Author Topic: '76 CB750F chop "20% Cooler" (Read 17539 times)

nayto550 · « **on:** April 17, 2011, 05:39:48 PM »

I finally got motivated and after a year of living in my house me and a friend spent the entire weekend clearing out my garage so that I can get this project rolling. I've had this bike for 3 years now, rode it for a season and now it has been parked for nearly 2 years. I originally bought it with great things in mind, and after 3 years I think it's time. I have plans for some sorta bobber style chop.

Here's what I got to work with... not too bad overall, but I'm not patient enough or have the eye for detail needed for a full restoration.
Now the overtly obvious issues:

It appears that she's been dropped on the left side... probably more than once.

I've already acquired a stator cover and front sprocket cover.
This one is my favorite:

The PO mentioned that the battery used to run dead when the bike was off, but he had "fixed it". It's ok, I'm gonna strip the electrical anyhow.

And here's the weld on hardtail from CycleOne that I'll be installing.

It was running and sounded ok before I parked it, I still plan on a full tear-down of the engine just to check everything thoroughly. Hoping everything in the cases is a-ok.

I plan on beginning the tear-down tonight. More to come soon, hopefully!

nayto550 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 17, 2011, 09:30:04 PM »

So I didn't start on the bike tonight... I did get a start on the wheels, though. I had decided that a bobber just wouldn't look quite right with disk brakes, so I bought a pair of drum wheels from a friend of mine. They're a little rough, but should work. I think a little paint, maybe anodize the hubs, and of course make them mechanically sound.

Here they are!

This is the set screw for the speedo cable, and that thing is dead stuck. Gonna get a new bit for the impact driver, soak the screw with deep creep and try again.

The rear drum was seized up pretty good, after beating on it with a rubber mallet for 10 minutes she came loose. Tore the pads off the shoes even! After closer inspection it appears that is still had the OEM shoes in it, so no suprise that it was locked up so tight.

Tried to pry the tires off, but it seems that they're so old that they won't stretch over the rim. I'll try cutting them off tomorrow.

nayto550 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 19, 2011, 08:40:59 PM »

My wife duped me into getting her bike ready for the summer, so I lost a whole evening of working on mine.

Got the tires off the rims, once I got a bead cut on each they came right off!

While rolling the rear wheel to my work area, it dribbled a trail of orangish colored water... didn't really think much of it until I got the tire off and was greeted with this:

(the front isn't much better)
Don't panic, maybe I can just take the wire wheel to it and it will be okay. $:-\$
nay...

Lesson learned: When water falls out of the 35+ year old wheel, the rim is probably no good.

nayto550 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2011, 05:27:32 AM »

Still screwing with the wheels. I got the front rim apart from the hub and only broke 2 spokes, and I got the rear brake cleaned up a bit and functioning. Just need to get the rear wheel apart, and swap rims with the stock ones on the bike.

lordmember1969 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2011, 08:38:36 AM »

Subscribed

looking forward to see how that hardtail will look like

nayto550 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2011, 03:08:26 PM »

Tore down the entire bike today. It only took about 5 hours to take it all the way down to the frame!

Found lots of weirdness in the electrical system (burned wires, clipped wires, splices, splices... a few more splices). Removing the engine from the frame was a helluva treat too.

nayto550 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2011, 03:10:12 PM »

As an afterthought, can anyone ID this right-hand switch block. I know it's not original to the '76, it appears to be much earlier (the on-off for the lights is a dead give away).

nayto550 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 26, 2011, 09:39:16 PM »

I started taking apart the drum rear wheel this evening and realized it's a 550 hub...

I'll take back where I got it tomorrow and see if the guy has a 750 wheel.

After that, I decided to start taking the motor apart. That didn't last very long either. All of the valve cover bolts came out really nice and easy... except two. One is dead stuck, and the other turn extremely hard but isn't coming out (pretty sure I tore the threads out). So they are currently soaking in "Deep Creep" and I'll try again tomorrow night.

nayto550 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 27, 2011, 05:59:19 PM »

Dude told me to keep the 550 wheel and he would dig up a 750 rear for me!

Now I got a spare drum and sprocket for my 550.

nayto550 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 28, 2011, 09:14:08 PM »

One broken screw, a lot of cussing

, an hour with a cold chisel, and one broken breather cover

, I finally managed to remove the head cover. Still got the shaft of one screw stuck in the head (work in progress). The cam and rocker shafts look good, at least.

My "parts guy" doesn't have a rear 750 wheel. Why can't anything be easy? On a positive note, he does have a complete 750 motor he'll sell me for $75. Yay! Cheap parts!

More to come!

nayto550 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2011, 06:49:42 PM »

So I've partially disassembled the engine, cut the upper side rails off the frame and worked on the wheels a bit more.

I've kinda stalled out now. I'm waiting on a couple of proper tools (rotor removal tool and clutch nut tool) to tear down the rest of the motor. And I'm a little nervous about cutting the frame in half... $:-\$ Thinking I might call my welder and see if he'll cut it up for me.

maduncle · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2011, 04:29:05 AM »

This is a great build to watch, I am keen to do a hard tail conversion next.

Could you post some more info on your weld on hard tail and where it comes from? I might need to see if I can get one shipped over without breaking the bank.

nayto550 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2011, 06:52:56 AM »

I got my weld-on hardtail from Cycle One. They're great to work with and willing to bend over backwards for their customers. Tons of custom options (ride height, back streatch, axle plates, etc.) and they make custom complete frames for CBs as well. Each one is hand built as ordered, so they take a little longer to get, but they are of way higher quality than a lot of them out there. I like it better than the TC Bros. weld on because the Cycle One frame replaces the original rear downtube and rear motor mounts (welds on about 8" in front of the lower rear mounts), it really cleans up the look of the frame.

maduncle · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2011, 09:38:44 PM »

Sweet - thanks for the link.

I just need to wait until I pick up the old CB that is coming out from USA with some cars, check the year and the nwork out how to get a hardtail over.

Are you planning to go for the rat look, or all shiny and full of bling?

nayto550 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 05, 2011, 06:13:33 PM »

She's gonna be a ratty bobber... very little shiny or bling.

Anyhow, got to work today again finally. Built up enough nerve to slice the frame and now it's nearly ready to take over to the welder.

Also got the cases split today.

Unfortunately the screws for the stupid transmission bearing retainer are dead stuck... this is going to require a drill, a sharp bit, a tap, and lots of patience.

I was starting to think I had made a mistake in tearing the engine down(I could hear my wife's voice,"I knew you shouldn't have taken it apart when there was nothing wrong with it!" $:-\$ ), then I came across this when inspecting the crankshaft bearings.

A cracked crankshaft bearing!? Aahhh, sweet redemption!

(is it strange that I'm happy about broken parts in my motor?)

Anyhow hopefully I'll have the frame welded together and the engine ready for blasting and paint by the next post.
More to come!

MasterChief750 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 05, 2011, 06:25:52 PM »

none of us want to hear i told you so

hapakev · « **Reply #16 on:** June 05, 2011, 11:13:28 PM »

Subscribed!

moho · « **Reply #17 on:** June 11, 2011, 10:04:35 AM »

Oh man someone's having fun! the lines on that hardtail look sweet. that's always the hardest bit to get right. an ya, some things might be frustrating right now but when it's done you'll have a sh*t eating grin from ear to ear, cause that puppy is going to be a blast to ride. cheers on the build an please let me know if you want to sell the ss tank

nayto550 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 27, 2011, 06:05:15 PM »

Well, I'm now officially out of money... my son had to have surgery on his ear, and my wife's car started showing signs that it was not long for this world so we traded it on a new car before it died.

I guess it's about time to start selling parts to fund the rest of the build. How much you willing to pay for a '76F tank, moho?

canibeyou2 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 01, 2011, 03:43:17 PM »

i thought this 'running out of money' was just a 'me' thing. guess not. sorry man.

chronic_rider_550 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 01, 2011, 07:59:51 PM »

Quote from: nayto550 on April 24, 2011, 03:10:12 PM

As an afterthought, can anyone ID this right-hand switch block. I know it's not original to the '76, it appears to be much earlier (the on-off for the lights is a dead give away).

I have the same switch although its from a cb550 it looks like a '75 at least that what my bike is. 1975 CB550F.

nayto550 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 10, 2011, 03:53:15 PM »

Hooray!! Somehow I managed to remove all four retainer screws with a spiral extractor. Normally I just break the extractors and end up with an even bigger mess.

Jones · « **Reply #22 on:** July 10, 2011, 07:45:22 PM »

Im liking the project man. cant wait to see it welded up!

sangyo soichiro · « **Reply #23 on:** July 15, 2011, 07:19:01 AM »

I want to keep my eye on this one. Subscribed.

fatkid · « **Reply #24 on:** July 15, 2011, 10:12:51 AM »

i to like the project . man can I say three years sure did build up a head of steam you going at it good luck and keep us posted

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Author Topic: '76 CB750F chop "20% Cooler" (Read 17539 times)

maduncle

maduncle