Topic: 78 750 F3 Rust Bucket competed

[Graydude]

I guess I'm about as done as I'm gonna be.  No more major items to complete other than pulling the engine at some point to see why my compression is 90 to 120 across the cylinders and why she smokes like a diesel.  Other than that I am very pleased with the overall project.  Five months and an undisclosed fortune were invested.  I can tell you I never would have started this project without this board and it's members as resources.  You guys are the best and I hope I can give back with my experiences.  You can check out the progress here during my rebuild here by clicking the link on my signature line at the bottom of this post.  I would welcome anyone chiming in after hearing the bike run MOV02836.MPG

I thought some before and after pictures would be fun.  Remember I received the bike from my son in May after it sat outside in Seattle for 14 years.  It does have a new California plate "BITCN 78" on it's way!

























Thanks again to all the parts donors.  Let me know what you think!

Todd/Graydude

[jaguar]

Thats one good looking bike!

[theofam]

Nice work!  I hope mine looks half as cool when done.

[Toxic]

Nice transformation.

What smoke?  You didn't show any smoke on the vid.  Could be assembly lube burning off or just condensation due to the cold temp.
What color is the smoke? What does it smell like.
How many miles have you put on it?

I would be more concerned with the oil light not working at this point.  Do you have an oil pressure gauge as a substitute?  Have you verified that the top end is getting oil?

I wouldn't be concerned about your comp. numbers on a freshly rebuilt motor either. 

[jaguar]

You should stop over at bike of the month....

[MCRider]

14 years! isn't it amazing that happens?  Anyway, nice pulling one back from the brink.

You mention rings and pistons. Did you do head work too? The 78Fs are notorious for needing valve guides at around 20,000 miles or more. Could be the cause of your smoke and a little excess sewing machine noise.

[Steve_K]

+1  very bice bike and the paint on the tank looks great
Steve

[Graydude]

Nice transformation.

What smoke?  You didn't show any smoke on the vid.  Could be assembly lube burning off or just condensation due to the cold temp.
What color is the smoke? What does it smell like.
How many miles have you put on it?

I would be more concerned with the oil light not working at this point.  Do you have an oil pressure gauge as a substitute?  Have you verified that the top end is getting oil?

I wouldn't be concerned about your comp. numbers on a freshly rebuilt motor either.

Good questions Toxic.  I replaced the oil sender and verified continuity in the wire and checked the dash bulb but I still cannot get the light to come on.  I've not verified oil pressure with a gauge but that is a good next option.  The smoke is definitely oil smoke.  I have a few hundred miles on her and the smoke only comes on when she is good and warmed up.  At a traffic light I bring my own fog layer.  Cars kinda inch away from me like I have the plague.  The neutral light is also evasive.  I checked the sender and even got it to work for a couple of weeks but then that shaft moved again, just a small amount, and now the light does not work in neutral.  I guess it will always be something with a 35 year old bike.

Yes, I did the top end with new guides and valve seals and had the whole head serviced. The shop was not a motorcycle focused shop.  My suspensions lie in the head.  The compression does not go up when put a tablespoon of oil into each cylinder.

[MCRider]

Hmmm. All you can do is take it apart and check things.