Author Topic: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately  (Read 1007 times)

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Offline Bais

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CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« on: March 29, 2022, 01:07:21 PM »
Rebuilding 1969 CB750 that has been lying in the garage for 30+ years, with little to no knowledge of motorcycle mechanics prior to beginning the project.  Got it a stage where it started and ran decently for test drives.   Reached the point of trying to sync the carburetors but noticed a little fuel leaking from float bowls.  Removed the carburetors and rechecked the floats at 26mm and confirmed nothing impeding their movement.  Also did a clear tube test, which put the level right at, or very close to the 3 mm from top of the float bowl.  Rechecked all the jets (120 & 40) and air passages to be sure they are clear.  Needle clip is set in the 3rd position.  After reinstalling the carbs. the engine will now start and die almost immediately with or without the choke.  The fuel (Shell premium) seems to flow properly.  The air screws are currently set a one turn, although I have tried several positions.
Any ideas as to what I am messing up?  Seems like I'm missing something basic, given that it was running OK and now won't even start.

Online Don R

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2022, 01:32:00 PM »
 Mine had a 4-1 header that was plugged up with a carelessly installed fiberglass baffle. Mouse nests will also cause the same issue. I replaced every system one at a time and even swapped the engine before figuring it out.
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Offline BenelliSEI

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2022, 01:59:34 PM »
Check your single 15A fuse and clips. Are they clean and tight. I had a fuse that the filament would rest across the contacts and then vibrate out of place on every start up. Turn the lights on. If they die with the motor, look for the break.....

Offline MauiK3

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2022, 02:29:29 PM »
Check ground wires for a high resistance connection.
Is the motor die cast?
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Offline Bais

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2022, 03:24:29 PM »
It is die cast motor.  Ground wires good.  Checked fuse & clips all OK.  No mouse nests and exhaust are stock with no clogs.  Thanks for the input / ideas.

Offline cooldrum

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #5 on: March 29, 2022, 03:35:56 PM »
Back to basics.  Good strong charge from battery to get the fire going?  Pull a plug to check, points gap and timing?  Plugged vent in cap?  or flip cap up and start it again. Keep us posted

Offline HondaMan

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #6 on: March 29, 2022, 05:54:29 PM »
Umm..check your sparkplugs. With #120 mainjets and premium fuel, they will foul very quickly. Today's midgrade fuels burn at about the same rate as the 1970s premium, and today's D8EA sparkplugs are far colder, to boot. This makes them foul, pronto.

My suggestion if you find black plugs:
1. Change your mainjets to #110 size (or even #105, which works better) for today's fuels, and run midgrade unless touring 2-up with full [camping] gear aboard at 90 MPH. Then the plugs won't foul. Make sure the jet needles in the slides have their clips in the middle notch for the early carbs.
2. Set your air screws on the carbs to 3/4 or 7/8 turn out, NO MORE. Optionally, if you want the original screw adjustment range of 3/4 to 1-1/4, change the pilot jets to size #38 (aka 37..5) in Keihin jetting. This, too, is due to modern gas.
3. Make sure your battery is well charged. It should not drop below 12.0 volts when running. If it does then the spark will get weak.
4. If you have installed Daiichi brand condensors, go find your old ones instead, and install those. The Daiichi condensors are pure crap and will act just like what you have described above. They are not rated to high enough voltage (250v instead of 400v), and they short internally with just a few minutes of runtime.
« Last Edit: April 01, 2022, 06:38:01 PM by HondaMan »
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Offline Ujeni

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #7 on: March 30, 2022, 08:49:37 AM »
Knowing that you are working with a bike that has been sitting for a while, I suspect you may have an air leak at the carb boots. That would explain why the engine wont idle...your mixture is too lean due to air leaking in via the carb boots. You can test this by spraying the carb boots with starter fluid while starting the engine. If you see a change in engine behavior then you have a leak. You can solve it by re-seating the carbs on the boots after heating the boots to make them more plyable. Be sure to tighten them down while the boots are still plyable to get a good seal.
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Online Don R

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #8 on: March 30, 2022, 11:09:56 AM »
    My 78 gl1000 hates shell premium. Not sure why, but it's acted up two times both, after getting shell premium. It should not cause your issues but just an fyi.
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Offline Tim2005

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #9 on: March 30, 2022, 11:15:34 AM »
Could be fuel or ignition related, so to help diagnosing the problem take 1 plug out and lay it on the head attached to the plug cap (not too near the plug hole though, as it could light the vapour) then start it up (should start on 3 aok) and see whether that plug stops sparking suddenly

Offline seanbarney41

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #10 on: March 30, 2022, 03:10:31 PM »
Just rebuilt your carbs huh?  Try turning up the big idle speed knob or use the throttle while starting until you can keep it running long enough to adjust the idle speed.  Final idle speed will have to be adjusted when the engine is at full operating temperature.  Few bikes will idle at cold start without some throttle input.
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline Bais

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #11 on: March 31, 2022, 08:42:53 AM »
Made some progress from y'alls suggestions, primarily by replacing the plugs, which were black, and I can now keep it running to work on idle & trying to sync carbs.  Thanks. 
The boots are new because the old ones were so stiff from age, and it looks like a seat.  Battery is also new and has a good charge.  Using the original condensers.  I'll switch the jets to 110, modify the air screws to 3/4 turn and try midgrade fuel to see how it changes performance.   
Separate question:  There are individual set screws on each carb of the K0 750.  Anyone know if there is a recommended turn setting for them from a bottomed-out position?

Online Johnie

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #12 on: March 31, 2022, 02:41:14 PM »
I hope you put in new points and condensers. Just going from your comments "little to no knowledge"...those set screws on the side of each carb are for your slow idle only. You set your main sync by the adjustment on each carb cable while running it at 3,000 RPM. Be sure you put a fan or 2 on the motor as you set the sync. I remember my first sync on my KO and it does take a bit to dial it in. But once done she holds nice. I said after my first KO I'd never get another to mess with...ended up with like 2 more. Good luck and let us know how you come out.
« Last Edit: March 31, 2022, 02:42:56 PM by Johnie »
1970 CB750K0 - Candy Ruby Red
1973 CB750K3 - Candy Bacchus Olive or Sunflake Orange
1970 Chevy Chevelle SS396 - Cortez Silver
1976 GL1000 Sulphur Yellow

Oshkosh, WI  USA

Offline ekpent

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #13 on: March 31, 2022, 04:18:48 PM »
You do still have the original 4 cable carbs on your bike I assume ?  Be fun to see some pics of it and an idea as to how early it is via the serial numbers.

Offline Bais

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #14 on: March 31, 2022, 06:32:07 PM »
New points & condensers.  I discovered the side set screws are for idle but, is it just whatever works or is there an expected turn setting like the air screws? 
I'll take a stab at the sync, using 3,000 RPM as soon as I get the jets changed out.  Bike has original cable carbs which, I'm finding, are not the easiest to work.  I'll get pictures posted sooner or later.  FYI, VIN is CB750-1025450.  My parents co-signed for my brother & me (underage at the time) in late '69 or '70 so we are the original owners/riders.

Offline ekpent

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #15 on: March 31, 2022, 09:16:45 PM »
Neat story and very cool it has stayed in the family all these years. Thanks for the background info.

Online Johnie

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #16 on: April 01, 2022, 07:20:01 AM »
What sync tool are you using?
1970 CB750K0 - Candy Ruby Red
1973 CB750K3 - Candy Bacchus Olive or Sunflake Orange
1970 Chevy Chevelle SS396 - Cortez Silver
1976 GL1000 Sulphur Yellow

Oshkosh, WI  USA

Offline Bais

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #17 on: April 01, 2022, 10:31:13 AM »
Sync tool TBD.  Any suggestions.

Online Johnie

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #18 on: April 01, 2022, 01:20:15 PM »
The fact you tried to sync without a sync tool is probably part of the issue. The sync is the very last thing you do once you do everything else including setting the valves. I have been using the Morgan Carbtune for 20 years and love it.
1970 CB750K0 - Candy Ruby Red
1973 CB750K3 - Candy Bacchus Olive or Sunflake Orange
1970 Chevy Chevelle SS396 - Cortez Silver
1976 GL1000 Sulphur Yellow

Oshkosh, WI  USA

Offline Bais

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #19 on: April 01, 2022, 01:48:23 PM »
Thanks Johnie.  I was just getting to the step (last) of researching tools to complete the sync when I ran into the float bowl fuel leak, which culminated in the no start issue, which appears to have been solved.  I'll give the Morgan Carbtune a look.  Waiting on the 110 jets now.  Stay tuned.


Offline newday777

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #20 on: April 04, 2022, 11:31:40 PM »
New points & condensers.  I discovered the side set screws are for idle but, is it just whatever works or is there an expected turn setting like the air screws? 
I'll take a stab at the sync, using 3,000 RPM as soon as I get the jets changed out.  Bike has original cable carbs which, I'm finding, are not the easiest to work.  I'll get pictures posted sooner or later.  FYI, VIN is CB750-1025450.  My parents co-signed for my brother & me (underage at the time) in late '69 or '70 so we are the original owners/riders.
Yes very cool you still have your bike.

How to sync your carbs
http://cb750sandcastonly.com/smf_forum/index.php?topic=550.0
Stu
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My current rides
1975 K5 Planet Blue my summer ride, it was a friend's bike I worked with at the Honda shop in 76, lots of fun to be on it again
1976 K6 Anteres Red rebuilding project, was originally my brother's that I set up from the crate, it'll breath again soon!
Project 750s, 2 K4, 2 K6, 1 K8
2008 GL1800 my daily ride and cross country runner

Prior bikes....
1972 Suzuki GT380 I had charge of it for a year in 1973 while my friend was deployed and learned to love street riding....
New CB450 K7 after my friend returned...
New CB750 K5 Planet Blue, demise by ex cousin in law at 9,000 miles...
New CB750 K6 Anteres Red, to replace the totaled K5, I sold this K6 at 45k in 1983, I had heavily modified it, many great memories on it and have missed it greatly.....
1983 GL1100A, 1999 GL1500 SE, 1999 GL1500A

Offline Bais

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #21 on: April 06, 2022, 09:51:20 AM »
Thanks, Newday, for the Carb Sync discussion.  Awaiting a Morgan Carbtune tool to start the process.  Probably next week.

Offline grcamna2

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Re: CB750K0 Starts & dies immediately
« Reply #22 on: April 06, 2022, 11:38:31 AM »
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