Hi all,
New to SOHC4...But digging the amount if information and tips. I live in SLC Utah, there is a burgeoning garage scene here but harleys and various bobbers and choppers seem to be the customs of choice. Very few cafe style bikes. I am lucky enough to have a fantastic salvage yard to pick from (grim cycle salvage). I am rebuilding a bike that I have already customized once...fixing all of the things that I either wasn't patient enough with and now am paying for and all of the little annoyances that I had.
I purchased a 1982 CB650SC nighthawk last summer (my first bike and first build). I rode it for a day and then straight away tore into it. The first things to go were all the plastic, then the air boxes (more on that in a bit), handle bars chain guard, etc. you get the idea. I started ordering all the kit that I thought would make the bike perform better and that I thought looked cool. Enter air box...I tore the air box off (it was cracked and had been repaired) and threw on the pods. Yea it looked cool, but I fought with it for a week trying to just get it to idle again. This was my first experience learning that what i think are minor cosmetic/performance mods can turn out to be quite a bit more complicated (note to self: carefully think through every mod and try to understand every effect that it might have.)
I did a bench syc and i am using factory jet sizes, with air/fuel mixture screws turned 1/2 turn past recommended (pods). I rode it this way for about eight weeks, tolerating a lag upon acceleration and laziness throughout the gear range. I also put up with oil leaks and "band-aided" them as best I could, it seemed to only leak badly when I was pushing it (75-80 mph seems like it should be more?). I couldn't afford a tach so i did and getto style elimination.
Rebuild Redux:
I now have the motor out, the head cover and head off and will begin inspecting. Looking into the cylinders and on to the pistons #1 shows more carbon deposits than #'s2 & 3, #4 is completely clean, the way I had installed it. The combustion chambers look similar except #4 and its spark plug are oil fouled. The "o" ring near that cylinder was a bit misshapen, I'm hoping this is the issue and not something more difficult/expensive.
Here is where I need some tips/help/suggestions, Where do I begin trouble shooting and repairing? Valves, Rings, bearings...? I would also like any to hear from anyone else who has customized a CB650SC (does any one know where i can find a list of engine bolts, washers and nut sizes and types? I would like to replace all of the bolts that have either stripped or yielded) I will post my progress as I go.
Cheers!
Follow link for pics...(add http/www.
s1172.photobucket.com/albums/r570/tolchock5/1982%20CB650SC%20custom%20build/?start=all
