TEASER!! FastDoc did it again :-)

[FastDoc]

He bought another bike. I needed this like a hole in the head but I can't help myself. I scan CL every day and I'm always looking for a good deal on something interesting.

This bike runs like new, has 3,200 miles on it, needs only minor cosmetic issues, and is mechanically excellent.

It's a 1972 Honda... :wink:

[SpudRider]

Stop teasing us and tell us what you bought, Doc! :lol:

Spud :D

[katoranger]

He bought the cb350. :?:

[FastDoc]

He bought the cb350. :?:

Close. I actually looked at a CL350 on Monday but it was unrestorable economically.

This is a 1972 Honda CB175 Twin. It's gold and black and in excellent condition. Everything works and it has a clear Collector Vehicle title.

I only have a poor quality cell phone picture to share for now. Will post it soon.

[FastDoc]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/cb.jpg

[davidsonsgccc]

from the pic it looks to be in good shape. i like that style of bike its like my 78 cb125 only faster.

[FastDoc]

It's in really good shape. I just have to find the side panels. I've located the left one...

It only has 3,300 miles on it! the prior owner already changed the oil, plugs, points, tires, chain, battery, and tires. :P

[katoranger]

I had a 75 CB200T that was the same gold. It was the first bike I bought. $175. I would like it back.

It had a great sound.

[FastDoc]

Same basic bike. It does sound great. Sounds like an Italian sports car. Top speed somewhere around 65 though.

$175 was an awesome deal :P . This one cost me $600 which I thought was fair considering its condition and that most of the 'restoration' work (tires, chain, tuneup, battery etc) has already been done. :wink:

[SpudRider]

The bike looks very clean, Doc. Thanks for sharing the photo. :) Of course, we expect more photos. ;)

Spud :)

[FastDoc]

Took it on a 100 mile shakedown ride. 8)

It has an induction air leak and will need new O rings in the intake manifolds. They are aluminum so they can't leak, but the 40 year old seals can. It also needs fork seals. It needs a light bulb for the tachometer.

If this is all I need the project should be cool. :wink:

[MICRider]

Very nice shape! Is the chrome and exhaust in as good condition as it looks in the picture? Pipes look like new! A very good buy for $600 I would say :)

[FastDoc]

The chrome is like new. So is the seat and everything except the paint is faded on the top of the tank.

Some info gleaned from my short ride today. Even though it's of the same vintage as the BSA and only 39% the displacement, the Honda is probably faster than the Beeser. It is also much smaller, lighter, has much better brakes, the shifter is on the correct side, hardly vibrates etc.

The power is up high. If you want to accelate 'hard' you gotta shift at 9000 RPM 8O . Redline is 10,500 but I don't want to test it.

The bike runs great as is, but I'm sure it will be better with new O rings, which were available new from Bike Bandit. I also picked up some fork seals.

[Jim]

Cool bike Doc, nice find :)

[FastDoc]

Thanks Jim! I knew that you in particular would like it. :wink:

[Weldangrind]

Sweet old bike! Son of Weldangrind would like to find something just like that.

[katoranger]

I believe I had my 200 to an indicated 80mph on the flat blacktop road going into Doon, IA. It took about 2 miles to get from 65 to 80. :lol:

[katoranger]

That sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ7d4R4cJkY&feature=related

Mine looked just like this. Less the sissy bar and the girl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p88O0jj7tHI&NR=1

[FastDoc]

:lol:

Thats the sound! Mine has mufflers but you can see why I say its like an Italian sports car

[FastDoc]

I finally got my fork seals changed and took the bike for a test drive and the throttle stuck. It turns out it was the left carb.

The slide is simply too tight in the bore. I cleaned it and the bore to no end with no improvement. I have an extra slide and it too does not fit in the bore (too snug), but the same slide fits fine in another old carb body I have laying around! WTH!? How could it work before and not now?? :cry:

Strange, the same thing occured on the opposite side already! I 'fixed' that one by putting an old slide in. The bike came with two old carbs and slides.

I suspect the little 'peg' on the side of the carb body bore is too wide or somehow damaged and hanging up in the groove of the slide but I don't know. :roll:

Has this happened to anyone else out there? Any ideas?

I was thinking about 'polishing' the little locator peg somehow but I don't want to damage the bore. I could also 'polish' the groove in the slide, but again I don't want to damage anything.

[FastDoc]

A Google search and I got my answer. I overtightened the carb body. I just loosned it up a hair and all is well.

I have a case of OCD I wouldn't wish on anyone. This made me nuts tonight. :cry:

[Weldangrind]

I can appreciate the OCD.

Which part of the carb body was too tight?

[FastDoc]

Where it mounts to the aluminum intake 'manifold'. Apparantly it overcompresses on the O-ring and microscopically distorts the carb body and throttle sleeve bore. :?

I loosened it a hair and all is well. :D

That was a new one on me. Always learning. God LOVES to keep me humble like this. :?

[Weldangrind]

I'll benefit from your experience. I never thought that I might be over-torquing the carb fasteners. Better to rely on Loctite I guess.

Or lockwashers. The guys on the Honda Twins forum say to just use 2-3 ft-lbs and lockwashers.

I got the bike back together and it rides sweet. New fork seals, fuel lines and fuel filters, new O-rings in the intake tract. Next step will be having a shop match the paint and bringing it in for a partial respray. The Linda learns to ride and I'll either keep it for her to use or sell it.

I'd like that CB400 SuperSport...

[FastDoc]

How odd is that, my last post showed up as being from W&G. :?:

Anyway I rode the little Honda to work today. What a sweet little bike. Praise God it appears all the work I did to it was effective and it runs great. It's fun to commute on. It's more fun to ride a small bike at WOT than it is to idle along on a powerful one, especially at around town speeds.

I hit 70 on a short straight stretch with no wind, and the bike had a few more MPH in it. :P You should hear that little bike above 7,000 RPM. It sounds like an Italian sports car. Redline is 10,500. 60 MPH it about 7,500 on the tach. :wink:

[Weldangrind]

My guess is that you hit Edit instead of Quote; I've done the very same thing. :lol:

Glad to hear that the little bike is a good performer. How about some more pics?

[FastDoc]

You all deserve more pics, but I'm waiting for paint :wink: .

I had some custom matched today, and hope to have it done in the next week or two. :D

[FastDoc]

UPDATE:

The bike seems to be a winner.

O-rings in the intake tract were replaced. I apparantly overtightened the carb mounts and the slides were sticky but I have corrected that and they move well and there are no vacuum leaks on the starting fluid test.

I replaced the fork seals. That went well except I (stupidly) pressed in one seal BEFORE I repalced the bushing and it was a PIA to remove it and put it together right. I was able to do it without damaging the seal, Thank God.

I replaced the fuel lines and fuel filters and gave it a bath.

It's fun to ride. Pretty smooth and it makes great sounds. It sounds like an Italian Sports car, even though it's pretty slow. 60 is fairly easy, and I hit 70 (GPS) on a longish straight leveel section of road with no wind. That's rare in my neck of the woods!

It seems to get about 75 MPG, which is about what I'd have guessed.

I had some custom base coat/ clear coat paint mixed up and hope to have that done soon. I have sourced side covers, and cleaned up some electrical connections.

Other than that it looks and runs beautifully.

Will post some pics soon.

Bill

[FastDoc]

Outside my office window at work:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/175.jpg

[SpudRider]

That bike is very clean! :D Please post more photos. ;)

Spud :)

[FastDoc]

The oil under it is leftover from the BSA :roll: .

The Honda does not leak. 8)

[FastDoc]

It's in for paint. :D

I brought it to the same guy who painted my Yamaha XS400 and my GS750. He does good work and quoted me $200. I provided the paint and clearcoat and other stuff. $125. Not too bad, I don't think?

[SpudRider]

That guy did a great paint job on your other bikes, Doc. :) Please post lots of photos after the paint job is done!

Spud :)

[Weldangrind]

That seems like a fair price. Thanks for the pic.

[FastDoc]

The paint is on, and Matt is going to have the bike back together tomorrow for me to pick it up. As usual he did such a nice job I increased his pay by $50. :D The paint looks fresh factory. The whole bike will be near-concours quality when put back together.

The cell phone pics in the flourescently lit paint booth don't do it justice, but you get the idea. :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/6-28.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/5-32.jpg

This is Matt.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/4-44.jpg

Removed bits and pieces.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/3-55.jpg

Matt's father and mentor and locally famaous hot rod builder, Dell.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/2-66.jpg

The proud painter.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/7-23.jpg

I can't wait for them to get it together!

[SpudRider]

It's always a pleasure to witness the work of a craftsman! :D

P.S. I hate to say it, but Dell dresses worse than I! 8O

Spud :lol:

[MICRider]

Shiny! :) What kind of paint did you use Doc, was it a catalyzed polyurethane? Gonna look super sharp! 8)

[FastDoc]

Dell calls that his church shirt because it's holy. Fortunatly his actual chuch shirt is much nicer. Both men are fine craftsman. :D

I don't know what the paint is called. It's a base coat/clear coat custom matched to the bike by a local craftsman at an automotive paint shop. I can find out if you like. All I know is I needed paint, hardener, clearcoat, and maybe another can of another magic potion. $125 out the door. :wink:

[Weldangrind]

The paint looks great! That bike hoist would be a real pleasure to work with.

[SpudRider]

Dell calls that his church shirt because it's holy. Fortunatly his actual chuch shirt is much nicer. Both men are fine craftsman. :D...
I was just kidding a bit; I hope I didn't sound uncharitable. :oops: If one is working with paint, it certainly is best to wear a "church shirt." ;) Please keep the photos coming, Doc! :D

Spud :)

[MICRider]

Dell calls that his church shirt because it's holy. Fortunatly his actual chuch shirt is much nicer. Both men are fine craftsman. :D

I don't know what the paint is called. It's a base coat/clear coat custom matched to the bike by a local craftsman at an automotive paint shop. I can find out if you like. All I know is I needed paint, hardener, clearcoat, and maybe another can of another magic potion. $125 out the door. :wink:

It's ok Doc, I was just curious. Paint looks great! Judging by the fact that you had more than one can, I'm guessing it's catalyzed polyurethane, best stuff for auto/bike painting IMHO :D. Cant wait to see it reassembled! :)

[FastDoc]

Update on this little gem. 8)

I have 300 miles on it since the restoration and I like it very much. 8)

I had some issues with sticking throttle slides but I think I have that sorted.

I repainted the kick and centerstands and the taillight housing (they were all black. Kryrlon Fusion to the rescue, again!)

Even 'flogging' it, on a 50 mile ride in the wind and the hills, which required a lot of full throttle 7,000+ RPM riding it returned 70 MPG. I'm sure in routine commuting, especially if it's not windy, at speeds of 55 and less I can get 80 MPG. :P

I get a lot of compliments on it.

I think I will take the advise of my buddy and motorcycloe shop owner Andy and keep it for a while.

It will only go up in value, with it's collector vehicle plates it costs me nothing to have around, and being a Honda with only 3,600 miles on it I don't expect it to break any time soon. :D

[FastDoc]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/maule/cb-1.jpg

So cute! :P

[Weldangrind]

Again, sweet old bike. Did you flirt with the idea of removing the center stand?

[SpudRider]

The bike looks beautiful! Matt did a superb paint job! :)

Spud :)

[FastDoc]

Again, sweet old bike. Did you flirt with the idea of removing the center stand?

No I like it. :D

Thanks Spud. :D