K3 maybe a restoration, maybe a custom, i'm indecisive

[bijna]

Just picked up this 1973 Honda CB750K (build date 8/72) off of craigslist from a local police officer for a grand total price of $1600US. He tells me that he purchased it a year ago from the original owner for the same price as an impulse buy (he had 1 and a half 750's in the garage). The ad had it listed 'Runs OK' and that it needed a carburetor sync. It also had a nice tank and side covers, which had been painted a dark blue. I didn't care for the painted tank and side covers, so he pulled out a set from the rafters or something. They weren't in as good condition but they were original 73 flake sunrise orange and I fell hard for the flake, so I took those instead.

I've been driving it around for about 5 days now, getting the cobwebs out of it. The odometer says just shy of 11,000mi, but it has stopped operating so there is no telling. It doesn't look like it had been dogged out or anything, our guesstimate was at least less than 40,000mi. So far I have changed the oil, but not the filter because I could not find it in my area. I ran seafoam through a tank of gas and in the oil before I changed it. I'm using Rotella 3 as it was on sale at Autozone for a nice price. I changed the fork oil today and unfortunately broke the bolt to the drain for the right fork. I'm hoping it won't pop out or the like before I change it next and have to drill it out. It seems to run fairly well, but I don't have anything to base it on really since the only other bike I've had is a 2007 Sportster. It was fuel injected and a real P.O.S. in terms of reliability, but it was a fun ride! So much so that it was my only ride for over a year. I am somewhat of a tinkerer and have always had old cars and trucks that I love working on, but this will be my first bike to tinker with.

I am torn between doing a custom cafe/bobber thing, and a restoration. I really do enjoy customizing my rides and the like, but I feel this one is so close to stock that I don't want to kill it. I know for sure that the buckshot handlebars and the trumpet exhaust are going, but not sure what else is going to happen here. I am a college student and a work at school, so don't expect to see anything really fancy to come out of this build. I can't afford rechroming or professional machine work.. this will basically just be my tinker log. I plan to do most everything on my own and hopefully with the collective mind of y'all.

[TOOLS1]

That is a nice bike. I would have a hard time choping/bobing it, and think STOCK SUCKS!! Any just have fun.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

"I fell hard for the flake"    I can't blame you. That orange flake is awesome!
Welcome to the party

I'm with Tools.I usually like things modified away from stock,but yours is so nice and clean it WOULD be a hard decision to make.Once you chop it...it's chopped. If you go with a mild Cafe-swap out the bars,tank,seat...-at least you have the option of returning it to stock at a later date. But that orange flake would be tough to give up! Great lookin' bike! I dig it!

[bijna]

Oh the paint is staying original for sure. I love it and the faded/chipped paint on the gas tank reminds you that the bike is a running relic. The only painTimg I plan on doing is some of the vIsible frame and I might get a new left side cover and try to paint it fso cause mine has a little bit missing.

I think what I'll end up doing is just a mild customization by removing parts and storing them. Take off the fenders, the headlight ears and turn signals. Has anyone tried relocating the stock taillight to under the seat after you remove the back fender? I'm gonna leave the passenger bar? Not sure what that's called.

Does anyone know how to get these pipes off? They look like slip ons, but they have no ballasts to they're not really doing anything for me right? I'd rather run straight pipes cause its honestly probably quieter!

I also ordered some tires today. I think the one on the front is stock! I got Dunlop k70'front and back. I ordered rim strips with it. Do I need to order new tubes with it or can I reuse the ones in it?

My next step is carb cleaning/syncing. I'm a bit nervous as I've never done anything more with a carb than adjust idles and what not in cars. I do have a ultrasonic cleaner so that should make the cleaning a lot easier. I'm gonna build a manometer set up for the carb sync, cause I'm cheap.

[bijna]

Painted the "dash". I was gonna do the thing holding the speedo on the top of the triple trees, but I didn't feel like removing the hand controls to get it out, I'll just wait til I get new handlebars. Is there anywhere that sells the face? Like where it says Honda and neutral. I sanded it down with some 220 on my mouse sander and then taped it off and painted it with "rust reformer" to prevent it from bubbling. Then I went at it with some 000 steel wool and put a couple coats of epoxy "appliance" paint. It's really durable, looks great. I've done a lot of steel ford rims with it. Then hit it with a heat gun to speed up the set time and shined up with some 800 wet sandpaper. Comes out looking close enough to new for me. Probably going to do all black parts like this including frame. After I reinstalled my handlebars my front brake lost most of its pressure and stopping power. It also looks like it leaked some when it was upside down. Is this common with these old things or do y'all think it needs rebuilt? Gonna flush it tomorrow and see if that helps. Looks pretty gross anyways.

[Charlie1717]

I like it! I like original vs mod but these bikes look great either way!

I want that seat cover if you decide to go the modded route!

[Lucky]

Be VERY careful with that steel wool.

If it gets damp and lays outside when the sun comes up, or through a window and shines
on the steel wool, it can combust. It oxidizes at such a rapid rate it will just start burning.

KEEP it in a METAL can.

[bijna]

The seat cover is stock, right? I just assumed so. It is in great condition, still comfy even two up. I'm definitely probably gonna keep it, sorry!

[Piute]

          Use the same brand paint high and low gloss,Same prosses,through out my bike.
       but also clear coat all the high gloss,then another of low and hand buff with compound N wax.
          mo PICTURES...

[TOOLS1]

I curious about the old Ford truck in the background. How about a picture, and some info on it?
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

LOL! You noticed that,too huh? Those are nice trucks.

bijna,my master cylinder was doing the same thing. It needs rebuilt. It requires a special pair of pliers to do the job. VintageCB750.com has the kit and the pliers you need to do it. The pliers run about $10-12 and I think the kit is about $20. Not bad to do at all. Keeps your fingers clean and peace of mind of what is left of the seals blowing out while riding. And it keeps that brake fluid off that pretty paint!

[bijna]

1978 Ford F-150 Ranger

That's my truck! We call it "The Rowdy". I bought it from my old boss's father who was the second owner about 3 years ago. He got it in 82, but not before the original owner did a couple performance upgrades. It's a 302 with nonstock heads (never could ID them) 3 speed with overdrive and a vintage hurst shifter. I got it for $700 dollars and it barely ran, now it's the most reliable vehicle I have and it gets 17mpg on the highway. The guy I got it from kept it at his cabin and only used it to pull his boat to the lake. Only 105k miles on it when I got it, about 155k now. It was my daily driver up until about six months ago, my grandfather had a stroke and gave me his 2009 Chevy Colorado since he can't drive it anymore. I was going to sell the Ford for awhile, but then my parents bought it from me! Now they buy all the expensive parts and I install them. I was going for a rat truck kinda look when i had it, now they wanna go all chrome and jacked up.. Either way, I'm glad it will stay n the family and probably be mine one day again and then my son's (or daughter, so long as i do produce some). I love it.

[bijna]

That's what I feared. Oh well. Probably not so bad, I'll order it.

In the meantime I just finished bleeding my brakes. What a pain in the balls that was! My bleeder screw was completely rusted, like through and through. I was finally able to remove it with some pb blaster, 4 hours, some vice grips and all the lbs of force my upper body could muster. Then I realized I got the wrong speed bleeders and had to go back and get the new one. When I finally got all the new fluid in there, it took about 45 minutes of pumping to get all the "micro-bubbles" out. Seems to be working as well as it was before, but still not that great.

[TOOLS1]

Cool truck. I used to have a all black with chrome trim 74 F-150 Ranger. It had a 360 in it, and got 7-8 mpg.
Speed bleeders SUCK!!!! The only way to really bleed the breaks on these bikes is to use a pump type oil can, and a piece of vacuum hose. Fill the can with break fluid, and connect the hose to the spout, and the bleeder. Then pump the fluid in. This will get all the air out.
TOOLS

[bijna]

Pump INTO the bleeder you're saying? Never thought of that. What kind of oil can are you talking about?

[bijna]

Got my tag and registration today. Funny thing is I was forced to register it as a 72, since the previous owners had. Is it then technically a 72?

[TOOLS1]

You want the kind of oil can that has a pump, and a spout. Any hardware store will have them. I think Wally World even has them. The pump is made into the cap, with a finger operated lever.
In the good old days bikes did not go by year models. However the DMV went by the year they were titled. I have a buddy with a K-3 that was titled in 74, so the DMV calls it a 74.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

Love the truck! I REALLY love those Moon discs! Too cool! The 302 has to be one of my all time favorite motors. They define "tough"

Tools,you had a Ford 360 that got 8 mpg?!?! I didn't know you could get that many mpg out of a 360

[TOOLS1]

I babied it.
TOOLS

[bijna]

My oil filter finally came in today, so I did a full oil change. Then to my horror after I poured the new rotella in, I look down and the o-ring for the filter housing was sitting on the ground beneath the bike  I'm such a dummy. So a slow leak for now, until I get some more oil and free time. Oh well, I guess I could do another sea foam flush with this oil.

I broke the gas cap today as well. I pushed the little button on the cap at the gas station and it went straight down. Again, dummy. Fortunately I was able to get it open with a screwdriver and got it filled up and closed. Kinda acts like a lock I guess. I'm gonna start looking online for one.