1981 CB750F SS....a.k.a...Project "Plaid Mandingo"

[slownugly007]

Congrats on getting yours going! Its a hell of a feeling riding after waiting so long, its all i can think about now! Now that it runs...far from finished, but rideable...it gives me more inspiration to do more to it. Not gonna lie, after awhile of not riding I started to lose sight, but just a quick 30 min ride completly revamped me! Theres nothing like it!

[Piute]

                                                           

[Hellbilly429]

Totally agree with you there, you kind of get down on yourself after a while, especially seeing others out riding already, then after that first ride you're like damn, that was well worth it!

[shinyribs]

Hold on,lets see...did you use my idea for the petcock situation? Does that mean I should expect a curtain in the mail??? Just kidding man.Just glad you got it going. Sounds like you've been bit by the bug.I have too and I'm not looking for a cure. Bikes are so much fun and I can build an entire bike for less than I used to buy ONE set of BBC rocker arms for. I just unloaded a set of Jesel's that I paid $1,400 for. I'm really afraid my drag racing days might be over

[slownugly007]

haha Im right there with ya...Ive always messed with cars and trucks and after messing with a bike its hard to think about four wheels. Bikes are cheaper and wayyyyy easier to modify! I started working on my 1947 Dodge truck when I was 13 and to this day im STILL working on it!!!? Mostly because im super indecisive but also because everything I need to buy is $300 or more and I sometimes need 4 of them!? Plus paint and body work on an entire car is enough to drive a man crazy and with a bike its just the little parts and the tank! I LOVE IT!!! haha Oh and mr shiny I do believe you DO have a thank you gift coming your way....just need that addy!

[shinyribs]

Oooh,you have a '47 Dodge truck and you haven't shared it?!?! Crystal wants an old truck and fell in love with an old Dodge parked up the road. I have no idea what year it is,but I know it will cost me alot of money if it ever comes home.

I was just teasing about the curtain.BTW,now that you dont have a reserve I dont want you knowing where I live when you come to exact your revenge on me after you run out of gas at 2 a.m. in deliverance country. Word of advice:if you hear banjo's... run faster!

[slownugly007]

Yes sir! My dad and I bought it as a project for me and him and we worked on it every weekend, got it to the point where I could drive it, drove it around the block a few times and decided I wanted it LOW!!!! So I tore it back down, threw away the old frame and built a completely new frame with an Art Morrison front end and 4 link linked rear! The truck is still in Tennessee and Im now in Florida...I guess trying to find myself?? ...So its on the back burners for now until I figure out where Im wanting to stay for a long period of time and get another garage.

Its been kinda nice though working on my bike with limited tools, back home I was spoiled with a plethora of metal and wood working tools so this has been a fun experience trying to think outside the box for a change. Ill see if I cant get some pictures and post em on here for your viewing pleasure.

[slownugly007]

Oh and dont worry about an unexpected visit...I knew the "no reserve" method was use at your own risk! haha

And I completely forgot to post what I meant to post to begin with...Darn you shiny!!!! hahahaha

Ok on my bike everything seems to be good with the fuel lines and when I rode it yesterday it ran great. Rode it to work this morning....no issues, blew it off with compressed air before I left work and rode it home and it developed a sputter when I gave it gas????? Figured maybe it wasnt warmed all the way up so I got home, let it run and took it back out...still sputtering? Any ideas? Im thinking maybe the fuel filter may have some crud in it, but would that cause the constant sputter??

[shinyribs]

Yeah,that could cause the sputter. Thats why I like clear filters. On site diagnosis!


hope you find yourself

[slownugly007]

And the list goes on..................Well Ijust got back from New Orleans (LOVE THAT PLACE)  for my sisters wedding and had a day off before I had to work. Ive been meaning to get my bike registered and get a tag on it since december when I bought it, but couldnt get off work and Ive been tearing it apart so havent really needed a tag.

So I went to the title place and apparently the guy I bought this from only gave me a copy of the title and the title is electronically saved in the dmv's computer!? It was my first time purchasing a bike so I had no idea if a title looked the same for a bike as it did for a car??

I tried contacting the guy and he got an attitude with me and said that I bought it 5 months ago and I shouldve taken care of this then!? and right now hes out of the state and cant help me!?

So I have no idea what to do? Is there a way to register a bike without having the title? I have a print out of the title, that I guess was for his records since it electronic title and a bill of sale?

Im kinda wondering what the deal is since hes making such a big deal about it? All he has to do is file for a title and send it to me.....THATS IT!?

[Hellbilly429]

Wow dude, that sounds lik you got scammed. I think he has to pay $20 for a copy of a title, course that's in NYS and I don't remember where u are at now that I think about it... Don't u just hate people? It's sad that you can't take people's word for anything anymore, and the people you can trust wont be trusted becaus other people ruined it for them. Good luck man

[cdaiscool]

That does suck. I know when I bought mine, I had the seller go to the DMV and pay to get a new title for me because the one I had disappeared while I was busy...

Maybe he was just on vacation? Just send him a text, apologize, and ask him to just give you a hand when he's back in time. If he's still pissy, then talk to his wife or something.

[shinyribs]

Some people are just jerks and dont want to be bothered after they get YOUR money in THEIR hands. Good luck,I hope it all works out quick and painless. DMV is of the Devil.

[slownugly007]

Amen! Hopefully, it will all work out. I found out even if hes moved out of state all he has to do is sign a power of attorney to me so I can get the title. Its an email and would take him 5 seconds to sign!? But the guy wont respond back or answer my calls. Im not asking him to drop everything and do it right no, I just want an adult response and his word that he will at least try take care of it or something. The lack of response is just juvenile and down right lazy! He basically just told me good luck and its not his problem since I bought it 5 months ago!

Buuuuuut what he doesnt know is that my sisters an attorney so Ive got her looking to see what my options are. I would really hate to make a huge dilemma over something that could be easily fixed in a matter of minutes, but Im kinda stuck and so far there are no loopholes for me getting this registered without him sending me the original title....so keep your fingers crossed and we'll see what happens?

[slownugly007]

Anyways enough with the legal mumbo jumbo....Since for right now I cant ride (legally)...yet! And my brakes are boo boo, I am in the process of rebuilding my brake system and was curious as to whats a good chemical for cleaning or soaking the naked calipers? Ive heard Berryman's Chem dip but wasnt sure how it would do on aluminum?

For your viewing pleasure here are the culprits that initiated an OCD brake overhaul!

 It started as just a simple brake pad swap but after seeing these, attempting to install the new ones and the failure at compressing the pistons I decided to rebuild the back caliper......annnnnd since Im doing the rear why not do the front....annnnnd if Im gonna have basically new calipers and pads why not install an aftermarket front master cylinder.......annnnd hell why not install new brake lines!!!???? Sometimes I hate myself...but I justify it as "its better to be safe than sorry".

That rear caliper was in definite need of a rebuild! I had a hell of a time popping the pistons out. I tried pumping the brake, but all it would do was pulsate and not pump out...then I hooked up 140psi of air to it and still it didnt budge! I ended up having to use the air while I pried it out!? This was a sure sign that they needed a rebuild.  So I ordered new pistons and new seals from honda and I should be all set.

Sorry for the long post but my rear rotor is pretty gouged and glazed over so I had considered having it turned. But when I contacted my local bike shop they said NO! and youre not suppose to do it??? Anybody know anything about this?? and if its true what should I do about my rotors? Thanks guys!

[Piute]

   Hit thoughs rotors with some steal wool if still stubborn ,I used lacquer thinner but that readily available in this shop,No chemical is going to hurt them

[shinyribs]

140 psi...that just sounds dangerousGotta do what ya gotta do! The rotor should have a minimum thickness embossed on it somewhere. I know my front rotor is marked.6mm I think? Anyway,it should be marked.

[slownugly007]

Youre telling me! I was waiting for it to all of the sudden break free and knock me out! Scary stuff, but like I said it was a sure sign that it needed a rebuild. Yea I saw where it was marked for minimum thickness and just assumed you could have them turned? I found a automotive machine shop that said they do it no problem and for $40 per rotor. So I dont know? I dont see why they cant be turned, unless its just a matter of being able to chock it in the lathe and maybe for some bikes its cheaper and easier to buy new ones. I could never find any for my bike for less than $150 so that $40 sounds AMAZING!

I have to take the bare rotor to them and Ive never taken the rear wheel off, is it hard to put everything back on and get the chain lined up properly? Maybe this is my OCD, but would it be a good idea to swap the chain out while its off?  

[TOOLS1]

Bike shops are into selling parts! The rotors can be turned, and yes it is your OCD keeping, you from yanking that wheel off.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

It's not very hard to get the wheel on and off. Just look around before you yank it and see if there any spacers on either side of the wheel on the axle.I know on my SOHC there are three different spacers that go in different places. You will be able to figure it out pretty easy,you seem like you know what you're doing

Getting the chain lined up is not hard either. If your swing arm has tick marks just use those to get the axle in line when you put it back. If you happen to have issues (um...like..lets say...OCD)with trusting those tick marks measure of something when you are done to verify the axle is straight on the bike. On my bike I measure off of these little nubs on my frame that keep the pegs from rotating on the bolt.

Those prices sound awfully high,but then again these aren't a super common bike anymore so that will drive availability/price up.

Is your rotor glazed or actually grooved? If it's grooved have it turned. If it has deep grooves you may run out of rotor before it smooths out. But if it is only glazed just sand it and keep rocking.