Honda-SOHC

Started spraying on May 31st and still not finished after 14 weeks.
As a reminder, I decided to save a bit of money on spraying the tank and side panels myself. I ended buying about £120 worth of aerosols from Complete Cafe Racer; silver base coat, candy apple red and 2K lacquer.
The candy apple, being a translucent paint, varied in shade depending on how much was applied. Too little and it would look pink and too much it would look maroon. Added to this was the fact that sometimes the aerosol spattered leaving darker blobs – the result was: start again with the silver base coat and then re-apply the red.
And then the 2K lacquer from which I was hoping to achieve a nice shiny clear coat did just the opposite an left a frosted finish that had to be rubbed down – too much rubbing down could (and did) lead to breaking through the red to the silver base coat. Start again.
This is the ring pull on the bottom of the 2K lacquer aerosol that had to be pulled to start the internal mixing. Then it had to be used in 24 hours otherwise it went off.
Faced with yet another purchase of more 2K lacquer, I have decided to hand the tank and side panels to my local bodyshop who will cover the items in a good layer of lacquer – cost £100.
Would I do it again this way? Definitely not ! I’m up to £220 so far and would have been better off handing the items to a custom body shop and let them do it. The reason is that the aerosol spray fan width is too small whereas a proper spray gun in a boy shop has a wider angle spray which would help get a more consistent and even colour finish.
Having sprayed a few tanks in the 70s with aerosols from Halfords, you could ladle the paint and lacquer on and get a good thick shiny coat. Not so with candy paints. (Another) lesson learnt.
As mentioned in another thread, the 4 pipe set and fixings are now here and I hope to get it all together soon for my first ride out in 20 years.
Cheers my dears.

They have gone out of stock again but they told me that another 35 sets are due soon.
They will put you on a list to alert you by email when they come in. I have one in place for an XL250 exhaust which are very hard to get; that'll be another £320 to the Dave Silver pension fund please....

Failed to get to Willersley – its only 5 miles up the road.
The DK/DS Special is still fighting me; there’s always something.
First run out for the bike in 5 years and my first time back on a bike in 20 years.
All togged up, (new helmet) switched on the fuel and it just poured out all over the crankcase. Took it apart and the O ring was dried out and broken. Managed to nadger up the 14mm hex head too on the fuel cup whilst pulling it apart.
So it was onto Silvers website: £4 for new ‘O’ ring (what!) and £10 for a new fuel tap cup.
I WILL get on the road soon.
Any meet ups in Gloucestershire or Worcestershire, please lemme know.
Ride safe.

Used to rush home from school for this: Mike Mercury (another great name) and SUPERCAR !! [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Hello again Everybody,
The stripes are on ! It was tricky persuading a flat piece of vinyl to go around a compound curve like the one found on the front of a CB750 tank. This was very challenging for someone used to sticking transfers on an Airfix Lancaster back in the 60s but after about 15 minutes, plenty of soapy water and a hair dryer, they are on and I’m really pleased with the result.
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It reminded me of why I wanted a Candy Red CB750 so much in the first place. And the reason is when I was a schoolboy in the 5th form in 1969, I had reached 16 years old and bought a Honda C100 50cc for £25 from an older school friend. This was seen by me as a purely practical need to dispense with the pedal bike and the pain of cycling up hills to get to school - this was not an urge to go motorcycling. That is until I saw this:
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This is the one thing that switched me into a lifetime of owning motorcycles and riding them. It is the picture from the 1969 Honda brochure where there is a page for each of the range CD175, CB250 etc. with a picture and technical spec; but on the very last page was this. I thought that guy was so cool and still do: the casual clothing and shoes, bimbling along between the hedges on what is probably the simplest and most iconic tank design in a very striking colour; this really made an impression on me and spent ages staring at it. And I really wanted one and 52 years later, I have got one.
The CB750 I restored in the late 80’s (JGN 699N – showing as SORN’d somewhere, I’m so pleased it’s still around) was easy when parts were dirt cheap (nobody wanted them then) but candy paint and repro tank stripes were not easily available and if they were, not easy to find - no internet then you see. I sprayed it a Ford Cortina metallic dark blue which was close to the original planet blue (I think) and with a bit of masking created some acceptable tank stripes. But it was not candy red.
Anyway, after that holistic experience, the next step will be the 2K lacquer; again from Complete Café Racer. This £20, 400ml aerosol needs to be ‘activated’ by pulling a plunger on the base of the can and then used within 24 hours although keeping it in the fridge will extend this.
Will advise progess when hopefully I have managed to put many layers of lacquer on ready for a bit of buffing.
Talk soon. Ride safe.
Phil in Cheltenham.

Hello,
Really disappointed no-one has responded so PHIL WARD you are the man to supply the measurements !! I m ready to apply the stipes now the paint work is finished.
As a reminder the need is for:
A - distance from outside of tank filler neck down to top of stripe
B – distance from bottom of stripe to the top of tank lettering at ‘A’ (of HONDA)
C – distance from bottom of tank lettering at ‘A’ to tank bottom
D – distance from outside of tank filler neck to ‘Preserve nature’ decal
E – distance from tip at end of stripe to bottom of tank
F - distance from bottom of stripe to the top of tank lettering at ‘H’ (of HONDA)
G - distance from bottom of tank lettering at ‘H’ to tank bottom
I - distance from front leading edge to HONDA badge (previous owner filled in a dent there with a ton of filler so going to have to figure a way to attach badge)
Sorry it seems a lot and i thank you or anyone else in advance. At least it will serve as a reference for others in future.
Thanks,
Phil in Cheltenham [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Hello Everybody,
The candy red paint is on. I had to start again as the first effort turned out like candy apple maroon; I had put too much red on. So, more time and effort – what started out as a tank de-rust job has turned into a full (rattle can) paint job lasting about 6 weeks.
I have stripes from Piki (thank you) but I need please someone to pop out to their garage and take a few measurements for me so I can get the stripes positioned exactly. I’ve done a search of the site (and the USA one too) and can’t find any detail. If it's in there somewhere, I apologise, but if you search ‘tank’, you’ll know what I mean.
Hopefully, the photo will appear somewhere in or near this post. [ Guests cannot view attachments ] The measurements needed, in new school mm, please are:
A - distance from outside of tank filler neck down to top of stripe
B – distance from bottom of stripe to the top of tank lettering at ‘A’ (of HONDA)
C – distance from bottom of tank lettering at ‘A’ to tank bottom
D – distance from outside of tank filler neck to ‘Preserve nature’ decal
E – distance from tip at end of stripe to bottom of tank
F - distance from bottom of stripe to the top of tank lettering at ‘H’ (of HONDA)
G - distance from bottom of tank lettering at ‘H’ to tank bottom
You may be wondering why I need measurements of where the tank badge is. Well, the previous owner had filled the recess and holes with body filler to get that smooth cool look and in rubbing down the tank it appears there is a huge dent in that location and it is sitting under about 25mm of pudding. Decided to leave well alone for the time being. This bike has been kicking me in the nuts for 5 years now and I just want to get it on the road. So, it looks as though I will glue the badges on or at the very least use some vinyl stickers.
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes up this challenge; there is an offer of a pint/breakfast, whichever is appropriate, should we ever meet.
Kind regards
Phil

Thanks for the info on the Yamiya part; but how do I take the 'old' one out?
- Locking 2 M6 nuts together and winding it out?
- And what is the 'O' ring for? Is it screwed into the crankshaft oil feed?
I still think that electronic ignition would be a better resolution. Thoughts?
Cheers,
Phil