Opening that can of worms

[Shetland Biker]

Hi there,  posted a while ago when i joined the forum,  unfortunately life got in the way for a little bit,  but i have finally got my 1978 cb750 project bike.  one thing im thinking is to send the engine away to get properly looked at, change piston rings, seals, gaskets, and just have someone look at it.  i have no history on the bike. so im thinking i dont know who has had it open or done what to it.  so if im going to restore this bike i may as well do it properly from the start.  i do have some mechanical knowledge but not enough to strip and rebuild an engine even with todays youtube guide.  so after that long winded intro. my question is,  is there a go to place to send a cb750 SOHC engine to get looked at?  also if anyone has a rough price on what said work might cost providing they find nothing majorly wrong with the engine? thanks in advance.  and be sure this will be the first of very many questions lol.

[Bryanj]

Your first problem is finding somebody to work on it, second is what model is it? Just saying 78 means nothing.
Parts alone can be anything from a couple of hundred to several thousand depending on what is found inside, there is no such thing as an "average" rebuild, every last one you lay spanners on needs different things.
You need a gasket set and oil seal set just to take it apart and put together, then depending on model, valve guides, cam chain+tensioners, primary chains+ tensioners, pistons etc etc.
Where are you?

[SteveD CB500K0]

A long way from you Bryan


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[Bryanj]

A long way from anybody if it is Shetland Steve! So that would add a few hundred for 2 way carriage

[Shetland Biker]

yea im up in Shetland, which is a huge pain in the ass sometimes.  how would i tell what model? would that be from the start of the frame number?

[Nurse Julie]

Show us a picture

[Shetland Biker]

hopefully this works

[Orcade-Ian]

It is a can of worms but you have many skilled folk who are into bikes in Shetland.  Have you contacted anyone involved with the Shetland Club?  People like Colin Nicholson, Geordie Jacobsen, and Joe Gray might point you in the right direction and although they might not be pure Honda folk, I'm sure they will know people who are.
Speaking personally I wouldn't send a completely unknown unit to an equally unknown 'expert'.  Surely there are people who could guide you through the dismantling process and individual components can then be assessed for wear and possible replacement.  Following that then this Forum will be able to make sensible suggestions.  We also have quite a few 750 SOHC folk down here in Orkney who I know would offer advice and encouragement.  You would also learn a lot more about your bike and be in a better place to keep it running in the future.

Ian

[Nurse Julie]

CB750/4 F1 with F2 wheels, or a F2 with the barrels painted silver instead of black 🤔🤔🤔

[K2-K6]

Looks full F2 rolling chassis etc, but motor appears previous to the F2  original.

Seems to have something like a Suzuki GS 750 type instrument binnacle though.

[Shetland Biker]

yea the clocks arent honda.. thanks Orcade Ian for the pointers,  not sure i know the people you names,  but would be happy if you could put me in contact with them

[Bryanj]

I would guess, and i stress it is a guess, that is an F2 that has been fitted with either an earlier top end OR been apart and media blasted to remove black paint.
There is no way of knowing till its in bits.
If you want to post the frame and engine numbers it would help with identification. Also extra pics of clocks and rear end might help as well

[Shetland Biker]

i can say the clocks arent honda at all,  they have been put at somepoint,  i will get more pics when im next over at the garage.  i was told it was a f2, but thats not to say is the same engine.

[Orcade-Ian]

Hello again,
I think Colin Nicholson is still Chairman, so I'll PM you with his email address, I'm sure he can point you in the right direction for help.  I'm not a 750 buff but as you can see, there are lots who are!  Apologise to Colin for 'dropping him in it.  I'm away in Germany and Austria so will miss the big show at the Clickimin in June.

Ian

[Bryanj]

Untill its apart you cant be certain what has been done, i would happily rebuild it but i will not get invlved with any sort of media blasting or repainting as i have neither facilities nor inclination to do that