Author Topic: phil read rep/honda britain restoration  (Read 8653 times)

Offline haynes66

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phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« on: January 31, 2018, 07:46:07 PM »
just a quick recap. back in february last year, i started a thread about my prr/britain projects; the britain more or less complete but dismantled, and the prr something of a mishmash.  the bulk of the bodywork, wheels etc came from ukpete on here, the genuine prr frame came from john white, our resident prr specialist and a suitable low mileage donor bike came from james down in sunny sussex.  i intended to be well into both bikes by now but life sometimes comes along and punches you in the face, and it's been a long slow process to a recovery of sorts.  at this moment i'm doing ok and i'm at the point where i am confident enough to tackle both projects.  having been brought up on a diet of fordson majors, nuffields, massey fergusons and various other items of farm machinery, i am confident in my mechanical ability, but i've been really struggling with the confidence (and confidence generally) to tackle a 750-4 motor which i have never worked on before.  but thanks to watching peter andersons very helpful youtube videos and gaining inspiration from a number of rebuilds on here, nurse julie's 400-4 restoration especially, i finally plucked up the courage to go for it.  the three pics below are the prr as bought, the britain as bought (the prr frame also in the pic) and the donor bike.




i'm using the haynes manual along with a printed copy of the honda workshop manual, essential if youre not over familiar with these engines,  and i also tend to be a little OCD about labelling, photographing and making notes as i go along. i also lay everything out in the order of dismantling otherwise i wont remember the rebuild sequence.



the barrels were seriously stuck on and it took a lot of persuasion to free it.  once it came off, i was surprised to see that two studs were really corroded and the rust had bonded quite solid into the head.  just goes to show that even very low mileage bikes can have a little surprise for you when they are opened up.




« Last Edit: January 31, 2018, 07:48:12 PM by haynes66 »
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Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2018, 07:52:39 PM »
Great to see you getting stuck in there again. I'm sure I will learn a lot from this thread. Good luck with everything.
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline haynes66

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2018, 07:54:48 PM »
ha, i dont think so!! but thanks.
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Offline Johnwebley

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2018, 08:05:18 PM »
Great for you to restart the projects. Use the forum for help.and lots of pictures.
Best wishes

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Offline Trigger

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2018, 08:08:37 PM »
What I have always found is focus on getting the frame done first, then the engine and everything else can just be bolted on. And off when you find out that it is not right  ;D
In all my years, I have still not built a bike for ones self. I have a 750  engine has been built for the past 3 years, the frame in the front bedroom looking like a new pin, swinging arm fully rebuilt leaning up against a wall somewhere and the rest of the bike in draws and crates  ??? I will get round to building it one of these days.
So, don't worry your not the only one.

Offline philward

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2018, 08:44:20 PM »
Good to see your back on it Pete - as Trig says, start at the frame. The number of abandoned projects on ebay that have resulted in failured as people do a bit of everything without seeing any overall achievement results in losing confidence. Small steps whilst achieving a finished item results in a buzz out of achieving something will drive you on.
Good luck!
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Offline haynes66

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2018, 08:45:22 PM »
when i rebuilt a little TL125 a few years ago, i did get the frame and everything else done first. you feel as if youre over halfway there already.  the problem with these two is the lack of space. the frames and pretty much everything else is hidden in the school where i work and they will be brought back bit by bit.  once the engines are away for painting, i will get the frames done ready for the rebuilt engine to go in. my shed is 2 metres wide and 5 metres long. bit of a squeeze with two 750s and a little yam!
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Offline Trigger

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2018, 09:09:09 PM »
Space is always a big problem. I moved out of my 15,000 sq ft place to 3 x 500 sq ft had to give away loads of machinery  :'( But, I could never find anything in the big workshop. The more space you have, the more you think you need ;)

Offline UK Pete

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2018, 06:06:24 AM »
Good luck Pete you will be fine there will be ups and downs but take your time and your be ok

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Offline AshimotoK0

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2018, 07:51:53 AM »
What I have always found is focus on getting the frame done first, then the engine and everything else can just be bolted on. And off when you find out that it is not right  ;D
In all my years, I have still not built a bike for ones self. I have a 750  engine has been built for the past 3 years, the frame in the front bedroom looking like a new pin, swinging arm fully rebuilt leaning up against a wall somewhere and the rest of the bike in draws and crates  ??? I will get round to building it one of these days.
So, don't worry your not the only one.

Exciting project Pete ..Will watch with great interest ..I wonder if Henry Cole will share a few restoration tips with you  ;D ;D ;D

Graham  ... You just kind of summed up 10 of my 11 bikes in that description  :-[ :-[
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Offline Moorey

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #10 on: February 03, 2018, 05:03:31 PM »
I am sure you will progress well now you have started.  :)

Offline haynes66

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2018, 05:18:26 PM »
it's coming apart nicely so far, but the countershaft bearing holder screws are seriously tight.  i have an impact driver but i wonder if that's advisable...    any suggestions?
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Offline hairygit

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #12 on: February 03, 2018, 05:35:25 PM »
it's coming apart nicely so far, but the countershaft bearing holder screws are seriously tight.  i have an impact driver but i wonder if that's advisable...    any suggestions?
I have drilled the heads off with a sharp 6mm drill on very low speed, has worked every time for me. Then just wind the remaining threaded part out with pliers or mole grips, it is always the head that causes the problem, and that sorts it.

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Offline haynes66

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #13 on: February 03, 2018, 05:51:58 PM »
that would be a better option. i'm a little reluctant to use the impact driver around so much alloy
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Offline hairygit

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Re: phil read rep/honda britain restoration
« Reply #14 on: February 03, 2018, 05:56:31 PM »
that would be a better option. i'm a little reluctant to use the impact driver around so much alloy
That was my thinking first time I ever did one, the countersunk heads make it grip over a relatively large surface area, that's why they are so tight, once the head is drilled off I have never found the threads themselves to be tight / stiff, can usually be unscrewed with your fingers.

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