1975 Parts or Project Bike?

[JAMi_750]

This started as a Marketplace find that looked a little too rough based on the photos.... but I mulled it over and took a look on my way through the area it was being sold in mid-January. More mulling followed, then I went back and picked it two weeks later for $300. It had some good parts and the blue green bodywork was surprisingly good.

The bike was 95% complete and had 70k on the odometer, the engine was locked-up, and something was broken or disconnected in the driveline. Let the assessment begin! Photos to follow.

[robin1731]

Are you selling this? You put it in the for sale section.

[JAMi_750]

20240114_125842.jpg (313.08 KiB) Viewed 450 times

[JAMi_750]

Are you selling this? You put it in the for sale section.

...not selling, just not paying close enough attention to my post set up. Thanks for moving .

[wingrider]

Welcome! That is certainly a project you have!

[JAMi_750]

Welcome! That is certainly a project you have!

Yes, it will be a project for sure! A few more photos of the starting point.

[wingrider]

Keep at it!

[Easter]

Good luck, did you get a title?

[JAMi_750]

Good luck, did you get a title?

Yes it did come with a title, which is what pushed me over the edge for the purchase. I indirectly purchased it from the original owner who put all of the 70k on the bike.

[JAMi_750]

A quick update with good news for me and this bike. After a Marvel Mystery Oil cylinder soak, and some patience, I was able to get the engine moving - no more stuck engine. I also figured out what was going on with the drive line - the final drive was disconnected. The ciclip holding the coupling that connects the drive shaft to the final drive was missing. I cleaned everything up, sourced a new 20mm circlip, and now everything is reconnected and rotating.
Looks like this is becoming a project bike!

[leonardhcross]

Looks like you are off to a great start. I will be watching for the first compression readings although I expect that won't happen until you have completed lots of preliminary steps. I had my most recent project for a year of week-end tinkering before I felt confident firing her up. Initial compression readings were consistent around 110. I'm good with that. The bike had not been run in 13 years or so.

[JAMi_750]

Thanks and yes, it should be a good one.
As for the compression / testing engine health I agree that it will be interesting. I did scope the cylinders and I wasn't too impressed with what I saw of the valves, they are moving but pretty crusty. I have resigned myself to needing a valve job and new head gasket, but I will see what the compression numbers tell me first - probably a leak down test too?

[Lucien Harpress]

Engine looks crusty, but paint seems pretty nice. Hopefully it won't take too much to clean it up.

Thankfully heads are cheap and easy to swap out. Far as I know every year from '75 to '79 is identical, so if things are too bad you have options. The bottom end on these is usually solid.

[Easter]

looking better already!

[JAMi_750]

A brief update that the project cooled off for a few weeks, but is coming back around. I have picked up the evaluation and also done some de-gunking along the way. The exhaust is off and the assessment there is that the headers / manifolds are too far gone as they were corroding from the inside out while the bike sat for many years, the muffler appears to be a replacement. For the sake of trivia, does anyone out there know what this muffler is? The tag shown in the second photo gives it away as not being stock, otherwise it is a pretty good replica, may be made of alloy or aluminum, it is light and other than the tips has not rusted.