First Project - 76 CB750F !

goodgam

goodgam

Active Member
Bought this 1976 CB750F for $200. It has a title and compression and hasn't been registered since 89.. although I was told it started two years ago, I have my doubts. Its full of rust and grime needs a lot of TLC.

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Here's my game plan:

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I tend to get caught up thinking about the aesthetics but I'm sure the majority of the time I spend on this will be to make it run... So wish me luck!

First things:
1 - checking the compression / engine / transmission
2 - checking/testing and cleaning carbs (I plan on getting the professionally synched eventually..4 is a lot to mess with)
3 - There's no break lines attaches so I have to figure out whats going on there.
 
Welcome aboard! Looks like you've got a good project on your hands. It's good to see someone new to building who's more interested in building something that works, before they build something that's pretty.
Lots of help available here, as well as lots of razzing. Take the good, ignore the bad, get your hands dirty and wrench on!
 
On board.

Also, don't spend money on having someone sync your carbs. It's not too hard and the tools are reasonably priced.
 
I was reading up on it and it boggled my mind a little, all the going back and forth. Maybe I'll wait till i'm really getting my hands dirty to see if its all as crazy as it seems.
 
Re: Re: First Project - 76 CB750F !

Djfob said:
Some things don't seem as hard once you get your hands dirty
Click to expand...

The guy you pay to do it is probably not smarter than you, and had to do it for the first time once too. Plus you get to buy tools.
 
When you have the carbs off for cleaning and rebuilding, you can bench sync them, which will get them "close enough" to let the bike run pretty well. Having the carbs in front of you will help demystify them, so when you do need to adjust them on the bike it will be old hat.
 
Did forget the functional stuff....
Most "barn finds" are at least a grand in service stuff away from the road.
Always MUCH better for a newbie to start with a running bike. Cheaper too.


In no particular order.
-fork seals.
-oil change
-plugs
-points(don't swap to a dyna, it's important to learn points)
-condensers
-replace and bad cables
-brake master rebuilds
-caliper rebuilds
-only use OEM carb kits. K&l or key steyr are junk and a waste of money
-no pods....ever
-tires
-brakes
-might think about sling shot cycle lines
-steering head bearings
-wheel bearings
-valve adjustment
-swing arm bushings
-rear shocks, don't lower the bike. Kills the handling....it's not a civic
-cant check compression on a cold motor.....
-battery
-if going with clip ons then you near rearsets.
 
I'm in the process of rebuilding carbs on my first bike, which is my first project... Just to confirm, from a guy who's going through something similar to what you are: having the manual (and having the things off the bike and in front of you) really does make things much easier to understand. You'll be okay. If someone else can learn it there's a good shot you can too. The guys around here are really helpful to boot.
 
surffly said:
Did forget the functional stuff....
Most "barn finds" are at least a grand in service stuff away from the road.
Always MUCH better for a newbie to start with a running bike. Cheaper too.


In no particular order.
-fork seals.
-oil change
-plugs
-points(don't swap to a dyna, it's important to learn points)
-condensers
-replace and bad cables
-brake master rebuilds
-caliper rebuilds
-only use OEM carb kits. K&l or key steyr are junk and a waste of money
-no pods....ever
-tires
-brakes
-might think about sling shot cycle lines
-steering head bearings
-wheel bearings
-valve adjustment
-swing arm bushings
-rear shocks, don't lower the bike. Kills the handling....it's not a civic
-cant check compression on a cold motor.....
-battery
-if going with clip ons then you near rearsets.
Click to expand...

I really appreciate this list, and the scope of everything I'm going to have to do is kind of overwhelming. All of the cafe stuff will come second to me going through and getting this thing road ready. I had imagined it would take some money but I'm really interested in learning each part of the bike so having to go through and replace everything is kind of exciting.
 
Hey, at least your bike didn't come in a half dozen boxes ;D You have a mostly complete bike, which is an excellent starting point. I'd focus on getting it running first, as hearing your bike fire up is a great way to motivate you to finish the build. I'd get it running, ride it a bit, and then you'll better know what you would like to change on the bike to make it "yours."
 
Just keeping a 40 year old bike on the road is more then enough challenge for a newbie.

Have you invested in good tools?
You do have an impact driver right?
JIS drivers too.

Can't cafe something till you have spent time riding it.
How will you know what to improve and how?
Well that is coming from someone that thinks it should be more then just dress up.

Seat, tank, bars are last on a long list of things to do/buy.
Everyone wants to start there though.
Really that many old bikes in your area?
 
surffly said:
Just keeping a 40 year old bike on the road is more then enough challenge for a newbie.

Have you invested in good tools?
You do have an impact driver right?
JIS drivers too.

Can't cafe something till you have spent time riding it.
How will you know what to improve and how?
Well that is coming from someone that thinks it should be more then just dress up.

Seat, tank, bars are last on a long list of things to do/buy.
Everyone wants to start there though.
Really that many old bikes in your area?
Click to expand...


Yes, I have/and have access to lots of tools. Like I said, I plan on getting it running first... This bike has been altered a bit before and needs most of those parts either changed out or cleaned up anyhow, I don't see why it's a problem replacing them with things that I like more.
 
Issues arise.
Take pods of instance.
Guys say "I have to take the carbs off and clean them, perfect time to put pods on"
First if you have not run and used the bike stock you don't know if there are any issues and you have not developed a base line of a good running engine. Can't tell you how many people I meet that have a poorly running engine and don't know it. Second it gives you a base line to reference from the manual. Most guys that put on pods don't spend the money on a few sets of brass to tune the bike. They ask "what jets for XXXX" put those in and leave it.

Same mentality with seat and tanks.
Everything is a system. Brakes, suspension, motor, rider, ect.
Buy moving the rider around you change things. Low bars and stock pegs suck. It's uncomfortable and you loose leverage on the bars. Not to mention that clubmans rarely fit larger bikes.
But riding stock you learn how you want to change the riding position to improve control over the bike, not jus "clip ons look cool and low"

Thing is alot of these "custom" bikes people are building actually work less as a motorcycle in the name of style. It's a shame really
 
surffly said:
-cant check compression on a cold motor.....
Click to expand...


I'm going to do a compression test on each cylinder by removing the spark plugs and using a gauge. I believe I'm looking for the pressure to be within 20% of each other... need to read that manual for more specs though.
 
And make sure you're holding the throttle open while you're checking compression. I almost gave myself a heart attack checking compression on my 650 without the throttle open!
 
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