Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB750 => Topic started by: UK Pete on December 15, 2009, 10:02:25 PM
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I have decided i am going to document my progress on here as i strip and restore my bike, in an earlier post i mentioned that i would like to do the whole thing for about
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Well done Peter...it's good to see the bikes that some said would never last being rebuilt with some care and attention.The picture reminds me of the box of bits that a friend dumped on me when I said that rebuilding a 750 is easy...it is,but the fee for doing the job was two crates of beer, thinking that I would get two crates of 24 tinnies each. Instead I got two crates of four bottles...of Heineken...about
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If you go to the US site and look up dynoman he sells overbore piston kits for the F2 plus valves and guides(along with a different stem diameter set) to fit at less than Honda prices. Cam, followers and bearings, unless badly scored, I would use again.
Rebuilding is relatively easy, but more than 8 cans of gassified rubbish worth!! BIG importance is cleanliness of all mating surfaces, super clean oil passages and NO gasket goo in the oil passage areas
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Hey Peter, where did you get the fork tubes from ? They are OOS from DS and CMS.
I was lucky my F2 was bought as a project to stop me getting bored when we shifted to working 4 on 4 off, it had sat out in a back garden with no plugs in for a couple of years. So I stripped and rebuild it, new pistons, rings, valves etc, but never got the chance to install and run it as I went overseas for work. So most of the new bits are already in there. I've just stripped the top end again to check it out, and already found a couple of things that I got wrong all that time ago
Cheers
Den
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Hi ,all
Yoshi your story of the cheapskate reminds me i once replaced the head gasket on a colleagues Morris Marina, the tight git gave me a tenner, the head gasket was
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Hi Peter, yes I am restoring an F2, luckily when I was collecting parts for the F1 I also picked up a lot of F2 parts as well ready for this one. There's no hurry on this one but it will not be to the same standard as the F1 as I am not 100% sure about the motor, if necessary I will swop it for an F1 motor, which will simplifify the spare part situation at least. I did pick up a complete spare F2 top end as "insurance" as well.
Cheers
Den
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What you need is a "Contact" in the US that Buzz can send them too so that they can be re-directed as "Second Hand Part" with a value of $20 so no import duty, tax or courier fee.
Should any HMRC people be reading i would never advocate stopping the money hitting Mr Browns pocket instead of staying in mine HONEST!!!
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Plenty of people on .net site will do this for you (Bob Wessner did it for me...) :)
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Uncle Ernie did it for me :D ;), had my parts sent to him & he even took the time to repackage it so it made it over here without any damage 8), on a nuther note just got stung
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Well I am progressing the F2 restoration at a reasonable speed, the frame, swing arm, battery box top yolk , side stand center stand , engine brackets, and rear brake arm have just been picked up from the powder coaters, the finish at first glance is very good , but on closer examination I have noticed some rough spots, which happen to be right there on show on the RH main front down tubes, it looks like they have coated over a patch of grit, I suppose it is my fault in a way because this place does mainly commercial gates and railings, they do not seem to take a pride in the finish of pride and joy things like my frame it is all treated in the same way.Oh yes and they also lost my rear brake light switch bracket , F--- knows where i will find another one of them.
To be honest I could repair the rough areas using my 2k spray, and then all would be good, but I will probably leave it and just get on with the rebuild as its not as if I will be entering shows, all I hope to achieve is a good looking usable classic bike which will retain some of its patina.
Anyway having these parts back means I can assemble the bike as a rolling chassis, which always gets the enthusiasm going, its a shame that its so bloody cold at the moment because that really puts me off getting cold hands and feet.
Pete
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I remember it well, picking up all of the F1 powder coated parts, exciting stuff.
Cheers
Den
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(http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/BikesBikesBikes153.jpg)
I rebuilt the 750 up in the bedroom and it sat at the end of the bed while I put the engine back into the frame etc. Mind you I had an understanding girlfriend at the time...even when she found a metal shard...with her foot!
(http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/My750036-1.jpg)
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Ha Ha Yoshi, that reminds me of when i was renting a room at a mates house, i rebuilt a Yamaha DT400 in my room, i also had the whole top end of a 3500 v8 rover in there, my landlord / mate knocked on the door once for the rent i let him in he was gobsmacked he left the room and made the comment you need a women.
i am sure i have a picture of the messy room somewhere if i find it i will scan and post it just for a laugh
BTW i bet that was real heavy to lift out of your room when done
Pete
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To be quite honest Peter it was easier between three of us to carry it down like this...
(http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/My750037-1.jpg)
than to try and carry the bare engine down between two of us....
plus it was nicer to work on the bike in the warm bedroom than outside where there were no lights at the time.
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Looks like Hailwood in the background !
Cheers
Den
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Hi i made a bit more progress today on the restoration, i fitted the swingarm bearings, then fitted swingarm, centerstand and side stand, battery box with some of the electrics,inner guard,oil tank, and top and bottom yolks, also i have received my new SS valves and guides from USA, the head is blasted and old guides removed so i am ready to press in the new ones and grind the valves in, the top crank case is blasted, just need to find the time to blast bottom case, cylinders, and any other bits so i can spray them black, i have opted fro POR 15 engine enamel for the engine, as this seems to be the toughest finish, and totally petrol and solvent proof. I am a bit pissed off as i managed to snap off a tap in the crank case half when cleaning out the threads, so i am going to have to do the old MIG weld a nut on trick and hope that this works, there is also two broken off engine case bolts that were already broken off , i will either drill them or try the same nut welding trick.
Happy new year to all
Pete
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...the finish at first glance is very good , but on closer examination I have noticed some rough spots, which happen to be right there on show on the RH main front down tubes, it looks like they have coated over a patch of grit, I suppose it is my fault in a way because this place does mainly commercial gates and railings, they do not seem to take a pride in the finish of pride and joy things like my frame it is all treated in the same way.
I had similar problems with a blasting company that was used to stuff that's more 'agricultural'. Painting was good, as the paint shop owner knew what he was doing (he'd restored his own Ducati so I felt in reasonably safe hands). Blasting was OK, as was paint, it's just that they used a very coarse medium and I'd think quite a high force, and didn't mask it well so I had to really work on tidying up the threads etc.
Who did you use btw, I'm looking again soon for my new project and want to know who I can, and can't, trust. I had mine done at Ditchling,
Phil
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It's really great to be at the stage were you can start to assemble parts, used to take a photo oif the F1 from the same spot after each session so I had a series of progress photos.
You probably know all ready but the car rubber and plastic cleaner works great on all the plastic bits, airbox etc.
Cheers
Den
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Today i decided to have a go at removing the broken tap out my engine casing, anyone who has ever broken one off and tried removing it will know it is a really awkward job , drilling is not really an option as they are so hard .
I started off MIG welding a blob on to the cleaned end of broken tap, i then placed a nut over the blob and welded the nut to the tap, once done i tried undoing it, but it sheared off a bit further down the tap, so i tried the same again and on the 5th attempt i managed to free up the tap and unscrew it , it made a bit off a mess to the case but nothing real serious, i am just pleased i got it put, i was not so lucky with the two snapped off bolts that i found that were already broken when i dismantled the engine, these two just would not move with the nut welding trick, so i filed one flat, center punched it and hand drilled with a drill bit half the diameter, i made a right F--k up of this the drill seemed to move off center a bit so when i drilled the next hole of the exact size it chewed off some of the casing on one side i must have drilled in at a bad angle. I will attempt to redrill and Helicoil the one i messed up, the other one i am going to leave as it is right next to the big 8mm through bolts that hold the crank cases together, my thoughts are that the engine showed no sign of leaking with both these bolts missing before, so it should be OK especially as i will have repaired one of them,
below is a picture of the removal of broken tap
Pete
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A pretty horrible job, always fraught with e danger of further damage or disasters, seems like you have got it sussed though and as you say if it didn't leak without the bolts then it should be OK.
Cheers
Den
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I just picked up my new rubber, a really nice looking pair of tyres, they cost alot more as they had to fit 2 new tubes, what tyres do you guys use?
I am finding it hard to keep motivated with the resoration , the thought of going outside at the moment puts me off I hope the -5 temperatures and snow go away soon.
Pete
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750210.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750209.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750208.jpg)
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They certainly look nice tyres, I'm a bit of a stick in the mud, the F1 has TT100's front and rear just like I used when the bike was new.
Cheers
Den
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I use Avon Roadrunners AM20 and AM21. They look just like the Roadrunners we used in the 70's but are made of modern compounds.
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Those wheels have come up a treat Peter...& you still appear to have all of the little black 'Honda' rivet covers.
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I managed to get some more parts blasted clean today, it is so satisfying when you have a whole load of clean parts sitting on the bench, when the temperature rises i will have a go at painting them,
Also today my new wheel bearings and bearing seals arrived so i can install these and be a step nearer to having a rolling chassis
Pete
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750225.jpg)
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I got out in the garage this afternoon, drilled out 3 broken off studs i found in my crankcases, and helicoiled them, i now have every engine part i need to rebuild the engine ,so i besy get on and spray the engine, i also managed to respray my fork lowers yesterday, so i can put the bike together as a rolling chassis as soon as they are dry enough,
I am getting real excited about this now and my mayday deadline might still be realistic, but hey if not done by then i still have a lovely K1 to ride
Pete
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Hi this weekend i really got my finger out, and got loads of work done on bike, i cleaned and blasted the lower crankcase half, then masked up & painted both cases black 2 coats, i also put the first coat on my front calipers , i also finished off my forks and fitted these to the bike so now i have a rolling chassis wooo hooo things are starting to move again now spring is almost here i have full really got the working on bike bug back again and am planning my next jobs out so i keep momentum i just love it when i am in this sort of mood
Pete
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750332.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750333.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750334.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750313.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750329.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750319.jpg)
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That is looking great, makes me want to get out there in the garage and get working on mine !
Cheers
Den
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Looking very nice Pete ;)
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I am making progress really fast now, spring is almost hear and i am on a mission to get this bike done, i am trying my best to keep my attention to detail but it is really hard, i think i am winning take a look at the photos let me know what you think, this week i have rebuilt the bottom end , finished reconditioning all the parts for my front brakes ready to reasemble, and done some spraying of engine parts
Pete
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750345.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750344.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750343.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750342.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750341.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750349.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750351.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750352.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750353.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750356.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750358.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750362.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750365.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750366.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750367.jpg)
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Lookin real purdy mate
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Looking really good, I like the way you are laying the stuff out, that's what I did with the F1, found sheets of cardboard really useful as well.
Cheers
Den
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I have been doing some more spraying, while i had the paint mixed up i done both my cylinder heads and rocker covers, i have to say they look great, when i have reasembled the engine its going to look almost new, i do hope the finish lasts a long time.
It takes a huge amount of time to get it all to this stage, ie all the repairs and the cleaning and preperation, i am quite glad this is done now
I have slowed down a bit on the rebuild as i have been riding my bikes alot more now the spring weather is hear, the next stage for me is to reassemble the top end, and get the engine into the frame, that is when things get really exciting its that stage where you see liight at the end of the tunnel
Pete
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750386.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750383.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750381.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750379.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750378.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750377.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/cb750376.jpg)
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Hi there,
About to change the tyres on my own F2 and like the look of the Roadriders that you have gone for. Could I ask what sizes you have fitted?
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Nice one Pete. That will look really good when complete. Keep the pictures coming.
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Good goin' Pete.
Who did your powdercoating? You're just round the corner to me (literally) and I'm intrigued as to where you found to do it locally.
Nice lookin' spray job on the engine - it took me a while to work out how you managed to get such a good finish. I've used cans in the past, and they don't give anywhere near as good finish as you've ended up with. What mix did you use with the POR in the gun?
Keep going, chap. Looks like it'll be quite a sight when it's done.
Regards
Neil
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Hi there,
About to change the tyres on my own F2 and like the look of the Roadriders that you have gone for. Could I ask what sizes you have fitted?
Hi the front is 100 /90/ 18 and the back is 11 /90 /18, the tyres look real nice although i have yet to ride them as the bike is not finished yet
Pete
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Good goin' Pete.
Who did your powdercoating? You're just round the corner to me (literally) and I'm intrigued as to where you found to do it locally.
Nice lookin' spray job on the engine - it took me a while to work out how you managed to get such a good finish. I've used cans in the past, and they don't give anywhere near as good finish as you've ended up with. What mix did you use with the POR in the gun?
Keep going, chap. Looks like it'll be quite a sight when it's done.
Regards
Neil
Hi Neil , The place i got the powder coating done was in crayford , i would not recommend them as they do mostly commercial jobs such as gates and railings, the finish is really nice but they coated over a real rough patch of grit that they left on the frame ,and also managed to scuff the bottom rails where it was moved around on a concrete floor, oh year they also lost my brake light bracket that was amongst the small items that belong to the frame,
next time i have a frame done i might spend a little more and get a bike specific powder coating firm.
The engine paint POR 15 is quite hard to use i mixed it up with 10% por 15 thinners, if you are going to use it , be sure to only use it on bare freshly blasted metal, and do not recoat until next day, it does not stick to painted surfaces very well, it is a urethane paint and does not behave like 2k or cellulose paint, so it is worth doing a few test pieces first.
Do you also live in Sidcup ?
Pete
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Hi there,
About to change the tyres on my own F2 and like the look of the Roadriders that you have gone for. Could I ask what sizes you have fitted?
Hi the front is 100 /90/ 18 and the back is 11 /90 /18, the tyres look real nice although i have yet to ride them as the bike is not finished yet
Pete
I fitted these to my 650 project, they come in loads of sizes... http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/roadrider (http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/roadrider)
Phil
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It's coming along nicely Peter. I must admit to getting out on the bikes now that the good weather is here...i'm glad that I have a choice...
(http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/20100514_6.jpg)
But the 125 is coming along nicely & wouldn't it be good if your 750F2 & my 125T2 were ready at the same time...
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Pete, this is really good to see the build and that you've logged it so well for all of us to see.
Some observations that may help others, When cleaning threads in castings it's often easier to make a tool out of an allen bolt as a good quality black one is effectively forged and has a much higher torque capacity than a tap which is brittle. Particularly if you get any blast grit in the hole, the tap snags on this and will not cut it so bingo / snapped before you know it. If any interest I can post a method in tips maybe.
If a hardened tap is really stuck and inaccessible, if you can find anybody to do it then spark erosion can desolve it, (you'd normally have to be stripped down to a bare casting though as it has to be immersed in turps to carry out.
I bought a genuine snap-on six sided socket for the valve adjust caps years ago and it's never rounded any caps off, some people do these up as if they were going to lift the bike up by them not just to keep the oil in.
Same for the oil filter bolt, Honda put a small head on that one so you can't over torque it. It just needs doing up until the o-ring is squashed and you can feel that by gently twisting the housing left to right as you tighten until you feel the housing just contact the cases, Done.
It'll be good to see the F2 when It's running.
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Good advise about the thread cleaning, i was really enjoying the restoration of this bike and logging my progress, but i am enjoying the summer so much at the moment riding my other bikes that i cant bring myself to get on with it, although at some point i will have to get a move on because i have another cb750 f2 cafe racer project to build 3 gpz550's to restore, 2 klr600's to build, 1 klr tengai, and a italjet MB5 for restoration. so the next ten or so years is already mapped out restoring .
Pete
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Oooh that is a lot to do, don't they call that "time bankrupt" I'm just on painting the outside of the house, started a couple of years ago got halfway down then bought another bike, end of painting!
Noticed you've had a go at V8 Rovers as well, I've had that addiction, still not over it.
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I cant stop myself from buying older bikes , and then spending time and money on them its an obsession i am sure many of us have.
I had my v8 rover p6 when i was 20, petrol was alot cheaper then and i could afford to run it , i like the engines and did alot of work on mine in my bedroom of all places, i could not afford to run one of those engines any more 15 to the gallon is about the best i got from it
Pete
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I know it's off topic for this forum but those P6 rovers are nice. There was a manual white one with period minilite wheels at newlands corner the other month, very nice.
I don't know if you recall but I've got an original spec blue colour 750 F2 stored at my place for a freind so if you need any details give us a shout, no dismantling though. It has a genuine Yoshimura pipe on it that looks really nice and an original standard set with it.
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looking good pete. comming along nice. plus my 2 pence worth on broken taps, if you use , "fluted taps" and one breaks you can ussualy get it out by makeing a 3 pronged tool to back screw it or if its a 4 sided flute or 2 same method apply's.......
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We used to use cutting wheel on off-hand grinder to make one flute in allen bolts, then clean threads with needle file to de-burr and voila a good thread cleaning tool. And you can make most sizes cheaply, they don't need to be hardened as you are usually only cleaning something out not cutting into casting.
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The f2 restoration has been sitting there gathering dust over the summer, we had such a good early spring and summer that all i wanted to do was ride my bikes that are on the road, the poor old f2 has just sat there, anyway all the parts i needed for the bike have been bought all i need to do is assemble it, my intention was to restore it to a decent original condition and as near to the factory spec as possible, the only thing i new i could never get was an original exhaust system, they just do not come up for sale, well f---k me i have only gone and found one in ok condition take a look at the pictures, the front pipes came from the USA, and the back was bought in England but came originaly from Canada, the front pipes are really good and were taken off the bike 31 years ago and stored, the back pipe was taken from a crashed bike slightly road rashed on the underside but still looking respectable with no rot or loose baffles .
I paid good money for the system , but on reflection it all came to about what a new motad would of cost me, so i am one happy chappy
Pete
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/001.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/002.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/003.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/004.jpg)
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Crikey Peter, that looks a great system. I don't even remember my ones looking as good as they are.
One suggestion...fill the silencer with old engine oil, leave it to soak for a few hours & then drain it off. The oil will coat the insides & never burn off as it never gets hot enough, & so will stop any condensation from rotting the pipe from the inside out. I have done this on several silencers now & it works a treat...even on car exhausts.
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jealous much !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
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Good buy me to jealous, will look brill on the bike.
Paul
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Oooh that looks good nick pete, and worth a bit of a chase around to find an original.
Good suggestion about the oil Yoshi, I'd go with 2-smoke oil though as that seems to have preserved more pipes than anything over the years and is a bitch to get out of pipes so a good property for this.
I've heard it's the acid by-product from combustion that is carried in the condesation if not warmed up properly that attacks the mild steel inner pipes and rots them. Seems to make sense as the chrome often remains intact as the structure disappears.
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Right that's it, I'm officially dead jealous, they look great, I used to use the same trick on exhaust systems on my bikes back in the olden days, filled them with oil and leave them overnight. As suggested I used 2 stroke oil as well.
Cheers
Den
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Ok here we go again, i got the urge to crack on with the f2 so in the week i assembled the top end of the engine, fitted new rings, ground the valves in ,and put in a new cam tensioner wheel,
When it came to assembling the cam tower i put everything together went to torque up the cam tower bolts , and no surprise 2 of the bolts just kept turning not even getting 5lbs on the torque wrench, this is about the 6th or seventh 6mm bolt to just pull clean out of the aluminium on this engine, either Honda used cheese for aluminium or the prevoius person who dismantled the engine and rebuilt it was an arse and overtightened everthing to the point where it just started to break, anyway off with the cam and towers out with the helicoil kit and reasemble,
With engine now together i decided to put it in the frame, i was going to lift it in and at the last minute, thought i would take the wheels off and lower the frame on to the engine, it turns out this was real easy and only a one man job, although i did manage to chip some paint on the engine and the frame , but on the whole a job well done, i took a few pictures to show my progress, hope fully i will post a bit more on this project as i just want it done as it has been too long ,
Pete
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/PICT6624.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/PICT6628.jpg)
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Absolutely gorgeous, you are doing a fine job, as for the cam towers those bolt holes are notorious for stripping used to happen all the time.
Cheers
Den
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That looks really good Pete and seems like a possible runner this year.
You're right to do the frame onto the engine way round if you're by yourself, I've only ever done them upright with two people, lots of taped frame tubes and careful jiggling to avoid damage.
Found a road test of 750-F2 the other day in some old mags I've got, by Phil read with some good pics mainly of the red version. Also he states that the formula-1 racer based on that engine was giving about 10bhp up from stock at that time!
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Any chance of a copy of that article?
I collect these for his website.
Steve
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I have the MCM mags (Motor Cycle Maniacs as we called it 'back in the day' with the original 750K0 (June '70) road test , Nov 74 The original road test of the K2 and 750/4 engine analysis and Feb 1970 with an article on Dick Emery and his 750k0. Also CB article on the K0 that Bob Heath bought from Honda UK, which Honda UK had stored for years. I can scan if you like Steve.
Also this the road test on 400/4 by 'Bike' magazine.
http://www.abacuscaralarms.co.UK/bikes/Test_Reports/Honda_CB400F.html (http://www.abacuscaralarms.co.uk/bikes/Test_Reports/Honda_CB400F.html)
cheers
AshD
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Sorry about the thread hijack...
Here's Phil riding a 400/4 on the Island in 1977:
(http://www.philread.org/Images/1977%20Re-Learning%20the%20Course%20(Ballaugh%20Bridge%20400-4)%201024.jpg)
I also have a copy of Superbike from 1978 when he raced a CBX1000 against Derek Bell in an Aston Martin Vantage:
http://www.philread.org/memorabilia.htm (http://www.philread.org/memorabilia.htm)
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Steve, I'll try and get a scan for you but don't have much in the way of kit to do it so it may take a while to get sorted.
Please remind me if I don't get it soon.
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We're not a million miles apart.
Do you ever get down to Box Hill / Newlands Corner / Ace Cafe?
Steve
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Just been reading up on the job so far Peter. Been away for a while so not had a chance to read up on progress. If you need a hand then don't ask the bunny to help as their ears just get in the way. You can always get the kettle on & I can be over pretty sharpish given a few minutes.
As for the Phil Read stuff Steve, I have a road test of the CB750F2 by him when he wrote for Motor Cycle Weekly. There was also that article by 'Bike' magazine where the journalist was sitting outside of the Highlander pub on the TT course when Phil was having a chat with him about the PRR.
I have also found these in my photo album...
(http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Picture279.jpg)
(http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Picture280.jpg)
Both pics from about 1977 up at the Earls Court bike show.
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Thanks Tim, i was a bit worried about getting the engine in but i found if i left off everything possible like oil pump sump exhaust studs, generator, clutch, and all the other covers it was manageable as a one man lift, and even better just lay it down and put the frame over the engine
So i did not even need assistance, but if i had needed anyone , or do so in the future i am glad your near by and willing , also neil ( chauffeur) is also quite near as well, i am hoping to have this project wrapped up in the next few months as i have about ten more projects to get stuck in to, included in these projects are another two SOHC 750 bikes
Pete
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Well i have just taken the F2 for an MOT, and its passed so i have been and taxed it and taken it for a ride, i clocked up about 40 miles, and every one of them was an absolute pleasure
The F2 is by far the best of the Sohc bikes IMHO, its fast , smooth, brakes well, good looking and sounds nice, and even better they are still cheap to buy
The build has had many ups and downs, but i have got over each one of the downs, and turned a negative into a positive, the other day i dropped a hole tool tray of heavy tools right ontop of the engine, chipping and denting the rocker cover , head fins, and alternator housing,
today a sharp lace rivet on one of my boots rubbed and scratched its way through the transmission casing paint, so the appearance of the bike is tatty already and i have only had it on the road 1 day
Also i have brought the restoration to a finish before i have done everything , as i could not see me ever finishing it so i have many things that need to taken off and repainted, things like the foot pegs front and rear, the tank tail unit and side panels could do with a respray, the brake calipers at the front have been ruined by brake fluid (yes i know i should have used silicon), the seat could do with recovering , and lots of the fasteners need replating
But on the whole it is one tidy looking bike , with all the body work being untouched it retains a patina that is quite appealing,
I could have easily gone the whole hog and made it,almost new looking , but then i have spent way more on the bike than i ever intended to ,and can not justify relieving myself of another K just to make it a show piece. below are some pictures of it , please bare in mind that this has not been cleaned or polished yet, as i am still doing the shake down riding and cant be arsed to clean it yet
I think the best thing about this bike is it is factory standard, only a few nuts and bolts being different
Oh yes and for the eagle eyed amongst us , yes i did put the front brake lines on the wrong sides LOL
Pete
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/PICT6683.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/PICT6684.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/PICT6687.jpg)
(http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad90/UK-Pete/cb750/PICT6688.jpg)
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Now that looks really great, in fact I could use it as a pattern for mine, when I get round to it, nice work
Cheers
Den
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That looks really nice Pete and I think the best colour for an F2 as well. As you found they are nice to ride, maybe not as extreme as modern stuff but they are a really nice smooth ride and quicker than most realise.
A job well done that you can now appreciate and enjoy.
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Thanks Spitfire and K2-K6 for your comments ,
Its been a long time doing this project and i am really pleased with the out come, i agree this is also my favourite colour for the F2 ,
i am just cleaning the bike at the moment and while doing so thinking of what project to start next
I will probably do another 750 sohc, i have a choice of 3 , the one i fancy is a cafe racer made up from all different parts sourced from my gathering of spares for the F2
pETE
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That looks just great Pete well done, just got to finish mine now.
Enjoy riding her.
Paul
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Thanks for the kind words Paul, how is your F2 shaping up lately
Pete
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Hi Pete
Done nothing since Oct as other things to do and work are busy time and no heating in the shed.
I have a week off in April so hope to do a bit then.
Mind i do not have the help that you have IE super rabbit. ;D
Paul
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Nice to see the bike like this Peter. During the long Winter it must have seemed like so far away.
By the way, the handlebar clamps are around the wrong way. The dot-punch marks should be towards the front. Tighten the front ones to spec first, then the rearward ones. There's an offset machined into the clamps, which is the reason for the dots.
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Nice to see the bike like this Peter. During the long Winter it must have seemed like so far away.
By the way, the handlebar clamps are around the wrong way. The dot-punch marks should be towards the front. Tighten the front ones to spec first, then the rearward ones. There's an offset machined into the clamps, which is the reason for the dots.
Thanks you have a sharp eye tim