The tale of TWO

[maury]

Well, it started with my desire to find and restore a (as in SINGULAR) GL1000. Long long ago I road a brand new K1 CB 750 out of the showroom (why didn't I keep that to restore!!??) I hadn't ridden in many a year but now I wanted to again........and something special.........something vintage.
So...... I began the search.....

Just north of Dallas, I found this remarkable '76. With 5,600 original miles !! It ran but rough and I trailered her home.

Here's how she looked -

DSC03107.JPG

[maury]

As you can tell, not very rough. In fact, not rough at all. There was a small area on the frame below the rear brake master cylinder where someone had to have spilled brake fluid on the frame and the top of the engine casing is all I needed to touch up. Then there was the usual to completely paint - gas tank, radiator, air filter housing, etc.
Speaking of paint........I didn't have to touch any of the original panels/covers/tank....... just polishing.
But everything else mechanical I went through completely.

[maury]

Pulled the heads.......probably didn't need to but did. Rebuilt the carbs. Stainless steel brake lines. The usual aluminum stripping and polishing. Rims/spokes were absolutely perfect after cleanup. This thing barely got out of the garage!!

[maury]

Tomorrow...........the rest of the "tale".......

[Liam]

That is a sweet looking LTD. I love it.

[Rat]

What a find !!

Gord

[5speed]

wow..it looks like you just rode it out of the showroom.

[Track T 2411]

wow..it looks like you just rode it out of the showroom.

+1!

[maury]

Thanks for the kind comments......

OK...

So there I was with my LTD and pleased..........but............I absolutely LOVE the candy blue '75's. So cruising around craigslist out and about the grand USA.........one day some few months later...........
Yep.......out of Kentucky......there she was !!
You are NOT going to believe this one. The '76 had 5,600 original miles............well this one had just barely UNDER that!!
I called the number and spoke with the widow of the original owner. She told me her husband bought it new and about a year later had a "scare" on it ..........AND PARKED IT.
I mean literally parked it. The license plate and inspection both expired in 1977.
It was MUCH rougher than the '76 (was exposed to the elements).

So had it shipped here to Austin and this is how she was.................

[maury]

My favorite part was that rats had nested on top of the engine (under the carbs) for a VERY long time. The blue material inside the air filter cover is rat poison that was put in there by the original owner.
The brown color coming down over the engine is stain from years of rat pooh and rain.

[maury]

I learned that now matter how much carb cleaner, wires, brushes, soda blasting you do to carbs. When you REALLY want to clean them. Put 'em an ultrasonic cleaner (with a little dishwasher soap) and watch the "magic" of the puffs of crud coming out all the orifices.
So Randakk kits and video of course it was !!

[Track T 2411]

Wow! As you say, a tale of two! I always find the backstory on people's bikes interesting. I must admit that I've been guilty a couple of times in the past of the 'park it and try to forget it' mentality. Glad you could save it.

[Track T 2411]

Those carbs look fantastic!

[maury]

I wanted to see how/if she ran so I put the carbs on, filled up the coolant and gave it a try.
She fired right up and literally purred.
I had removed the mufflers and gas tank and both were rusted trash. (see pictures). So I used a spray bottle for a gas tank and a tin can temporarily for the header/exhaust connection.

[maury]

Unlike the '76, this was a (duh) frame off.
So..... stripped the paint frame, painted it, HATED it!!
Everything black....went to have powder coating.
Took the wheels / rims / spokes apart and had the rims powder coated as well