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Author Topic: Hello From Connecticut  (Read 1840 times)

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Offline Tvag

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Hello From Connecticut
« on: December 26, 2006, 05:53:32 AM »
Hello all,

Just got a free Honda CB550. I have no biking nor any mechanical experience. But I got my license this past summer and I'm psyched. The bike is a '77 and has been stored in a shed for 20 YEARS! Thankfully it was stored semi properly as there was no gas in the tank or carbs. It has rusted on the crome and frame due to the humidity we get here in the summer months but nothing that can't be fixed. I havn't got it started yet but hoping you can help me in that adventure. See you on the forum.
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1977 CB550K (on the road, FINALLY! 4/10/08)
1979 Kaw Z400B2 (someone's future parts bike)

Offline medic09

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Re: Hello From Connecticut
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2006, 08:11:43 AM »
Where in CT are you?  I grew up in Stamford, through HS.  Lived over the border in MA, and worked in W. Hartford a few years ago.  Ride safely!

Mordechai
Santa Fe, for now...
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Mordechai

'78 CB750K
'76 Triumph T160 Trident (rebuilding)
'07 aprilia Caponord

Santa Fe, NM

Offline Tvag

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Re: Hello From Connecticut
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2006, 12:36:16 PM »
I'm in the North of CT, East Windsor. Lived in West Hartford for about a year, Elmwood. Santa Fe must be nice.
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1977 CB550K (on the road, FINALLY! 4/10/08)
1979 Kaw Z400B2 (someone's future parts bike)

Offline medic09

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Re: Hello From Connecticut
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2006, 02:42:00 PM »
LOTS of good rides in New England.  A little further, up into the Maritimes.   :)
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Mordechai

'78 CB750K
'76 Triumph T160 Trident (rebuilding)
'07 aprilia Caponord

Santa Fe, NM

Offline burmashave

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Re: Hello From Connecticut
« Reply #4 on: December 26, 2006, 02:58:06 PM »
Welcome, Tvag and congrats on a good find!  I lived near New Haven for a couple of years, and I just got back from spending Christmas in Wallingford.  The winters down there (I'm in upstate NY now) aren't so bad. ;)  I saw a several guys riding during Christmas Eve.  I was very jealous. :)
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Quote from: SOHC Digger, RIP
'Ere's whatcha do, Guvna', just throw a couple dookie logs in the hearth and bob's your uncle!
'77 CB750k

caferacer

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Re: Hello From Connecticut
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2007, 03:29:45 PM »
born and rased in windsor, went to windsor high. columbia sc now, though i worked at canton cycles out in winsted for a few months in 2005.
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: Hello From Connecticut
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2007, 04:09:48 PM »
TVag, my son and my money goes school in West Hartford. My CB750 was stired the same way yours was. First thing is get some Marvel Mystery Oil and fill the cylinders with it. Leave that sit while you busy yourself cleaning and polishing up the bike. Make sure the brakes are in good order before you even start the bike. Once it looks nice, and you are sure the brakes are OK, replace the oil and see if she fires up. The Marvel Oil will ensure you do not dry start the engine and scrape the bore. My thing with old bikes is if they can;t look good, who cares if they run. You will probably need to run some Seaform through the carbs at the very least.
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Dedicated to Sgt. Howard Bruckner 1950 - 1969. KIA LONG KHANH.

But we were boys, and boys will be boys, and so they will. To us, everything was dangerous, but what of that? Had we not been made to live forever?

Offline Tvag

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Re: Hello From Connecticut
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2007, 09:00:59 AM »
BobbyR. Marvel Mystery Oil? I'm such a newbie I'm terrified of opening up the engine. I wouldn't even know where to start to get oil into the cylinders. I've just taken a mightly leap and taken the carbs off but I'm being very careful with them and moving slowly. But anything to help out the bike I'm willing to do. Is it difficult to get to the cylinders?
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1977 CB550K (on the road, FINALLY! 4/10/08)
1979 Kaw Z400B2 (someone's future parts bike)

Offline BobbyR

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Re: Hello From Connecticut
« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2007, 09:11:23 AM »
TV if you have the carbs off putting oil in the cylinders is easy. To put the Marvel oil in, you simply unscrew the spark plugs and squirt it in with something. Regular oil would work also, but marvel has some cleaners in it. You can get it at Walmart or any Parts store.
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Dedicated to Sgt. Howard Bruckner 1950 - 1969. KIA LONG KHANH.

But we were boys, and boys will be boys, and so they will. To us, everything was dangerous, but what of that? Had we not been made to live forever?

Offline Tvag

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Re: Hello From Connecticut
« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2007, 11:45:20 AM »
That is easy! How much should I put in?! I'll be there are instructions on the bottle aren't there? Thanks for the suggestion. I have no mechanical sense or knowledge. This could be a disaster but I'll learn something in the process at the least.
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1977 CB550K (on the road, FINALLY! 4/10/08)
1979 Kaw Z400B2 (someone's future parts bike)

Offline BobbyR

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Re: Hello From Connecticut
« Reply #10 on: January 04, 2007, 04:14:59 PM »
TV, the pistons will all not be in the same position, so you just put it as much as will fit in each cylinder. There is a handy little tool I found in Walmart that is used to measure  2 cycle oil. It looks like a syringe and has a little tube that is really handy. I have used it to bleed brakes and any put fluid in tight places. When you are ready to start the bike, leave the plugs out and turn the motor over to force out the oil. Do this in a place where you can make a mess, if the engine is in any decent condition, the stuff will spurt out surprising far. You can deflect it with some newspaper placed in front of the motor.
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Dedicated to Sgt. Howard Bruckner 1950 - 1969. KIA LONG KHANH.

But we were boys, and boys will be boys, and so they will. To us, everything was dangerous, but what of that? Had we not been made to live forever?
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