Topic: Paddy - '78 CB750 - Version 3.0 Coming Soon!

[theofam]

That was my assessment on day one based on the amount of leakage down the front of the motor. After finding the bad puck today, that's my issue. That said, I'm still going to take the head (which is putting up a massive fight right now) and cylinder bank off to paint them as well as the lower end.

Any advice on getting the head off would be appreciated!  I've removed 16 nuts and five (5) bolts, so I don't think anything but a stubborn head gasket is holding it on.

[theofam]

A couple folks on here mentioned six head bolts versus the manual's five. So, I went out to search for bolt #6. It was hiding under the chain.




I got it out and continued trying to remove the head. Now the whole head/cylinder assembly is starting to come off in one huge piece. Not optimal.  I've found threads on here with the same problem. I've read there are pry points on the later heads (this is a '78 750K).  Guess I'll try those tomorrow, but I really don't want to risk a cracked fin or marred head/cylinder surfaces.

As always, any ideas are welcome.

[Stev-o]

Good to hear it's only a puck, could have been worse. Guessing that motors never been apart, that gaskets are still stuck after 35 years.

[MoMo]

Use a dead blow hammer on either side and the front of the head. I have used it many times without breaking any fins, but if you are worried about breaking fins you can put a wooden block against the head and whack it with the dead blow.  A pry bar used near the pry points also helps...Larry

[theofam]

I'm making some progress.

Tore down the motor and painted the cases, head and cylinder:


After reading and re-reading a CB750 shop manual I picked up for $10 at a swap meet (huge score), I'm almost done getting the motor reassembled.  It's looking nice!


I ordered paint from vintagehondapaint.com and, after fixing my self-inflicted dent, primed, sanded, then applied the gold metallic followed by seven coats of candy and five of clear. I sanded the clear, applied vinyl stripes and had a local shop shoot the final clear coat. It looks awesome!


Next week I plan on finishing the motor, re-replace my botched fork seals, and then I should be ready for reassembly of Paddy!  Looking forward to getting him back up and running.

[Stev-o]

WOW!! That paint looks awesome! And I love the color. You painted it? Nice...

[theofam]

Thanks, Stev-O!  I can't take all the credit, since I had a pro lay down the final clear coat.  I heard if you aren't VERY careful the decals can lift around the edges when you clear over them.  So, I figured I'd let a pro handle it.  $125, two days, and it looks fantastic!

I wet sanded it with 1000 and 1500 grit before I handed it off to him - I wanted it to be baby-butt smooth!

The color is Candy Alpha Red, and it's gorgeous.  Out in the sun it POPS!

[lucky]

Paddy made his trip to his new home yesterday!  I'd read on others' builds they wished they'd washed their bikes before starting the tear down.  I wish I'd done the same on Seamus, so Paddy got his first bath in quite a while.  He cleaned up pretty well:




The booty shot - his pipes weren't level, so I've since straightened them out:


The gauges are super nice, and no dings:


Although the area around the opening looks a bit junky, the tank inside is dang near perfect (bad shot):


I dig seeing old stuff still in tact:




The top end has a leak, but the bottom end looks like it has never leaked a drop of oil.  And, AND, the clutch cover, ignition cover, etc., are all in GREAT shape!  No dings/dents.

I even wondered if the chrome would clean up some.  After a couple minutes on the fender and a 12" strip of the front rim, I got these pics:



I think Paddy'll clean up very nicely.  So, all I have to do is the minor issue of getting it running.  I pulled the battery last night, added distilled, high quality H2O, and have it on the battery tender. No luck yet, but here's to hoping it'll establish a charge.

I also pulled off the #1 carb bowl and cleaned it out.  I then pulled the air filter box (PITA) in hopes of just cleaning out each of the bowls and jets I could get to.  #2 was not happy.  It had a bunch of the white, corrosive looking powder in it.  So, off came the tank, throttle and choke cables, and carbs.  I started to disassemble the #2 carb, but I can't get the dang float arm pin out.  ANY IDEAS?  On Seamus, they all slid out fairly easily.  So, I tried the #1 float arm pin, no luck, either.  HMMMM.

Also on the to do list, order a new clutch cable.  I think the PO used a shorter one, because it's routed through the pipes and has melted the coating in spots.  It won't engage the clutch.  You can see how it's routed here:


I also need to figure out the front brake.  It has fluid in the MC, but the lever has no resistance and pulls to the throttle grip.  My 550 has a brake switch down by the headlight, so it has two brake lines.  One from the lever to the switch.  A second from the switch to the caliper.  Paddy only has a single line from the MC to the caliper.  Is this how the 750s are set up?  I haven't even looked to see how the front brake would trigger an electrical signal to the tail light.  Any 750 knowledge would be great!

That was it for Day One!

About the front brake light switch.
Look at the photo above where you are showing the clutch cable that is too short.
Now look closely and you will see two wires dangling ,not connected. Those two wires go the the front brake light switch which is built into the brake lever /hydraulic resevoir.

[theofam]

Lucky, I haven't checked wire colors to confirm, but I believe those two wires ended up being horn wires. I had them working during Phase I from May-August before I tore Paddy back down for beautification.

[Little_Horse]

The paint job looks fantastic!

[theofam]

Thanks LH!  Hope you and yours are doing well. The work you've uploaded on FB looks great!

[Little_Horse]

Thanks, I have been really busy already and the wrenching season has just begun.

[strtlegal]

The bottom of the engine looks really good!  It took me about 3 days to get mine to look look like that and countless cleaning products.

[theofam]

strtlegal, I didn't have the patience to clean it for a few days, so I tore the engine down and had it media blasted.  I'm not sure that was a great idea, as I then spent a day cleaning out the various oil passages of the media.  Not much of a time savings as it turned out.  It did, however, give me a chance to replace the main bearings, get new pistons/rings, deck the cylinder & head and a three-angle valve job.  So, I'm excited to see how the motor runs after all that work.

I thought about just leaving everything in its natural state, but the paint looks sweet - glad I did it.

[theofam]

I've spent time painting and polishing parts.  Now it's time to start putting Paddy back together.

I cut up some bicycle tubes to protect the frame:


Laid the motor on its right side:


Wiggled the frame over it:


Installed the engine bolts; center stand; triple trees, replete with tapered All Balls bearings; freshly chromed fork ears; and recently polished forks!


I lost Hondaman's felt washers on my rebuilt swingarm, so it'll go on Tuesday (thanks for sending me another set, Mark)!  I also screwed up the rear engine bracket trying to Dremel off some powdercoat to ensure a good negative cable connection (Dremel'd the wrong side of the bracket).   So, that'll take another week, but I've plenty to work on in the meantime.

Next week is open, so I hope to be able to keep the updates coming.

[mrrch]

Looking good
+1 on that method of engine install
Super easy

[Stev-o]

+1.....looks great! especially the the front end!

[lucky]

BruceDeuce, I thought the same thing, but that's not within the budget of Paddy.  He's going to be your heavy buddy who burps, smokes and is a little rough around the edges while my 550 Seamus will be the lithe, tempered cafe.

Good to know someone out there feels for me!  BTW, I'm getting out on the FatBoy tomorrow for a lunch run with my dad on his new (to him) CBR1000F.  Of course, his newest acquisition is dent free and running like a top!

the Ol Lady and I went riding yesterday, wasn't bad out about 53 degrees and caught a little rain on the way home, but it was nice riding with my gal!

I have got some of my best deals on untitled vehicles.
Just jump through the hoops and it will be yours.
Many people are irresponsible and lose paper work.
Many people used to sell computers and did not have the system operating software,same deal.

I think cars will be like computers someday.
You will not get paper. It will all be computerized.
Then the fools cannot lose the papers. Lost papers in Tornado ...OK.
I just hope they make a rule that if there is no paid registration and the owner cannot be contacted,(deceased,lazy,Tornado what ever) that the bike can be retitled with a bill of sale.

[theofam]

Thanks for the compliments, fellas!

My dad and I visited our annual HD swap meet here in Denver this morning.  I was psyched to find a couple very cool CB750 choppers!




But the coolest thing I found amongst all the HD parts was THIS!


It even has all three tabs.  No cracks.  $5.  Go over to For Sale to see who gets it.

[theofam]

I've been hitting Paddy hard over the past few weeks.  He's looking super nice, other than some smudges on the powder coat.  Here is a teaser pic - more coming when he's done in 1-2 weeks:



I just received a new Mac 4-2 exhaust, and I'm really struggling with the install.  If any of you have experience with exhausts, please jump over to the following thread and help me get back on track!

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=103141.0

Thanks!

[theofam]

Nevermind.  Figured it out.   

For the solution, check out

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=103141.0

[theofam]

Yesterday I fed Paddy three quarts of 10W40 to quench his five-month thirst.  I came out to the garage this morning and he threw up a bit:



Turns out I forgot to put a crush washer in this oil line:



So, I'll wait until the Honda shop opens Tuesday, drop the rear wheel (I haven't figured out how to tighten that back oil line with the wheel installed, and get it fixed.

I drained the oil from the tank and got the headers installed.  Pics like this make me realize how far Paddy has come throughout this process!

Round 1 after cleaning up the pipes:


Round 2 after powder coating the frame, painting the motor, polishing the valve cover and new Mac exhaust:


The battery was added today.  I haven't tested the starter due to a lack of oil in the motor, but I need to fix:

1.  Neutral light
2.  Right rear blinker
3.  Lo beam is erratic

Once I rectify the electrical issues, my checklist is getting short!

1.  Install airbox
2.  Install petcock and fuel cap door on tank
3.  Hook up throttle and choke cables
4.  Install tank and side covers
5.  Add fork oil
6.  Bleed front brake
7.  Adjust front brake
8.  Remove/replace rear wheel to install crush washer on rear oil line
9.  Cross fingers
10. Hit START!!

I'm hoping to be to #10 on Friday of this week, if all goes well.

[Stev-o]

New pipes look great, curious to hear how they sound? (I know you have fired it yet).
I recently bought a K8, has stock exhaust and it is so quiet comparedto my K4.

[liPPy]

Looking good!

Curious to see how you get on with the airbox fitment. I saw an older post where it didn't quite line up and I am going through a similar process right now on my k8!

Watching with interest...

[theofam]

Stev-O, I'll post a video once Paddy is up and running so you can hear him ROAR!

liPPy, you're right, I did have some alignment issues with the air box.  I remember searching last April and learned many of us battle the same issue with the K7/K8 model.  Try this, if you haven't already:



It took me using a ratchet strap to finally fully seat the carbs on the intake rubbers.  If the clamps on the carb-side of the intake rubbers aren't resting on (or dang close to) the carbs' stay plate, they're not fully seated yet.  Without doing this, I could never get the carbs forward far enough to align the air box bolt holes with the frame mounts.

Let me know if that helps ya, and good luck!