Topic: Just got a 86 cb450sc

[beaniam]

Traded this for an xr250l that I wasn't really riding any more.  Bone stock and original down to the baffles in the exhaust and the airbox.  31,000 miles.  Other than a valve adjustment and a chain and sprocket set is that anything in particular to look out for on these bikes?  Runs great, no taps or noises.  Get an occasional stutter on throttle that makes me suspect tight valves.



The fairing and bugeyes were definitely not my style.  Packed them away in the garage and have a set of bar ends on the way.

[Killer Canary]

I've always liked the looks of the 450 Nighthawks. I've heard that the 400 twin engine could run overly hot; I don't know if Honda had that sorted by the time of the 450, some kind of oil cooler thing.

[MoMo]

Very nice and it makes for an awesome commuter or sport bike...Larry

[raymond10078]

Don't forget the cam chain adjustment . . .  and the balancer chain adjustment.

[beaniam]

I've noticed right around 3800-4100rpm I have a noticeable stutter going on.  Almost like it's missing.  Only happens while cruising 1-4th gear.  Accelerates hard all the way up past 6500 and when it's stuttering around 4000 you can crack it and take off.  Is this the sign of an air leak somewhere?  I think it's an old CA bike, it's got the air canister on the right side of the motor with a rats nest of vacuum lines going every where.  Unless that was just an 80's thing.  I haven't done a valve adjustment yet but I did have the carbs off and cleaned and blew out every orifice and jet.  The air cutoff diaphragms aren't great looking but I wouldn't think they'd cause that condition.

[grcamna2]

It may take a bit of time to sort out,considering that it's a CA. model...

[LesterPiglet]

I've always liked the looks of the 450 Nighthawks. I've heard that the 400 twin engine could run overly hot; I don't know if Honda had that sorted by the time of the 450, some kind of oil cooler thing.

Same engine as my monstrosity. It has a cooler.

[beaniam]

Well I put on a new sprocket set and an oring chain.  Removed almost all of the CA emissions stuff and blocked ports.  I left the valve with the 2 large vacuum lines from the head and airbox going to it under the gas tank simply because I didn't have anything to block them.  Also adjusted the valves.  Still get that same cruising stutter.  Also put the mirrors back on as I found out the hard way the bar ends are solid, at least they have a metal slug in the set in about half an inch.  Should I try going up .005 on the main and .05 on the pilots?