Author Topic: 1973 CB750K3 - One Owner Barn Find - 5,310 miles - Final with Pics (Read 43738 times)

Johnie · « **Reply #250 on:** March 23, 2012, 06:33:01 AM »

Thanks Brian it will be worth a check. That is a good price. Do you know does that include shipping? I am getting all 4 pipes for $1,000 including shipping.

ekpent · « **Reply #251 on:** March 23, 2012, 06:50:33 AM »

Glad you are going local on those also Johnie with your dealer,cost you a fortune and major hassle to be sending those back on your dime.
It would be neat though to scoop up some of those crappy pipes at a MAJOR discount to mount up on non show quality everyday rider type bikes or flipper machines. Hear what there doing with those let me know but don't tell anybody else

Johnie · « **Reply #252 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:16:56 AM »

Today I started the process of polishing the oxidation off the side engine covers. A slow, tedious and very messy deal, but well worth the look in the end. So far I hit it with the red rouge. Next comes the green and then white will finish it up. Once that is done my pipes should be here and ready to install for the final leg of this fun project.

ekpent · « **Reply #253 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:19:15 AM »

Don't forget to touch up that black around the Honda logo

Tews19 · « **Reply #254 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:20:48 AM »

Looks great! When you polish, I take it you use a bench grinder? When I use mine, for some reason I am always congested the next day. Do you have this as well?

Johnie · « **Reply #255 on:** March 23, 2012, 09:20:56 AM »

That black HONDA logo will be the final piece of this puzzle. Can not forget that or you guys will crucify me.
Tews...I hope you wear a filter mask. I do use the bench buffer but wear a mask, gloves, and safety goggles. Never had a congestion issue, but I can understand how you could if you don't wear anything. If you are wearing respiratory protection maybe it is not filtering good.

ekpent · « **Reply #256 on:** March 23, 2012, 11:48:13 AM »

Johnie I saw a pic of Nick/Tews once here when he was into a polishing session. Looked like he was just dragged out of a coal mine explosion

Johnie · « **Reply #257 on:** March 23, 2012, 12:10:46 PM »

Hahaha...good one Eric. You are correct, sir!!! It can make you look like a black lung. I have resorted to doing it outside on the side of the house to reduce mess and cleanup. I think I mentioned I tried it once in the patio and the establishment was not very happy with me.

Oops...

Tews19 · « **Reply #258 on:** March 23, 2012, 01:10:52 PM »

The pic I posted was prior to using a mask. I didn't realize I needed a mask...

Johnie · « **Reply #259 on:** March 31, 2012, 06:12:35 AM »

To refresh your memory on the problems with Honda HM341 quality...pipes 2 & 3 came fine after sending back pipe 2 which had a dent. Pipe #1 was sent back 3 times and now HM admits they had some issues with poor chrome on the pipes. A new batch of #1 is being made and should be here in a couple weeks. Yesterday I get pipe #4 and the chrome had come off at the area the of the weld between the header and the muffler. So back went #4. Mr. Honda would roll-over in his grave if he knew what had become of the HM brand and the poor quality of the parts.

Tews19 · « **Reply #260 on:** March 31, 2012, 12:48:42 PM »

Write the letter bud! This has become a long process and extra money driving back and forth to look and say no thanks to some turd pipes when you deserve brand new quality...

Johnie · « **Reply #261 on:** March 31, 2012, 02:48:22 PM »

I suppose I will write a letter to mention the poor quality on the pipes. Maybe one, but this has been going on now for 5 pipes to current count. On a good note, I finished polishing the side engine covers. Here are before and after pics...

Johnie · « **Reply #262 on:** April 01, 2012, 01:11:46 PM »

Today finished up the polishing on drive sprocket cover and got that back on the bike with the freshly painted foot pegs. Finally got the bike outside for some better cover shots. Next I will install the freshly painted center stand and then need to wait for Honda to find good HM341's #1 & #4.

bjatwood · « **Reply #263 on:** April 01, 2012, 05:30:26 PM »

Nice shine John!

Tews19 · « **Reply #264 on:** April 01, 2012, 06:20:02 PM »

God that looks brand new!Very cool

dhall57 · « **Reply #265 on:** April 02, 2012, 11:54:19 AM »

Sure isn't anything wrong those covers. Great work as always Johnie. One heck of a shine, where's my shades

Maybe the next shippment of pipes will be some keepers.

Johnie · « **Reply #266 on:** April 03, 2012, 12:20:16 PM »

So I think this might be my last post for a while on this project. I hate to keep posting that Honda keeps sending me crappy HM341's, but that is what I would post again today. Got another #4 pipe and it was bad. Just like the pics above with chrome that looks like spray paint. So I am getting real disappointed and wondering if I will ever get new #1 & #4 pipes before summer. I do not want to even count up how many bad pipes they have sent my dealer. Just glad this is not a eBay deal or I would be out of luck. I have now seen these bad pipes on eBay listing them as factory seconds. It is a real shame what Honda is accepting from their chromers. And even worse that they expect the buyer will accept it. This pipe today had 3 inspection stickers on the box saying the pipe was fine. And the dealer told me he would not accept it either. Honest, I am not picky. I have bought plenty of these pipes to know what factory chrome should look like. If I would have taken the bad pipes they sent me for 1 & 4 and put them on the bike with the good 2 & 3, well, it would have looked pretty ugly. Especially since the worse pipes would be on the outside.

Johnie · « **Reply #267 on:** April 05, 2012, 03:27:00 PM »

Just when things were not going so well with my hunt for decent 341's Honda comes through with a nice #4 for me today. So the next picture I post after today should show the right side done. The #1 pipe is back ordered for a new batch with hopefully good chrome and should be here in a week or 2. I really have to give my dealer a lot of credit for going to bat for me on this. They told me flat out they would not accept that poor chrome job and did not expect me to accept it. So a couple sticks of venison sausage found their way to the dealer freezer today.

dhall57 · « **Reply #268 on:** April 05, 2012, 05:43:35 PM »

Way to go Johnie. I know your happy

3 down only one pipe to go.

bjatwood · « **Reply #269 on:** April 05, 2012, 06:11:14 PM »

Awesome Johnie!!!

Johnie · « **Reply #270 on:** April 06, 2012, 10:12:06 AM »

Rounded the corner and heading for home. Today got the center stand and right side 341's on the bike. Now just waiting to get the #1 pipe and finish this job.

Johnie · « **Reply #271 on:** April 13, 2012, 08:00:01 AM »

FINAL - So I stopped into the dealer today as they got my #1 pipe. The info on the box shows it was shipped from Japan and went through LAX airport in Los Angeles. So we looked it over and it was a keeper. Later in the afternoon I put the left side pipes on, battery, tank and seat. She fired right up. Warmed it up and took a nice ride. Went into Oshkosh to top it off with 87 unleaded no ethanol. Then took a ride out onto the expressway. Had it up to 85 MPH with not a miss. She ran flawless. This is probably the only time I will take it on the expressway, but I wanted to be sure she was good on the top end too. I took some pics for my final posting on this thread. Keep in mind this bike has the original paint and the only part that was rechromed was the gauge trays as we had the chrome lifting there. And of course the 341's are new. Otherwise, this bike is all original which was the plan from the start. I wanted to see how nice I could get an original and I am extremely happy with how this turned out. The chrome cleaned up nicely with some elbow grease as did the engine covers and forks from oxidation. Care had to be taken to not scratch it with the amount of dust and dirt. Current mileage is 5,417. I do plan to ride it and not hide it. I am the 2nd owner. He gave me the original sales receipt which states he traded in a 1969 CL350 with 3,341 miles. They gave him $379 for that bike. He paid $1,579 for this K3 and rode it home on May 31, 1973. Thanks to my SOHC friends for the encouragement through this fun project. I think an original in this condition may come around only once in a lifetime. I hope you find yours too. Ride on and ride safe. (click to enlarge)
Johnie
WI

Tews19 · « **Reply #272 on:** April 13, 2012, 08:05:39 AM »

What a beauty! Congrats and now is the time to enjoy!

markb · « **Reply #273 on:** April 13, 2012, 09:30:03 AM »

Nice work Johnie! Glad you finally got the pipes squared away too.

andy750 · « **Reply #274 on:** April 13, 2012, 10:03:40 AM »

Great story Johnie and excellent photos throughout. Really really nice bike and glad to see you are going to enjoy it. Do you notice a difference between your CB750s in terms of power delivery? How would you rate them?

Thanks for sharing
Andy

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Author Topic: 1973 CB750K3 - One Owner Barn Find - 5,310 miles - Final with Pics (Read 43738 times)