Volume 36 / Number 3 JUNE / JULY 2015 • $5 2015 Vintage International Motorcycle Show & Swap Meet WHAT’S INSIDE: Bikes on the Beach Hack Job Head Service at Home Rare CBX Sandcast OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. IN THIS ISSUE Feature PROJECT BIKE: COVER STORY Hack Job Destinatio Eusti: 6 Vintage International Motorcycle Show & Swap Meet EVENTS: 38 VJMC Meet & Ride in West Central Florida 17 HISTORY: CBX— A Very Rare 18 Sandcast EVENTS: Bikes on the Beach: Vintage International 26 Motorcycle Show MAINTENANCE & RESTORATION: Honda CM400 Valve Lash 31 Adjustment Department HISTORY: PRESIDENT’S LETTER: The VJMC’s Get into First Gear this Summer ........................................................5 Earliest Members 34 BACK IN THE DAY: Honda CB750 Convert / Bob Parker ............................................... 14 MAINTENANCE & FROM THE EDITOR: RESTORATION: Let’s Get Events Going! .................................................................... 15 Head Service at Home 45 ADVERTISER’S SPOTLIGHT: Precision Motorcycle Painting ........................................................ 53 ODDS & ENDS: TECH HELP: Growth of the Kansas City Chapter Tech Tip #8: Powder Coating and Chrome Restoration .............. 55 of the VJMC 51 EVENTS CORNER ......................................................................... 57 Volume 36 / Number 3 JUNE / JULY 2015 • $5 CLASSIFIEDS .................................................................................. 59 2015 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX ............................................................... 61 Vintage International Motorcycle Show & Swap Meet O th Cover WHAT’S INSIDE: Bikes on the Beach Hack Job Gorgeous Yamaha Head Service at Home Rare CBX XSs awaiting judging Sandcast at the Destination OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF NORTH AMERICA, INC. Eustis Bike Show cover photo: Michael Fitterling VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE 3 PRESIDENT’S LETTER Official Publication of the VJMC Get into First Gear this Summer JUNE / JULY 2015 t’s finally riding weather for all of North America. Mother Na- Volume 36, Number 3 Iture’s brutal winter and spring storms tested the souls of riders PRESIDENT wondering when it would end. Don’t waste a minute. Exercise Tom Kolenko 770-427-4820 that internal combustion engine to its fullest. Plan that vacation [email protected] time around rides and motorcycle events to maximize your grin factor. The VJMC has a full calendar of events to draw the active EDITOR Michael Fitterling members out in numbers in all parts of the country. Time to pull 863-632-1981 the trigger and make a commitment to engage all gears. [email protected] My drive to Florida for the VJMC Eustis bike show was full of great expectations. I DESIGN DIRECTOR had never attended this rite of spring and, after some last minute repairs to my van, Nadine G. Messier all systems were go. Leaving Atlanta in a snow storm on March sixth should have [email protected] been a clue that I might not need the shorts I packed on this trip. Nevertheless, an CLASSIFIED ADS indoor show in the Sunshine State would guarantee a good turnout and the chance to Gary Gadd 817-284-8195 make new friends. The Eustis event has grown under Pete Slatcoff and his team into a [email protected] great gathering of the VJMC faithful. Norm Smith, Bryan Bentley, Norton Muzzone, Murray Milne, Lee Mitzel, Steve Gauding, Mike Fitterling, Tom Slatcoff, and Scott MAGAZINE DISPLAY ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Stees were all working to keep everything on schedule with maximum fun for all. Bryan Bentley Evening meals at Stavros Greek Restaurant capped off the day. My biggest surprise 864-923-0559 was meeting so many of our snowbird members at Eustis. Members from Minnesota, [email protected] Michigan, and Illinois stopped at our tables to share greetings. The indoor setting at MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR Eustis will continue to draw a great assortment of premier bikes in the years ahead. Bill Granade 813-961-3737 The VJMC will again be at Riding into History, Mid-Ohio Vintage Days, the Barber [email protected] Vintage Festival, along with our two coast rallies. The East Coast National Rally will be in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and advance registrations are running at an all time CHANGE OF ADDRESS Please direct these requests to Bill Granade: high, with many spouses coming along. These rallies are planned to break even and [email protected] cover all costs. The three evening meal buffets, facilities rentals, signage, security, socials, and planning expenses determine the registration fees. But our committed ADDITIONAL COPIES In order to minimize unnecessary expens- volunteers permit us to keep costs down while making sure over 175 members can es to the club, VJMC prints a limited number create lasting memories. of each issue of Vintage Japanese Motorcy- Seasoned Mid-Ohio team leaders, Jim Townsend, Ellis Holman, and Sean Carrigan, cle Magazine. However, we would be glad to accommodate any requests for additional copies are assembling their crew for that July weekend. The West Coast rally is in planning from members. stages for September, and Jack Stein and Bob Leonard promise a new venue and for- These requests must be submitted before the mat. The Barber Vintage Festival and the AIMExpo cap off the event year in grand 15th of the month preceding each issue. For ex- style. ample: for the Feb/Mar issue requests must be State and local VJMC events have also grown to involve members unable to attend received by January 15. distant events. It all begins with one committed, selfless volunteer who jump starts MISSION STATEMENT: the process. These folks plan and assemble a team to make it work. The VJMC Board The purpose of this organization is to promote is committed to helping these member volunteers get started and establish a success- the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of ful annual event in their areas. Sometimes it starts with area Field Representatives vintage Japanese motorcycles (defined here as those 20 years old or older). The VJMC also will wanting to make things happen. It is my pleasure to announce our newest VJMC promote the sport of motorcycling and camera- Field Representative just approved by the Board: Clint Dellinger (Oklahoma). Clint derie of motorcyclists everywhere. has great plans and ideas for building this club in his area. © 2015 Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club of Sometimes one has to be reminded of how much fun riding can be. My “new to me” North America, an IRS-approved Not-for-prof- 1990 Honda NT650, with 42,000 miles, is the youngster in my garage at only twen- it 501(c)(7) corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced ty-five years old. It is one of the easiest bikes to ride and meets my lightness criteria. or transmitted without permission. All articles Its heartbeat is different from my 1975 CB400F rider but still manages to stir the soul copyright by their respective authors. without dancing through a six speed tranny for power. Fifty mile errands can be jus- Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Magazine is pub- tified using the weakest logic…because it’s so much fun. Get out this summer on your lished six times per year, in February, April, June, own fun rides and make some smiles. August, October, and December. The views and opinions expressed in letters or other content are those of the author and do not necessarily Ride safe and often this summer, represent VJMC policy. The VJMC accepts no lia- bility for any loss, damage, or claims occurring as a result of advice given in this publication or for Tom Kolenko claims made by advertisers of products or ser- VJMC President vices in this publication. [email protected] VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE 5 6 JUNE / JULY 2015 PROJECT BIKE VINTAGE JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE 7 8 JUNE / JULY 2015 PROJECT BIKE Article and Photos by Tom Batchelor / [email protected] t’s amazing how things work out. In September of 2014, a co-worker on my Ifire-rescue department casually commented at shift change that he had an old Honda for sale. Actually, his girlfriend did, but it was sitting in his garage. He wasn’t sure of the model but said it was a 1982. My interest in vintage Asian bikes is well-known, and he definitely got my attention. I told him I’d think about it. After discussing it with the wife, I agreed to purchase the bike, an ’82 Honda Magna V45. The bike belonged to the woman’s father, who had been deceased for over a year by then. I was concerned about the title, however, the county tag office told them the surviving spouse could sign over the title, which we did. Trailer in tow, I brought the aging bike home with the goal of a basic restoration and probably flipping it, making a few bucks. Maybe. Turned out, the project changed direction from two-wheeled to three. The bike was in fairly poor condition, although it did run. The motor sounded strong, with no knocks, but the carbs leaked fuel. It was reportedly sitting outside in the weather for well over a year, maybe two. Rust had damaged the forks, it had severe corrosion on the handlebars, and all over the bike it had much oxida- tion damage. I couldn’t ride it because the clutch was non-functional, as were the brakes. Time and moisture had long ago invaded both systems. I started by tearing down and figuring the status. On a scale of one-to-ten, I gave it a four. Immediately, I looked online and via eBay and found many used parts available—cheap, too. It wasn’t going to be terribly expensive to refresh the machine. Up on my motorcycle lift the bike went, where it would stay for the next few months. During that time, I rebuilt the carbs, brakes, and clutch; checked compression; and ordered better forks and rebuilt them.