oil on all of them first and let that sit for about an hour.
Then used the two vise grip t-handle approach and got all out.  Some were a little tough but I used a rocking motion on the t a couple of times...loosen...tighten...loosen...tighten and they broke lose.  They make a scary sound when the let go though...yikes.

After that I pulled the pistons and flipped the motor over onto a drain pan to get the last of the oil out as some oil did not drain out of the motor and had made a mess.

Everything that was pulled was labeled and bagged.  I have one screw and one nut for which I have no home.  I am thinking its the bolt on the horn bracket that does nothing.

Next step is to gather all parts for powder and also disassemble forks as I am getting the lowers powder coated.

Long day but I got lots accomplished.  I am tired!!









STUDS!!!



JUGS!!!



FILTHY!!!



Where does all this go now? 



Lots of baggies



Miscellaneous shot of my harness mayhem

[Stev-o]

Sounds like a great day!

[BobbyR]

Frank, you will have real pride of ownership when this is over. It will be YOUR bike, not some thing you bought and hung some bling on. I tell myself that all the time, it eases the pain a bit.   

[going4speed]

Well I am a sick sort and I enjoy the pain.  I can never sit still for more than 30 minutes.  Gives me something to accomplish unlike my day job of chief paper pusher extraordinaire 

Frank, you will have real pride of ownership when this is over. It will be YOUR bike, not some thing you bought and hung some bling on. I tell myself that all the time, it eases the pain a bit.