Topic: Always something...

[eigenvector]

I guess it goes with the territory - maintaining older bikes.  Always something going on that needs attention.

My two darlings - the Sabre and the CB750 Limited, usually dependable for a weekend ride.

Sabre has developed a significant oil leak at the alternator cover.  I don't know how I'm going to fix it either - the rubber plugs where the alternator wires penetrate the housing cracked and now oil is seeping out of the penetration.

The CB750 Limited, the front brakes have suddenly become much too spongy, like the brake handle goes all the way back before it begins to stop.  Just needs to be bled I assume - but all of the sudden?  Also - throttle is far too sloppy, like 1/4" travel before it engages.  Guess the cable nut slipped off the carburetor housing.

And I thought I would have Memorial Day weekend off.

[754]

Sabre  ....use silicone seal..easy..

[eigenvector]

That was my going in plan, although I wasn't sure it'd survive engine temps.  But, rubber survives it - so silicone sure would.

Just have to figure out where to put it and all that.

[Terry in Australia]

You'll ned to make sure the area you're going to seal is oil-free before you splotch silicone on it Rob, or it'll just weep out from under it. Your brake issue sounds like the MC piston seal is a goner. Any dampness around the lever pivot?

[eigenvector]

Well it wasn't too bad after all.

CB750 - easy fix on the throttle - cable was just loose, adjusted at the throttle and it's back in fighting form.  The brakes - I don't think they were broken after all, I think my memory was fuzzy about how crummy they've always been.  Long story short - the OEM brakes on that bike are arm busters, I bought an aftermarket master cylinder with a much lighter feel.  Thing is, it doesn't appear to work very well.  Long and the short - I'll have to play around with the system until I find a sweet spot and/or a better master cylinder.

Sabre - found the leak (I think), so I jammed some sealant in there and now I'm waiting for it to cure.


But for now, the CB750 Lim has a fresh tank of gas.  Now I just need a better master cylinder.  That OEM unit was ridiculously tough to engage - the bore size must be humongous.

[Terry in Australia]

If you've changed the master cylinder make sure you bleed the MC properly before you condemn it to the waste bin, I rebuilt my ZZR1100 MC last weekend, and wasn't all that surprised at how much air was trapped in the MC. Once bled (less than 5 minutes) the lever was rock hard again.