Topic: Idiot's Guide to the CB750??

[francesb]

Hey all,

I have the Clymer, the Haynes, and the shop manual, but I don't the book I need. While I am game, in terms of working on my bike. I'm really clueless re. a. what something might be a symptom of i.e., if your bike is doing X, the problem might be Y or Z, and b. how the damn thing works, i.e, this is what an air filter does, this is is what the cam chain is, these are the tools you need, etc....

This site is amazing, of course, and I've never not been able to find or get an answer to all my questions, but I'd like a *book*. Can anyone recommend a good vintage bike primer for me?

thanks in advance

frances
CB750K3

[scondon]

Hey Frances,

       Haynes also prints a "Motorcycle Basics Techbook" that I found helpful. I've torn a 750 down to the last bolt by following a manual but still didn't have a clear understanding of "how the damn thing works". This book helped.

Sean

[rob]

A good book at a beginners level is "Motorcycle Owners Manual" by Hugo Wilson.  It is sort of like a non-bike specific owners manual, and goes over a lot of maintenance and repairs, and has a pretty good glossary as well.


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0789416158/qid=1116578212/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/102-5139536-5459349?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

$4.99 US used off the site. 

Rob

[francesb]

Hey, thanks. I have the Haynes already, and will get the book you suggested, Rob.

[Jonesy]

I recommend "The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintainance" by Mark Zimmerman. He covers every aspect of how bikes work, both new and old. He has a lot of good service tips too.

I have always felt that the key to becoming good at repairing a certain piece of machinery is to know it inside and out. If you understand the function of every part, you have a better sense of how it contributes to the rest of the mechanical system.

[Bob Wessner]

I second Dan's recommendation on the Zimmerman book, found it very informative and useful.

[Mark M]

I like the point about understanding how every part works. With over 20 years experience of working on my own bikes I still have to read the manual very carefully. Sometimes the manual won't give you enough information to fully understand an assembly prior to starting work. When you are stipping something you still havn't got straight in your own head you need to work slow and work it out as you strip it, not when youre trying to put it back together, it's too late then.

[Bob Wessner]

I've found that a digital camera is a great little tool also. Snapping some pics as you disassemble helps later, particularly if there is significant time lapse between disassemble and reassemble when the old memory starts getting a little fuzzy.