Topic: Bike died. Might be the end of it.

[gnarlycharlie4u]

If the bikes are then properly reassembled, they outlast the owner's desire to keep riding them.

we'll see about that...

[TwoTired]

If the bikes are then properly reassembled, they outlast the owner's desire to keep riding them.

we'll see about that...

A machine is only as good as its mechanic.

[chickenman_26]

The problems like the ones you describe in this post come from owners who took them apart for [whatever reason] and mis-assembled them afterward.

Self-inflicted wounds that they then pass on as booby traps to the next owner.

Stu

[wrenchmuch]

Hey AJ .I hope you stick with it but I understand the force of finances . You've done a great job with your bike so far . I have a K4 that's been a project for about 10 years . My K1 (that I ride ) has eaten lots of money due to neglect before I bought it (PO is a good friend ). Its apart right now for wheel bearings . The swing arm bushing is marginal and will have to go back together as is for now till I can afford to send it to Hondaman to be properly looked after . I have never sat down to figure out what I have spent on the two of them . I have ,at this point , probably spent enough money on the 2 of them to buy a nearly new Goldwing (as time goes by I am drawn to the idea of comfort more and more ) . My friends think I'm crazy to spend what I have but they wear a big smile after taking a ride on it and I enjoy the attention the bike gets everywhere I go . Seems like everyone own a 750 at some time. I will never part with these bikes . They will be given to my 2 sons when they turn 30 (oldest is 10 now so I get to enjoy them for a while ). I enjoy working on them almost as much as riding them . Soon I will have been through both bikes completely . I like the idea that I know my machine from top to bottom like that .
I hope you can afford  to keep your bike .
Mike

[Anti-Johnny]

Well the engine was delivered today. The guy at the co op has it. I am waiting for pictures but he is telling me that it doesnt look too good. I'll post some pictures when he sends them, but in the meantime...

Is there anyone in Austin that can come and take a look at this engine and give me a solid opinion on it. I need to know if its worth messing with or what parts to order to get it going.

I am stuck in San Marcos so I can't even get up there for the next week and a half. I can reimburse gas money or buy a beer, but as discussed in the previous posts, I am broke as ****. If this engine turns out to be a dud, I may have the bike smelted into tiny cb750s that will be dropped from a plane.

My pal in Austin says that it is missing several valve cover screws and just looks poor. I cant judge though because I am not there, and again like I have said before I wasnt prepared for this type of thing.

[Stev-o]

Yes, I can go look at it for you.  PM'd you...

[Anti-Johnny]

Steve-o was kind enough to go by today and take a look at it. He said it looks good enough to try the swap. He can chime in if he wants. Super cool of him to do that. I really appreciate it man.

So I plan to go forward. But now I need some recommendations on what to order.

I think I have the removal of the old engine part down. Prepping the new one is where I am not so sure.


The Valve cover was not really secured, only had a couple bolts. Steve said it looks pretty good though underneath it.

1) I should do an adjustment or some sort of something to these valves right?  I bought a gasket....
2) Oil, I was planning on using the mobil Delvac 1300 oil for the first time. Is this alright?
3) The pistons move freely, other than dropping some oil into the spark plug holes, anything else I should do?



I guess thats it really...
I planned on getting it buttoned up with the valve cover screws from my bike and whatever other parts it needs. I forgot to ask steve if it was missing anything, or he told me it wasnt and I forgot.

Then flushing the engine with oil somehow... not sure how yet... see if I can encourage any sediment or goop to get out through the oil screen?

Then Get it in the bike. Mix some seafoam in with the oil? let it run for a minute or two (or 5?) then drain the oil, change the filter and see what I get in the oil pan? Then what?


I've ordered a stator cover gasket, valve gasket, magnetic oil pan bolt, two filters, oil pan gasket, exhaust gaskets... I think thats it so far.

[wrenchmuch]

Consider pulling the pan and cleaning it out down there before you install it in the frame  . You might need to remove the exhaust to get at the pan after you've run it the first time . Clean out the filter housing well . Pay close attention to the filter bolt . Any crap in there is going straight to the crank and head . Clean it well . Once its all hooked up and ready to start pull the spark plugs and crank it till you see oil at the 1 and 4 exhaust valve caps in the valve cover . This way you are sure at start up that you have oil delivery to the head on both sides .
Pouring oil in the valve cover won't help after a minute if oil isn't being pumped to the head . Don't over heat the starter when cranking it . The pump can take a while to prime sometimes . Once its running you can pull the 1 and 4 caps again . It should spit out oil ( I'm a bit paranoid about lack of oil in the head ) . Got your PM ( got to check these things more often) . Look forward to hearing that your on the road again .
Good luck

[Stev-o]

Yes, the motor was clean, especially under the head cover. And there were only two loose bolts holding it on, this concerns me a little - why is it loose.
It "kicked" over normally, and shifted good too so I'd say let's get it in the frame and try to fire it up. Pics:

[Hush]

Nice looking donk there Stev-o, if that is a runner then AJ's bike will be worth having even if he doesn't have the confidence in it to keep it, he will surely get good coin for it.

[Really?]

Hope this works out for ya AJ.

[Anti-Johnny]

Hope this works out for ya AJ.

Thanks Tipper! I hope it does too. This whole ordeal has been a major bummer. But I am at least excited to do my first engine swap.

 

Nice looking donk there Stev-o, if that is a runner then AJ's bike will be worth having even if he doesn't have the confidence in it to keep it, he will surely get good coin for it.

Yeah, I am hoping that if I decide to sell it that I get a decent amount towards something else. The last 6 months I made some rash decisions. I already had the bike, but the opportunity to do study abroad and finish school in the fall made me look the other way when it was time to consider the reliability of my transportation. Trying to look to the brighter side of all this though. Lessons learned on so many topics; from buying a used vehicle, to problem solving in a pitch, etc. I am atleast trying to look at it that way. I regret that this happened but I fell in with a bunch of cool folks here and locally because of the bike. I definitely dont regret that.

I have some papers to write but by monday I can start compiling the steps I need to take with this engine. I've got a 3 pager due wednesday, a 20 page due thursday and a 8 due monday. Anyone have an old paper lying around on american economic sanctions of Japan from 1931-1945?  I just checked out about 8 books from the library. about to start the caffeine infusion.

[canoscan]

Read about your troubles.

Hate to sound cheesy, but keep fighting see this as a blessing in disguise, your first real baptism of fire as a mechanic.

You'll come out even closer to mastery of the engine.

Has taught me all I know about bikes.

[dave500]

once its running again and you ride it youll be hooked,just looking at the photos of it,is the front brake arm adjuster screw and spring missing?

[wrenchmuch]

Looks like someone sealed the pucks (good thing ) . Its a good time while the covers off to check valve lash adjustment . It looks like all the fasteners are in place in the top . Hondaman suggests removing the 8 bolts that keep the rocker shafts from turning . These are the bolts right next to the rockers (smaller than all the others ). Helps with longevity of the shaft and rocker but makes a little more noise . Now you have 2 motors . This is how it starts .

[MasterChief750]

Looks like someone sealed the pucks (good thing ) . Its a good time while the covers off to check valve lash adjustment . It looks like all the fasteners are in place in the top . Hondaman suggests removing the 8 bolts that keep the rocker shafts from turning . These are the bolts right next to the rockers (smaller than all the others ). Helps with longevity of the shaft and rocker but makes a little more noise . Now you have 2 motors . This is how it starts .

yes but he also says to only do that if the rocker shafts are not worn badly

[GammaFlat]

Looks like someone sealed the pucks (good thing ) . Its a good time while the covers off to check valve lash adjustment . It looks like all the fasteners are in place in the top . Hondaman suggests removing the 8 bolts that keep the rocker shafts from turning . These are the bolts right next to the rockers (smaller than all the others ). Helps with longevity of the shaft and rocker but makes a little more noise . Now you have 2 motors . This is how it the disease starts .

[wrenchmuch]

Looks like someone sealed the pucks (good thing ) . Its a good time while the covers off to check valve lash adjustment . It looks like all the fasteners are in place in the top . Hondaman suggests removing the 8 bolts that keep the rocker shafts from turning . These are the bolts right next to the rockers (smaller than all the others ). Helps with longevity of the shaft and rocker but makes a little more noise . Now you have 2 motors . This is how it starts .

yes but he also says to only do that if the rocker shafts are not worn badly

You are right  . If worn more than .001"/.04mm best to let them be .

[Anti-Johnny]

once its running again and you ride it youll be hooked,just looking at the photos of it,is the front brake arm adjuster screw and spring missing?

I still have it. I just couldnt figure out how to get it adjusted. I have a MC and brake rebuild kit. I was actually going to do that the day this all happened. There is a thread that was discussing the valid adjustment of the screw. I couldnt get it to adjust properly so I just took it off. There was one camp that said this was stupid and another that said the screw didnt serve an important purpose. I guess I figured having one not adjusted properly was no better than not having it.

[HondaMan]

Looks like someone sealed the pucks (good thing ) . Its a good time while the covers off to check valve lash adjustment . It looks like all the fasteners are in place in the top . Hondaman suggests removing the 8 bolts that keep the rocker shafts from turning . These are the bolts right next to the rockers (smaller than all the others ). Helps with longevity of the shaft and rocker but makes a little more noise . Now you have 2 motors .

This is how it the disease starts .

Isn't that how you ended up with seven 750s?
That's a lucky number, ya know.
(Like I should talk... )

[Anti-Johnny]

I think I have everything but spark plugs and oil at this point. I ordered a valve cover gasket from CycleX but havent received it yet. They havent responded to my emails. Last expected date of arrival is Friday. Thats cutting it close. Any of you guys have a spare that I can use? I can mail you the one I get to replace it. I dont think I have ever ordered from them before, they may not do tracking. I will call them in the morning.

I misplaced a bag of exhaust bolts but ordered new ones of those as well. BikeBandit has been a bit slow from my experience.

I've talked to a couple people about coming out, so I am looking forward to trying this thing.

School is kicking me in the balls right now. I am really looking forward to beers and bikes this Saturday!

[Hush]

Am I wrong or has this gone from a cry for help to a passion for SOHC4 Honda's?

[Roach Carver]

marked, and good luck!

[Anti-Johnny]

Am I wrong or has this gone from a cry for help to a passion for SOHC4 Honda's?

too true. too true.

I think the passion developed quickly. The only reason I may sell it is because I need something that is turn key on a daily basis. I am still working out options to get something newer and keeping this one. Its just been really bad timing for this to happen. I leave for my backpacking and study abroad trip in just over a month and start my final semester at school as soon as I get back. Not a lot of time to figure all this out.

BTW my valve gasket has been sitting at the UPS office. CycleX didnt put my apartment number on the box. 

[Anti-Johnny]

bit of a fiasco, but I now have everything except for oil. the mobil delvac is on sale at Autozone for $12.

Ive been trying to get a straight answer through searches. Should I put just a little ATF and oil down the spark plug holes to ensure lubrication, after getting everything together? Or mystery oil? gonna mix some seafoam into the oil anyway I guess. Theres going to be several people there to give advice, but I'd prefer some sort of primer so I look less of a goober on Saturday.

So what would you do in my situation if you were trying to ensure this thing ran?