Topic: Gears wont engage when downshifting, and runs rich.

[Raul CB750K1]

Hi everybody!! Here I am. For those of you who were wondering, I haven't tried the Vegemite yet (I'm serious). Been very busy lately, and as I want to write my comments, I'm keeping the Vegemite for a better occassion. I will open a topic in the "Off Topic" section when I'm done.  BTW, Terry, did you receive what I sent you?

Back to the tech questions, with my new Metzelers my bike is running like hell. One of my last posts in the greenspun site was that it was running rich. I know it because a) It makes 115 miles before having to switch to reserve and b) the plugs are black carbon.

I'm putting the blame in the air filter. Now it have a 17211-405-000, while the original was 17211-300-000. My local Honda dealer wanted 80 bucks for it. After searching for it and founding nowhere, I decided to order it but before wanted confirmation that it would be the same number. To my surprise, his computer told him that the 17211-300-000 was superseded by the 17211-405-000!!!! Then I didn't need to order the filter, but my problem was still there: that filter is for the K2 on, with a different jetting. My needles are in the stock, center notch.

Neither with the air screws nor with the idle stop screw can I lower the idle below 1500 rpm. I still have to check, by opening the airbox, wether the idle lowers or not. If it lowers then it means that the carburetors demand more air.

This high idle have a bad effect: when shifting to 1st gear, there is always a "clonk" that I don't feel good for the gearbox. Upshifting is smooth, but downshifting is a pain. I try adapting the bike speed with the expected speed for the desired gear, but I only get smooth shifting once every 8 tries. The rest, either "clonks" and makes impossible to engage, or stays in a "false neutral" between 5 and 4, or 4 and 3. Bike is 13.000 miles only, so I don't think there is any problem with the gearbox. Maybe that behaviour is normal and I'm not used to shifting in old bikes (that is true), or maybe it's due to that high idle. Sometimes the gear simply disengage and my bike revs up and the people look at me like if I'm new to bikes.

So, here are the two questions;

1) Somebody in the greenspun board suggested to use a UNI foam oiled filter. Do you think that will let more air than the 17211-405-000?

2) What can be wrong with the gearbox? A high idle? A bent selector fork? Nothing?


Regards

Raul

[Harry]

Hey Raul

The "clonk" is due to the high idle. The high idle can also be due to your timing being off, try checking this!

[MRieck]

Raul
  Your clutch pack may not be disengaging enough when the clutch is pulled in. This condition makes down#$%*ing difficult. Make sure there isn't to much slack at the lever and reset the adjustment screw in the clutch cover.

[Raul CB750K1]

Idle is high, but the timing is well set. I adjusted it the "static" way, but checked later with a timing gun and it is also right in the "dinamic" check.

The clutch cable is very tight. I also thought it could be a problem of a loose clutch cable, so i tightened it in the handle, to the extent that you can only start motion when the lever is in the last half inch of the movement. It's on the verge of slipping in normal position.

I hope that reducing the idle will help. Any comments about the air filter? (apart from covering it with Vegemite...)

Regards

Raul

[Don R]

 Incorrect or dirty oil can cause the clutch to drag also. My goldwing sometimes tells me to change the oil by clunking on the shift. The race oil in my KZ1000 glues the plates together. I can loosen them up by tying the clutch lever back for a few minutes.
 Also check the clutch adjustment at the screw under the cover. My experience suggests it's usually a slippy clutch that needs that, but I'd check it anyway.

[Kevin D]

Hi everybody!! Here I am. For those of you who were wondering, I haven't tried the Vegemite yet (I'm serious). Been very busy lately, and as I want to write my comments, I'm keeping the Vegemite for a better occassion. I will open a topic in the "Off Topic" section when I'm done.  BTW, Terry, did you receive what I sent you?

Regards

Raul

Hi Raul, nice to hear from you. I hope and expect things are going well where you are.
Look for our sohc4 pals who should be nearby.
Maybe there are better things than vegemite there.
Best regards,
Kevin D

[ekpent]

Ol' Raul hasn't been active since October of 2017    Hope he fixed her up 

[Kevin D]

Ol' Raul hasn't been active since October of 2017    Hope he fixed her up 

Yes, he’s at the big sohc4 meet in the sky.
When I saw his “here I am”, I just had to say hello.

[ekpent]

Ol' Raul hasn't been active since October of 2017    Hope he fixed her up 

Yes, he’s at the big sohc4 meet in the sky.
When I saw his “here I am”, I just had to say hello.

Oh - is he another that has sadly passed away ? Sorry I did not know that and did not mean to be disrespectful.

[Kevin D]

No worries Eric.
Every once in a while I get a greeting that may be from the other side.
I don’t ask questions, I just return the greeting.

Yes I saw the 2005 date but what he wrote was very much in the present tense.

[andy750]

Thanks for posting Kevin it was good to re-read this thread. Raul did eventually get his bike running well which led him too many adventures. I always enjoyed his photos of his K1 around Madrid.