Author Topic: Lester Mags (Read 7170 times)

Imago · « **on:** September 22, 2011, 08:46:42 PM »

Hi all,

My first post here... I just picked up a rough 1976 Honda CB750K after many years of being bikeless. My first bike was a 1975 Honda 550 (metal flake orange from the factory) which I traded in for a brand new 750F SS in 1981. I'm now having my second childhood...

My new bike needs lots of works, the carbs are plugged with varnish, the last owner cut off the upper rear shock mounts, welded a bracket over the frame, and lowered the shocks and added what looks like a Harley fender. It seems to have good compression, and I got it running on about 2 cyliders for about 20 seconds. Carb work comes first, any good rebuilders out there folks would recommend?

I don't think it warrants a restoration to original, so I'm going to make it into a cafe of some sort. I'll need a seat, side covers, chain guard, rear fender and grab rail and shocks to start.

The first thing I've found locally is an old pair of Lester wheels, but I'm not sure they'll work on a drum rear brake. The rear mag is likely for a disc brake (the F model?). I think the front will work but can I use the stock disc?

Can you experts take a look, and let me know what I've got here, and what else I'll need to make one or both work on my bike? I think they are very cool looking...

Thanks!
Andrew

Imago · « **Reply #1 on:** September 22, 2011, 09:11:57 PM »

The rear is 18" and the front is 19". I was told they were for a 1975 Honda 750F SS.

Do you know if I can and how to modify my rear drum to take a disc so that rear mag will work?

I think I saw a web site somewhere that sold a conversion kit.

CycleRanger · « **Reply #2 on:** September 22, 2011, 09:40:36 PM »

Well, the easiest way would be to trade that 18" disk rear for a drum Lester.

That's the avenue I would pursue.

The next easiest way would be to get a swing arm and disk set up from an 750F bike.
After that it just gets harder and more expensive.

I'm sure there's some other members ere who may have some other ideas.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2011, 10:42:45 PM »

Quote

I'm sure there's some other members ere who may have some other ideas.

Yeah like, sell me that disc brake lester.....

Welcome Imago.....

ekpent · « **Reply #4 on:** September 23, 2011, 05:53:16 AM »

The picture of the back wheel might be the sprocket side without the rubber bumbers. Do you have a pic of the other side or does the other side have the rubber dampers ?

jaguar · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2011, 08:23:53 AM »

Yes those are lesters for a F bike.
There should be a few numbers on one of the "spokes" of the wheel or in the hub to comfirm.

The 18 rear is more valuable then the 16 rear
Front works on many bikes and is more common.

In theory if you took the swing arm from an F bike you could swap to a rear disc on your K bike
F=disc rear
K=drum rear

If your goal is to run a drum rear then you need a new wheel.
The F wheels are more rare then the K wheels BUT way less people are looking for them
I have lesters on my K and F.

looking to sell the set?
I cant help you with a K set of lesters but can help with stock wheels or alloy wheels

Imago · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2011, 08:26:33 AM »

There are two photos, one of either side of the Lesters...

Quote from: jaguar on September 23, 2011, 08:23:53 AM

Yes those are lesters for a F bike.
There should be a few numbers on one of the "spokes" of the wheel or in the hub to comfirm.

The 18 rear is more valuable then the 16 rear
Front works on many bikes and is more common.

In theory if you took the swing arm from an F bike you could swap to a rear disc on your K bike
F=disc rear
K=drum rear

If your goal is to run a drum rear then you need a new wheel.
The F wheels are more rare then the K wheels BUT way less people are looking for them
I have lesters on my K and F.

looking to sell the set?
I cant help you with a K set of lesters but can help with stock wheels or alloy wheels

jaguar · « **Reply #7 on:** September 23, 2011, 08:33:46 AM »

What i ment was that in the hub or sometimes on one of the "spokes" there are numbers that can be used to know for sure what they are off of.

95% sure that they are off of an F.

seaweb11 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 23, 2011, 11:14:24 AM »

Those look exactly like the ones on my 72K Tracy, not a rear disk. How does this differ?
Sorry, here is a better photo. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=17831.msg515868#msg515868

Imago · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2011, 11:23:35 AM »

I'll take a closer look for the numbers... maybe I've lucked into a rear drum Lester which will bolt right up.

A noobie question... are the rubber things included with the Lester, or are they part of the stock Honda drum. I haven't yet taken my drum apart to see what's what.

Quote from: seaweb11 on September 23, 2011, 11:14:24 AM

Those look exactly like the ones on my 72K Tracy, not a rear disk. How does this differ?

seaweb11 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2011, 11:25:08 AM »

Stock should slip right in.

jaguar · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2011, 12:00:05 PM »

Quote from: Imago on September 23, 2011, 11:23:35 AM

I'll take a closer look for the numbers... maybe I've lucked into a rear drum Lester which will bolt right up.

A noobie question... are the rubber things included with the Lester, or are they part of the stock Honda drum. I haven't yet taken my drum apart to see what's what.

Quote from: seaweb11 on September 23, 2011, 11:14:24 AM
Those look exactly like the ones on my 72K Tracy, not a rear disk. How does this differ?

The cush stock rubbers from the honda hub will fit in. as do the honda bearings.
So what are you going to do with the F wheel?

seaweb11 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2011, 12:13:21 PM »

Quote from: CycleRanger on September 23, 2011, 11:26:04 AM

Quote from: seaweb11 on September 23, 2011, 11:14:24 AM
Those look exactly like the ones on my 72K Tracy, not a rear disk. How does this differ?
Sorry, here is a better photo. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=17831.msg515868#msg515868

There's no drum for the brake shoes on his rim.

Imago · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2011, 12:24:00 PM »

Sorry, I'm not following... the second photo is just the 2 wheels in the first photo flipped around so you can see the other side of them. Isn't the one on the left a drum wheel for the rear of my 1976 CB750K, and the one on the right a disc wheel for the front of my 1976 CB750K? I'll get the numbers from both wheels on the weekend... they're at the farm right now.

Another question... who do you folks recommend to restore my carbs?

Quote from: jaguar on September 23, 2011, 12:00:05 PM

Quote from: Imago on September 23, 2011, 11:23:35 AM
I'll take a closer look for the numbers... maybe I've lucked into a rear drum Lester which will bolt right up.

A noobie question... are the rubber things included with the Lester, or are they part of the stock Honda drum. I haven't yet taken my drum apart to see what's what.

Quote from: seaweb11 on September 23, 2011, 11:14:24 AM
Those look exactly like the ones on my 72K Tracy, not a rear disk. How does this differ?

The cush stock rubbers from the honda hub will fit in. as do the honda bearings.
So what are you going to do with the F wheel?

Rookster · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2011, 01:54:54 PM »

Listen to Jaguar. The rear is an 18" disk rear for a CB750F. The 6 bolt holes on the right side of the rim hold a disk. The open side with the 4 splines holds the sprocket carrier. You should find the number 20400 somewhere in the sprocket carrier side. That is the hub number for the F rears. Look here for the Lester FAQ its at the bottom http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=368.0
Scott

jaguar · « **Reply #15 on:** September 23, 2011, 01:56:09 PM »

No neither one of those wheels is a drum wheel

The wheel on the left looks like a CB750F wheel that has a rear disc. its 18in
The wheel on the right is a front wheel for a CB750 K or F are the same as far as i know but not 100% sure. its 19in

I would assume that since the rear is for a CB750F that the front would also work on a F.

Ill look at the my wheels latter and see if the front on my K is the same number as the one on my F

They are your wheels or wheels that you are thinking about buying?

Imago · « **Reply #16 on:** September 23, 2011, 05:03:34 PM »

OK, I got it now... I bought these rims on spec thinking I could use them on the 1976 CB750K that I just purchased.

I could likely use the front wheel on my bike, but that might look odd with a rear spoked rim.

By the way, I spent the afternoon getting the carbs unstuck (lots of MOPAR combustion chamber conditioner), fired it up with a car battery and went for a spin down our gravel road without a battery. Good thing it didn't quit on me.

It idled and ran great on all cylinders but was backfiring a bit. Maybe it will clear up with a bit more use.

It seemed to be geared pretty high... in second gear I seemed to be flying, or is that just because I haven't been on a bike in 15 years?

Great fun!

jaguar · « **Reply #17 on:** September 23, 2011, 05:07:17 PM »

Quote from: Imago on September 23, 2011, 05:03:34 PM

OK, I got it now... I bought these rims on spec thinking I could use them on the 1976 CB750K that I just purchased.

I could likely use the front wheel on my bike, but that might look odd with a rear spoked rim.

By the way, I spent the afternoon getting the carbs unstuck (lots of MOPAR combustion chamber conditioner), fired it up with a car battery and went for a spin down our gravel road without a battery. Good thing it didn't quit on me.

It idled and ran great on all cylinders but was backfiring a bit. Maybe it will clear up with a bit more use.

It seemed to be geared pretty high... in second gear I seemed to be flying, or is that just because I haven't been on a bike in 15 years?

Great fun!

If you dont mind me asking what did you pay for the set?
think you might want to sell them on?

Imago · « **Reply #18 on:** September 23, 2011, 05:31:13 PM »

Does anyone know where to buy the weld on upper rear shock posts, or will I need to have something machined?

Check out the rear Harley (or something) fender, and the butchered rear shock mounts...

I may sell the Lester rims if I can't use them on this bike.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #19 on:** September 23, 2011, 05:41:03 PM »

I had a broken post on one of my K bikes, just took it to a local machine shop and they made a new one and welded it on, didn't take long and was fairly cheap. Its not a hard part to have made up. I have rear discs on my K bikes, if you have some fabricating skills its a relatively easy conversion, looks good as well.....

jaguar · « **Reply #20 on:** September 23, 2011, 06:59:48 PM »

Quote from: Imago on September 23, 2011, 05:31:13 PM

Does anyone know where to buy the weld on upper rear shock posts, or will I need to have something machined?

Check out the rear Harley (or something) fender, and the butchered rear shock mounts...

I may sell the Lester rims if I can't use them on this bike.

oh my thats bad....
might be able to have something made to fit, or cut the back off a good frame....or just use a different frame

If you sell those wheels let me know.
I have frames but you are far...

scottly · « **Reply #21 on:** September 23, 2011, 07:04:44 PM »

If you like the wheels, they can be made to fit. Where in Sask are you? There is a fellow in BC that can probably help you if you need spacers etc. machined.

Stev-o · « **Reply #22 on:** September 24, 2011, 06:33:14 AM »

I'd sell 'em...

jaguar · « **Reply #23 on:** September 24, 2011, 06:40:29 AM »

Quote from: scottly on September 23, 2011, 07:04:44 PM

If you like the wheels, they can be made to fit. Where in Sask are you? There is a fellow in BC that can probably help you if you need spacers etc. machined.

What would you need machined?
If you got a F swing arm wont that just bolt on to the frame and then bolt all the disc stuff on?

Don R · « **Reply #24 on:** September 24, 2011, 10:11:32 PM »

All the disc stuff may bolt on. Except the mechanical brake rod, oh there's no rear master cyl on a K. Not sure if there is a bolt on master for a K, but one for an F will require fabrication and welding. The frames are different.

I'd sell them to me but I'm Lester mag greedy. Buuuut,, I have the F they would love to be on. HaHa.

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Author Topic: Lester Mags (Read 7170 times)