	1978 Honda CB 750 F2
The Resurrection

Well, as the title of this page suggests, it's time to see if my gamble in not tearing the motor apart (and relying on Bill the PO's assertion that the engine was fine the last time it was running) has paid off. To this end I pour approximately a half litre of petrol into a plastic coke bottle complete with a length of clear plastic tubing and attach it to the carbs. Now, imagine if you will, the image of a colander into which you have just poured a bucket of water... there was petrol escaping from what seemed like everywhere - mainly carbs 2 & 3, around the float bowls, out the overflow tubes, just about everywhere! So much for the careful carb preparation! Them things are going to have to come off again... I remove them, clean everything again and this time I use some gasket sealant (only a thin smear - see pic below of what I used) on the float bowls.

I leave them for a couple of days before re-fitting to the bike, then re-introduce the petrol... this time no leaks, all seems good. Attached the choke cable and since it was late figured I'd just stab the starter button to perform the daily "motor turn over" (I did not want to be attempting to try starting it just yet) when to my surprise, upon cranking it over, it started. And what a racket! Glanced at the kill switch and it was on - I must have accidentally knocked it at some stage! Turned it off straight away! It was like it had no exhaust attached at all... tomorrow's job to sort that out!

Upon investigation the following day, and close study of the Shop manual (which I'd downloaded from the 'net) I figured out I'd put the exhaust collars (collets?) in the wrong way so there was no seal to the head for the exhaust headers - reasonably easy fix and we were ready to start things up again. Turned on the ignition, pressed the starter and was rewarded with an instantaneous and satisfying mechanical clatter. I am amazed at how well this thing starts! However, it may start ok, but was definitely running a bit ragged, in fact number 4 pipe was significantly cooler to the touch than the others which were all comparable to each other. Stopped the bike, and let it cool down for a bit before pulling the sparkplug on #4 and checking for spark - all good, a nice healthy fat blue spark. So, spark not the problem, can only be fuel starvation then (or a crook cylinder, but I didn'r really want to think about that!). Them things, (the carbs), are going to have to come off again...!

So, after some more careful cleaning, this time also using a thin piece of wire to push up into the jets, we are ready for part 3 of the carb saga... and now success! All pipes seem to be similar in temperature and things sound much smoother. Apart from the camchain thrashing around fit to jump out of the back of the motor...! But, no matter, It Starts. And runs. What a relief - all this effort has not been for nothing!

Now, all that is left is to purchase new clutch and throttle cables, an oil filter, air filter, scare up some indicators for the front, a new back brake light switch and spring and last but definitely not least, new tyres.



Michelin Macadam MT50's - a matching set... 120/90-18 rear, 100/90-19 front

Finally, the parts I've been waiting for have arrived - they are quickly fitted to the bike and things are ready for the first ride.