Frustratration and Working on these old bikes

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:57 pm

Here's the situation. Bike number one, both forks are out and one fork is disassembled. I need to replace both the fork bushing and slider bushing, of course I only ordered the fork bushings. Now I'm waiting for the slider bushings to come in.

I disassembled the rear caliper, cleaned it out and put in new seals. When I went to reinstall it, one of the mounting bolts broke off when I was trying to torque it to 25 ft lbs. I have drilled a hole for the easy-out, but the one I have isn't long enough to spin and clear all the parts. I have ordered a longer set which will be here this afternoon

I'm still waiting on the rear master cylinder and front master cylinder and caliper rebuild kits.

Bike number two, I finally got the starter to turn, but now the starter clutch is bad. Need to find a clutch in decent condition before I can continue.

It seems like I make a little progress and have to order a part, then wait a week to ten days to continue. That's the frustrating part. My dealer has been able to get all the parts I need (except one turn signal), but he doesn't stock them so its a week wait each time I order them.

Thanks for listening

Guest

You are welcome pal... Keep up the good work and i wish you many, many miles on your bikes in 2007 beerchug

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:26 pm

That

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:32 pm

Yea i know about it too. If you were to just decide to get a vintage anything and do restoration work on it you would have the same issues.
It all adds to the love you have for the vehicle once its done.

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 10:56 pm

I feel a little better now, Fedex delivered the master cylinder rebuild kits and I was able to get the broken bolt out, but not without smoothing out a few of the threads. The bolt is only torqued to 25 ft lbs so there is not a lot of pressure on it. I put some locktite on it and torqued it down. The rear master cylinder and caliper are rebuilt and charged with brake fluid. The rear wheel no longer drags and now I don't have five different jobs half finished.

BTW, the FSM says to apply a little air pressure to push the plunger and spring out of the master cylinder. I used too much and they shot out the end through a cardboard box. Luckily I wasn't aiming it any where important.

Now if the slider bushings will come in before Friday, I'll be ready to put her on the road again.

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 1:47 am

Vintage bikes make great "second" bikes. I'll bet most guys don't buy an old honda as their primary ride.
I came to this realization when I overheard a conversation between my daughter and one of friends. The friend had asked about the project in the garage. My 5th grader said "oh his motorcycle is always taken apart for some reason".

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:20 am

Keeps you out of the bars...

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:48 am

Working on these bikes sure beats a sharp stick in the eye Razz

CB1100F Joined: Jul 02, 2003 Posts: 3189 Location: Phoenix

Gee, I wish those were my only problems to deal with. I rebuilt my bike after my accident. When it really got interesting, is when I figured out that the frame was bent and ended up swapping over to a new frame. Regardless, just be patient and when it all comes together it will be worth it. I know that I felt a great sense of excitement when I was finally able to take mine out for a test ride for the first time. I got even more excited after I put some more air in the tires and found out that it handles better that way.

CB1100F Joined: Mar 03, 2004 Posts: 3278 Location: Seattle

You know whats funny and sad @ the same time, Dennis??

Breaking off a cam cap bolt torquing it down by specs, then have the broken bolt end spin out by my fingerstips or torquing a cam cap bolt down, VERY carefully by hand, then stripping the threads out....

Go figure, huh?

Been there, done that...

Confused

Word to the wise....invest in a Heli coil kit.........NOW!!!

CB1100F Joined: Mar 03, 2004 Posts: 3278 Location: Seattle

Quote:

I'll bet most guys don't buy an old honda as their primary ride.

Sorry my Friend, but my old Honda, IS my PRIMARY ride........my secondary ride is only 1 year newer....& my tirtiary ride is 3 years OLDER then my primary.... Laughing

But thats just me..... Twisted Evil

Guest

Blainethemono wrote:

Quote:

I'll bet most guys don't buy an old honda as their primary ride.

Sorry my Friend, but my old Honda, IS my PRIMARY ride........

I am affraid it is not just you Wink

CB1100F Joined: Jul 02, 2003 Posts: 3189 Location: Phoenix

Peki wrote:

Blainethemono wrote:

Quote:

I'll bet most guys don't buy an old honda as their primary ride.

Sorry my Friend, but my old Honda, IS my PRIMARY ride........

I am affraid it is not just you Wink

When I lived in Phoenix, my previous primaries have been all old Honda motorcycles: 82 CB750C, 76 CB550K, 81 CB750K, 82 CB900F.

Guest

Did you bring some of your bikes to Korea?

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:00 pm

solman wrote:

Gee, I wish those were my only problems to deal with. I rebuilt my bike after my accident. When it really got interesting, is when I figured out that the frame was bent and ended up swapping over to a new frame. Regardless, just be patient and when it all comes together it will be worth it. I know that I felt a great sense of excitement when I was finally able to take mine out for a test ride for the first time. I got even more excited after I put some more air in the tires and found out that it handles better that way.

Solmon, how difficult was it to take everything off and put it on a new frame? I'm worried about remembering where everything goes. Bike nr. 2 could definitely use a ground up restoration, but I was trying to think of a way to make it easier and there's a frame on e-bay for $95. I'm thinking of buying it and having it powder coated. Then I could take the parts off the bike piece by piece clean, rechroming or powdercoat them for the new frame. It seems like having an extra frame would make that easier.

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:03 pm

Blainethemono wrote:

You know whats funny and sad @ the same time, Dennis??

Breaking off a cam cap bolt torquing it down by specs, then have the broken bolt end spin out by my fingerstips or torquing a cam cap bolt down, VERY carefully by hand, then stripping the threads out....

Go figure, huh?

Been there, done that...

Confused

I've worked on old cars and had a few problems with fastners, but nothing like these 25 year old Honda parts. I think most cars use grade 8 or higher, I wonder what Honda used?

Word to the wise....invest in a Heli coil kit.........NOW!!!

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 4:58 am

Blainethemono wrote:

Quote:

I'll bet most guys don't buy an old honda as their primary ride.

Sorry my Friend, but my old Honda, IS my PRIMARY ride........my secondary ride is only 1 year newer....& my tirtiary ride is 3 years OLDER then my primary.... Laughing

But thats just me..... Twisted Evil

I was just speculating that most guys have at least one other motorcycle(if not several). Maybe I should have said "only" rather than primary?
I looked through the list of polls but didn't see anything on total# of bikes owned.
I do enjoy working on my 1100f, but since it is my only bike it can get frustrating at times. There have been quite a few times that I would have rather been riding than waiting on some part to come in the mail. And as much as I enjoy and appreciate the help and advice available here. I hate waiting on the end of an E-bay auction for some gizmo, and hoping that nobody from this site wants it more than I do.

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 9:15 am

My daily ridder is my CB750F. I am looking for a second bike,another Honda, perhaps an 82 K. I want to make it a cafe racer, and turn it into a performance bike, something "F"s are made to be, I want to transform a K, I think it will be fun. I like diversity, but I also enjoy fixing and improving my bike(s)
A new one, aside from the notion that it is new, would not bring me the satisfaction I get from fixing, twicking, improving my older bike.

I know you meant that most people might not consider a main ride an older bike, those guys are usually the ignorant and mechanically challenged guys, who can not change a spark plug...to those people only a brand new car/ bike is the posibility....but there resides their limitations. Wink

CB1100F Joined: Jul 02, 2003 Posts: 3189 Location: Phoenix

It was definitely an interesting task. Doing it again, I would make sure that I put the parts from different sections in the same bucket. It was a bit of trial and error. If you have a new frame, powder coat it and then just start transferring it over to the new frame. Take the motor out first and then transfer the suspension and wheels. After that, just start moving stuff over. I ran into a few electrical snags, but I was eventually able to figure it out and got it done. One thing that I would definitely do would be to add new steering head bearings. It is a perfect time to knock it out. One other thing, when you remove and install the motor, have a second person there to help. I managed to do it myself, but it was a horrible experience. I used a floor jack to hold the majority of the weight and use the people to manipulate it in. I also tried something new as well. I put the motor in first and then added the wheels. It sounded like a good idea and I was able to do it, but it was definitely an interesting experience.

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:45 am

Gee Bmcdonau,
I think you have it easy, Fixing a Bol and getting parts is no problems at all. Let me tell you what it is like rebuilding a 1981 TZ250H.
Just last week i purchased a Front master cylinder kit $88 Aus. only to find at some stage the M/cyl has been replaced with the same style and year model M/cyl but different bore sizes. 14mm versus 11/16th. Now I have to get the M/cyl resleeved to fit the smaller piston (yeah I know about the ratio) From 28: 1 upto 36:1.
Then find I cant purchase a clutch cable. No longer on file from Yamaha. So I will have too make one up! surprisingly the throttle cable threaded collar on bol dors pull cable is the same thread on the cases. so I have a starting point there.
I also cannot buy a water pump cover so we have to weld up the corroded remains of the one I have. And I know you cant even get these in Japan or the US. (a friend on another forum in the states has been trying for several months to aquire this part.
Saturday I have to fit a speedy sleeve onto the waterpump shaft to revor it from a bad seal fit.
So you see. That is just this months worth of work (dont ask me about Magnessium Marzochi Forks) That is a whole different story.

CB1100F Joined: Mar 03, 2004 Posts: 3278 Location: Seattle

Quote:

I put the motor in first and then added the wheels. It sounded like a good idea and I was able to do it, but it was definitely an interesting experience.

Thats how Howies assembled Da Beast. Put the engine on the floor, and lowered the frame down around it... Shocked