Author Topic: 1973 CB750 Custom Build on Hack A Week  (Read 94322 times)

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Offline Dino

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1973 CB750 Custom Build on Hack A Week
« on: March 27, 2014, 03:50:51 pm »
It's time to start the next project! The weather has been holding me up long enough!

First a little background.
I found this bike last November on Craigslist. The dude I got it from bought it running, took it all apart and started a restoration on it. He bought all kinds of new parts like shocks, fork tubes, seat, oil tank, side covers, all the rubber bits, handle bars, cables, tires, chrome steel rims with stainless steel spokes, wire harness and much more. He also had anything that was painted, black powder coated. ALL of the hardware got a new zinc plating. The head was reworked with a "stage 1" job done by Mike Rieck which cost $500 on it's own. There's two front disc brake rotors and calipers and all the hardware for a dual front disc conversion. There's also a lot of spares including an entire set of carbs! The only thing missing is and exhaust system. He said he had about $2K invested in parts and machine shop labor.
He was between jobs and didn't have the time or money to finish the project and so he let it go for the bargain basement price of $750. 

Here's a teaser. The first build video will be uploaded this weekend.

http://youtu.be/ShBWrJfkt-c

UPDATE May 2016 Since this now a sticky post, I'll save you time finding all the videos by posting this link to the CB750 Build playlist on YouTube. Cheers!

« Last Edit: May 28, 2016, 05:09:54 am by Dino »
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Offline Dino

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2014, 05:51:31 am »
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Offline Dino

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2014, 04:24:06 am »
Two more episodes are up. Sizing up the crank and rod bearings.

http://youtu.be/-2iWfWFRnJI

http://youtu.be/BrFK8x-DUVY
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Offline Nerdos

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2014, 07:01:05 am »
I've really enjoyed seeing your Youtube videos Dino.  When is the next one?  I am at a similar stage as you with my K3 engine.

cheers,
Nerdos.

Offline iron_worker

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2014, 08:37:21 am »
I like your video series. One comment on your bearing selection is that you're selecting bearings based on that engine's *new* dimensions. You are assuming that the crank has negligible wear which may or may not be true. Most of the wear will occur on the soft bearing material but the crank journals do wear slowly as well.

*edit* I see now that you went back and double checked the clearances after so you're good to go. *edit*

IW
« Last Edit: May 01, 2014, 08:47:49 am by iron_worker »

Offline chewbacca5000

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #5 on: May 02, 2014, 09:16:03 pm »
Very excited to see you make your way over here!  Really liked your sabre cafe build that rocked.  Please tell me you are going to do some glass work on this project as well.

Offline Dino

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2014, 04:18:08 am »
I'll for sure be building a fiberglass seat pan for this bike. Not sure about the tanks just yet. First main focus is engine assembly. I got a start on the frame this weekend and discovered that I needed more parts to continue down that rabbit hole.

So, I took a ride to a bike show Saturday with the Sabre, and won second place in the "custom" category! :)

Part 4:
http://youtu.be/NJftbhXlg98
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Offline chewbacca5000

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2014, 05:00:21 am »
Congrats on the Sabre and congrats on a very nice cb750!  Looks like alot of the tedious work has been done.  Ported head, nuts and bolts re zinced.  Very nice.

In episode one you mentioned shake or wobble at 80 mph on your old bike.  That is due to dimples in the races replacing those with tapered neck bearings from all balls is well worth it.  Looks like you already have the kit.

Good luck on the build I am along for the ride.

Offline wowbagger

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2014, 07:40:20 am »
subscribed.

As for upgraded swingarm bits, I found a set of brass bushings for my CB500 on eBay for a really reasonable price. It made a huge difference in how the bike rides. I also did the taperd steering bearing kit from All Balls which cured my 50mph shakes.
« Last Edit: May 07, 2014, 07:54:15 am by wowbagger »

Offline Dino

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2014, 04:10:55 am »
I have brass swing arm bushings on the way and the head bearing set arrived yesterday.
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Offline 70CB750

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #10 on: May 08, 2014, 04:15:00 am »
Subscribed

Offline Pinkley

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #11 on: May 10, 2014, 02:34:18 am »
Loved the Sabre build! Anxious to see how this one turns out! What head bearings did you go with it?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk


Offline Dino

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #12 on: May 10, 2014, 04:20:27 am »
Bearing are from All Balls Racing. I'm installing them today! Part 5 comin up!
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Offline Pinkley

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #13 on: May 10, 2014, 04:41:02 am »
Awesome!  That's what I went with with my k3.

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Offline Dino

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #14 on: May 10, 2014, 01:59:08 pm »
Part 5 is up! There's a lot in this video about installing the All Balls Racing tapered roller bearings in the steering head.

http://youtu.be/Da_ZenYu4Xo
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #15 on: May 10, 2014, 04:06:27 pm »
Part 5 is up! There's a lot in this video about installing the All Balls Racing tapered roller bearings in the steering head.

http://youtu.be/Da_ZenYu4Xo

Damn Skippy!  Great videos!
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline antman180

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #16 on: May 11, 2014, 12:07:12 am »
Great Video Dino - I'm at the same point with my bike, and the video was great to confirm what I was doing
Looking forward to the next one
78 CB750K

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #17 on: May 11, 2014, 12:21:39 am »
Dino,

I got addicted to the V45 build videos.  That fiberglass work was amazing.  The tank and seat are works of art.

You really put a HUGE amount of time producing the videos and they are nicely paced.  Really cool!
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Dino

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #18 on: May 11, 2014, 05:01:13 am »
Dino,

I got addicted to the V45 build videos.  That fiberglass work was amazing.  The tank and seat are works of art.

You really put a HUGE amount of time producing the videos and they are nicely paced.  Really cool!

Thank you! I do indeed put a lot of time in, and it's all a one man operation.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Offline Pinkley

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #19 on: May 11, 2014, 05:10:01 am »
Just watched the new video,  Dino. I wish the races that were in my steering neck came out that easy! Haha I beat on that lower bastard for about 2 hours. 
I had the same problem with the top of the triple tree stem not having enough thread's.  It was a PITA to get that bearing back off.

Watching your videos  is bringing back memories of the trial and error I first had when putting mine back together. Keep on hacking! :D

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk


Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #20 on: May 11, 2014, 08:13:00 am »
Just watched the new video,  Dino. I wish the races that were in my steering neck came out that easy! Haha I beat on that lower bastard for about 2 hours. 
I had the same problem with the top of the triple tree stem not having enough thread's.  It was a PITA to get that bearing back off.

Watching your videos  is bringing back memories of the trial and error I first had when putting mine back together. Keep on hacking! :D

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

I was laughing at myself, too.  I spent a more than a few minutes punching out the lower race a few years back.  I didn't have the benefit of your lipped tool.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #21 on: May 11, 2014, 08:43:13 am »
Hi Dino,

I just put in a donation for the cause.  I noticed that the link for the donation is not on all of the videos -- so you may want to add it in the description below for each video.

Don
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline AintNoEasyWay

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #22 on: May 29, 2014, 07:33:26 am »
Gotta subscribe. Thanks for the videos, Dino.

Offline Dino

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #23 on: July 20, 2014, 01:57:44 pm »
Hi everyone. Been a while since I posted a video on the CB750. I installed the rear wheel bearing this weekend. I've discovered that I need to order up a few more parts.

Here's Part 6: http://youtu.be/EiHYUuK42oY
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: 1973 CB750 Cafe Build on Hack A Week
« Reply #24 on: July 20, 2014, 03:51:21 pm »
Hi everyone. Been a while since I posted a video on the CB750. I installed the rear wheel bearing this weekend. I've discovered that I need to order up a few more parts.

Here's Part 6: http://youtu.be/EiHYUuK42oY

Great video, as always Dino!
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold