Fair warning: This thread will be very, very slow until the end of May when my XJ is "finished."
I finally decided to slowly start work on my other bike: this 1973 CB750.
I wasn't planning on touching it until my XJ was finished for the winter, (Still got a ways to go) but after working all winter on the XJ (and having this thing stare at me, dirty and untouched), and spending the past 12 hours of bike work on a fiberglass seat I decided I needed to at least do SOMETHING to this bike.
The backstory is that I bought it off of craigslist for $400 without a title (Before driving to pick it up I had the state police run the VIN to make sure it wasn't stolen. Once I pull it out of the basement and take it to the state police to get an MV-49 form (VIN Verification) I will then have it titled in Vermont, and transfer the title to PA.
The PO had bought it with the intentions of fixing it up, but when I arrived I could tell he was in pretty deep with other projects: Beautiful, massive old house that was just purchased, two Audi's and a VW that were heavily modified, a new wife, and a baby on the way.
So, for $400 I walked away with a complete bike, plus: Brand new Mac 4-1 exhaust system, CB400 Hawk engine in good shape, CB400 Hawk front forks, fenders, side covers, Comstar wheels, assorted parts, and most importantly: The CB400 Tank and Headlight that I have used on my XJ Build.
The bad so far(I'm sure there's more): Bike hasn't been started in two years, and the PO before the PO chopped up the harness to put on the drag bars you currently see. It will need rewired completely in the spring. It's dirty, and there's some surface rust on the wheels/frame, but nothing is pitted yet.
I decided that I would build a little paint booth in my basement and try to get this thing at least semi-aesthetically pleasing so I can enjoy looking at it a little more while I'm finishing up the XJ. This thing will not be receiving the full treatment like my XJ (at least not this summer. I want two bikes to have fun on, so this will be my "rat").
Therefore, all of the frame parts/triples and the wheels will simply be cleaned, degreased, and scotch-brited before painting with Rustoleum gloss black appliance paint, which I hear is very tough. I'll strip it down and do it right next winter when I'm bored and need a project.
Here's the "Booth"
When I'm doing the painting in there I have a box fan that goes up against the filter you see there, which gives it negative pressure inside. I then place another box fan about 10 feet in front of that one, which pushed the air out of the basement door. I also wear a respirator with organic vapor protection.
Last night I lowered the front forks 1 inch by sliding them up the triples, took a wire brush to the rear shocks and then painted them with 3 coats of Appliance paint. Tonight I will finish prepping the wheels for paint.
I thought I was going to need to repaint, until I decided to see what a little clay bar and waxing might look like (below is a before/after of the side covers. Will need new emblems).
Needless to say, I'm thrilled with the way it cleaned up. There are some imperfections, but that'll just add to the character.
Thanks for reading. Until next time!
I finally decided to slowly start work on my other bike: this 1973 CB750.
I wasn't planning on touching it until my XJ was finished for the winter, (Still got a ways to go) but after working all winter on the XJ (and having this thing stare at me, dirty and untouched), and spending the past 12 hours of bike work on a fiberglass seat I decided I needed to at least do SOMETHING to this bike.
The backstory is that I bought it off of craigslist for $400 without a title (Before driving to pick it up I had the state police run the VIN to make sure it wasn't stolen. Once I pull it out of the basement and take it to the state police to get an MV-49 form (VIN Verification) I will then have it titled in Vermont, and transfer the title to PA.
The PO had bought it with the intentions of fixing it up, but when I arrived I could tell he was in pretty deep with other projects: Beautiful, massive old house that was just purchased, two Audi's and a VW that were heavily modified, a new wife, and a baby on the way.
So, for $400 I walked away with a complete bike, plus: Brand new Mac 4-1 exhaust system, CB400 Hawk engine in good shape, CB400 Hawk front forks, fenders, side covers, Comstar wheels, assorted parts, and most importantly: The CB400 Tank and Headlight that I have used on my XJ Build.
The bad so far(I'm sure there's more): Bike hasn't been started in two years, and the PO before the PO chopped up the harness to put on the drag bars you currently see. It will need rewired completely in the spring. It's dirty, and there's some surface rust on the wheels/frame, but nothing is pitted yet.
I decided that I would build a little paint booth in my basement and try to get this thing at least semi-aesthetically pleasing so I can enjoy looking at it a little more while I'm finishing up the XJ. This thing will not be receiving the full treatment like my XJ (at least not this summer. I want two bikes to have fun on, so this will be my "rat").
Therefore, all of the frame parts/triples and the wheels will simply be cleaned, degreased, and scotch-brited before painting with Rustoleum gloss black appliance paint, which I hear is very tough. I'll strip it down and do it right next winter when I'm bored and need a project.
Here's the "Booth"
When I'm doing the painting in there I have a box fan that goes up against the filter you see there, which gives it negative pressure inside. I then place another box fan about 10 feet in front of that one, which pushed the air out of the basement door. I also wear a respirator with organic vapor protection.
Last night I lowered the front forks 1 inch by sliding them up the triples, took a wire brush to the rear shocks and then painted them with 3 coats of Appliance paint. Tonight I will finish prepping the wheels for paint.
I thought I was going to need to repaint, until I decided to see what a little clay bar and waxing might look like (below is a before/after of the side covers. Will need new emblems).
Needless to say, I'm thrilled with the way it cleaned up. There are some imperfections, but that'll just add to the character.
Thanks for reading. Until next time!
