FNG w/ CF of an F in PNW (lots of pics - 56K be patient)

MB-5 Joined: Oct 11, 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Oregon

Now that all the F'ing puns are out of the way, I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Aaron and I am about to become the proud (?) owner of a real bucket of parts vaguely resembling an '81 CB750F. I rode dirt when I was younger but I haven't had a bike in years and have a pretty good itch to ride again, so this should eventually be a lot of fun.

The bike was apparently complete and running three or four years ago, but the current owner dismantled it to build a cafe racer before losing interest, and it's been sitting in a barn (apparently a very damp one) ever since. The gas tank is present, but most of the other bodywork has been lost or traded away. There is a ratty Kerker system on it and some clips-ons of unknown origin, but otherwise it appears stock. I'll get some pics posted once it comes home. Prepare to be underwhelmed...

I'm not sure quite what direction to go with it. I've always liked the styling of these bikes, but with so much of the thing missing it's tempting to build a special of some kind rather than go broke buying each original piece to put it back to stock. There are all sorts of bad ideas floating around my head right now. For the time being I'll try to stay in lurk mode and absorb what I can.

Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:43 pm

welcome, and yes, there is a LOT of absorbing to be had here.

MB-5 Joined: Oct 11, 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Oregon

Thanks! Hopefully I'll be picking the bike up tomorrow and can assess the grimness up close and personal. I am on a real shoestring budget so the build will probably be slow and, uh, "creative", but it's good to see that tasteful modifications are not frowned upon. I am glad to find what looks to be a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic community.

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 12:40 am

Hey darkmonohue, welcome to the site. Where in Oregon are you? I have a lot of spare parts and would be glad to help you out.

MB-5 Joined: Oct 11, 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Oregon

Ha! I'm in Springfield. The bike's in JC. I appreciate the offer!

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 12:45 am

welcome, just post what parts you need, you might get them cheep

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 12:51 am

Also let me know if you need any help with valve adjustment and carb sync, etc. since we're practically neighbors.

MB-5 Joined: Oct 11, 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Oregon

Thanks for the welcome. I guess the first task will be to get rid of the spiderwebs, take inventory, see if there is any obvious damage, and then figure out what direction to go with it all. If it costs more to restify it, it may get...ugly...hopefully in a good way! Can't get much uglier (or is that f'uglier) than it is:
http://eugene.craigslist.org/mcy/825276311.html

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 12:59 am

Cyclepsyco Motorcycle recycling on Prairie Rd has some F parts and he has reasonable prices and no shipping charges that will eat you alive Very Happy

.

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:06 am

750 parts are relatively easyto come by.

may as well strip it down and start from the bottom up.
Welocme to the site

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:21 am

I have most everything that you need:

Handlebars, cables
Seat
Fenders
Stock exhaust
good battery
good running engine
lights

Before you buy it, you should remove the right crankcase cover (8mm socket is req'd) and make sure you can turn the crank (17mm wrench). If the engine is frozen, then offer $50 and don't pay over $100.

The one thing you might need that I don't have spare for is the charging system. A failed charging system is usually why these bikes are abandoned. But, I'll be able to help you troubleshoot it.

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:34 am

Aaron~

Welcome to F'eaven (F'er pun intended).

Learn to use the Search Function and download the Factory Service Manual from the Technical Documents Forum.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Dave

MB-5 Joined: Oct 11, 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Oregon

headless wrote:

I have most everything that you need...Before you buy it, you should remove the right crankcase cover (8mm socket is req'd) and make sure you can turn the crank (17mm wrench). If the engine is frozen, then offer $50 and don't pay over $100...

Thanks Cary, that's really helpful info, and thanks for the parts offer as well. At the moment I'm thinking a suboptimal engine is merely an opportunity for upgrading to a 900. From what little I've read, it sounds fairly elementary, but there's a lot to learn yet. Doesn't seem like people are afraid to modify or restify these machines, so if there's little collector value to fret over, might as well build what I like. Oh - do you have any pics of your bikes posted, or should I wait to see them in person?

AlaskaGriz wrote:

Learn to use the Search Function and download the Factory Service Manual from the Technical Documents Forum.

Thanks for the welcome and the tip about the FSM. I'm well familiar with the search function (I'm new here but pretty much an old hand at forum use) and will be sniffing around a lot as I unravel this ball of yarn.

By the way, your bike is beautiful. It's obviously modified, even to a noob like me, but it looks immaculate, tasteful and elegant. Something to aspire to.

As promised, here are the crappy pics. Let's call this installment one of This Old Heap:

It'll look a lot better with a fresh coat of wax on it...

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:44 am

darkmonohue wrote:

It'll look a lot better with a fresh coat of wax on it...

It's hard to believe that bike has sportkit rearsets Shocked

.

Welcome to the site.

MB-5 Joined: Oct 11, 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Oregon

pontiacstogo wrote:

...that bike has sportkit rearsets.

WHAT!? Hot damn. I didn't know enough to spot them when I looked at it. It's practically a gold mine, I tells ya. Thanks for the welcome!

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:31 pm

darkmonohue wrote:

Doesn't seem like people are afraid to modify or restify these machines, so if there's little collector value to fret over, might as well build what I like.

I don't there's any collector value to worry about in a 750 or 900F unless it's immaculate. There is in an 1100f since they are fairly rare.

Geez, I hadn't realized that I hadn't posted any pics on this forum. I'll get some posted right away. I do have some on the DOHC Custom forum, though. They have a have section for F bikes and there's a lot of good info there. http://www.cb750c.com

MB-5 Joined: Oct 11, 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Oregon

Well, I got it home. Borrowed a friend's trailer to do it, losing a fender in the process, but he was gonna replace it anyway. Here it is, in all its splendor and glory.

Most of the rest of it's in the back of the Jeep. More pics to follow as I take inventory. And the engine's not siezed (thanks again headless!) so there may yet be hope.

MB-5 Joined: Oct 11, 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Oregon

Well, for your general amusement, here's the rest of the mess. There's more here than I thought but it is by no means complete. Apologies to anyone using dial-up.

Got a headlight (broken), random bucket, and apparently the correct headlamp bracket.

The instruments, some (most?) of the cluster, etc.

I got the shift linkage (though damaged), but am missing the left peg.

Is any of this actually for this bike, or left over from another project?

The rear lights, tail section and fender appear relatively complete.

The seat and front fender are present, but both need serious help. Both right side pegs are present but there's no brake lever.

All three calipers are here and mostly intact, along with the rear reservoir.

Time and weather have not been kind to the engine or exhaust system.

The Kerker header has seen better days as evidenced by several dents and comprehensive ugliness.

The PO built a fairing mount and welded it to the frame. Which will have to come off...

Carburetors...or at least they were once, long ago. These make a compelling argument for MegaSquirt.

Apparently the rear of the frame has been abbreviated and a dodgy seat mount welded on. That'll have to go, once I figure out what it's supposed to look like.

So what do we think here - is it worth saving? Is there more work ahead of me than the bike is worth? Do we call this a project, a parts bike, a bonfire...? Suggestions are welcome. The title is present and clean for whatever that's worth.

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:05 am

Well, it looks really rough. I'm not sure it will be worth saving. But if you choose to go for it, I'll make you a great deal on some parts. I also don't recognize the parts in the 4th picture.

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:20 am

If you bring that back to life you will be a miracle worker. I don't recall ever seeing a more buggered up one resurrected. Shocked

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:35 am

You got your work cut out for you.
The only part I recognize form your spares is the float bowl.

You'll never get back what you'll put into it

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:46 am

Looks like you have your work cut out for you. Good luck and welcome.

MB-5 Joined: Oct 11, 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Oregon

I know it ain't gonna put itself together, but my fingers are crossed that it's at least a running engine. I got the cam cover off and found some evidence of moisture (no surprise there) - a little rust on the tips of some of the camshaft lobes, a couple specks of it on the cam chain guides, etc. Since I basically have nothing to lose I'll try pulling the cams and cleaning that off. Looks like the valve shims may be the same as my MR2 uses, which would be handy if I get that far.

Not sure really how discouraged I should feel by the comments so far. While obviously this is a bit of a pile, it seems like some guys must have put as much work as this will need into their bikes. The difference is they probably started with something pretty and functional and replaced everything with prettier and more functional parts, whereas I'll be doing the same thing but starting with ugly parts that don't work. I guess I'll just take it slow, keep it cheap, and make sure the fundamentals are solid before committing to cosmetics and fun/cool stuff.

And if the fundamentals are not solid, well, it's only $200 out the window, and I might be able to recoup some of that by parting it out if it turns out not to be worth saving.

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:52 am

darkmonohue wrote:

Not sure really how discouraged I should feel by the comments so far.

Naw don't get discouraged. While my bike was running when I got it, it was a corroded mess and everything cosmetically had to be gone through. Not quite to the extent you are facing but stillthe same it had to be done. It's amazing what a wire wheel on your grinder and some elbow grease can cleanup.

Yes, you will likely put into it more than it's going to be worth on the open market but if this is something you enjoy doing the rewards far outweigh the cost. Make sure that it is something you really do want to do and just take your time and most of all have fun. Visiting here as another F'er in the mix is a extra bonus. Wink

Good luck,
Dave

MB-5 Joined: Oct 11, 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Oregon

Say, here's any easy question: how much oil and/or water does the engine hold on these things?

I think I bought the Titanic. That's a twelve quart drain pan and it's almost two thirds full of...fluids. Much like I'm about to become, not coincidentally. Mine will be beer, but the engine had several quarts of lovely, clear water hiding inside. Oh, there was some "oil", too...but not as much as I'd hoped to find.

Hey headless, you mentioned a spare running engine a while back. Maybe I should make a list of stuff I need and see whether it exceeds the value of the bike. Too bad Psycho's only open to the public on Tuesday & Wednesday. I work Tuesday through Saturday.

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:55 am

WOW, man, on one hand, great to hear of another I-5 Oregon F'er (I'm in Corvallis), on the other hand, good luck with all of that. That's pretty great that they welded that fairing mount directly to the frame like that, wow.

At least it looks like you have most of the parts, eh? It looks like you'll be replacing a lot of them, but knowing what needs to be replaced is easier than trying to guess at what part you're supposed to have. Keep us posted, good luck.

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:40 pm

Welcome to the site Aaron- dont get discouraged,I have almost bailed on mine TWICE, but always find some thing to keep me inspired : Smile

There are lots of parts available to go stock,(and on a budget). I can also help with spare parts if you need. Wink

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:15 pm

darkmonohue wrote:

Say, here's any easy question: how much oil and/or water does the engine hold on these things?

the oil capacity on a 750 is 4.7 quarts.

Quote:

Hey headless, you mentioned a spare running engine a while back. Maybe I should make a list of stuff I need and see whether it exceeds the value of the bike. .

I do have 750 motor that I'll be selling. Currently it is still in the the frame. Which is a good thing since you'll be able to see how it runs. I went through the motor after I got it and replaced the valve cover gasket, valve cover bolt seals, clutch cover gasket, pan gasket, alternator cover gasket. I also adjusted the valves and cleaned the carbs.

Quote:

Too bad Psycho's only open to the public on Tuesday & Wednesday. I work Tuesday through Saturday

Dave from Cyclepsycho lives nearby so if you contact him he'll open up for you at other times. I'm also off on Mondays so maybe we can get together to work on your bike. Although next Monday I'll be re-assembing my 900c engine and getting it back in the frame. Just in time for the rainy season. Crying or Very sad

Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:58 pm

Is there more work ahead of me than the bike is worth?

Yes

(free is still expensive) free delivered to your driveway .....depend of your driveway..or your wife LOL..ebay is your friend..either way Smile

MB-5 Joined: Oct 11, 2008 Posts: 14 Location: Oregon

I don't have time or energy enough to mess with this big a project. Headless, since you're local, are you interested in some or all of it? If not, I suppose I'll try to part it out here, or put it back on Craigslist.