Author Topic: Tews' 74 750 Da Yooper  (Read 4002 times)

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Offline Tews19

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Tews' 74 750 Da Yooper
« on: June 24, 2016, 08:44:33 PM »
It has been a while since I posted a new build thread as my 550 big bore took up the past few summers and to be honest I was about to give up on the old CB's after getting my '99 VFR but these bikes mean a lot to me.  Since the 550 is complete the wife and I went for a ride on it and while riding around the back roads with the wife on the 550. She said "hey you need to get another 750"..... Well I picked one up, a 76 roughly 2 weeks ago.. Then found another 74 last Saturday. Well the owner called me Saturday from Iron River, MI... Rather then having a Father's day BBQ with my dad he said that he and I should go up to pick up the bike. An hour later we were on the road. The '74 has 28k miles. The PO's name is Chet and he owned it since 75 which he said it had less then 1500 miles when he bought it. While loading it up he asked if I could send him a few pictures of it all cleaned up when I am done and I told him I would make him a video of it running. Fast forward today after cleaning the carbs the past 2 days the bike started up after a few kicks. I plant restore to stock minus the exhaust.

I ordered the Delkevic Exhaust should be here tomorrow, Saturday. I ordered a repo seat which should be here by Wednesday....

The front forks have the air nozzles. Can someone please tell me how this works? Neither for seal leaks and the front suspension does feel nicer than a spongy stock set up. Also may someone help identify the rear shocks? Are they air as well????

Next post will be some pics and 2 videos of today's progress.. She isn't that pretty now but she will be road worthy soon....

Last, is it wrong to steal the nice parts off the 76 and put on the 74????? I am pretty sure they are the same and no one will be able to tell other then the ugliness



« Last Edit: June 25, 2016, 03:08:25 PM by Tews19 »
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
1970 Honda CB750 survivor.

Offline Tews19

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2016, 08:47:56 PM »
Photos of the first day to how she is standing today..

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1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
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Offline Tews19

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2016, 08:51:12 PM »


First real start up. I placed my phone on the fridge and had to edited out the first minute plus of me trying to kick it over....

1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
1970 Honda CB750 survivor.

Offline Bootsey

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2016, 10:06:15 PM »
That looks like a great addition to the collection Tews. I can't quite tell from the pics, what colour is it - dark blue or dark green? Man, sounds like you've done well on the supportive wife front too!

Offline Tews19

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2016, 10:31:58 PM »
I will say she is the best friend I've ever had. It's been 9 years and I'm truly blessed with her
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
1970 Honda CB750 survivor.

Offline dhall57

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2016, 04:46:11 AM »
Nice find Tews ;) Looks like a good one! I've had my Boss Maroon K4 since 2014 and still haven't got it completely done :( No ones fault but my own, but its just about there. Expecting brake lines to be here today from Slingshot Cycles. So lines, caliper, and pads installed this weekend. Still got to get new rubber though, Im running Dunlope 404 on all my other bikes and like them but think I want to go more with the retro vintage look on the K4. What tires do you run. Your carbs looked about as nasty as mine did ;D
« Last Edit: June 25, 2016, 04:50:16 AM by dhall57 »
1970 CB750KO
1971 CB500KO-project bike
1973 CB350G- project bike
1974 CB750K4-project bike
1974 CB750K4
1976 CB750K6
1977 GL1000
1997 Harley Wideglide

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #6 on: June 25, 2016, 05:18:50 AM »
Good pickup mate, I won't even ask what you paid for them, it'll probably just make me cry. The air caps are great, folks here who don't know what they're talking about will tell you they were snake oil, blah blah blah, but I've had them on several bikes (and have them currently on my K1 fitted with GL1000 front end) and they work, just as designed.

What they do is take the sag out of your forks, spread your fork seals to reduce leakage, and give you the preload you need without having to revert to packing washers or other crap on top of your fork springs, so you get the full travel of your forks, and not just the last couple of inches. If your seals are in good condition, (and your forks too, of course) they'll hold air for a long time, I installed mine last year, and they're still holding air.

Be careful how you inflate them though, mine is an S&W kit with a gauge, and only run around 12 psi, so you need a bicycle pump or something similar to inflate them, the air pressure at the pump at your gas station will likely blow your fork seals out.

I can't see your rear shocks well enough in those pics to tell what they are, can you post a clearer pic? Cheers, Terry. ;D
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Offline Tews19

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #7 on: June 25, 2016, 05:42:23 AM »
Thanks DHALL. I am not sure which brand of tire i will be going with. Something sticky i assume. Terry is think I got a good price. It came with a title. I never pay much for my bikes, hence why they are so rough looking.  But that's why I like them, get them rough and non running to a daily rider.. The front suspension does feel really nice so the plan is to keep it and not swap out the front end from the 76. How can I find out the brand? I do not see any markings.  Here is a pic of the rear shocks up close. The bodies are thicker then stockers. I thought they may be older 750 stockers but not  really.

In regard to the front forks, the PO told me flat out the bike hasn't been ridden since '98 or 2000 at earliest. Since the fork seal seem.to be fine should I leave as is?

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« Last Edit: July 24, 2016, 06:08:07 PM by Tews19 »
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
1970 Honda CB750 survivor.

Offline Tews19

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #8 on: June 25, 2016, 05:43:16 AM »
If you look at the top of the rear shocks you can see where the welds are....

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Offline dhall57

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #9 on: June 25, 2016, 06:09:30 AM »
$500.00 with title :o No matter how you slice or dice it that's a deal or maybe even better a steal ;D I wish I could say I paid that for mine ::) Mine did however still have the original 341 pipes that are in near new condition though even the good ole #2 pipe. This is what I keep repeating to myself anyway to justify what I paid for it ::) Haha
« Last Edit: June 25, 2016, 06:31:18 AM by dhall57 »
1970 CB750KO
1971 CB500KO-project bike
1973 CB350G- project bike
1974 CB750K4-project bike
1974 CB750K4
1976 CB750K6
1977 GL1000
1997 Harley Wideglide

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #10 on: June 25, 2016, 12:37:13 PM »
Nick, every now and then I come across one that doesn't immediately need fork seals, but do change the fluid.  Other times, the only reason they aren't leakin is 'cuz there is nothing left in there to leak. :o +1 to what Terry said about the air caps except in my experience, you will have to top off the air pressure about every 800 miles, maybe more, maybe less.  Get a good gauge and a low pressure hand pump and its quick and easy to pump 'em up.
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline Tews19

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #11 on: June 25, 2016, 12:39:29 PM »
Thanks Sean!  Are you heading this way this summer?
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #12 on: June 25, 2016, 12:42:33 PM »
want to...dunno right now...just got done with 57 hours work this week with much the same through July at least
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline Tews19

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #13 on: June 25, 2016, 12:46:05 PM »
Wowsa!  Those are some hours!
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #14 on: June 25, 2016, 12:55:39 PM »
I want to shoot for the Slimey Crud Run...if not something sooner
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline Tews19

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #15 on: June 25, 2016, 01:53:14 PM »
Crud never works for me. My boys have cross country and football. Or else  it falls on our fantasy football draft
« Last Edit: June 25, 2016, 03:08:59 PM by Tews19 »
1969 Honda CB750... Basket case
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yopper
« Reply #16 on: June 25, 2016, 02:18:38 PM »
Congrats, Tews. 2 solid bikes for a grand, only you could be so lucky!
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yooper
« Reply #17 on: June 25, 2016, 06:17:13 PM »
Thanks DHALL. I am not sure which brand of tire i will be going with. Something sticky i assume. Terry is think I got a good price. I paid 500 and it came with a title. The red 76 I also paid 500 for. With the Red 76 I literally put a battery in, some fresh gas and she started up. Although she ran for only 15 secs then died. I never pay much for my bikes, hence why they are so rough looking.  But that's why I like them, get them rough and non running to a daily rider.. The front suspension does feel really nice so the plan is to keep it and not swap out the front end from the 76. How can I find out the brand? I do not see any markings.  Here is a pic of the rear shocks up close. The bodies are thicker then stockers. I thought they may be older 750 stockers but not  really.

In regard to the front forks, the PO told me flat out the bike hasn't been ridden since '98 or 2000 at earliest. Since the fork seal seem.to be fine should I leave as is?

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That's a bargain mate, no idea what the rear shocks are (Hagon's, maybe?) but they're not air shocks, which is probably good because the bladders would be buggered by now if they were. Great prices, seriously I'd have to pay 8 or 9 times that here in Oz for one in the same condition. Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yooper
« Reply #18 on: June 25, 2016, 10:13:22 PM »
What a smokin' deal.  Congrats!
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)
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Offline Johnie

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yooper
« Reply #19 on: June 26, 2016, 06:12:13 PM »
Nice find Nick! Looks very workable for a great price with title...yikers. That is what I would call a real nice Father's Day.
1970 CB750K0 - Candy Ruby Red
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Offline Tews19

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yooper
« Reply #20 on: July 07, 2016, 07:00:56 AM »
This is funny, When I purchased the bike I asked for the second key. The PO said he hadn't seen the key for years and it was lost. While soaking the tank last week in vinegar I kept hearing a rattle when pressure washing it out. I thought the tube from the petcock broke. Ends up being the spare key the PO said was lost. I'm not sure if this was a common practice of storing the spare key in the gas tank but I got a laugh out of it.

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Offline Stev-o

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yooper
« Reply #21 on: July 07, 2016, 07:18:40 AM »
That is funny.

PS. Whats a "Da Yooper"??!
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yooper
« Reply #22 on: July 07, 2016, 07:49:45 AM »
It's because of where he bought the bike, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (the UP). Residents of the UP are called Yoopers.
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Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200

Offline Tews19

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yooper
« Reply #23 on: July 07, 2016, 11:07:28 AM »
Danny nailed it.
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: Tews' 74 750 Da Yooper
« Reply #24 on: July 07, 2016, 03:26:44 PM »
Guess I'm not up on the UP slang! Although I have been to Mackinaw Island...
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........