Honda CB750 Sandcast

Unrestored Sandcasts => KP's Bike 28 => Topic started by: kp on June 05, 2016, 06:07:33 am

Title: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: kp on June 05, 2016, 06:07:33 am
UPDATE: I have now sold this machine and it's being shipped to United Kingdom this week

A number of members have asked me to post about VIN 28
I bought over two years ago from a fellow located in the township of Needles, California. Needles is located near the California/Arizona border and has a very dry/arid climate. Very little information was available about the bike from the seller other than it was bought from someone who was presumed to be the original owner or related to the original owner. All I had to go on were a half dozen pictures that really didn’t show much but what I could see was enough to ask for further info and pictures.
I’ve posted a few of the original pictures I received but the quality was poor. Nevertheless, the bike seemed to be fairly complete from what I could tell. Whilst the bike was equipped with a 4 into 1 exhaust the owner had the original Lotus Root exhausts originally fitted to the bike, a bunch of original paperwork including a title, and a number of other sundry parts. Hey, when was the last time you saw a set of original LR exhausts.

Prior to shipping I had the seller fit the original LR exhaust and clamps so that it could be shipped without incurring damage to loose exhausts. Shippers don’t give a toss. but their good at tossing.

Once 28 arrived I did a complete check of what I'd bought from a set of less than great pictures and to my surprise there was very little that wasn’t there. The items not original to the bike were an early seat, original handle bar, no 28 carb caps, a right switch, rear indicators and mounts (front mounts were with the included parts) a pair of 11mm mirrors, Speedo cable and 1 x LR baffle Other than those few items there is nothing else missing from this bike. Surprisingly, the seat that was fitted to the bike was a perfect original red foam seat as seen on later sandcast production so that seat is not a total loss.

The biggest downer with the bike is the locked engine. Given it was last registered in April 1984 I’m not surprised with that. Someone has at least attempted to try and unlock the engine and get it going as there were no spark plugs in the head and the carbs have been removed at some time. Other than that the engine has never been out of the frame and all fasteners are untouched from what I can see. The bike has what I believe is the original plate and I have read about early Californian bikes having a black plate What is significant about a black registration plate? Does anyone know?

Now the good news is I have all the items that the bike didn’t have. Yep, I had an early seat (thank you Mr Courtney) which is now on the bike, I changed out the bars, I’d already sourced a LR Baffle AND I had a set of 11mm stems and mirrors. Yes indeed, of all the hard to find items I have, these 2 are the rarest parts I own. I have several sets of early NOS indicators so I have installed a set on the bike for a photo shoot soon to be done. One of my early taco cables completes the list. I now think 28 is about as period correct as it can get.I suspect the original owner was too far from a service centre to get these things changed out. The engine does not have the 3 punch marks near the engine number pad so I presume no changes have been made to original equipment. I’ve already spotted a few things I’ve never seen before and I’ll point these out with the uploaded photographs.

I am not intending to commence a restoration for some time so what I post in the coming week will be it as I intend to remove the mirrors and rear indicators and repack them until required, put the bike back into storage and concentrate on other projects. I’m more than happy to answer any queries members may have
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: kp on June 05, 2016, 06:14:02 am
More pics
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: DW69K0 on June 05, 2016, 07:46:49 am
KP,
What a great story! Good for you and thanks for sharing. This Sandcast is a rare piece of Honda history and in good hands.
I love these stories from owners relaying the details on how they found and saved their bikes. I hope you post more pictures with all the corrected parts on 28 for us to see this rare gem.
Best,
DW
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: Steve Swan on June 05, 2016, 08:59:20 am
KP,
What a great story! Good for you and thanks for sharing. This Sandcast is a rare piece of Honda history and in good hands.
I love these stories from owners relaying the details on how they found and saved their bikes. I hope you post more pictures with all the corrected parts on 28 for us to see this rare gem.
Best,
DW

DITTO what Duane says !  THANK YOU FOR SHARING !!!!
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: hondasan on June 05, 2016, 02:58:39 pm
As I understand it, black background plates were only fitted up to end of '69 in California. After that they became blue background plates. Any bike with black background plate has most likely therefore only ever been used on the road (legally?) by a '69 owner (original owner most likely therefore?).
I'm sure our US members can confirm or otherwise my belief here?

Chris R.
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: Sgt.Pinback on June 06, 2016, 02:18:28 am
That's a great find, congrats! Such an early VIN in untouched condition. WOW!!
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: kp on June 06, 2016, 05:55:30 pm
Chris, Thanks for that info I have seen specific reference to black plates over the years so presumed there must be some significance  ;)
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: kmb69 on June 06, 2016, 11:35:47 pm
Kool find KP! And yes, thanks for sharing.
Looking forward to updates on this rare piece.

Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: UK Pete on June 08, 2016, 09:57:05 am
Sounds like you have a very rare early bike with all the right parts, good for you kp true enthusiasts like you deserve these sort of bikes, rather than money grasping flippers and non enthusiasts, i look forward to seeing and hearing more on this bike
pete
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: kp on June 16, 2016, 03:32:12 am
This is the start of Vin 28 pictures which show what is/should be on this early bike.
Mark, Thought you may be interested in the early carb air vent pipes I didn't know of these.
May take a few weeks to post all as I'm off on a trip for a few weeks
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: kp on June 16, 2016, 03:37:18 am
But Wait! There's more  :o
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: kp on June 16, 2016, 03:41:19 am
But Wait Again! Still more  ;D
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: kp on June 16, 2016, 03:48:59 am
But Wait Yet Again! You guessed it More  8)
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: Sgt.Pinback on June 16, 2016, 04:05:15 am
Thanks!!

Rubbers left/right in the battery tray look different to what I know.
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: markb on June 16, 2016, 09:17:53 am
Mark, Thought you may be interested in the early carb air vent pipes I didn't know of these.
Yes, I see you have the small hoses on the vents. 97/E100 had them too. They are not shown in the early parts manuals.
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: Steve Swan on June 16, 2016, 09:33:33 am
Mark, Thought you may be interested in the early carb air vent pipes I didn't know of these.
Yes, I see you have the small hoses on the vents. 97/E100 had them too. They are not shown in the early parts manuals.

the rack of 28's that came with 232 has those small diameter hoses also.
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: hondasan on June 16, 2016, 02:52:23 pm
As did the ones on #302 (a feature of the long choke lever carbs maybe?)
#302 also had those "unique" #8 bolts (as did its ignition switch bracket, and mainstand pinch bolts (all M8 x 40 long of course).

What are the oil hose upper fittings like - steel, or alloy (as #9 was)?
Chris R.
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: kp on June 16, 2016, 10:58:38 pm
That's the good thing about this site, one never stops learning. I've got another rack of early carbs but no hoses fitted
Title: Re: The Story of VIN 28
Post by: Steve Swan on June 17, 2016, 09:09:39 am
Very cool Chris !  Alloy banjo connectors on upper line !  Wow !

another possible early distinction (i posted on this a few years back, didn't get a any replies) is valve clearance inspection caps.  what i don't know for sure is if all sandcasts used the same caps or if there were different types of caps used within the sandcast production run.  what i do know is on the caps i've found on SOME sandcast cam covers is the embossed markings "F" and "1" on the inside of the cover.   my experience seems to support  caps found on non-sandcast machines don't have these markings.  and, actually, if one compares the two caps side by side, the caps with "F" and "1" markings are overall very different from caps without markings.  i have found both types of caps on sandcasts.  i have found caps with markings only on earlier vin sandcasts.  how far into the sandcast CB750 production run these caps were fitted, i do not know.

so i guess the bottom line of what i am saying -

what i don't know is if these caps embossed with "F" and "1" are features of caps found on earlier vin sandcasts or all sandcasts or for that matter on earlier vin diecast units.........????????????