[Casper]

This is my second bike, I got it 3 months after I started riding because I really cannot stand having this wonderful weather and wanting to ride and wanting to do work at the same time. Just does not work out properly. So, I got this bike because it was cheap, it shouldn't be too hard to work on, and it should turn out pretty when all done. Once again, a little less talk and a little more pictures?

 

[Casper]

The bike is currently not running, but the motor turns over easily.
Keep in mind that the bike has been sitting for 3 years before the previous owner decided that he no longer wanted to store it and started throwing money at it trying to get it to start.

He bought a new battery, got the tank cleaned and coated, and had the carbs done. All by the same bike shop. 3 years ago, he also bought new tires and had them put on by I believe the same shop, I can check my records on that one (he kept all of the receipts ).

The battery that is in the bike is only a few months old and supposedly holds a charge when not attached to the bike. I have a spare battery from the XJ600 that I attached to the GS750 for a while trying to figure out if I could easily start it and kicked it over a few times.

The previous owner, in all his police officer wisdom decided that he should try to fix her up. So, he pulled the tank off and removed something. He replaced that something that he removed with two inline fuel filters and new fuel lines for the and I quote, "the main fuel line and the reserve fuel line." I removed the reserve fuel line he added and replaced it with a vacuum line. I added some vacuum to the line and the petcock pulled fuel into the line and it looks like it passed through the fuel filter just fine.

The tank was empty and I had a gallon of gas laying around that was a week old. So, I added the gas and tried kicking it over a few more times. No luck still.

Just to make sure it was not the battery giving trouble, I hooked it up to my car and started her up, 13.6 volts on the dot constantly.

So, I going to check over a few more things soon, but if anyone has some advice on these old girls, it will all be appreciated. I will be pulling the spark plugs and checking them when I get some more free time.

P.S. She drained the battery from the XJ600 pretty quickly as after half an hour to an hour of it being plugged in and the ignition on, it was down to 8 volts. I also found out that every time I kick her over, she gains 0.05 volts. Also the starter does not work, I am not sure for what reason, but if the system can handle it, I want to remove the starter, starter solenoid, that part of the harness, the battery, and replace it with the proper capacitor and make her kick only.

 

[ROBBO]

spark and carbs mate ...I bet theres some gunk in them gas bowls fer sure after 3 years ..

 

[ROBBO]

nice old bike ta tool around on tho

 

[Casper]

spark and carbs mate ...I bet theres some gunk in them gas bowls fer sure after 3 years ..

I will have a check on those if it isn't the spark.

I do not mind jumping head first into a deeply involved project, but it has to be an impulse, otherwise I will tip toe into the freezing waters.

Never messed with carbs before. Just a little sea foam. I felt like a retard first time I went to get some and it was on a rack staring at my back.

 

[ROBBO]

yep that seafoam will hide from ya ,kinda pricey aint it ..

 

[Casper]

I have a third of a bottle left and have used it in two tanks on the XJ. It fires up nicely now, but the idle is not as smooth or is more noticeable now that it is smoother everywhere but. Last night and tonight it was 32 degrees or below when I went to start her up and she does not like cold weather.

 

[ROBBO]

thats very common mate

 

[Casper]

Before I get asked what direction I want to go with this bike, I will post up.

First things first, get her started and working nice.

Then I will think about doing some body work. I would like to have a longer tank that holds 5 gallons or so, but still mounts like stock and is a little more squarish with knee cutouts a seat level with bottom of the tank and some sort of pad. The tail will be about a foot long and I would like it to be an increasing radius starting with a vertical coming off the seat. The tail light being a slightly curved box set up with LEDs and hopefully if I can figure out a way, a single oval or trapezoidal undertail exhaust. I will keep the 7'' round headlight, probably get a new one with better light output though. I would like to try my hand at the gauges shedonlie was thinking about doing for the parts buildoff. Keeping the sweeping speedometer and LED tachometer going clockwise from 6 O'clock with greens to yellows at 1 O'clock to redline at 2 O'clock and reds until 3 O'clock.

I will try to make some visuals with these, or if someone is a beast with photoshop, I can try to describe these in the greatest detail possible.

I will try to not buy off the shelf parts for any of this other than exhaust headers, midpipes(if available) , cans, and the head light and/or projectors.

 

[Scrapyard]

It looks pretty clean. First thing I would do is check and make sure the plugs fire. They could just be fouled out. Also may want to check your points. They'll be under the small cover in front of the clutch. You can download the service manul for that bike, http://www.repairmanualclub.com/motomanuals/index.php?dlid=508

Then make sure your carbs a clean and the air mix screws are where they need to be.

 

[Casper]

Anyone have good experience with Northern Tools, Storm Torque Wrenches? I need to get one and do not want to spend a fortune on it as I wont use it daily.

 

[Casper]

It looks pretty clean. First thing I would do is check and make sure the plugs fire. They could just be fouled out.

Clean, want to see pictures of what was hiding from view? I am currently taking it apart just so I can clean everything.
:thumbsup:

I grabbed the correct size spark plug socket today and checked them, they were black, but cleaned up a little with some elbow grease and a wire brush. How fouled is too fouled?

Then make sure your carbs a clean and the air mix screws are where they need to be.

I will be pulling them off to take a look inside someday soon, any pre diving instructions? I have the airbox off and will be cleaning it thoroughly too.





I went to go get the title transferred into my name and the previous had not transferred the title into his name, so the DMV Express I went to told me I had to get the Bill of Sale from the owner before him to him and then pay taxes on the amount he paid and the amount I paid.
:doh:
Also, since it is not running and I do not have a truck, I cannot bring it up to them to check the VIN as they said it is an out of state title and they have to have a VIN check. So, I either have to get it running by the end of the month or strip it to the frame and bring them it to get the frame titled. I pretty much hate the DMV.



Another rather quick, random question, does anyone know if I can go with a capacitor instead of a battery and starting system on this bike?

 

[gsf1200R]

plz dont use an impact on a sparkplug....just get new plugs or bead blast the old...as far as a torque u could get a beam type that uses the pressure to move the rod...u can get those from sears rather cheap...tho i have snap on torques...

 

[Casper]

plz dont use an impact on a sparkplug....just get new plugs or bead blast the old...as far as a torque u could get a beam type that uses the pressure to move the rod...u can get those from sears rather cheap...tho i have snap on torques...

I cannot stand the beam type torque wrenches. I love the click, allows me to watch the wrench instead of the numbers.

 

[Casper]

Ok, I am having trouble getting the carbs off this bike, I have disconnected everything that I can see that needs to come off. I have tried to wiggle it out and just pull it out, both not too hard as I know I shouldn't put too much force on them. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[heavyX]

You could probably give them a couple good yanks, other than that just keep wiggling... Possibly a heat gun(not a torch or any flame) to loosen up the flange area.


About the title thing - A few years ago I bought an '78 ford pickup from a guy but he never got it titled in his name. I just ended up finding out the guy who's name was on the titles phone number and gave him a ring. Had a nice chat and he sent me a bill of sale saying he sold it to me for $100. Took it and the title to DMV and all went well. Not sure how things work in your state though.

 

[Casper]

You could probably give them a couple good yanks, other than that just keep wiggling... Possibly a heat gun(not a torch or any flame) to loosen up the flange area.

Thanks, was just wondering if I was missing something. I ended up using a 1/2 breaker bar as leverage to apply a little more force without having to whack it. I got them off and it's time to clean them up.

About the title thing - A few years ago I bought an '78 ford pickup from a guy but he never got it titled in his name. I just ended up finding out the guy who's name was on the titles phone number and gave him a ring. Had a nice chat and he sent me a bill of sale saying he sold it to me for $100. Took it and the title to DMV and all went well. Not sure how things work in your state though.

I have all the paper work for it all set to go, just need a VIN inspection.


I will add more pictures of what I have done/will about to do soon.

 

[Casper]

Ok, went to clean the carbs, and the first thing I saw was beautiful. It looked as if I never got fuel into them. May have been why it did not start.arty-smiley:

The whole bunch.

#1

#2

#3

#4

 

[ROBBO]

ya jus gotta wee bittof gunk in them bowls .wow not much at all mate ..Tha title and tax thing is ridiculos

 

[Casper]

So, today I was sitting around thinking and thought, those float bowls are very clean for a bike that sat for 3 years. I remembered seeing that little bit of gas residue in bowl number two, the first bowl it should enter with how it was set up at the time. So, I used a "vacuum pump"(I used the vacuum tube kind of like a siphon tube) to get the gas to flow. Filled the carbs up until the fuel filter was full of gas ready to be brought down the line and kicked her over twice. Sure enough, she fired, ran for a second and died. So, I tried again with a little choke, she started and I gave too much gas, so she died again. Third time, kicked her over with only low choke and no gas, and she ran. She ran until I pulled the key out due to the exhaust headers smoking. Any ideas on this, maybe paint that never cured and is burning off? Maybe a lot of small particles burning?

So, I pulled the wiring harness off again and will see what I can do about removing the starter stuff and creating a more efficient harness, currently it uses three harness lines and a bunch of bullet connectors.

Does anyone have a good source for small amounts of colored wire, maybe 5 yard spools and a place with a lot of multi-pin style connectors?