1966 CB77 Frame-Up Restoration (or part-out if fubar)
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 10:58 am
Hi All,
I've been wanting a CB72/77 for years (I love their looks), so I picked this one up from a local seller two weeks ago. It appears to be all there (or close), but is in very rough shape. I may have paid a bit much and gotten myself in over my head, but we'll see. Last year I managed a top-end overhaul and in-place restore of a CB700SC, but this restoration will probably take at least twice the work.
The Good: Most of the components are there (seat was in my car when I took the picture below) and I scored an extra primed fuel tank in the deal. It rolls and steers well and the engine turns over pretty easily. The seat cover is new, having been fitted over the old seat and cover and the seat pan is freshly, professionally painted. Chrome condition varies across the bike but I think I could get away with aluminum foil and chrome polish if I don't want to go museum-quality (which I don't - this one will definitely be a rider).
The Bad: No compression - the valves are probably stuck open and/or the rings are completely shot. The carb boots are badly cracked and the carbs themselves will have to be overhauled. The clutch level has no effect - I hope it's just a snapped cable because I can rolling-shift it between 1st gear and neutral easily. Both brake cables are shot and the brake pads are probably junk. The wiring looks awful, probably warranting a new harness. The battery and tires are shot - I'm planning on M62 Gazelles unless someone has a better source for 2.75x18 and 3.00x18 vintage-looking rubbers. The frame looks like it was originally red and then over-painted black at some point, and it's showing through, so I'm inclined to take everything off and send the frame to a painter for bead-blasting and back-to-correct color since damned-near everything else will have to come out anyway. Maybe I'll try to get the engine running first.
I've started by downloading manuals and printing them into a binder for garage reference. Ohio still has another month or so of good riding left in the season, so I won't get too far until I can't spend the same time riding, but I think that's good - it'll give me a chance to prep my workspace for disassembly and think about whether I really want to take the full breadth of work on this winter, or resell the bike at a loss or part it out to others keeping their bikes running.
I will thank everyone in advance to any opinions, ideas and guidance you could provide. These are beautiful bikes and I'd like to come out the other side with a rideable classic that wouldn't be my main bike, but still would be something I'd feel good about riding for a few hours at a time. Is this the right project for that? :-)
I've been wanting a CB72/77 for years (I love their looks), so I picked this one up from a local seller two weeks ago. It appears to be all there (or close), but is in very rough shape. I may have paid a bit much and gotten myself in over my head, but we'll see. Last year I managed a top-end overhaul and in-place restore of a CB700SC, but this restoration will probably take at least twice the work.
The Good: Most of the components are there (seat was in my car when I took the picture below) and I scored an extra primed fuel tank in the deal. It rolls and steers well and the engine turns over pretty easily. The seat cover is new, having been fitted over the old seat and cover and the seat pan is freshly, professionally painted. Chrome condition varies across the bike but I think I could get away with aluminum foil and chrome polish if I don't want to go museum-quality (which I don't - this one will definitely be a rider).
The Bad: No compression - the valves are probably stuck open and/or the rings are completely shot. The carb boots are badly cracked and the carbs themselves will have to be overhauled. The clutch level has no effect - I hope it's just a snapped cable because I can rolling-shift it between 1st gear and neutral easily. Both brake cables are shot and the brake pads are probably junk. The wiring looks awful, probably warranting a new harness. The battery and tires are shot - I'm planning on M62 Gazelles unless someone has a better source for 2.75x18 and 3.00x18 vintage-looking rubbers. The frame looks like it was originally red and then over-painted black at some point, and it's showing through, so I'm inclined to take everything off and send the frame to a painter for bead-blasting and back-to-correct color since damned-near everything else will have to come out anyway. Maybe I'll try to get the engine running first.
I've started by downloading manuals and printing them into a binder for garage reference. Ohio still has another month or so of good riding left in the season, so I won't get too far until I can't spend the same time riding, but I think that's good - it'll give me a chance to prep my workspace for disassembly and think about whether I really want to take the full breadth of work on this winter, or resell the bike at a loss or part it out to others keeping their bikes running.
I will thank everyone in advance to any opinions, ideas and guidance you could provide. These are beautiful bikes and I'd like to come out the other side with a rideable classic that wouldn't be my main bike, but still would be something I'd feel good about riding for a few hours at a time. Is this the right project for that? :-)