Topic: Stuck!!! This is my first street bike CB750F, and I don't know what to do next.

[DammitDan]

The mercury kind works fine...

I was nervous at first when I used it, but just be careful, make sure you set the idle BEFORE getting started, and make sure the engine is HOT so you don't have to worry about the choke causing a misread and/or unexpected throttle flare.

If something starts to go wrong, just keep your head and flip the kill switch.  It's a pretty safe system when used correctly, and $50 less than the morgan carbtune.  But if you have the money and the time, order a morgan.  If you're broke-ish (like me) just get the cheap mercury carb stix.

[Hondalubr]

.  But if you have the money and the time, order a morgan.  If you're broke-ish (like me) just get the cheap mercury carb stix.

I have 4 kids... Broke-ish aint the half of it!     

[Lumbee]

...hey hondal on the valves...check u'r manual...it will walk u right through it...takes about an hour....

[Hondalubr]

OK  Kewl! Thanks!!!

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

I have worked with mercury all my life and I still have no effects from it.  I was talking to my dentist the other day about the time all my teeth fell out and he reminded me that, that was before, not after I lost my fingernails.  Before I lost my hair and right ear I used to do a joke where I would rub it on my face and go around as "Chrome Man".  I always wanted kids but the doc said i was shooting Silver bullets and that kills the eggs. Buy the mercury gauges, it will sync the carbs and is fun to play with later.

All joking aside it is very easy to use.

[Hondalubr]

Alright! So what was that supposed to mean Use the mercury ones or not I need to start a Poll!

[DammitDan]

Mercury stix will work just as well as the steel insert morgan carbtune.  It's just 50% less expensive

[Hondalubr]

Well I went for the $69USD Mercury Sync tool. I used it tonight and my rattling is almost gone. I pull in the clutch and it completely disapears. It never did that before to this extent. Also It was way louder before with the clutch lever released. I rode again and it is still even more smooth than it was on my above post. no hesitation whatsoever at any RPM. The shifting into first gear is much smoother and it will idle at 1100RPM for about 2-3 minutes before it finally dies. If I pull the choke tho it races up to 4500RPMs I have to push in the choke right away for fear it will blow up. I set it to be at about 2000-2500RPM for a minute and then push in the choke all the way and it stayed started and went right down to 1100RPM and stayed started for about 2-3 minutes before it died. I can handle the bike dying after 2-3 minutes of idling. It will stay started if i just give it a tiny bit of throttle and then let it go back down to idle speed.
You know the only thing I haven't adjusted yet is the timing chain. Would that affect my carb sync? What about the timing?
 Thanks again for your advise,

Mike

[DammitDan]

Adjusting the timing chain won't really affect much performance-wise that I know of...  It may throw off your timing a bit (shortens the chain a hair) but other than that it's mostly just for maintenance and rattle reduction.  If it's making a kinda slippery whirring noise, then it doesn't need to be adjusted.  If it's clicking, then it's something to consider.  And depending on mileage, you may never get the whirring and will have to deal with light clicking, unless you replace the adjuster, that is.

A chain that's way loose will make a loud even tapping/clicking and cause a slight vibration.

On the dying after 3 minutes of idling thing...  Does it only do that after you first start, or does it also do it when the engine is hot and you're sitting at a stoplight or somesuch?

[scondon]

     I've never had much luck with these carbs (77-78) keeping the engine idling at low rpm's until the bike is really hot, usually after 15-20 minutes of riding. After the bike is warmed up I set the idle at 1200-1300 as this seems to be a "compromise" setting that allows the bike to continue idling, without dying, during the first 15 minutes. Sounds to me like your carbs are working well.

     The choke should raise the rpm's to around 3000 when fully engaged. There is an adjustment on the carbs for this, but if you're not experiencing any problems other than the "racing" idle I'd just stick with a less than full pull on the choke as you have described.

      Have you checked for air leaks around the intake rubbers (carb to cylinder head)? Not that it sounds like you have any, just that I got the best idling once I had fixed the minor leak on mine. Had to re-synch the carbs afterwards.

[Hondalubr]

I rode today for about 20 miles total. After a few minutes of riding I found that the idle adjust was too high, as I had set this before I left the house with the engine cold. I adjusted it down to about 1300 and I rode the rest of the ride only stalling one time at a red light just as it had turned green with cars all around. It would not start right away and I had to pull the choke to get it started again. It seemed like it took me forever to get going, but I know it was only a few seconds. It sure reminds you how vulnerable you are on a bike as the impatient guy behind me in a Cadillac Escalade, Drinking a Latte I bet, inched closer. Any closer and I would have had to got off the bike and kick his ass. (Not a biker thing, I would have done the same thing if I was in my car. He wouldn't have done it if I was in my 4X4 Suburban. Yes I drive it off road too. Thats how I get my off road bikes to go camping with all 7 of us in my family).

It never stalled again and was just a bunch of fun to ride today.

My manual from Honda came in at Mach 1 Motorsports. I couldn't cancel the order in time, when someone told me where to download it on this site. I think it was Einyodeler who told me about it. So, Tuesday I will go pick it up.
I took a few more pics of the bike today. I will post a few later in the gallery. I feel like you all have helped so much that it's the least I could do, so you guys can see the progress of the bike and how your help has paid off.
Thanks again, Ride safe!
Mike

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

get some SeaFoam from you local auto store and put it in your gas, that stuff is wonderful.

[Hondalubr]

 
Well.. I tought I would post an update... I went to the DMV last Friday and took my written test. Since it had been more than two years since I took the auto written test I had to take that one as well as the motorcycle test.
  Well, I didn't miss any questions on either test.  I finally have my learners permit.  I found out as well that all I need from the PO is a bill of sale and I am set. There won't be any penalties because the bike was never registered here in California before, so All I have to pay is for this year plus tax. All in all it should be less than $100.00 to get everything so I can get insurance and be totally legal. No more riding and watching the mirrors for cops, just riding and enjoying the ride. I just wanted to share my good news with you all as I am really excited to finally be among the masses here who are able to ride without the additional fear that I am not legal.
Have a great day,
Talk to you all laters!
Hondalubr (Mike)

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

I know of a man that is handicaped and rides a trike because of that handicap.  He has to ride on a permit because you can not take a test in PA on a trike and he can not ride a motorcycle because of the handicap.  He has to go get a permit every year just so he can ride.   You have to have a motorcycle license in PA to ride a trike because it can only be licenced as a motorcycle.  Has failed to get an exception 3 times, he is trying again next year.

[Bob Wessner]

Your reference to trike reminded me of something I saw the other day while out for a ride. I was sitting at a light at a multi-lane intersection, I was in the middle lane so I couldn't hang a right to follow for a closer look. Passing from the left was what appeared to be a Gold Wing, though not sure, it all happened quickly. At first it mentally registered as a trike, but in reality it was some sort of add-on that dropped over the rear-end, normal front and rear wheels of a motorcycle and this accessory unit (for want of a better term) had two smaller wheels on either side of the normal rear wheel, almost like outriggers. Anyone ever see a rig like this before?

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

I saw this on TV some years back.  It was an add on kit trying to help non-bikers in Europe decide to ride motorcycles as there daily ride.  Wheels went down below 10 mph and back up at 15 mph

[CB750MD]

I know this is an OLD thread, but I am Hondalubr. I have tried many times to log in since this thread, but have never been able to. I still have my CB, but I never was able to register it. I have since moved to Oregon and have been hurt, and am disabled. I can no longer ride, and it is a shame to see my bike sit there doing nothing. I have had it garaged up until about 6 months ago, and today I went out and looked at it and it is starting to get some surface rust on the exhaust that I put on it new in '05.

Any ideas what I can do with my bike. I'd hate to see it just rust out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[martin99]

Sorry to hear about your disability. I'm sure you'll get plenty of people offering to take your bike off your hands. Is there no way you could adapt it to suit you? Sidecar? Trike maybe? I have a friend who lost a leg many years ago. He always turns up at rallies on his modded Ducati Monster complete with sidecar that he brings his wheelchair in. There are clubs in the UK specifically there to help disabled bikers enjoy their passion for bikes, must be something like that in the US?

[Duanob]

yeah it sucks to think about not being able to ride anymore.

I don't think you will have any trouble selling it in the PDX area for top dollar, if that's any consolation.

[CB750MD]

No, I can't adapt it for me. It is my back, and the vibration of the road is just too much for me to bear.  I really do wish I could though. I really do miss riding.

It is a beautiful bike in great shape for the age. I worry about the "No Title" issues I have with it. It was last registered in WA in 1990 I think. I will have to check the plate to verify, but I think that was it. Anyone know how to get it registered in Oregon without any title etc...?

Edit: I found that the last registered date of expiration was 1992, and yes it was WA State.