Topic: LEARN THE BASICS BEFORE JUMPING IN THE DEEP END

[vames]

One more thing: I took off the kickstand and center stand to save weight. Now my bike keeps falling down. Does anyone know how to fix this?

[70CB750]

Do 3000 miles maintenance and report back.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Just 'cause you have a fistfull of manuals and tools, it doesn't fix stupid.

It is hard, if not impossible to fix stupid.

[singedebile]

Well if I can't ask stupid questions on this forum then what am I ever to do with my time?   

ride your motorbike

[Magilla]

I've posted what many would call stupid questions.  Because of the responses I received I got my bike going and another SOHC4 is back on the road.  I could have sent it to the shop but I found it much more fun and rewarding to fix it myself........with your help.  That is one of the great things about these forums.  People helping people.

[Mooshie]

Well if I can't ask stupid questions on this forum then what am I ever to do with my time?   

Polish

That is a great idea..now how do I do that? Do I need a cloth?  Is there a tool I can get?  The search button isn't working.  Oh I have pods does that make a difference?  What weight oil should I run my 550 on?   

[70CB750]

Maybe TT meant to make Polish?

[shorty24]

Just 'cause you have a fistfull of manuals and tools, it doesn't fix stupid.

It is hard, if not impossible to fix stupid.

LOL, reminds me of an Einstein quote: "Two things are infinite; the universe, and human stupidity.  And I'm not so sure about the universe."

[Lostboy Steve]

I would have to learn to read before using a manual... however the pictures do help a lot. Ah, nevermind responding to this thread only proves that I can read...

[Bailgang]

I dunno guys gripe all you want about noobs asking stupid questions but you might want to be grateful that they are at least asking first rather than assuming. I doubt there's a single member on this site that hasn't done something out right stupid to their bike at some point in time and I'd be willing to bet they wouldn't have made that mistake if they had the balls to ask that stupid question in the first place. I've messed with cars all my life but it wasn't till about 3 years ago that I first turned a wrench on a bike and to complicate it further it was a bike that had sat for 25+ years. I had all kinds of dumb questions but thankfully there was those of you who had the patience to answer those questions and I now have 2 vintage Honda's back on the road because of it.

[TwoTired]

Well if I can't ask stupid questions on this forum then what am I ever to do with my time?   

Polish

That is a great idea..now how do I do that?

Rub it.

Do I need a cloth? 

No, it's optional

Is there a tool I can get? 

You can find lots of them at the Mall.

The search button isn't working. 

Unemployment is high.  You enjoy pushing buttons, eh?  Is that in your bio?

Oh I have pods does that make a difference? 

Yes.  The peas inside are yummy.  Sometimes the whole pod tastes sweet, and extends the time you can spend polishing.

What weight oil should I run my 550 on?   

The kind that is about 7 lbs per gallon. ...for lubrication.  IF you REALLY want to run the engine with it, you'll need to boost the compression, and apply for a fogging license.

[TwoTired]

Ah, nevermind responding to this thread only proves that I can read...

No, it doesn't.  It only proves you can type.

[Whaleman]

I don't mind seeing the same questions show up. I know when rebuilding a double cam 750 for a friend that I had the same beginner questions about aspects of that rebuild that I asked on a different forum and was very appreciative of the expert answers. I have rebuilt 5 CB750 single cams and would not need to ask for help unless I ran into something unusual. I agree with everyone that says that this forum is to help people with single cam's even if they are not long term posters but normal people looking for expert advice. Dan

[lucky]

G'day mate...although I can see your point, especially when it comes to pods and jetting, where the same questions get beat to death day after day...for beginners (brave or foolhardy take your pick) dumb questions are sometimes what these type of forums are all about...Sometimes it's just a matter of coming from cars and thinking "yeah I got this"...I too am puzzled as to how the cam on these things cant be 180 out, as it can very well happen on a 4 cyl car...I once re-did a Saab, where the number 1 cyl was up against the fire wall as was the cam chain as the engine is in "backwards"...sure enough it wouldn't start, because I used the valves out of habit and the cyl closest to the grill of the car. Also when I first got my guzzi twin, I just timed the left cylinder thinking on cars that's all to be done...it ran like #$%*e till I realized it's not a 180 180 firng phase and it's a dual point set up...that  lead me to at least have a clue when I did the Honda.  Forums like these offer some help in these kind of situations.

My pet peeve is threads about "is this a good deal?" or "This guy is crazy asking this much money blah blah"...A person can ask whatever he or she wants for parts bikes etc. If your a cheap ass and are interested...just hammer the guy or move on...Well, that's my rant I guess...

But why don't you just buy a workshop manual and READ IT???
 Thats my question.

No one comes on the forum and says," I was reading the book, and do not understand such and such on page ....."

[Whaleman]

I don't think the internet is the cause of this happening.  There have always been people who will dive right in without knowing what they're doing, and quickly get in over their heads.  It's just that before the internet their options for assistance at that point were limited, and you didn't have as much of an opportunity to hear about them.  Now people in that situation have somewhere to turn for help in not only learning about but also completing their projects.

This is where "Basket Cases" come from.
meant to quote just did not know how to on the the top paragraph.

[lucky]

Just 'cause you have a fistfull of manuals and tools, it doesn't fix stupid.

It is hard, if not impossible to fix stupid.

You are supposed to READ that manual.
Not get on your tap -e -talk whatever.

[dhall57]

Sure some threads get repetitive and many times if members would just take a little extra time and check out the FAQ section and use the search function you can fine your answer. I catch myself thinking at times why would someone ask that question or how did he get in that mess. But I try to keep a good attitude here and have fun with it. Don't take things to serious. Remember this Forum exist only because we all have a thing and love for these old sohc4 Honda's. We are family, The SOHC4 family so lets be here for each other and do our best to help each and every member with there sohc4.

[madmtnmotors]

Just do the frame off, address the leaky seals/gaskets in the engine, then put it back together and ride!

I feel kinda proud now that I did the above and avoided any of my stupid questions being about engines   

THAT'S what I'm talkin' about! Isn't riding much more fun than wrenching?  (although wrenching does have a certain theraputic value)

Eventually you may very well reach a level where you are ready to tackle an engine teardown... took me twenty-five years!  The engine runs fine, but I'm finally ready for more power! 

Got to finish the current budget build first though (as described above and linked below) 

[goldarrow]

reading through 40+ posts on this thread and i got to say yes, people need to learn the basics before jumping in the deep end.  and there are lot of different opinions and thoughts here.  the thing is that many people don't read books and manuals.  if we/they all do, then the forums may not have as many users as there are now.  some times people also looking for second, third opinions also as many times reading from books/manuals don't make sense to them.   i work in educational industry, and experience first hand that majority students DON'T read books!  yes, i do feel bad for them.  they spent so much or so little to go to school and don't even open books that they have at hand.  what a waste.  but think of it this way, if they all read books they will probably not want to go to school and end up doing independent study instead.  consecquences? may be less school in the whole educational system?  no job for me and for many other people out there.  like wise, the all members here read books and becoming experts, there will probably be way much less people on the forums here.  then, what we gonna do?...  i guess just finish fix up my bike and happy riding til the end of the road. 

i'm still fairly new here and by no means not trying to offend anyone here...just some of my thoughts.

[trueblue]

I think the original poster was focusing on the intellectual laziness some people on forums  exhibit; The " I will ask one basic, silly question after another, long after 10 responders told me to spend $25 and buy a Clymer for my bike" crowd. That old "Give a man a fishing pole versus giving him a fish" moral. You want some help? Great, but do your part also and invest a few of your own brain cells in your venture.. .

I couldn't have said it better, if you actually read my first post particularly this line

Basically a little research on your part before asking simple/stupid questions would save a lot of frustration.

I didn't say don't ask stupid questions, I know I have on occasion asked them and most of what I have learnt is by asking stupid questions, but I am saying pick up a book have a read try to understand what it is you're about to get yourself in for before you dive in, if you then don't understand then ask, but do a little ground work first don't expect everyone else to teach you the basics that you should know before you even pick up a spanner, let alone after you are halfway through an engine rebuild.

[Rigid]

I want what I want and I want it now, so give it to me.  Welcome to the next generation.  I also work in the education "industry" lazy, entitled, ignorant, naive, with the occasional arrogant thrown in.  Not all, but many, and the percentage grows each year.  This forum is actually quite devoid of the attributes listed above compared to the general population.

[cb650]

If you think its a stupid question/thread just ignore it.  But that leads to the other thread of why do some people have to reply to EVERY thread.   

[bollingball]

Maybe the moderators could create a place to put all the pod jetting questions in. I just don't get it someone purposely screws the tune of there bike up and then can not figure out how to make it run. It is one thing if a part breaks on its own but when you choose to alter it you should have a plan to make it run. I like the way pods look but not enough to screw up the way my bike runs.

Ken

[kajtek]

maybe we should appreciate that people are buying and trying to repair old bikes instead of buying the latest off the shelf plastic supersport thing?

i dont post often and cant reply to much as im learning myself, but id like to think that anyone that enjoys and wants to tinker with old bikes is a brother in arms.

yes people do dive in a bit too deep, but sometimes it is their second bike and its what they want to do. sometimes people get stuck and panic and post a question without searching properly, maybe its best to just help them out of their hole.

one thing ive noticed is that over lets say the last 5ish years of posts (that ive seen through searching), that opinions and ideas change, that a consensus can shift and some questions definately should be looked at periodically, based on new smart people joining the forum, or new technologies etc.

ashley

[chewbacca5000]

The question we all got to ask yourself is why do people come here in the first place?  To get their bike fixed as quickly as possible.  If your new to bike fixing then things can be confusing even with the Honda shop manuel and Hondaman's books I still get tripped up.  There are just so many little details that have no substitute other than experience and that is where the value is in this forum lies wrenchmuch helping wrenchlittle.

The other thing is people apparently don't know where the google search is on this forum it's not the one it the upper right hand corner that is easy to see it's the one that blends in with the page almost camouflaged.  Moving it to upper right hand or deleting the texbox in the upper right would cut way down on duplicate questions.

Once you get there do a search for tapper neck bearings and you will quickly understand why the same question gets asked over and over.   One your find the right answer with your search there is no way to bookmark it in your profile so you have to search again latter.

http://delicious.com  is a tool that could help by letting forum users save search results under a profile they create on the delcious booking marking site.  They can even use tags to cut down on search time in the future.  Hope this helps.