1974 Honda CB750 Budget Build

[tango911]

My buddy wants a good running bike but not a ton of $$ in it. So i told him id take what i have in the garage and put one together. Of course ill put new brake pads and shoes, new electrical and whatever safety features are important to have and see how in expensive i can do this for him.

here we go..........
This is one of the three 74 CB750's i got in my last to CL finds. I have 3 engines, 3 frames and 3 of almost everything i need so i shouldnt have to buy anything on line other than whatever new items we want to install on the bike.

the titled roller with locked up engine.


Non locked up engine that will pop in there.


here it is ready to install once we clean everything up.


Cleaning station

[tango911]

The story is I bought 2 frames with engines and all the parts i need except one tank and sidecovers for $600. So this frame im working with in this thread has a title and motor that turns over and has compression and all the parts pretty much to get it up and going other than new stuff for safety. So we'll say i have $300 into it starting out since ill do another bike from the remaining engine and frame.

Bike purchase basket case $300

ADD:
new wiring harness $75
new brake shoes and front pads $43
new fork gators $21
new throttle and clutch cables and tach cable $61
new grips $11
Swing Arm Bushings $50 prob should do the bearing conversion kit but its 100.00
New Tubes and rim ring X2 $22
New Chain $67
New Firestone Spitfires $130
_________________________
Running total $780.00

This should get me on the road and running hopefully. Ill post more pics as I go.
I wanted all the safety items to be new, I will rebuild the caliper and the master cylinder.
I will get new plugs as well. Tank is cleaned and ready to install once i get the bike running I used metal rescue but had a 5 gallon bucket and did 5 tanks which came out to $13 per tank to clean.

That would put the Total Money so far at $793.00 starting to creep fast eh?
Im hoping to be under $1000.00 not including my time.

I know ill need an ignition, but i might just splice an old one i have in the cabinet. They are only $20 or so new at cb750supply.com

engine in and wired up


not purdy but ill clean it up once i know if she runs well




Ill prob use some clip on ears i have somewhere, just cant find them yet:/

[tango911]

Ok short update. I have the headlight bucket on with clip on ears i found in my parts stash and wired up just enough that i could test the starter button and make sure the electrical box was all hooked up correctly. I hard wired an ignition into the harness. Tonight i will install the oil pump, oil pan, and oil tank. Hopefully still have time to check the valves, timing and plugs then maybe start her up. Once she runs ill put the rest of the bike together.
Threw a new battery in as well. i guess ill add that to the Running TOTAL.

----------------
Battery $80.00
Running Total $ 873.00

[tango911]

We have a runner guys. Tonight I installed the oil pump, pan, filter, oil tank, few engine mount bolts, new plugs, sanded the points, set the timing, put my 72 tank on it with gas and fired it up. Once i primed the carbs it fired right up. These old hondas are amazing!
Now i can systematically put the rest of the bike together and get her on the road. Im pushing for next week sometime if not sooner.

Heres the video of the second start up.
1974 Honda CB750 Rat bike

[tango911]

Last night I took the rear hub apart, cleaned and re-greased, the brake shoes where fine so i can deduct them from my list and use the new shoes for another project. Put the new chain on, installed the rear hand grab/turn signals. Tonight I will wire up the rear, install the 4-1 header and maybe some more electrical. After looking at the back tire, it doesnt look too bad, ill have to inspect the front as well, might save me some money, though it wouldnt hurt to have new tires on it if its going to be ridden a lot.

I also took the left side covers off, it was missing the front drive sprocket cover so i installed one i had sitting around, Plus the Coil Field screws had been taken out of the alternator cover so it was loose. So i put 3 screws in that, cleaned it up and put a new gasket in it. One that i had gotten for free in a parts find.

didnt need brake shoes for back -$43.00
Running Total $830.00

heres the rear end of the bike almost done.


My free header ready to install i just need to find some flanges. Im sure i have another set somewhere in the parts mess.

[gr1976]

That pipe looks awesome...

Nice build

[novafrk]

Very cool!