The Water Buffalo-Seemingly never ending cafe project

[TOOLS1]

It does not matter since one will be on compression, and the other will be on exhaust. My Honda factory manual says to adjust the cam chain, by letting the engine idle, and loosen the locking nut then tightening it back up. I tried this once, but was not impressed. I do it by removing the point cover, and and turning the crank clockwise with a wrench until I feel a lot of tension. Then tighten the lock nut down. This way I know all the slack is taken up.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

Alot of tensoin?So,i guess what you are doing,feeling for tension,is letting the cam start activating a rocker arm,thus tension, and assuming that the cam chain is pulled tight at that point.I guess that makes sense.Thanks for the tip,Tools.   I was thinking about the ignitions on these bikes and was wondering,if when the coil pulses,if it fires two cylinders at one time,does that mean if fires one off on the exhaust stroke,too?Or am i way off? Just wondering...

[TOOLS1]

Yep two at once. One compression, and the other exhaust.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

Regarding the whole 530/620 chain deal. Or is it 520 & 630? I don't know.I was looking at my chain to see if it is salvageable,master link is gone. But i noticed stamped on the dog bones it says 530. So is that what chain i have?

[TOOLS1]

I doubt they would stamp 520 on a 630 chain, But stranger things have happened.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

My stamps say 530       i couldnt remember if it was 530 or 520

[shinyribs]

Ok guys,i am still fighting with these carbs. I got it running pretty good.revs clean and fast. Blip the throttle off idle and it responds well,too. If you take the throttle,at idle,and crank it wide open should it rev or what?Or will these bike requires a little finessing to get off idle?I know this sounds like a stupid question,but humor me please.Also,how many of you guys bikes actually idle at 850-950 rpm?Mine won't.Don't know if tach is inaccurate orit just won't.Opinions please.Thanks!

[Piute]

 What you have been doing and say all this time has also been happening with mine,I'm just being sure everything is better then right as i move along,last it would not drop Idol,wonted to it seemed,But was definitely sucking air,at 1st the throttle would not return by itself,(both new)return cable had a prob.(couldn't figure)took it off,returns fine.as I said each step is going to be correct toward running,I can't do anything tell I can get the bike to Idol on it's own,and 1100 cool but does say 850-900...Piute...Let ya know were I'm at.

[shinyribs]

I got my Dad to look at mine while it was running today.He said that he thought mine revved faster than some of the ones he bought new.Could be result of the martek ignition. He said all of his would idle around 1100-1300 rpm.So i think im just gonna let it go.Starts great,instantly with push button.Engine cold,with full choke,i push kick starter with hand and it fires first time and idles.Never touch the throttle.Choke comes off full choke after about 15 seconds ,then half choke for about another 15 seconds,then no choke.I think it may be ok now.Just never heard one run before and have nothing to compare to.

[TOOLS1]

The round tops are known to have a hesitation off idle. That is why Honda used added the accelerator pump to the keyhole carbs.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

Thats exactly what i'm talking about!!! If you blip it,does great.If you really crank it hard,stumbles.Seems to me...but i'm not real sharp,either...all carbs need acc. pumps.    Oh well,time for the tear down and rebuild part now that i know engine is good. I'd love to repaint the motor with the original silver.Any ideas what is best to use or where to get it?Thanks      Oh yeah,what is the deal with sand cast and die cast?I dont know what that means exactly.I mean,i know what it means,but not how it relates to these bikes

[TOOLS1]

The GM argent silver (the paint used on the rally wheels.) is very close to what Honda used.  The sandcast engines were used, for the first production run of CB 750s. Honda was not sure how well the bike would sell, so they did not want to put a lot of money into molds. Unfortunately a lot of sandcast engines were destroyed because of chains breaking. The chains of the period were not strong enough to handle 69 HP. When they would break they would bind up around the front sprocket, and break the case.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

Ooooh,that sounds bad.Thanks Tools...i have one more thing to fear now!!!HAHA.  Argent silver i have plenty of.Thanks man.Do i need to etch the engine or just squirt paint? And what about the cooling rings for the exhaust?Mine are a little rusty,what kind of paint will live on there?Or do they really get very hot?

[shinyribs]

69 hp?!?! I didn't know they were that strong! Cool!Thats pretty impressive from 44 cubic inches.Thats 1.57 hp per cu. in.    Thats like having a 550 hp 350 chevy! (I did the math)   very impressive output!!!

[TOOLS1]

I do not know about the exhaust flanges, but I just clean the engine with Easy-off oven cleaner at a car wash. Then spray it.
TOOLS

[Daddyman]

Shiny ribs look at this link   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTsY4ALm8C0&NR=1   The tank on this bike is a stock honda cx500d.  Reminded me of the look I think you where going for.

[shinyribs]

That was a nice bike.The tank does look good,but i like a little longer rear end.Personal taste is all.I do like the polished fork clamps,though

[shinyribs]

I'm onto the strip 'er down stage now! Can't wait to get this fame back from my buddy that does powdercoating.. Gotta lot of cleaning ahead of me.Guess I'll hit walmart after church this evening and stock up on rags

[shinyribs]

Hey Daddyman,have you seen this site?
 http://www.cb750cafe.com/
Alot of cool builds to look at here.

[Daddyman]

Cool site Thanks!