Author Topic: Bike died. Might be the end of it. (Read 24353 times)

Anti-Johnny · « **on:** April 01, 2011, 05:39:47 PM »

CB750

I'm riding along the service road enjoying the afternoon when my bike starts feeling strange. Look down and oil pressure gauge is below 20. Pull over and its sounding alright, and my oil lights not on. Turn it off, no leaks, oil level looks fine in tank.

Try to kickstart it, its really stiff. She starts but doesn't sound quite right. I turn it off and wait a few minutes. Try to kick it over and the kickstart won't budge.

Friends on the way to trailer it.

Did my bike just have a heart attack ?

ekpent · « **Reply #1 on:** April 01, 2011, 07:05:14 PM »

Have you tried it again now that the engine has totally cooled off?Also try maybe putting it up into fourth gear or so and see if the motor turns with a bump push or maybe a socket on the crank nut without to much force in neutral just to see if the engine is seized or the kick start is jammed.Done any major work on it lately? Good luck on it.

bryanj · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2011, 04:52:37 AM »

DO NOT use a socket on the points end if it is tight, take the genny cover off and use a socket on that end--be prepared for oil to come out

Anti-Johnny · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2011, 06:24:47 AM »

It was a little easier to kick over about thirty minutes later, but still very stiff. I only let it run for a few seconds though.

So i guess I'm checking the oil screens, filter and pump today.

I haven't done anything but change the oil and clutch cable in the last month.

ekpent · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2011, 07:01:28 AM »

Are the sparks plugs as white as bleached out whale bones by chance ? May be a sign that it is running lean.These air cooled motors rely as much on gas as air to keep them running cool.If you start the engine again for a quick have your oil tank open and look inside to see if your getting good circulation.

Anti-Johnny · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2011, 10:11:21 AM »

phil71 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2011, 10:19:05 AM »

Whoa.. is that a section of piston ring? If it is... the only way a part like that could make it past the piston is if parts of that piston are gone too.. Either way, it's gonna be some work. Sorry to see that A-J. Good luck.

Anti-Johnny · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2011, 10:32:39 AM »

yeah a piston ring fragment. A bunch of shavings mixed with liquid gasket. There was a piece about the size of my thumbnail in there. So no telling whats been floating around in there. It looked like a science experiment hanging from my screen.

I'm screwed really. I just paid all my savings to finish school so I am broke and now without a vehicle.

phil71 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2011, 10:40:37 AM »

As someone said above, the 750's are bulletproof, and while it looks bad, it may not be that pricey or hard to get back together. Also, the people here are incredibly generous in so many ways, and know the pain of having your bike laid up right at the beginning of the season.
Get in there, see what broke and try to ascertain how/why... .

Anti-Johnny · « **Reply #9 on:** April 02, 2011, 10:44:22 AM »

I dont really have the time or a place to do that. I do all my work at a guys garage in Austin. He runs a co op and offers help to people like me.

My apartment doesnt have a garage. only covered parking, not really a place to do anything but an oil change.

Ill be talking with the guys here today. Theyre busy right now on three other bikes, but I will be getting advice and open to options.

Roach · « **Reply #10 on:** April 02, 2011, 10:48:37 AM »

i would pull the motor right away take off the head and get those cases split can be done in a day.... and get some pics up of what else you find

i see that you are in an apartment i would pull the motor and get a dolly and take it up into my place set up a corner and have at it

Anti-Johnny · « **Reply #11 on:** April 02, 2011, 06:58:14 PM »

Well I am still incredibly disappointed. I've only put about 800 miles on the bike since I bought it under the impression it was solid. Was expecting it to last me at least a couple years before something like this happened. Learn while I ride type of thing.

I just sold my car and spent all my savings on school. So, no money for anything. I had $50 a month of my budget on maintenance and refreshing the bike.

I dont have the technical knowledge to do a rebuild, I am not opposed to learning though, but lack of money deletes this option. I was told because of all the metal we found in the pan that it would need to be a bottom rebuild as well.

So I've sunk about 3k into a bike that is a paperweight at the moment.

What are my options here?

One of the guys told me that my best bet is a part out for recovering any money. I dont really want to do that or sell the bike.

Its going to be up on CL in a couple days, just to get an idea what people are offering in the area. There are a lot of rich kids in Austin. That might influence my decision. But right now I am looking into getting an engine. This makes me nervous because how will I know that engine isn't also monkeyed up?

What do you guys think? Take it as a learning lesson and cut my losses? Was I foolish from the get go?

I was about to spend $500 on rebuilding the severely battered suspension. I dont know if putting all that and a rebuild now is worth it.

#$%*.

Really? · « **Reply #12 on:** April 02, 2011, 07:08:59 PM »

You couldn't know that was gonna happen so no fool on you.

You still have that girlfriend who's dad has a shop?

Bet you could find a motor that will run to put in there.

I have brought car motors into apartments to work on them. You could do this in your apartment if needed.

phil71 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 02, 2011, 07:13:11 PM »

if we knew how much you bought it for, it'd be easier to give you an idea of wether or not it's worth doing.

MoMo · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2011, 07:17:49 PM »

AJ, I see 750 motors under $200. In your situation that may be the best thing to do, as long as the motor is a runner. It is a lot faster to put another motor in than rebuild, you could be back on the road in a weekend. Hope all goes well...Larry

Anti-Johnny · « **Reply #15 on:** April 02, 2011, 07:20:16 PM »

Her mom has a used car dealership in Midland. Not really a shop though.

I have some space in the apartment, but I cant afford the machining or the parts. I doubt anyone has a spare set of everything they'd be willing to send me for cheap enough for me to afford it.

I leave for school in a month and a half and then I'll be gone for two months. I guess I just need to try to figure something out. Time to grease my bicycle chain.

I paid $2000 for it. Too much I guess for a bike that needed and now needs this much work.

If anyone has a line on a good motor over the next few days, pass it along please.

scottly · « **Reply #16 on:** April 02, 2011, 07:25:14 PM »

Don't give up before you tear it apart and assess the damage. You have lots of support, both locally and on-line. Hey, anyone that has an SOHC as their only transportation deserves it! Anybody got a usable piston with rings laying around? Maybe a decent cylinder sleeve out of a block you replaced because of one bad sleeve?

bender01 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 02, 2011, 07:26:15 PM »

Necessity is the Mother of Invention.
You need a ride.
Get the engine out at least to be ready to put another in!

Anti-Johnny · « **Reply #18 on:** April 02, 2011, 07:59:12 PM »

Quote from: scottly on April 02, 2011, 07:25:14 PM

Don't give up before you tear it apart and assess the damage. You have lots of support, both locally and on-line. Hey, anyone that has an SOHC as their only transportation deserves it! Anybody got a usable piston with rings laying around? Maybe a decent cylinder sleeve out of a block you replaced because of one bad sleeve?

I'm not losing anything by taking the engine apart and seeing whats going on I guess. I'll see where that route takes me and be posting parts I need. I hate being a charity case, but if anyone has parts that are collecting dust I could use the help.

It wont be until next weekend when I can do anything to it. I can probably do most of the work at the guys house in Austin.

The price I paid for the bike probably just seems high to me because of how cheap newer bikes are. The price was actually about what I see on CL in the area. It does sting a bit for the prices I see on the forums that people pay for the bikes they get that look much nicer.

What year engines will be a direct fit for my 75? I'll post a few wanted ads on CL in San Antonio, Austin. I cant really get any further than that and do a compression test. Would hate to buy another engine that needs a rebuild as well.

Stev-o · « **Reply #19 on:** April 02, 2011, 08:07:33 PM »

A '70 - '78 motor will bolt right in.

Sorry to hear and I do not have spare engine parts but let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Anti-Johnny · « **Reply #20 on:** April 02, 2011, 08:09:06 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on April 02, 2011, 08:07:33 PM

A '70 - '78 motor will bolt right in.

Sorry to hear and I do not have spare engine parts but let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Thanks Stev-o. that gives me something to work with while looking around. I figure if I can get an engine for a low enough price I might be able to recoup some loss by parting out my engine. I know at least the covers get around $50 on ebay. Mine are in decent shape.

scottly · « **Reply #21 on:** April 02, 2011, 08:19:40 PM »

1st step is to split the cases and see what the main bearings and crank journals look like; if they are ok, the rods probably are, too.

77/78 motors will bolt in, but have 630 sprockets instead of 530, with a different off-set.

wrenchmuch · « **Reply #22 on:** April 02, 2011, 08:39:32 PM »

Don't get too discouraged yet . That fragment that looks like a ring bit could also be a piece of one of the half rings that locate the tranny bearings in the right place . An engine can seize from oil starvation in the top end (cam shaft) as well . This offten breaks the cam shaft in a 750 but not always . Mine seized this way and the shaft stayed in one piece . Used cam , rocker towers and rockers , and a gasket kit could be had for under $200 , maybe less . I hope things work out for you .
Mike

Anti-Johnny · « **Reply #23 on:** April 02, 2011, 08:48:43 PM »

It has been shifting strange the last few days. Sometimes it was very hard to change gears and sometimes slip out of them.

Ive sort of familiarized myself with the top end components from reading through builds, but I dont know anything about the bottom end.

I'll make arrangements to get the engine out of the bike. its in Austin now. Think I could get it in a large tupperware bin and transport it to my apartment? How much does this thing weigh? Ive got a medical condition(another money pit) so I am weaker than most, will I be able to get all the bolts out that hold this thing together? I have a respectable craftsman set that has general sockets and wrenches. Will I need specialty tools to break any of it down?

wrenchmuch · « **Reply #24 on:** April 02, 2011, 08:57:10 PM »

It weighs about 175 lbs . A metric socket set can take it apart . The only tricky part is removing the flywheel (needs a puller )but you don't need to remove it to take the engine apart . A torque wrench is needed for re assembly .

News:

Author Topic: Bike died. Might be the end of it. (Read 24353 times)