Magpie's 1980 CB750F Project

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 3:12 pm

Cliff, your bike looks great! Any chance you could get a video clip of how the new Mac exhaust sounds?

Thanks.

Bruce

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:58 pm

Magpie wrote:

Worked on the left side today. I found a thread on polishing and followed the instructions and it worked nicely! Cliff.

Nice Bikes there cliff. do you have a link to the polishing thread please, as that finish on them casings is excellent! Smile

Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 2:56 pm

Hi! My apologies, I've been lurking but not posting. I finally had a chance to ride the bike and it's great. I have a high idle issue but that looks like a cable adjustment needed, I have them too tight I think. Pull works ok, no push.
A short video of the Mac's is here. the engine sounds quite rattley but is better after a blast. The Macs sound good at idle and crisp when I'm on it. I'll post another soon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iNA7eoprtQ

Polishing? I can't find the thread so here's what I did and used. I have a 6" bench grinder with 2 buffing wheels or pads. I use a different pad for different compounds. If there was still any clear coat I used Aircraft Aluminium Paint Stripper to get it off. Be careful with that stuff, it's very nasty. If the part was particularly bad I wet sanded it first with 1000 grit paper. Some start with a rougher one but I could bear to do that.
I used basically 2 grades of polishing compounds. They come in plastic tubes, one with a blue top, grade 3 (black compound colour), and one with a red top, grade 6 (green compound colour). I start with the grade 3 and just work it on the buffing wheel. If you press too hard it seems to melt the compond on the piece. If that happened I stopped and wiped that off with a rag. You'll get a feel for it as you go. I've done small parts before, larger ones were a bit of a challenge. I just kept working it until the finish didn't seem to get better. I then switch the buffing pad and went to grade 6 and worked it until it seemed as the best it was going to get. I didn't wash the part down between polishing compounds. Some have suggested that but I didn't do that. Once I was done with the grade 6 I hand polished with Autosol and then Blue Magic. I was impatient to get the bike somewhat shiny so I stopped there. I could have used a Dremel and small pad for hard to get to spots but I'll save that for the tear down time.
I tell my friends it's a good 5' job but will get better. It looks good from 5' and the camera seems very kind. I didn't clear coat it and won't. I like getting a beer, a bit of polish and go to it.
Found it after all this! Ha. http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/46509/ShowPost.aspx
Hope this helps. Cheers, Cliff.

Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 7:07 am

She really looks amazing! You inspire me to clean mine up just as nice!! I just got mine with the rear fender and stock seat swapped off.

Thank you SO much for post the pics with your seat off, because I could not for my figure out how it all went back together!

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 11:09 pm

Mac exhaust sounds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILeghog2W04&feature=plcp and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9n8UMMQL6I&feature=context-cha cliff.

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 1:12 am

Magpie wrote:

Mac exhaust sounds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILeghog2W04&feature=plcp and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9n8UMMQL6I&feature=context-cha cliff.

Is it missing on one cylinder? Or just cold?

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:06 am

Cold. It sounds like that until it warms up. Cliff.

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 5:26 pm

Still puttering with it. I got some nicer footpeg/muffler mounts with good warning labels on them so on they went. Unfortunately the seams in the seat are opening up and I've used some black duct tape to stop the spread. I'll have to order a replacement cover but funds are a bit low as I have 3 other projects on the go. It sure looks nicer, in my opinion, without the small handlebar fairing I had on it. I'm somewhat surprised as to the excitement it generates. Cliff.

Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 12:48 am

Too many projects, brother.
The bike funds get spread around and then they ALL end up needing attention.
Nice looking bike.

Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 12:51 am

Found another one, a 1981 from an estate sale. I just had to clean and polish it a bit. Cliff.

Red CB1100F Joined: Jul 19, 2010 Posts: 6420 Location: Ct

Nice bike

You get a good deal at the sale? If you don’t mind me askin Rolling Eyes

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:30 am

Nice!

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 5:20 am

ctluba, there was a lineup behind me waiting for me to make up my mind so my negotiation position was toast. $3500 Canadian and it's mine. A lot of potential buyers were pissed off at the seller. There was a 1981 70cc Passport looking lonely in the corner of the garage so I bought that one too. Can't pass up a Honda.