Chapter II

The Engine is Removed - Time to Clean up Frame

Tracy spun over the house and brought me some goodies. Boxes of miscellaneous stuff (junk), but really usable stuff, wheels, and braking parts came out of his trailer while the engine went into it. Tracy manned up and helped me guide the engine out of the frame and onto the floor. With both of us hands on - there are no photo of that. Then came the checklist.

Tracy let me know what else I could cut from the frame and tested the swingarm bearings to confirm that I would also have to remove the swingarm. Don't panic newbies, there are pictures of this stuff in the gallery. He also gave me the confirmed go ahead to pull the front end off. I was kind of concerned that all the guts of the steering neck would fall out and Tracy was quick to put me at ease and assure me that yes. the guts of the steering head would all fall out.

To give you an idea of what was left after the engine was removed:

• Remove brake caliper linkage to rear brake

• Remove Rear shocks

• Remove Rear Swingarm

• Remove Center Stand and Stand mounts

• Remove Steering lock at top of steering neck

• Remove Wiring Harness tabs along frame rails

• Remove the giant hunk of steel that served as sidestand mount

• Pull out the front suspension after removing steering head nut at top

• Chase little ball bearings from around entire garage (I got little ones you know)

• Clean Frame

• Clean Garage

Things motored along pretty good. I was able to start grinding off metal right away. True classic motorcycle enthusiasts cringe at what I am about to describe. I imagine it's like talking to a serial killer, where after the first killing, it becomes easier. even more thrilling. I mean, here's this classic motorcycle and I am playing butcher to it - grinding this, cutting that, and modifying the other. To those staunch enthusiasts I beg them to do a YouTube search and see guys like Wayne Rainey, Mike Baldwin and Freddy Spencer cutting their teeth on modified "standards of the day". To me, I am creating an enthusiasts' bike. and a cool one at that.

In serial killer fashion I torture this thing working the grinder haphazardly from one end of the frame to the other. On my initial cuts, I have to go back and cut more deeply - evening out the grinds with the frame. Sparks and hot spots keep hitting me in the neck and ear and it just pushes me forward. I am one of those guys that doesn't like getting dirty - but once there. get 'er done! I plowed through the rest of the grinding within hours and only had one more spot to finish. It meant putting on a fresh cutting wheel to get a DEEP cut.

I am trying to picture the dainty little Asian hands assembling this machine thirty years ago. He painstakingly takes all the little angles, wire, and hardware delicately constructing a veritable work of art. All the welds are pretty - like Erik Buell's early works. Then the little guy clocks out for lunch or to end his day. then the Sumo team comes in and fastens an extra 6 pounds of steel to the bottom of the frame on the left side. This is to be the sidestand mount, so who cares if it should be pretty right? This is also WAY before they cared about saving an ounce or 10 on an install. Back in the day, the CB750 powerplant was a "powerhouse" and the last thing I bet they cared about was weight.

Two and a half cutting wheels to get this thing off - as many as it took for the rest of the bike! But wait, it gets better. The sidestand mount was welded to another support strap that wrapped around the frame tube. I know I should have called Tracy, but pride got in my way. Seriously, how many serial killers check with each other for advice? I decided I wanted the frame to look clean, so I continued to grind away at the welds holding on that extra layer of steel that wrapped around the frame tube. I was grinding away like the steel mill workers in Flashdance when all the sudden I notice a "BooBoo"

I had cut right through the frame tube making a flute type design. I figure one of two things. I can either fess up to Tracy and beg him to repair the hole with his welding skills.. Or. I can drill a series of holes in the downtube and try to play symphonies on the straightaway. I could change my name to Ian and play Aqualung. In the end, I fessed up to Tracy and we'll get it fixed. Makes for another chapter - right?

Ok. Everything is off the frame and unnecessary tabs are all removed. Now I take the swingarm and the frame out to the curb and fire up the Home Depot Power Washer. A little LOC from Amway and the frame is sparkling. FED-EX showed up with a care package from Bridgestone and we are really on our way to having a race bike. This is stinking cool.