Topic: Nick's 1977 CB750K Project

[ngatel]

Hello All,

I have decided to document my project to help keep me focused and motivated.

Bought the bike in 1978 with only 1,800 miles on it. Retired it in 1987, when the kids came. My daughter graduated college last year, and my son will graduate from college next spring. So it is time to start riding again.

The 750 is a touring bike, and I intend to keep it as such. For me the following items are necessary and I am keeping them:
     - Vetter Windjammer SS
     - Vetter Saddlebags
     - Vetter Tail Trunk
     - 2 into 2 exhaust to accommodate the saddlebags
     - Bates Ride-Off Stand
     - Triple A Floorboards with heel/toe shifter

Other than that, I am going to keep it stock. Before starting the project, I threw on a set of used carbs to see if it would start and determine the condition of the engine. The original carbs were completely locked up and frozen. It started right away, and the engine sounded great. I have decided not to do anything with the engine, other than clean it up.

Other than the engine, I am going to clean, polish, paint, re-chrome, or replace everything else. Every bolt, washer, etc.

Here are some pictures… I hope. First time posting pictures for me.

[ngatel]

I have sent the frame, swing arm, center stand, and a few other pieces out to be powder coated.

The gas tank, side covers, fairing, saddlebags and tail trunk are being painted by my youger brother Gary. Gary owns Rifle Fairing (www.rifle.com) and is painting them for me. He does not do this kind of work, but just paints the products he manufactures. On thing I could not find was the old decals for the Vetter products. Gary suggested I contact Craig Vetter.

Craig Vetter gave me the first set of his new decals that he just started producing. He is going to install them himself for me, which is really cool! Gary built is website (www.craigvetter.com). So he is doing this really for my brother. Gary was the Controller for Vetter, until the company was sold in 1978. He and 4 other ex-Vetter employees started Rifle, and my brother bought all of them out after a couple of years. Of course once everything is completed I need to set Craig a boatload of pictures.

Here is a picture of what is left in several boxes on the floor.

[ngatel]

Me again,

Trying to keep the message sizes small. I have purchased sever hundred NOS parts over the past few years. Most of them are in this cabinet.

[ngatel]

Here are some of the things I have completed.

The air box and clamps are the original. The clamps were ugly, but polishing them made them look new. The boots are new.

The battery box is original and cleaned up well. I bought a new fuse box assembly, and after-market rectifier and electronic voltage regulator. Any pros or cons on these?

The last picture is mostly stuff I cleaned up, although the chrome looks a lot better than the picture shows. The side stand is a NOS I bought for $9.95 on eBay.

I pretty much have purchased all the parts I need except for the impossible to find #2 and #4 carb insulators and a new start/stop switch.

The license plate is the original. Pretty rare to see a blue plate in California.

[ngatel]

I was an auto mechanic for many years, and still have all my tools, which sure makes life nice. I can't count the number of carbs I have overhauled. But I wanted these to be cleaned using ultrasonic method. I have seen several CB carbs that just looked horrible after sitting in carb dip. So I paid to have these done. I am thrilled with the results.

[ngatel]

As you can see, the faces were awful. I have always liked the green faces better, so that is what I went with.

The speedohead was frozen and I could not revive it. So I bought a used unit on eBay. I reset the mileage to zero, since the one I got had around 10K on it.

I am painting the housing with VHT Gloss Roll Bar paint. I have a feeling it will not be as glossy as I want, so after sanding and a couple more coats,  I will probably clear coat it.

Next step is probably the wheels. Got a new front rim and chrome Buchanan spokes. The rear rim is in great shape, but I am replacing the spokes with chrome Buchanans also. All bearings, seals, and the rear brakes will be replaced.

[HedNut]

Looking Spiffy! I love the carbs...so nice and clean looking. (Along with your other parts)  Cool project! I'll be watching... keep up the great work man!

[hoodellyhoo]

Everything looks great! Glad to see that you kept the bike all those years and have decided to restore it to (mostly) original.

[ngatel]

Finished the gauges. Still need to paint the gauge bracket. The painting of the black housings came out well. I used VHT Rollbar paint and VHT High Temp Clear Coat. I stripped them to bare metal using aircraft paint stripper.

Here are some things I learned about painting, since this is the first time I ever painted anything. I feel that on small pieces I can do a professional looking job with spray can paint.

1. Instructions said primer not needed. I should have primered them, it would have made the first few coats easier.

2. It takes 7 days to cure. However an oven can do it in 1 hour (bake at 200 F).

3. Wet sand between coats. I should have done a more thorough job. Don't worry about the color getting hazy, it comes back. This includes the clear coat.

4. After final coat is on, use rubbing compound. It does a great job.

5. Wax after rubbing compound.

6. The kitchen oven is "Hers" not "Ours."

7. If you purchase a table top oven for the garage with your own discretionary money, the oven is "Ours," not "Mine." If you bake motorcycle parts in the new oven, ownership transfers to "Mine," voluntarily from "Her."

[ngatel]

Got my parts back from the Powder Coating company. Actually the parts look a lot better in person than the pictures. I am thrilled with the results. Total cost was $288. I think they only charged me for the frame and forgot the rest.

Frame



Swing Arm


Fairing frame, center stand, upper and lower T, handlebar clamps & set-backs, motor mounts




- Nick

[Johnie]

Great looking project. Gauges look awesome. My first 750 was the 1977. Below is a pic of when I first brought it home. I know where the bike is and the guy was selling it, but I am into the KO - K6 stuff now. He was asking $1500 for it. I had already did the carbs on it in 1999 and it was a nice original. I will be working on my K1 & K4 this winter. Keep up the nice work on that K7!!!

[ngatel]

Been busy remodeling the house, camping, backpacking, oh and working.

Finally found some time to back onto this project. Finished the front wheel.
- New rim
- Buchannan chrome spokes
- New bearings
- New tire
- polished the hub

[HedNut]

Wow... that is beautiful.  Was it hard to get the wheel true!?...  I'd like to attempt a re-lacing in the future.

Cheers!

[ngatel]

Lacing was easy. Basically you start with one side and to the inners first. On spoke in every other hole. Mount them in the rim in every 4th hole. The do the other side inners. The the outers. I suggest you read the forum's FAQ section, with has some instructions and link to another site (CB 750 Choppers) with a good article. Make sure you take some pictures before dis-assembly just in case. Once you do it one time, you can probably lace a wheel without the instructions.

Truing is more difficult and took at least a couple of hours. The truing stand has a "gauge" that is supposed to be used to true the wheel, but I found it inadequate. The dial indicator is the way to go. But you need to know how to use a dial indicator. They are easy to use, once you learn.

[traveler]

Cool to see you are going to do it YOUR way versus following a fad or trend.

That said, I secretly hope you find that the bike looks better without the fairing and all that "junk" on there!

But, if you restore and clean up all that "crap", I'm sure it will be beautiful.

(No offense, I just like the CB's more "sporty" that's all!)

~Joe

[HedNut]

SUPER! Thanks for the inspiration...As soon as I can afford spokes...I'm gonna try to do some lacing!
Cheers!

[ngatel]

Tank, side covers, fairing, lowers, trunk & saddle bag doors painted. Need to let them cure before adding the decals/striping.

Here is the tank before paint.




Tank painted






Fairing, side covers, trunk & saddle bag panels





Fairing lowers

[HedNut]

Wow....beautiful. Love the color...great job on shooting it too!  Cheers!

[ngatel]

Wow....beautiful. Love the color...great job on shooting it too!  Cheers!

Thanks. Actually my brother (who owns Rifle Fairing Co) did the work as a favor. He has the equipment.

[HedNut]

Beautiful!...in every way!  Cheers!