So one week ago I figured I would try my hand at the first (of hopefully many) 3,000 mile tune-up on the '77. Leading up to that glorious Saturday and Sunday I had made some pre-requisite purchases including feeler gauges, Denso plugs, a 3/8" drive impact driver and a few other odds and ends. The not-so necessity purchases included a Stainless Cycle SS fastener kit, a HM ignition, new brake pads and of course the many "have to have" things that I come across daily. Actually, to this point I have been quite impressed at my resiliency to
not set my credit card on fire.
I'll begin tonight's story by saying that these events provided some great father/son time, but I'll also apologize to my dad here for losing my patience on a few occasions.
He's got the "let's just do it" attitude and I've got the "let's just research it first"; so we clash...
Tappet adjustments: All I need to say is read the manual, read the manual, read the freaking manual. We jumped right in and were immediately humbled by the, "how do the damn feeler gauges fit!?" question. Immediately following was trying to make sense of "line up timing mark to T (1-4), make X adjustments, rotate 360˚ back to T (1-4) and make O adjustments". In our heads, we are thinking that this rotation has us adjusting the same tappets but in reality it is just not so. One hour and one walk-away later Mr. Research finds
http://www.hondahobby.no/ and it explains perfectly how certain arms will have play while others are seated at the given timing mark (do the 360˚ rotation and indeed the once seated arms are now ready for action). Fifteen minutes later and all eight are set
.
Spark Plugs: Denso replaces the stock NGK's. Easy enough job, but I will be (temporarily) repurposing the NGK's in the '78 project as they were in really nice shape.
Oil Change: Castrol 4T 20W50 Motorcycle oil with Honda OEM filter. I just bought some other test oils; Rotella 15W40 and Mobil Delvac 15W40. For now the Castrol will do, but I am kind of itching to try the Rotella based on reviews.
Points: A bit of carbon build-up, but nothing a touch of 400 grit couldn't handle. Gaps were good and timing looked to be as spot on as possible without a timing light setup. This was also the moment my father took some enjoyment in showing me how points, condensors and advancers work together as the ignition system.
Oil Pump O-rings: A ten minute job turned into an hour due to one buggered up, galled fastener. The PO went in there at some point and replaced the JIS with hardened steel allen heads, one of which stuck to the pump surface. Two cheap-o drill bits helped sever the screw head releasing the pump. Thanks to HondaMan, I replaced the three o-rings at the case connection as the existing were pretty flattened and shrunken. Everything went back together with new fasteners from Ace (the helpful place) and a touch of zinc anti-sieze.
UPDATE: Unfortunately it looks like I still might have a leak; smaller but still dripping. I'll get you one day you son of a b*&$h!!
Front Brakes: I say, "Dad, I'm tired, frustrated and not in the mood to touch the brakes. I'm not at the red line and while there is a squeak when riding, the braking power is fine." He says, " Alex it will take a few minutes to swap out the pads, let's just do it!" How long!? Oh really just a few minutes?
Sure we swapped out the pads in a few minutes, but they rubbed so badly that my wheel was frozen in place. So came adjustment time and nothing worked. Not the damn adjuster screw/spring thing...nothing! Mr. Just-Do-It kept pushing the pad in toward the piston until it was stuck there too, so a screw driver to the new pad and it was out (only later did I read about removal via brake fluid pressure). Nevertheless we found the little white plastic washer seated off-center, creating the terrible fitment. Now I've got one old pad and one new, but after some fun bleeding brakes (see: shooting fluid to the ceiling) the 550 stops on a quarter (needs more refinement to be a dime).
HM Ignition: See photos for placement of the unit, but it is basically to the front of the battery box zip-tied below the rubber grommet that holds the tank.
Enough with the novel and onto the stuff you really care about...PICTURES!
