Author Topic: Project "Hard Luck - The Red Racer" - updated 07/30/2010 w/new project!!! (Read 111957 times)

XN · « **Reply #100 on:** October 29, 2008, 11:51:37 PM »

Quote from: KB02 on October 26, 2008, 07:33:42 AM

I've been working on the aftermarket rearsets (Yoshimura) I bought off of Ebay a long time ago for my F1 (before I sold it). They were listed as "universal fit" but the mounting points were 110mm apart (Universal to all bikes with mounting points 110mm apart, I guess). The lower engine mount bolt and swingarm bolts on the CB750K are 111.5mm apart. I've got a hunk of 8"x1/2" aluminum that I am just going to make new mounting plates out of so I can use the two bolts mentioned above.

The drawing:

The wooden mock-up:

It puts the pegs just about right where I want them. Once I get the plates made up, then I can go through and "lighten them" a little bit and get artistic and stuff.

Also, I got the spacers made up for the rear wheel. Now I just need to get an offset front sprocket and a mounting point for the brake arm and the rear will be all set. (I'll try to post a picture later today).

Looks good, but I would make a nice big radius in the corner where it goes back it will add some strength, and if you want to add some style points and loose some weight drill some lighting holes in it.

Hush · « **Reply #101 on:** October 30, 2008, 02:18:41 AM »

I'm following your build, love these from garbage to road stories.

KB02 · « **Reply #102 on:** October 30, 2008, 04:24:23 PM »

Got my rings last night!!! YAY!!! I haven't had the chance to check them on the pistons yet, though. I probably won't get that chance until Saturday. Hopefully I can get most of the rest of the engine buttoned up then, too.

For those who are interested, the gap-less ring is basically a two ring setup. There is a main ring and a smaller second ring (similar to the small flat rings in a three piece oil ring) that fits within a groove on the main ring. The two open ends are placed on opposite sides of the piston. Simple, but kind of ingenious, really.

KB02 · « **Reply #103 on:** November 01, 2008, 04:46:58 PM »

The Cylinders are on the engine!!!

Man, talk about a trial. After getting the rings changed out, then figuring out improvised ring compressors (no store in my area had one that would work), I was finally all set to get the jugs on.

The funniest part, now that I can look back on it, is that once I got all of the rings compressed (with my wife's wonderful help), we went to push the jugs all the way down and they stopped about half an inch from where they should have. Perplexed as to why this was, I started looking around and found, to my horror, that I had placed locater dowels in both the block AND the cylinders and the two were butting up against each other. I looked at them and thought about it and almost cried at the thought of having to pull the cylinders back off to remove them.

It was my wife that came to the rescue. "Can't you just pull the cylinders up just a bit and remove them?" she asked.
"No. They are around that stud."
"Can't you pull that stud out?"
"...

...

Um... yeah. Yeah, I can."

So, after pulling the two outer studs and lifting the jugs just enough to remove the dowels, I was able to slide the jugs back down on and replace the studs and all looks good. Thank the Lord my wife was thinking with a clear head on that one. God I love that woman.

Anyway, the thermometer says it is in the high 30's outside (Fahrenheit) so I'm done for the night. I'm going to warm up and put the rest of the top end on tomorrow.

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #104 on:** November 01, 2008, 10:37:32 PM »

One thing I have found....

even though they aren't the most mechanically adept all the time....

women sure can make the most obvious of observations once again saving the day.

Mine saves me all the time.

KB02 · « **Reply #105 on:** November 02, 2008, 05:39:58 PM »

The head is on and fully assembled. I gave up at 38 degrees, though. I'll work on adjusting the valves and my cam in the coming week.

KB02 · « **Reply #106 on:** November 07, 2008, 01:42:19 PM »

Well, $100 in bearings later, I should have all the bearings I need to get the Katana wheels and front end on the bike. Just need to lengthen the steering stem half and inch two little bushings for the rear and I'll have that part of the project done.

I have decided to go with the Katana rear axle bolt instead of getting bigger bearings to run the CB axle. I can always change my mind later if I want to, but for now, I'll go with what I have. I also have a new Rear brake disk and pads on order. The old one was kind of scary.

KB02 · « **Reply #107 on:** November 14, 2008, 10:09:04 AM »

Bearings, pads and disks have arrived, as has Hunting season. So the bike might start to take a litle bit of a back seat for the next few weeks. Getting my dad to work on something in the fall is not always the easiest thing to do - esspecially if he can get out into the woods instead.

Spikeybike · « **Reply #108 on:** November 14, 2008, 10:54:10 AM »

something my grandma used to say to my grandpa "Ugene, there is more to life then click,click, boom"

KB02 · « **Reply #109 on:** November 18, 2008, 04:15:41 AM »

Just got a Frame Kit in the mail from Gordon. I'll try to take great documenting photos of the installation of that.

I also got my two spacers for the rear axle. The rear of the bike only has two issues remaining:
1.) I've got to weld on a holder for the brake stay arm and adjust (bend) the arm about half an inch over to get it right on top of the swing arm.
2.) I've got to figure out my chain alignment issue.

KB02 · « **Reply #110 on:** November 23, 2008, 04:55:24 AM »

Well, I've been working on the tirtes and have had successes and setbacks.

I think I have have figured out my chain alignment issue. The rear hub/chain carrier is going to be cut down a little bit to bring the chain into alignment without using any offset sprockets (will make replacing them easier in the future, too). That will still give me over a half inch clearance from rubber to chain (should be about 5/8"). Good. At least that problem is solved.

The front rim is bent. I posted in the tech board asking if anyone knows the procedure for fixing it. I found places on the internet that will fix rims for anywhere from $65 to $170 plus shipping. I'll look around locally, too, but I also found a replacement rim on ebay for just over $50 (including shipping) that I might jump on, too. The auction ends tomorrow... We'll see.

KB02 · « **Reply #111 on:** November 24, 2008, 10:09:03 AM »

Well, I placed a bid on that rim on ebay. We'll see if I get it. I'm also going to call around to a couple of the bike shops in this area to see if they offer a service to fix it or not. They probably won't, but, again, we'll see.

KB02 · « **Reply #112 on:** December 06, 2008, 05:29:55 AM »

I won the replacement rim off of ebay (YAY!) for only $50 plus shipping. I tried heating up the rim and beating it back down with a hammer, but I don't think I gave it enough heat. I didn't have much success. Oh well. I don't need it anymore anyway. I might make a seat out of it. That would be a pretty cool conversation piece, wouldn't it?

DarkRider · « **Reply #113 on:** December 06, 2008, 01:58:13 PM »

Yea it would be..Throw an old tire on it...maybe some sort of padding in the center and instant barstool upon adding a frame to set the wheel/seat combo on.

DollarBill · « **Reply #114 on:** December 16, 2008, 03:19:56 PM »

Hey KB02, any progress on those wheels?

KB02 · « **Reply #115 on:** December 17, 2008, 04:39:33 AM »

Slow but steady. I've got my sprocket carrier to my dad and he's going to trim that down for me. He was up over the weekend to do some Christmas shopping and he took some measurements off of the steering head to get the stem modified. I'm just waiting on him right now. (I'm hoping for a package under the Christmas tree with lots of bike parts in it.

)

Once I know everything is going to fit, it's off to the sand blasters. Then some welding and cutting on the frame (and the REAL decision time on whether I go with a naked framed look or not) and an install of Gordon's frame kit. Then it will be time for powder coat.

It's been nice and warm the last couple of days to the point that the 8 inches of sn*w we got last week had all melted away... then I woke up this morning to three fresh inched of the stuff and it is still coming down...

KB02 · « **Reply #116 on:** December 28, 2008, 06:04:53 AM »

Went down to my parents for Christmas and m Dad had my rearset brackets all made up and the rear sprocket carrier all milled down for me. One of the holes for the rearset brackets are too small (lower, rear engine mount/footpeg mount bolt). I'll have to open that up just a touch, but it should be all set.

Next step is that steering stem, then the bike's off to the blasting and powder coating guys.

KB02 · « **Reply #117 on:** December 31, 2008, 05:02:04 AM »

The steering stem has been cut and a lengthening plug created. Dad says he wants to try it out in the frame first to make sure that the plug is the right length before welding it together.

KB02 · « **Reply #118 on:** January 05, 2009, 03:38:46 AM »

In some ways I am just such a cheap b@st@rd. Like this fall, I tried my best to convince myself that I would be fine with a 30 year old, $20 bearing that had been nicked by the sand blaster. It still turned pretty good. Fortunately, with some intervention help from the people on the boards here, I was convinced to pop twenty bucks down for a new bearing.

Then other times I can be a spend-thrift.
I just paid a deposit for a custom 4 into 4 exhaust from Benjie's like what is on the Trixie Special on his website:

Of all the exhaust options, it was definitely the most expensive, but it was also the one that I wanted.

I've also got the rearset mount mocked up in place:

I've also been playing with photo show trying to figure out if I can make an extra seat that I have for my Ducati Monster work on the CB frame:

The frame rails are the same distance apart, but I would have to alter the seat next to the tank to make it fit. It's a thought in process, anyway. I may not go this route, but if I can make it work...

This is an old Plan "B" kind of thing. Plan "A" is still make a custom seat myself. We'll see...

DollarBill · « **Reply #119 on:** January 05, 2009, 06:51:06 AM »

I like it. You would have to move the seat up to meet up with the tank....or stretch your tank. Then you could either make a fiberglass form to fill in the gap under the seat or use sheetmetal and paint it the same as the tank. It would make for a nice highlight on the bike...

Spikeybike · « **Reply #120 on:** January 05, 2009, 07:48:31 AM »

i think if you lowered the rear frame support so the seat bottom sits flush with the frame. then carve up the front of the seat so it fits .... i like this idea ... the seat would look totally unique .

it's funny i saw this thread in my replies and thought to myself KB better have some pics already

and here they are

cafeconleche · « **Reply #121 on:** January 05, 2009, 02:38:07 PM »

found this somewhere

i like the monster seat

KB02 · « **Reply #122 on:** January 28, 2009, 05:04:19 PM »

Well, I was finally able to make it out to the garage and do a little bit of work.

I made my first cut on the frame!!!

The little foot peg locater tabs are now gone as is the steering lock tab on the steering neck.

I have been super busy at work and only dreaming about trying to get out in the garage and work. It's not much, but it's progress.

KB02 · « **Reply #123 on:** February 08, 2009, 10:54:08 AM »

YAY!!! I've been in the garage and it isn't a million degrees below zero!!!

I figured I had a little time I would get ready for the install of Gordon's Frame kit. The first thing I had to do was get rid of the little wire holder thing.

After some cutting and some clean up...

Good to the last drop, eh?

Some quick measurements and the application of blue painter tape later and I have my marks for the rail cuts.

Seeing some of the others here that have put this kit in, it looks like it is easiest to drill the holes for the vertical supports before making those cuts.
First side:

Both sides done:

It's lunch time and my day off is in need of a little bit of relaxing. I might make some actual cuts this afternoon... we'll see. right now I'm eating lunch and chilling out.

It feels good to be working on the bike again.

HavocTurbo · « **Reply #124 on:** February 08, 2009, 05:40:22 PM »

Progress is always fun!!!!

Looks good! Nice motor in the background!!

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Author Topic: Project "Hard Luck - The Red Racer" - updated 07/30/2010 w/new project!!! (Read 111957 times)