Topic: What did you do to your bike today ?

[nilsey]

Haha -- that is pretty much exactly what i am doing. swapping out teh drag bars for renthal ultra low superbike bars off of amazon.....

I'm about to put it all back together but i decided to wait and research different aftermarket switches. I'll be running the wires outside the bars -- i had them inside the bars before but it wasn't worth the trouble IMO. however, i guess running the controls outside the bars will require some dremeling of teh stock controls, whic i am hesitant to do.

Any ideas on slicker control switches appreciated.

Today was a beautiful day in the 40's. I got my new Renthal ultra-low handlebars in so I figured out how to switch everything over. I was also able to fix my headlight switch (i now have low and high again) and figured out that my turn switch seems to be going further to each side than it is supposed to, thus only giving me solid turn signal lights at the full extension. When it is up to 90% slid, they blink correctly. That motogadget M-unit and buttons sure are looking better and better.


Those handlebars make such a HUGE difference. I feel like I have so much more control now. I also installed a Ram mounts cell phone holder, which I highly recommend.


Here is a pic to show that it did happen

Bike looks great, I think I am going to pick up those bars myself, give them a shot. Are they pre-drilled?

Your TS switch isn't going past where it belongs it is dirty. That "sweet spot" you find is a hallmark of a dirty TS slider. Clean it up with a light abrasive, very light as you don't want to remove material at all. Grease super light with dielectric, practically none really. The switch will work like new

Careful pulling it apart, you have a spring with a ball there but it isn't too complicated, definitely much trickier switches out there

I will have another go at it this afternoon really taking it apart and cleaning it. A little bit of acetone should help clean it up as well as a nylon grunge brush. I also want to change the spark plugs, but I had to pick up a long skinny 18mm socket.


I think I'm also going to go to goodwill / salvation army to look at some leather jackets that I can remake into a seat cover.


As for the Renthals, They are constructed differently than most bars I have seen. The inner diameter is quite a bit smaller than most, and it isn't hollow all the way through. there is some sort of blockage somewhere inside the bars. It could be near the ends, or structurally all the way through. They aren't pre-drilled; I personally want to eventually run all the wire through the bars, but right now getting to ride it is more important. I'll do some aesthetics stuff (like the seat, and painting the airbox and if I'm a really good, maybe getting the comstars powder coated.) when we are completely frozen out

[bjbuchanan]

Fired up my rebuilt engine (again) finally. The weather has really been against me lately, out there trying to put together a top end on a windy 16 degree day, then days of bad rain. The thought of one day having a garage keeps me going

It doesn't seem to be leaking, is smoking in seemingly all the right ways and isn't making scary noises. I'm gonna make a run tonight to try to break it in a little

Nice to hear about another "shade tree" mechanic. I'm trying to fit a 450 and a 750 engine in the same parking space as their respective frames as I have no where else to work on them in my apartment complex.

Thanks, good luck!

My only saving graces are a girlfriend who loves me and an 85 yr old landlord who is deaf lol

[johnnyvince]

I know it's not a SOHC4, but I'm sneaking in a photo of my wife's '70 CB350, with my '72 CB750. Just cleaned them up today, and started tearing down the 750 for a winter rebuild.

[Terry in Australia]

I know it's not a SOHC4, but I'm sneaking in a photo of my wife's '70 CB350, with my '72 CB750. Just cleaned them up today, and started tearing down the 750 for a winter rebuild.

Well it's half of an SOHC4 mate, and it looks very nice. Cheers, Terry.

[edwardmorris]

Desperate time, desperate measures. Knocked loose the front axle finally, now on to drilling and removing the retainers, then hunting down those SKF replacements.

[jerry h]

Re: What did you do to your bike today ?

Uncovered my bike, looked at it, covered it back up.  I hate freaking winter.

[Terry in Australia]

Well I decided to fill Mike's freshly painted K2 cases with good internals to replace his collection of worn out, siezed and broken parts that were living in them when he brought them over. I had to replace the crank and conrods, shifter drum, all 3 selectors, 2 gearbox bearings, plus new main bearings, cam chain, primary chains, and engine seals.

I've still got to get it bored for an 836cc Wiseco kit and paint the cylinders and head, but it's getting there. I do like the Duplicolor satin ceramic engine enamel, it goes on really nicely, and after baking it at 250 deg F for a few hours, it shouldn't come off too easily either. Cheers, Terry.

[dhall57]

I know it's not a SOHC4, but I'm sneaking in a photo of my wife's '70 CB350, with my '72 CB750. Just cleaned them up today, and started tearing down the 750 for a winter rebuild.

Good looking CB350 Johnny. A good bike for you wife too. Always liked those. I was going to get one in 1973 when I got my driver lic. but I heard that Honda was coming out with a completely new, redesigned and larger version of this bike. So I waited and got the first 1974 CB360 the local dealer got in. These bikes get bad reviews for the most part, but never had any trouble with mine other than letting my best friend borrow it and him bringing it back wrecked even though its been 40 years it still pisses me off when I think about it.

[johnnyvince]

I know it's not a SOHC4, but I'm sneaking in a photo of my wife's '70 CB350, with my '72 CB750. Just cleaned them up today, and started tearing down the 750 for a winter rebuild.

Well it's half of an SOHC4 mate, and it looks very nice. Cheers, Terry.

Thanks, Terry...the wife's 350 is a blast.  I think someone over at the SOHC2 forum was telling her that the wing emblems on the tank are good for a few more HP. 

[WhyNot2]

finally played with the headlight circuit, figured out the brown/red wire was the one that provides power to it. and not the brown/white.

wired it directly, now I can ride again.........geeeeezzzzzzz.....can't believe I've been fighting this for the last 2 months.....

But, I will order a new wire harness (cause i'm lazy, and the harness is (imo) fairly cheap) and i guess when I get the harley back i'll tear into the 750, replace seals that are leaking, play with carb.......paint the tins on the 350, and hopefully have them both ready for the spring/summer time.

[Stev-o]

Back from vacation in Sunny Florida and went for a ride on the K8.....





Also worked on the Z1 today, got the new #1 & 2 mounted up...

[MoMo]

Nice pipes Stev-o, on the Kawi that is...Larry

[Retro Rocket]

Zed's looking great Steve....

[Stev-o]

Nice pipes Stev-o, on the Kawi that is...Larry

Thanks, but pretty sweet pipes on the K8 too!

Zed's looking great Steve....

Thanks Mick, excited to get it back on the road, ya know...

[goldarrow]

Stevo, nice pipes and great job on the bike!

There's a 77 kz1000 in my area for $1k, but no room or cash

[Stev-o]

Stevo, nice pipes and great job on the bike!

There's a 77 kz1000 in my area for $1k, but no room or cash

Thanks Gold dude.  The Kaw 1000's are not collectible, need to stick to the 900's, or even more so, the Kaw two strokes [H1 & H2].

[70CB750]

Very good looking machines, Stev-o!

Since we are in mid 40ties now, I am riding again, about 50 miles a day just to stay happy.

Today I realized I did not use 2nd once, the #2 is slipping and I got into a habit using 3rd instead, LOL.  You can train even an old dog.

[bjatwood]

Good info on the Kaw's Steve-O, my buddy has a Kaw 1000LTD and he thinks it's the cats a$$! I light the candles up on the K3 today for the first time in a month of hibernation. #1 wasn't digging it's spark plug...so it now has a new one and is purring perfectly...

[Vicman]

Very good looking machines, Stev-o!

Since we are in mid 40ties now, I am riding again, about 50 miles a day just to stay happy.

Today I realized I did not use 2nd once, the #2 is slipping and I got into a habit using 3rd instead, LOL.  You can train even an old dog.

LOL, I have to do the same thing on mine. The messed up part is when I get on my KZ I forget and skip 2 on that one as well.

I got the turn signals to light up on the 71 but no blinky action. I think a new winker is in the cards.

[MarshallCS]

I would love to get a set of motogadget switches to use, but it would get pretty expensive to do so.


I tried to take apart the stock left control, but the screw holding the turn signal switch was really tight, and I didn't want to strip the screw. I cleaned it as best I could, but with no success. It looks like to me that the springs are too compressed, but it would require disassembly to stretch them back out.


I also really want to find some replacement levers for the clutch and the brake; it feels like a large stretch for me to grab them. From what I've read, I can't just purchase something like the CRG roll-a-click levers that have an adjustable throw.


Also debating some heated grips. My hands have been freezing and I'd really like to keep riding as long as possible. Just bought some Alpinestar SP-2 gloves (tried on about 50 gloves to find a good fit) and the just let too much of the wind through, and I can't really afford to buy another set of gloves at the moment.


Maybe I'm just a bit dejected at the moment. Rode the other day and didn't feel comfortable at all, even though the previous ride was fantastic.

Haha -- that is pretty much exactly what i am doing. swapping out teh drag bars for renthal ultra low superbike bars off of amazon.....

I'm about to put it all back together but i decided to wait and research different aftermarket switches. I'll be running the wires outside the bars -- i had them inside the bars before but it wasn't worth the trouble IMO. however, i guess running the controls outside the bars will require some dremeling of teh stock controls, whic i am hesitant to do.

Any ideas on slicker control switches appreciated.

[Carver]

Resolved to do a lot today, then found out someone stole the mother effing pallet i got to put my engines on while i work on them that piece of crap  so I just coated the 450's bolts in liquid wrench and pulled the exhaust/carbs off the 750.

[evanphi]

Old MAC 4-1 canister muffler is being chopped so I can use the mid-pipe to attach to the new Cone Eng 18" reverse cone. My father teaches a metal working course at the highschool, so he has some great tools to be used. Should be test fitting this weekend.

[seanbarney41]

Stevo, nice pipes and great job on the bike!

There's a 77 kz1000 in my area for $1k, but no room or cash

Thanks Gold dude.  The Kaw 1000's are not collectible, need to stick to the 900's, or even more so, the Kaw two strokes [H1 & H2].

disagree...certainly more collectible than a k7/k8 or any 550.  There were some limited production ones too, that are quite valuable such as the mk II and the Z1R.

[RodPlunger]

Took the bike out for it's second ride... Got out near a friends house, started running really rough, wasn't sure what was up. Pushed it to his place, pulled the plugs thinking they might be fouled... After a long while, I realized I had just run out of gas. Ha ha. Well, it's better than finding out I had other problems. I just need to fix the gears in my head....

[vigiltln]

Removed swing arm and sent to Hondaman for rebuild. Installed Hondaman ignition.