Honda-SOHC

Thanks: I'll give them a call.

Steve

I'm a bit of an anorak when it comes to my little projects. I take great pleasure in doing tough jobs myself.

I now have a bit of a dilemma. Apparently, it has been illegal to market newly manufactured, solvent based, paints in the UK since January 2007. Distributors can continue to sell old stocks only. By the end of 2007 solvent based products may be very difficult, if at all, to obtain.

So, I'm about to start a new restoration and want to paint the thing myself. So as not to make things easy, I'm restoring a candy gold CB750K2; not the easiest of paint jobs. I have trawled the internet for information on water based paint systems. The information out there is patchy to say the least; no doubt because suppliers don't want to bring attention to themselves for supplying non compliant products.

I have found several references to water based paint, including candy colours, but all of these require a UV blocking clear coat. All recommend 2K clear coats. Will these still be available in 2008? Will I have to clear coat the black, solid colour, frame? 

Does anybody out there have any idea about what paints I will need to complete the job, e.g. primer, sealers, base colour, candy, clear coat, activators, catalysts, plasticisers, thinners, etc.

I suppose I could stock up with the materials now but that will not help me with my next project. Please don't tell me to get a professional to do it. It would, already, be much cheaper to buy a restored bike and, more important, the project would not provide me with the enjoyment of meeting my DIY challenge. 

It's head off time, I'm afraid. An open valve will clout the top of the piston.

You should be able to replace only the damaged holder. These were supplied separately by Honda. Cam oiling was a weakness in early CB750s. I thought that they had sorted this by 1975 though.

I trashed a camshaft back in 1977. I traced a problem down to a blockage (suspected fibre from the paper oil filter) in the small metered hole in the head that feeds the holder oil way. This didn't snap the camshaft but it didn't do it or the holder any good at all.

Several of my mates (we all had CB750 at the time) with K0-K2s also had similar top end problems. I don't recall any of my mates with F1s having this problem. If you search through the CB750 forums you will find plenty of advice about regular oil changes to avoid this in future.

Fingers crossed that the damage is minimal. These parts are quite scarce. After a failed search over here, I've recently won similar items on eBay, from the states, for my restoration project.

Good luck

Steve