Ross’s CB750 project

[hardrockminer]

Ross, thanks to people like you we still have old bikes on the road.  Thanks for caring!

[Galactica]

Ross, thanks to people like you we still have old bikes on the road.  Thanks for caring!

Bill, there are so many more people than I who’ve kept the old bikes alive.  I’ll try to keep doing my small part in that endeavour until gasoline isn’t available or prohibitively expensive. 

With this bike, I’m beginning to think I may just bite the bullet and install new tires, chain, and sprockets.  Then put insurance on it, ride it until it needs new tires again, then think about passing it on.  That’s beginning to look like the most cost effective way to go, while still enjoying a classic bike.  Trying to get it to collector status could be a $ black hole.

We’ll see.  I flip flop back and forth in my mind.  But I have to hold off until I ride a bit and really evaluate it’s rideable condition. 

[Galactica]

So, I’ve crossed the threshold.  I put new tires, sprockets, and chain on it.  Did a 530 chain conversion in the process.  So, unless someone pays me what $ I have into it, I’ll keep it for a while and at least get some $ out of the tires.  

I put six months insurance on it and took it for a spin uptown to the library.  Didn’t want to get out on the freeway just yet, in case something went wrong.  It was only a five mile trip, but not a hiccup.  I only got up to third gear.  Ran perfectly.  Only a short trip in town, but it seems to ride and turn really well.  Front brake is really squishy, could really use new brake lines.  

   Here’s what I’ve done:
New battery
New spark plugs
Carbs rebuilt
New throttle cables
New petcock & fuel line
Valve adjustment
Points & timing check
New oil & filter
New air filter
Master cylinder rebuild
New brake pads & shoes
New grips
New (used) horn
New seat cover
New tires
New 530 sprockets and chain

   I think that’s it for now, but the squishy front brake needs attention.  I reckon she may not be pretty, but she’s a real good rider.

[Steve G.]

  Don’t forget the 3.75 cents an hour you paid yourself Ross!!

[Galactica]

New brake lines ordered.  Should have them by Monday.

[Galactica]

I just did a fuel reserve quantity check on Black Betty.  When the main fuel supply stops and the tap is turned to “reserve”, it runs dry after 2.4lt.  This, of course would vary bike to bike depending on the height of the petcock inlet tube.  I took off the tank, and tipped it over to check how much fuel was trapped by the frame hump.  This turned out to be 1lt. 

If I assume fuel consumption at 5.5lt/100km, I conservatively have 40km (say 25 miles) of travel on reserve and another 18km if I access the fuel trapped by the frame hump.

[hardrockminer]

Thata's pretty good.  On my KZ1000 I'm good for about 20 km on reserve, not counting the fuel in the corner of the tank.

[Galactica]

So I took Betty out for her first real spin, 40km.  She’s quite loud, buzzy at higher revs and speeds.  Had her up to 120kph.  I reckon that’s about as fast as I’d take her.  She didn’t miss a beat though.  Clutch is really heavy, maybe could use a new cable.  Front brake needs work.  Tach and speedometer are wildly inaccurate.  It’s an American bike so the speedo is in miles.  Using my GPS, at 60 mph it reads 70. At 60mph the tach should read about 4,000rpm, it reads about 4,600 and varies.  I’m sure it would be a much more pleasant rider if it had a nicer exhaust.  Everything works as it should, except the front brake, but maybe it’s just me.  New brake lines are slated to arrive Monday.

[hardrockminer]

I'm really enjoying your progress on this bike.

[Runningdog]

I'm thinking that it's almost time for photographs.

[rz5mark]

Yes, a pic or two.

[Galactica]

I didn’t take any before pictures.  I only took two after pictures.  They don’t at all show how bad the paint is.  

Not sure if I’ll be able to post from my iPhone but I’ll try.  The pics were taken before the new sprockets, chain, and tires.

[Runningdog]

Ross, that's pretty good looking.  I see what you mean about the exhaust...it looks loud just sitting there.

[Galactica]

Ya, it’s sorta fun for a short while.  It sounds like you’re really sorta hard on the throttle when you’re just putzing around.  Flat out it sounds like its REALLY flat out.

I got the clutch cable freed up.  Most useless tool?  Motionpro cable lubricator. 

Brake lines bled in anticipation of new one arriving tomorrow.

[Runningdog]

You know what I've used as cable lube for years?   Motor oil....take top of cable off at handlebar, drop or two at top of cable, let it slowly drip down overnight, or all winter.