Topic: She lives! the Nighthawk S

[eigenvector]

I was not expecting this in a million years.  That old wreck had in it some gas that I had from a year and half ago - just keeping something in the bowls to prevent the carbs from filling with water and insects.  I removed the battery, hooked up the remote starter and turned it over to see how bad the starter clutch really was.

It caught!  I mean it caught and idled like a top (well until the gas ran out).

So I topped it up with some more year old gas and dangit she's purring like a kitten.  Sweet!  By the way, that Yoshi exhaust it has on it does sound really nice.  Not excessively loud but has a deep low rumble that's perfect.

Now all I need to do is make some cables for the throttle, find me a petcock, and I'll have a bike that's worth running.

[Retro Rocket]

Great result.... Now get some clean new gas in it....

[eigenvector]

Not until I get some throttle cables built.

Have the kit sitting on my dining room table, just need to take the time to make them.


I'm utterly floored that it started though - started and ran!

[Stev-o]

I'm utterly floored that it started though - started and ran!

I wouldnt be overly surprised, it is a Honda after all!

[70CB750]

Good Show 

[eigenvector]

Defeat

Been wrestling with whether or not I had to pull the starter clutch.  Got the bike basically back in running condition.

So I gave it a full charge and started it - or tried to.  Starter clutch simply doesn't work with a full charge, only starts to work when the battery dies and even then it's iffy.

Searched and searched online for any hints as to whether it could be pulled without pulling the engine - nope.  Plenty on the earlier 650's, but the later 650's and the 700 is just not going to cooperate.

So instead of riding it this spring I'm going to have to make an engine dolly and pull the engine.  I'm guessing I just have to drop the bottom end - flip the case upside down and remove the bottom half of the clamshell.  Save me the effort of fiddling with the top end which is perfectly fine.

Uhhgg, so god darn close.

In many respects I'm glad I did pull the pan and attempt to dismantle it.  The oil looked like the foam on a cappuccino (15+ years of sitting outside) otherwise it looked fine in there - no metal shavings, no rubber boogers clogging passageways, no broken teeth or dinged gears.

[70CB750]

Sorry to hear that, but it is just one more weekend, or two 

[eigenvector]

The engine bay on this bike is pretty open.  Like I might not even have to dismount the carbs or take off the valve cover.

Oh well, such is life.  I got two other bikes so it's not like I'm missing the riding season.

I'll take lots of photos and write it up for others. 

[eigenvector]

She's running!

All buttoned up, all rewired, new skins on the wheels, fairing, windshield.

Running WAY too rich, so there's work to be done yet, however it idles, it revs, it is powered, recharges the battery properly.

I'm gonna have to take her out on the 4th and see how she does on the road now.  Can't do it now - I'm working 60 hour weeks.

Tasks to do:
1)  Rebuild the gauges.  Will do a write up for this if anyone wants to see it.
  a)  repair the plastic mounts
  b)  repair the needles (strangely on this bike they seem to break real easy )
2)  Redo the battery wires.  Didn't know what the optimal lengths were - so I guessed when I redid them originally.  They're too long
3)  Sync the carbs - way out of sync right now.
4)  Find me an upholstery guy to redo the seat

[Alan F.]

That's great Man! Good work, I can't wait to see some videos and hear that engine with the carbs synchronized.

I miss my 60 hour weeks, damn OT dried up last Labor Day and things got tight really quick.
Feast or famine, plan ahead and enjoy accordingly.
Have a great and safe ride on the 4th.

Alan

[eigenvector]

First ride on the bike!

Once it warms up it runs far better.  Still think it's too rich, but its rideable.

Took it down the road a spell then back - didn't want to go too far until I was sure I wouldn't have to push it.

It's an F'in rocket!  Jeeze, hesitates up to 2k, then just surges forward faster than any bike I've ever ridden.  Have to fiddle with the shifter, the throw is a mile long, but other than that it screams!  I mean that literally - as in I don't think it has baffles.  Loud enough to piss off my neighbors and make my ears ring.

Which will be my next task - open up the cans and see what' in there, if anything.

[70CB750]

Congrats!

[RAFster122s]

Congrats on another runner...sounds like a PO gutted them to make her meaner and faster...Americanism that if it is loud it is good...vacuums, Harleys, etc.
hogwash...

Loud pipes don't save lives, they just piss off neighbors and drivers, especially when they get beside you and stay there...

The dual cam 650/700/750cc motors were well loved by Nighthawk lovers and there are a lot of them out there. They are quite different from SOHC brethren...
The 650 was punched out as much as it could go and they redesigned when they went to the 700 and 750 motor. The 450 became the 550 and then the 650 and it ran into issues in the last variant if I recall correctly...
The Nighthawks held their value well also...still do for good examples.

David

[grcamna2]

Congrats on another runner...sounds like a PO gutted them to make her meaner and faster...Americanism that if it is loud it is good...vacuums, Harleys, etc.
hogwash...

Loud pipes don't save lives, they just piss off neighbors and drivers, especially when they get beside you and stay there...

The dual cam 650/700/750cc motors were well loved by Nighthawk lovers and there are a lot of them out there. They are quite different from SOHC brethren...
The 650 was punched out as much as it could go and they redesigned when they went to the 700 and 750 motor. The 450 became the 550 and then the 650 and it ran into issues in the last variant if I recall correctly...
The Nighthawks held their value well also...still do for good examples.

David

They want their oil and filters changed w/ good quality oil at regular intervals to keep the hydraulic valve lifters happy.

[Retro Rocket]

Congrats on another runner...sounds like a PO gutted them to make her meaner and faster...Americanism that if it is loud it is good...vacuums, Harleys, etc.
hogwash...

Loud pipes don't save lives, they just piss off neighbors and drivers, especially when they get beside you and stay there...

The dual cam 650/700/750cc motors were well loved by Nighthawk lovers and there are a lot of them out there. They are quite different from SOHC brethren...
The 650 was punched out as much as it could go and they redesigned when they went to the 700 and 750 motor. The 450 became the 550 and then the 650 and it ran into issues in the last variant if I recall correctly...
The Nighthawks held their value well also...still do for good examples.

David

They want their oil and filters changed w/ good quality oil at regular intervals to keep the hydraulic valve lifters happy.

Yes, and never let them run low on oil, check regularly..