possible parts source, I may check it out..

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Re: possible parts source, I may check it out..

shinyribs
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Always take enough to pay what they are asking for,just show it as you want to spend it.I never go to a deal willing to pay full price,but if you want it,sometimes you have to.It all depends on the person,too.I went to by a truck one time.Turned out it was a super nice family selling the truck.Two young kids,id say one 3 years old and the other about 6 or7.They were selling off things to pay bills thru the hard times.After talking him down i got to feeling bad about it because he was doing all he could to keep his head above water.I talked him down $250, but when i left he hadnt realized that i actually overpaid him by $300.I gave him his asking price plus $50.He called me on my cell on the way home and told me i had overpaid.I told him that i had not overpaid,rather i paid what he said it was worth and i had paid him $50 for all of his help in loading it up.He was happy and i felt right about it.
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Re: possible parts source, I may check it out..

MarkPBG
This post was updated on .
In reply to this post by LukeM
Checked it out and I liked it enough to put down a deposit. (I would have bought it outright, but his title was locked inside his dad's safe, so he didn't have it to show me he's the owner of the bike and I won't have trouble registering it) I'm returning tomorrow morning to take it home. It's in that nice of shape. Took a test drive and the engine pulls like a mule, smooth and steady, hits all the gears smoothly and with no unusual noises. All the lights work. Battery tested 12.3 V and running I was getting 14.74 V at the battery…so it looks like the charging system is good too. It was garage kept so there's almost no rust. Looked in the gas tank for rust and instead all I saw was the spot welds on the bottom seams through the nearly clear gas. Chain and sprockets were in great shape. Seat is good, only has a few threads just starting to unravel along the piping on the right side. It's got just under 27k miles and only has a few nicks, scratches and one small dent. Idles a little rough until it warms up, then it's fairly smooth with just the occasional sputter. (idle seems a little off…it wants to idle at around 1100 RPM. It already has a 4 into 1 exhaust system on it (brand unknown) and sounds NICE! There really was VERy little to use to argue the price down….which is GREAT by me! It has only a few issues, all relatively minor. The front has a slight imbalance at 30-35 MPH…a close look at the front rim and i saw a couple of shiny threads on a few spokes, so I know the front wheel will need a spoke adjustment/balancing. The two lines coming out of the fuel petcock leak about a shot glass of fuel every 10 minutes, so either the petcock is bad (couldn't tell if the leak was coming from the seam on the petcock or the lines themselves) OR the lines are cracked (no big deal, I replace all fuel and vacuum lines anyway when I buy an older vehicle. Are those two lines supposed to have hose clamps on them? They didn't. And the last issue is some minor electrical. The previous owner put a high output halogen headlight in the bike that was apparently too much for the charging system, so to keep it from draining the battery, the hi/lo beam switch was converted to an on/off switch. That is all, other than a tune up, that this bike needs.

The biggest difference I noticed between my old Katana sport bike and this CB750 (first time I ever rode one) was that on the sport bike, the power was very light on the bottom end. It didn't pull hard until you got it way up into the start of it's power band (6500-8000RPM). The CB750 is more like a powerful diesel, it PULLS from IDLE and just keeps pulling all the way up! I like it!


I ended up only talking him down to $1850. Not too bad considering how little I will have to do. I ended up offering him a little more to transport it to my shop since he had a truck and trailer…so now I don't need to rent a truck, buy ramps, buy tie downs, etc. It will save me a few hours…he said we could stop by the DMV on the way up and do the title transfer and get it registered so that will save me some time too. I'm 58 miles from him, so that's a 2 hour round trip for him!

All in all, if the title checks out tomorrow, I will be giving him the balance (left a deposit so he would KNOW I was serious) and it will be mine!!!!!

Did I mention this thing pulls HARD? lol
Mark Davis
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
amateur photographer, hot rodder, motorcyclist, adventurer
"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."
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Re: possible parts source, I may check it out..

MarkPBG
p.s. Thanks to a three part video on You Tube about buying used bikes…I knew everything to look for from chain tension to leaking fork oil to telling the guy not to pre-warm the engine so I can see what color smoke comes out of the exhaust first thing as well as how it cold starts. :)
Oh, you guys gave out a LOT of good tips on what to look for also! :)
Mark Davis
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
amateur photographer, hot rodder, motorcyclist, adventurer
"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."
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Re: possible parts source, I may check it out..

MarkPBG
In reply to this post by MarkPBG
Just got a call from the bike seller. He got the title out of the safe and it looks like it is still in the previous owners name. I told him if he wants the sale to go through, we need a receipt and bill of sale from that guy so when I go to register it, he won't be able to say he never sold it, it was stolen. (At least he knows the guy, has his number, and he still lives near by!) I knew there would be a monkey with a wrench! I know the DMV down here is going to want to transfer the bike into the current owners name before they will transfer it to me. This may be a problem. Darn. Well, the bike is worth the hassle. We'll try it and see how easy this is. Maybe I'll have to wait another week or two before I can ride it.


Got another call, he looked at the back of the title and it WAS signed over to him…in Florida, that means we're good to go!
Mark Davis
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
amateur photographer, hot rodder, motorcyclist, adventurer
"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."
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Re: possible parts source, I may check it out..

shinyribs
Administrator
Good deal! I'm glad it worked out for you.I was surprised too the first time i got my bike out on the road."Wow,this thing runs pretty good", I thought.After i got it running RIGHT i was really impressed!They are impressive engines considering that they were built 30+ years ago!My bike idles at about 1200-1300 usually.Its not a rock solid idle,it will move around a little.If you try to idle it lower it doesnt like it too well.I have found,these past few days,that riding in colder weather really screws with the idle speed.Cruise along at 65 mph for 30-45 minutes in temps in the 30s,when you stop it acts like the carbs have cooled off againThe carbs on that bike are the same as mine.They are called round tops.They do not have an accelerator pump.Honda changed this with the keyhole carbs in the later years.Some off idle hesitation is not at all uncommon,though it is not noticable when riding.I can only make mine do it when revving it in the garage.Sound like you found a real winner! Enjoy and have fun!!
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Pics of the bike I just put a deposit on….Pic Heavy…13 small pics. With funny captions.

MarkPBG
Here's some of the pics I took of the bike i looked at today. As you can see, I think I got a fairly nice one!
The stock key with the Honda name on it and the original key # are still with the bike and it works in both the ignition and the seat lock, and the UNCUT spare key is still on the key ring too!
He's got a spare valve cover, points cover, and two other outer engine case covers, plus a couple other small parts he was collecting because he had plans to make a cafe racer too. (no cafe parts though)
(comments for the pics are directly above the pic it's poking fun at.)

Here it is, with that monster halogen headlight.

My 1974 CB750



The turn signal arms have a little bit of chrome pitting and bubbling, the controls are a bit faded, and the gauge pods have a bit of rust, and one dent.





There's soot in the end of this pipe. lol


 


Just HOW does one put a dent in this part of the speedo housing? lol





Clean engine.





These are the two hoses that are leaking.





There's some dirt on this pedal.





There was some dirt here too.





I thought these bikes all had those finned cast pieces here and not these flat flanges. Or is that only
on the stock exhaust?





The bottom of this part was scuffed. LOL





Some very minor seeping from between these two parts.





This connector gets warm when the headlight is on. This is part of the electrical work I have to do. Oh, and there was a small cobweb behind it too. That's going to add to the clean up time!





The carbs, in great shape. Except for the scratch on this screw. Great, how much is THAT going to cost me?



Mark Davis
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
amateur photographer, hot rodder, motorcyclist, adventurer
"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."
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Re: Pics of the bike I just put a deposit on….Pic Heavy…13 small pics. With funny captions.

TOOLS1
Administrator
That connector getting hot means there is a bad connection. it is also probably the reason the headlight switches have been bypassed.
The leak between the fins is common on these bikes. It is the covers over the head bolts leaking. Not a big deal, but, you have to remove the engine to replace them. They are just little round plastic discs over the head bolts. What most guys used to do (including myself) is to pack some cotton cloths line rope between the fins. When the rope gets dirty just replace it.
TOOLS
Life is not about the number of breaths, you take, but the moments that take your breath away.
I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem. Hank Hill
Never confuse education for intelligence.
Happiness is a belt fed weapon.
I just can't imagine what could go wrong.
No fire? No explosions? So whats the point of your story?
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato
It couldn't be done, but the darn fool didn't know it, and did it anyway.
We all got problems. Ksharp
I like vintage bikes because they take me away from the clutter of technology that I work with everyday and back to a simpler time of mechanical elegance and simplicity.. "ninadm"
Darkwing Duck: The worst part of public transportation is the Public.
"That is awesome shit there" Re-Run
"Fear nothing, attack everything" Eric Berry
" Oh, you read that on the internet? Clearly it IS a massive problem. Of course it CAN’t be normal operation."

1976 CB 750-A X 2
1977 CB 750-A X 4
1977 CB 750-K
1976 CB 750 F
1981 CB 750
1966 Kawasaki SG 250
1981 KZ 750 LTD
1973 CB 350
1979 CM 185 Twinstar
1982 Honda XL 80
South of Eden (Kansas City MO)
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Re: Pics of the bike I just put a deposit on….Pic Heavy…13 small pics. With funny captions.

MarkPBG
Stand back! I've got a multimeter and I know how to use it! lol…I'll track that electrical short down for sure. That's easy compared to breaking into the engine. (only because it takes longer and requires even more special tools)

That much of a leak doesn't really concern me. I'm not one of those guys who has to have a spotless bike wherever I go! LOL

What about that petcock? That's the thing that really concerns me…I don't want the bike igniting at a stop light! :) Are those lines supposed to have clamps, or are they just friction fit? I've got new line from a parts store, so I'll be replacing all the fuel and vacuum lines anyway. :)
Mark Davis
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
amateur photographer, hot rodder, motorcyclist, adventurer
"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."
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Re: Pics of the bike I just put a deposit on….Pic Heavy…13 small pics. With funny captions.

MarkPBG
I'll probably just get a new harness anyway. They're way cheaper than the $500+ for a muscle car and as old as this one is, it probably needs it anyway. I saw tiny bits of corrosion on two wires at that plug, so there may be more on other wires creeping up under the insulation. As old as this bike is, I'd expect no less.
Mark Davis
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
amateur photographer, hot rodder, motorcyclist, adventurer
"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."
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Re: Pics of the bike I just put a deposit on….Pic Heavy…13 small pics. With funny captions.

shinyribs
Administrator
Wow,that is a clean bike.You scored big time!BTW,next time you need a wiring harness for a musclecar check out EZ wiring.I got a 22 circuit for my 66 Impala for $235 and it was great.It has so many accessory circuits that it is nuts.Power antenea,pw,pdl,heated seats,stereo amp,fuel pump,rear a/c..the list goes on.
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Re: Pics of the bike I just put a deposit on….Pic Heavy…13 small pics. With funny captions.

TOOLS1
Administrator
In reply to this post by MarkPBG
Yes those lines are friction fit, but a hose clamp is still a good idea. I like the clip on type, and not the worm gear type, for these lines.
TOOLS
Life is not about the number of breaths, you take, but the moments that take your breath away.
I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem. Hank Hill
Never confuse education for intelligence.
Happiness is a belt fed weapon.
I just can't imagine what could go wrong.
No fire? No explosions? So whats the point of your story?
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato
It couldn't be done, but the darn fool didn't know it, and did it anyway.
We all got problems. Ksharp
I like vintage bikes because they take me away from the clutter of technology that I work with everyday and back to a simpler time of mechanical elegance and simplicity.. "ninadm"
Darkwing Duck: The worst part of public transportation is the Public.
"That is awesome shit there" Re-Run
"Fear nothing, attack everything" Eric Berry
" Oh, you read that on the internet? Clearly it IS a massive problem. Of course it CAN’t be normal operation."

1976 CB 750-A X 2
1977 CB 750-A X 4
1977 CB 750-K
1976 CB 750 F
1981 CB 750
1966 Kawasaki SG 250
1981 KZ 750 LTD
1973 CB 350
1979 CM 185 Twinstar
1982 Honda XL 80
South of Eden (Kansas City MO)
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Re: Pics of the bike I just put a deposit on….Pic Heavy…13 small pics. With funny captions.

MarkPBG
Yeah, in a size that small, the worm gear clamps don't hold too well. I think the lines are just old and hard so they no longer fit tight enough not to leak. When the petcock is off, there's no leaking, so it's the lines. I saw a balancing/truing stand for motorcycle tires at Harbor Freight for a great price…I may pick that up along with a spoke wrench and true up the rim best I can. After carefully looking it over top to bottom, I can't see anything on it that looks hard to work on, getting the special tools will be what slows me down.
I was a bit bummed the engine number didn't match (if they're supposed to, I don't know). It runs great, so i'm not going to complain about originality.
Mark Davis
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
amateur photographer, hot rodder, motorcyclist, adventurer
"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."
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Re: Pics of the bike I just put a deposit on….Pic Heavy…13 small pics. With funny captions.

MarkPBG
In reply to this post by shinyribs
Thanks< i will check them out. We sold Painless at the shop I worked for…they're prices were high, but the quality of the product was definitely there. I had the 18 circuit harness for GM with GM column, it had all the right connectors for all the parts on my '71 camaro, so I didn't have to put new ends on all the wires. That harness kit is over $700 now. Wow, they went up a lot. The universal harnesses were much less, but install time was longer.
Mark Davis
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
amateur photographer, hot rodder, motorcyclist, adventurer
"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."
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Re: possible parts source, I may check it out..

MarkPBG
In reply to this post by shinyribs
Did you ever get the feeling something was missing in your life? That you don't feel "whole" or "complete"? I sold my muscle car 10 years ago and my motorcycle over 7 years ago and was feeling that way too. Now that I have the bike, and tinkered with it for a few hours, I don't feel that way anymore. All I needed to feel "right" again was the smell of grease, gas, and oil on my hands again! Woo-Hoo! lol
 I guess there's no therapy like garage therapy for a hot rodder.
Mark Davis
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
amateur photographer, hot rodder, motorcyclist, adventurer
"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."
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Re: possible parts source, I may check it out..

shinyribs
Administrator
We sold Painless for a long time until we discovered EZ Wiring.The quality is the same.I think the insulation on EZ's kit actually feel a little more flexible.
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Re: possible parts source, I may check it out..

MarkPBG
I will FOR SURE keep their name in mind then. Thanks!
Mark Davis
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
amateur photographer, hot rodder, motorcyclist, adventurer
"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."
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Re: possible parts source, I may check it out..

MarkPBG
In reply to this post by MarkPBG
Here are the extras I got with it. Maybe enough stuff to pay for the tune up.



Mark Davis
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
amateur photographer, hot rodder, motorcyclist, adventurer
"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."
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Re: possible parts source, I may check it out..

TOOLS1
Administrator
That finned clutch cover is worth $40.00-$50.00. Also the numbers did not match.
TOOLS
Life is not about the number of breaths, you take, but the moments that take your breath away.
I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem. Hank Hill
Never confuse education for intelligence.
Happiness is a belt fed weapon.
I just can't imagine what could go wrong.
No fire? No explosions? So whats the point of your story?
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato
It couldn't be done, but the darn fool didn't know it, and did it anyway.
We all got problems. Ksharp
I like vintage bikes because they take me away from the clutter of technology that I work with everyday and back to a simpler time of mechanical elegance and simplicity.. "ninadm"
Darkwing Duck: The worst part of public transportation is the Public.
"That is awesome shit there" Re-Run
"Fear nothing, attack everything" Eric Berry
" Oh, you read that on the internet? Clearly it IS a massive problem. Of course it CAN’t be normal operation."

1976 CB 750-A X 2
1977 CB 750-A X 4
1977 CB 750-K
1976 CB 750 F
1981 CB 750
1966 Kawasaki SG 250
1981 KZ 750 LTD
1973 CB 350
1979 CM 185 Twinstar
1982 Honda XL 80
South of Eden (Kansas City MO)
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Re: possible parts source, I may check it out..

shinyribs
Administrator
Hey Mark,is that finned clutch cover chromed or aluminum?If you do want to sell it,and its aluminum,i am interested in it.Thx
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Re: possible parts source, I may check it out..

MarkPBG
It's chromed. I want to use a finned aluminum one on my project too! They look better, I think, for the old school look.
Mark Davis
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
amateur photographer, hot rodder, motorcyclist, adventurer
"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."
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