Greetings, all. My name is Tim Mueller. I live in Cincinnati.
I don't currently own a SOHC/4, but my first bike was a '75 CB400F. In 1983 I owned, and rode a '78 CB550K from San Francisco (where I lived then) to Cincinnati and back. That got me hooked on touring and these days I ride an '86 Concours. If I had room for a stable, I'd love to have another 400F. I love the look of those pipes!
I am fixing up an '81 CB650C for a friend. It sat parked for a year or so w/o any prep, so I'm doing the usual stuff... pulled/cleaning carbs & brakes, new tires, chain & sprockets, battery, fluids, etc. This bike seems to have an external vacuum valve for the petcock, located on carb #3 (I say 'seems to' because I've never seen this kind of setup before). I disassembled it and the diaphragm looks like it is due for replacement. Instead of rebuilding it, I'm thinking of removing it, running the fuel line directly to the carbs (w/ a filter) and making the owner swear an oath to turn the petcock to 'off' when parked. Many Concours owners have replaced the OEM petcock (with a vacuum valve but no 'off' position) with a Pingle petcock and turn it off when parked, based on the 'KISS' doctrine. Anyone else done this? Comments? If this is a bad idea, can I get the rebuild kit from someone besides the dealer?
I did check the FAQs but didn't find anything on the petcock.
TIA,
Tim
