Author Topic: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........  (Read 48681 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Terry in Australia

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 33,318
  • So, what do ya wanna talk about today?
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #475 on: November 25, 2019, 02:15:49 PM »
Thanks guys, I'm a big fan of the Stephen King movie, "Christine", and as I was riding along yesterday enjoying life, I thought back to all of my injuries this year.

I crushed a finger, dropped a brake assembly on my foot smashing my big toe, broke the toe beside it running up the steps to intercept the guy delivering the battery for it, and of course, the clutch plate in the face a couple of weeks ago. I was just thinking how the old swamp rat had some "Christine" qualities of it's own, and even though I'm not big on giving bikes peoples names, I was just thinking that like that old red Plymouth Fury, the Swamp Rat might be renamed Christine.

I hadn't discussed any of this with the wife, but ironically, she mused that maybe the bike could rebuild itself, just like Christine? That was a jaw dropping moment for me.........

Anyway, new day, new idea. I'm thinking that the bottom end of the engine and gearbox should be fine, as the 3.5 litres of oil was sitting in the crankcases when this happened. I'll drop the oil, pump and filter, then pop the cam cover off and if theres no metal in the oil, inspect the cam and rockers (which I'm presuming are destroyed) and put my new borescope down the spark plug holes and have a look at each cylinder for damage. If the bores are good, I might replace the pump, cam, cam towers and rockers, and see if it'll run. If it sounds ok, job done and back for another ride, if not, plan B. Christine, dont fail me now...... ;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 web

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 135
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #476 on: November 25, 2019, 03:00:16 PM »
Either that or your "too soon" subtitle came true, ie trying to do things too quickly...

Offline Terry in Australia

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 33,318
  • So, what do ya wanna talk about today?
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #477 on: November 25, 2019, 03:26:23 PM »
Ha ha, quite possibly, I'll be 60 in March and have enough projects to last the rest of my life, so time is of the essence! ;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 Terry in Australia

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 33,318
  • So, what do ya wanna talk about today?
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #478 on: November 26, 2019, 04:39:47 PM »
The sun is out and the weather is warm, so it's autopsy day for the Swamp Rat. I'll drop the oil and filter first, then the pan and pump, and see where I go from what I see in the pan. I hope it's not total carnage........... ;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 jaytee-nz

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 639
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #479 on: November 26, 2019, 05:42:26 PM »
Or "Total Cornedge" as Tony Greig would say !

Offline Terry in Australia

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 33,318
  • So, what do ya wanna talk about today?
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #480 on: November 26, 2019, 11:51:13 PM »
Ha ha, well I had a little time today and I know that the weather is supposed to turn back to winter on the weekend, so I took a peek at the oil.

27 Nov 2019 Swamp Rat autopsy. by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

It didn't look too bad, but I dropped the exhaust, the filter and the oil pan, and looking at the pump's screen, it didn't look good.

27 Nov 2019 Swamp Rat autopsy.  1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I dropped the pump, expecting it to be seized, but it was fine, apart from the fact that most of the screen was blocked with metal, and maybe old sealant?

27 Nov 2019 Swamp Rat autopsy.  2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Anyway, I could have done a top end strip, but decided that with the limited time I had, I'd be better off hauling the engine out in anticipation of slotting another engine back in.

27 Nov 2019 Swamp Rat autopsy.  3 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

So if it's not raining tomorrow after work, I'll haul the engine out of the bitsa and install it in the swamp rat:

27 Nov 2019 Swamp Rat autopsy.  4 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Then I'll put this engine back into the bitsa. It's the one I originally put in the bitsa, but couldn't register the bike with it because the arsehat previous owner still has that engine number listed against the registration for a bike in Canberra. The engine was a good one, although it had had some welding on the cases that weeped a little oil, but eventually I'll swap the guts into the cases of the blown up engine. All good. With luck I'll be riding the Swamp Rat on the weekend. It's like playing tetris with CB750 engines. ;D

27 Nov 2019 Swamp Rat autopsy.  5 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr
« Last Edit: November 26, 2019, 11:53:26 PM by Terry in Australia »
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 PeWe

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 15,571
  • Bike almost back to the 70's 2015
That's a reminder to remove pan and inspect the oil pump strainer for debris blocking it.
Especially after a rebuild when sealer might come off.

Every 10.000 km at closest oil change feels right.

If you had good oil with plenty of zinc, damage not that bad?
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline MCRider

  • Such is the life of a
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 14,376
  • Today's Lesson: One good turn deserves another.
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #482 on: November 27, 2019, 06:52:39 AM »
Yikes! That's a mess!
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline PeWe

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 15,571
  • Bike almost back to the 70's 2015
A thought..
Can that engine been parked before due to oil starvation? Nothing done, parked and forgotten.
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline Terry in Australia

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 33,318
  • So, what do ya wanna talk about today?
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #484 on: November 27, 2019, 02:41:42 PM »
Yep, if you go back to the very beginning (Julie Andrews, Sound of Music) I pulled the sump pan, cleaned all the gloop out of it and the pump, primed everything and reassembled before I tried to start it.

As you'll recall, I did a top end rebuild because two pistons had rusted into their bores, but all of the top end bits (cam, towers, rockers etc) were good, and I blew out the oil jets in the head, so I don't think it was the reason the bike was parked. Gary, the previous owner bought a new Harley and stopped riding the 750, and stripped it to "restore" the bike, and gave up. (and somehow lost all the parts he'd taken off)

Anyway, no biggie, I needed a good set of cases to install the guts of that other engine, so I might do that before I install it into the bitsa. First priority is getting the Swamp Rat up and running again. ;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 spotty

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,932
  • cb750....for when a Vmax is just too much bike
    • spottys world of vmaxes and great danes
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #485 on: November 27, 2019, 03:28:08 PM »
i just had one of those ' i remember' moments....

when i had my ill-fated xs650, i decided to treat it to a good service, oil, plugs, filters, new exhausts etc, as it turned out the oil passages must have been a bit clogged as the new oil flushed a whole load of smeg out and straight into the crank bottom end, this did immeasurable damage to the bearings to the point that one big end bearings ( hefty roller bearings on the xs) completely collapsed, taking the conrod, piston, bore, valves and head with it

maybe something similar with mr swampy ?
i blame Terry

Offline Terry in Australia

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 33,318
  • So, what do ya wanna talk about today?
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #486 on: November 27, 2019, 04:48:02 PM »
Yeah mate, I reckon thats probably what took it down, the oil came out pretty clean considering what was washing around in it, but the metal in the sump pan yesterday was mostly non- magnetic, which leads me to believe that a main, or pehaps big end might be the contributor.

 I may do the case swap sooner rather than later as I can't see much point in installing the engine into the bitsa then pulling it out again, so when I do, I'll make sure all the oilways are thoroughly cleaned out. (Might be a job for my 5000 psi pressure washer) ;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 BPellerine

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,222
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #487 on: November 27, 2019, 05:42:37 PM »
the top end oiling is always in the back of my mind with these engines,just a little bit of crud and it is toast,not the best system in my mind terry.bill
1978 CB 750K ard and webers
another anfob

Offline Terry in Australia

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 33,318
  • So, what do ya wanna talk about today?
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #488 on: November 27, 2019, 06:47:46 PM »
Thanks Bill, the CB750 was a wonderous beast for it's time, but not as forgiving as say, a Z1 or GS1000 (or even a Harley) in that regard, there's a lot to be said for roller bearing cranks and fat oilways. ;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 754

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 29,058
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #489 on: November 27, 2019, 10:24:22 PM »
So I have to ask , you said debris on the screen was non ferrous ? At any rate it does not look very shiny, as in fresh wear.

Back to my engine that had water in it, I suspect that my frosty , puckered , etched looking main bearings, would likely come apart should I try to run it.

 Be  interesting to see yours once apart..
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline BPellerine

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 2,222
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #490 on: November 28, 2019, 08:21:19 AM »
never even thought about stuff like that untill I started taking them apart and seeing what makes them tick,they are tough when they are working right,hope the damage is not too severe.bill
1978 CB 750K ard and webers
another anfob

Offline web

  • Enthusiast
  • **
  • Posts: 135
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #491 on: November 28, 2019, 08:52:11 AM »
That is some serious crap in there though, and the blackness of the oil in the drain pan is also not what you'd expect from one ride.

Offline Terry in Australia

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 33,318
  • So, what do ya wanna talk about today?
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #492 on: November 28, 2019, 12:04:38 PM »
Thanks guys, well my first priority is to get "Christine" up and running again, so it might be awhile before we see what lurks within, because the year is rushing headlong towards Christmas and as I need my Kawasaki Z1000 "Mad Max" bike on the road by February to go on the "Stone" run, I need to stop farting around with CB750's and make a start on the big Z.

That's the worst thing about setting priorities, you have to stick with them. ;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 PeWe

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 15,571
  • Bike almost back to the 70's 2015
Terry, you have another ready to go  engine to throw in?

I remember you had dragged some home a year or two ago.
« Last Edit: November 29, 2019, 03:02:49 AM by PeWe »
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline Terry in Australia

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 33,318
  • So, what do ya wanna talk about today?
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #494 on: November 28, 2019, 12:36:15 PM »
G'Day Per, I've got a few engines lying around, but only a couple of K2 engines, so I'll swap the engine in from tbe K2 Bitsa, as it's a "known" engine in great condition thats done a few hundred miles since I built that bike in 2017.

It'll be a good opportunity to address the oil dribble from the cam cover that's annoyed me from day 1, because the Bitsa doesn't have a "frame kit" installed, so as I've come up with a better version of my redneck frame kit in the last week or so, I'll install a frame kit on the bitsa while I'm at it, which will also make engine removal/replacement dead simple.

The weather for the weekend hasn't been promising, but hopefully the rain gods will allow me to get this done. ;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 Terry in Australia

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 33,318
  • So, what do ya wanna talk about today?
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #495 on: November 29, 2019, 02:29:28 AM »
Well it was raining by the time I got home from work today, so no work on the Swamp Rat, but there was a parcel waiting for me. I've got a Morgan Carbetune which I love, but when I saw this I had to do the "Buy it now" thing, just because it's so cool. ;D

Honda vac guages 2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Honda vac guages by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr
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 PeWe

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 15,571
  • Bike almost back to the 70's 2015
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #496 on: November 29, 2019, 03:02:10 AM »
I understand you completely!
That is a must buy for all us CB horders if not too expensive and money can be squeezed out.
Save the box. Half price without, right?
You can soon build a Honda shop that look like a time capsule from the 70's....
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

  • This MuthaF'er is getting to be a
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 14,912
  • Bought her new 4/75
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #497 on: November 29, 2019, 08:01:09 AM »
That's a good score. Better than scoring good weed!  ;D
As of today 3/13/2012 my original owner 75 CB750F has made it through 3 wives, er EX-wives. Free at last.  ;-)

Offline strynboen

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 4,883
    • http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?PHPSESSID=1jklvnvcmifsdv7p56msod0uc7&/topic,60973.0.html
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #498 on: November 29, 2019, 08:07:25 AM »
if you go for a stone run...is it end,, in the coffin???vith your luck...
i kan not speak english/but trying!!
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=60973.0
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=144758.0
i hate all this v-w.... vords

Offline Terry in Australia

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 33,318
  • So, what do ya wanna talk about today?
Re: Terry's NEW Redneck CB750 rebuild. The "Swamp Rat". Too soon? Nah..........
« Reply #499 on: November 29, 2019, 02:40:07 PM »
if you go for a stone run...is it end,, in the coffin???vith your luck...

Ha ha, geez I hope not mate! The big Z build will only be stage 1 of a multi stage build, the first stage is just to get it going and on the road legally, then I can modify it to make it handle better and stop much better. Hopefully I'll be on that ride with a slightly rough looking Z in February, it should be a great event, there are folks coming from all over Australia and overseas to be there. ;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)