Topic: Need Machinist Help

[Zeke]

Any Machinists out there that want to make a little extra money and help an SOHC brother out?

I need a replacement choke arm for my bike that honda doesn't sell anymore -- I've already looked at the usual areas for replacement.

Just this morning looking on Ebay there's a set of 650 carbs for sale "in good condition" but you can see that the blanking plastic choke arm is broken.  Therefore, the carbs are worthless unless you have an unbroken part.

The part should be pretty simple -- requires a lathe and mill and some welding.  If you think you can help me, then PM me and I'll send you the drawing.  It's pretty simple stuff -- I designed the part to me made from three simple parts.  Hell, you might even be able to sell the replacements on ebay.

Zeke

[Chrisboden]

If you've got an accurate set of autocad files I can run it by our shop and see.

[Zeke]

If you've got an accurate set of autocad files I can run it by our shop and see.

Hey Chris:

I modeled it in SolidWorks -- I could export the drawing in DWG for AutoCAD.......

If you have CNC machines I could email you a solid model to make it from.

I have the drawing in a PDF I can send you right now if you want to look at it....

Thanks,

Zeke

[MRieck]

If you've got an accurate set of autocad files I can run it by our shop and see.

Nice!!

[Chrisboden]

Email me (cboden@thegeekgroup.org) the DWG files and I'll run it by the gang and see what we can do Anything I can do to help the SOCH community is a good thing. And anything I can do to help the SOHC crowd that also helps bring in a couple bucks for the Group is a very good thing

[Vatch]

Despite warnings of these damned plastic pieces breaking, mine broke when I was re-removing the carbs due to a post-cleaning leak.  I'm thinking about fabricating one myself out of a 4 mm think aluminum plate.  The original piece was plastic and it does not seem like a large amount of stress was put on the part, so aluminum might work.  Aluminum would be fairly easy to work with, and the part does not seem to be too complicated (ask me again in a few days).

[Zeke]

Well, I'd be happy to send you my drawing if you want a look.

Here's two pics -- one of the original part and one of the fabbed part.

On the fabbed part not that the "cam" that opens the throttle for fast idle is not there -- they are hard to measure and machine so I made the part easy to fab and will grind the cam on there with a sanding pad.

Just need to find one of you guys to help with the fabbing!!

Zeke

[Vatch]

I just checked with the local Honda shop in Wisc., USA.  You can order the entire choke sub-assembly for $130.  No individual parts are sold, of course. 

Nice drawings.

[Zeke]

I just checked with the local Honda shop in Wisc., USA.  You can order the entire choke sub-assembly for $130.  No individual parts are sold, of course. 

Nice drawings.

What? 

I was told that I couldn't get them at all, period.

What year is your bike?  TBH, $130 seems like a bargain for all the trouble I've been thru so far.

Zeke

[Vatch]

I have a '79 650.    I went in and told them what I was looking for. They pulled up some part figures that are stored on microfilm.  The plastic piece we desire is available with the sub-assembly containing all 4 butterflies and the central rods.  You get new choke springs too.  I neglected to get the part number, but I can get that and the name/phone number of the shop if you want. 

I'm going to look into getting a used set of carbs, the whole thing, from some salvage yards.  I want to see what the cost is.   By the time they throw in shipping for something that heavy it may be a wash.

[rob]

Just a note,

I went into my local honda dealer looking for a part, they looked it up on microfilm, found the part number (right brake caliper A housing) and got a quote of the cost.  I was shocked because it was way cheaper than anything I found online.

I came back the next day to place the order, and it turned out, much to my dismay, the part was discontinued and they couldn't get it.... dont count your eggs until they hatch.

Rob

[Zeke]

Hey Guys:

I'm going to call my dealer today and ask them about it.  If I can buy it I'll go ahead -- I've got alot of time invested in my carbs now and alot of money in gaskets/orings, so I want to stay with these.

Be careful about buying a new set and assuming that the choke arm isn't broken -- there is a set on EBAY right now and you can tell from the pic that the MFer is broken -- I sent a message to the seller and told him to post that it's broken.  I need to check and see if he mentioned it or not.

out

Zeke

[Zeke]

So I called the dealer yesterday to see about ordering one -- basically they told me that it shows in their system as "backordered" -- but the guy says he'd guarantee that means that it's discontinued -- you just don't find that out until you make the order.

They put it out on the parts locator, so if one still exists on on the list -- basically, if another dealer has one sitting around and reads the locator, they'll sell it to my dealer -- but it seems this part is in high demand and so I doubt it'll ever come in.

So, I still need someone to make my replacement.  Surely one of you guys out there can make this simple part for me?

Pretty Plea$e?

Zeke

[Chrisboden]

I've spoken with my machinist and once he stopped laughing at me, he's kicking it around to see if it's feaseable to do without costing us a ton of money. I meet with him this week and I'll let you know what I find out

[Zeke]

Chris and Babyfood:

Thanks a bunch for your help offers -- I do really appreciate it.

This weekend I was talking to an old friend of mine and we were talking about our bikes....  I told him about this part problem and he says "Why the hell haven't you sent me the drawing?  I have 3 machinists that can make that part for you for nothing."

So, I'm going to take him up on that.  Free is free, right?

Given the shortage of these parts, if you have the means to make one you could probably find some takers to buy..

Anyway, thanks again.

Zeke

[babyfood1217]

zeke-
That's really cool you found some people close to you that can do it for free.  Free is much better than having to pay.  I was actually talking to my father, who happens to be a much better machinist than I, and he was going to take it into his shop tomorrow (a shop dedicated to the UW Madison physics dept.) and take a closer look at it.  He made it sound like it wouldn't be a big deal, and he mentioned that a press fit would be much easier and less frustrating in terms of expansion from heat and alignment and whatnot.  So, if you still need help, let me know, because he still might be able to help if he has time.  Good luck!
-Chris

[NorthernYankee]

Any update on this?

[bryanj]

Zeke, if you have the part number its always worth trying Dave Silver as he buys worldwide and has a lot of discontinued stock. I had his last GL1000 crank at less than 25% of Hondas price and a chock kit for the same bike at about 10% of Hondas price