Topic: 82 CB650 carburetor + cylinder head cLabour time

[ViBri95]

Hi guys

I'm in need of some advise/experience, as I have found here before.
I have an '82 CB650, which has been giving me a hard time lately.
It wouldn't start right away and sometimes lose power when I'd open the throttle. It recently started leaking oil and I had no real clue where it came from. Also I had some other minor stuff which needed some attention.

Seeing as I don't have a garage in which I can spend a lot of hours searching for the culprits and learning how to fix it myself I brought it to an experienced honda/oldtimer mechanic.

We agreed to a full check of the motorcycle because I didn't really have a clue to what's wrong with it specifically.
He contacted me today with a price quote on some stuff which would need to be sorted out.
During compression testing all cylinders seemed to have good compression and electrics also look fine.

But... Something seems to be wrong with the distribution chain/timing belt as well as with the fuel/mixture in the carburetors.

I asked for a detailed quote, which he sent me. I feel as if material costs are reasonable, as he provided parts numbers in the quote which I could look up and even gave me a small discount on those.

The stuff that I'm not familiar with are the amount of working hours quoted.

Ten hours are quoted for the following:

  - disassembling of tank, ignition, camshaft
  - check chain tensioner & tighten
  - cleaning "head" (I assume cylinder head?)
  - install new valve cover gasket
  - reinstall camshaft
  - install & timing of chain
  - adjusting valves
  - reconstruction of top end
  - compression test

Six hours are quoted for the carburetors:

  - taking off carbs
  - disassembly
  - ultrasonic cleaning
  - rinsing & drying
  - revision of carbs
  - reconstruction
  - leaking test
  - reinstallment
  - idling + synchronisation
  - gastest

Do these hours seem right to you? I feel as if this guy is an honest mechanic who also has a lot of good reviews and is very upfront with me, but I just want to make sure I'm spending my money the right way. All in all these repairs would cost around €1500, so I'm not even sure if it's even worth it repairing this bike.

I'm sure the bike will run smoothly when all of this work has been done, but I also feel as if it's a looooot of work for a bike that's not too in demand right now, should I want to sell it in the future.

Eager to hear your thoughts!

Thanks a lot

[kerryb]

That's quite the conundrum you have there.  I have one of those, which I got cheap because it needed a starter clutch.  I was able to find enough info from others to fix it myself because I couldn't justify the cost for a shop to do it. For your bike the hours quoted seem reasonable to me, and I'm pretty sure I couldn't do those tasks well in that much time.  The real question is do you like the bike well enough and is the rest of the bike in good enough shape to warrant the expense.  Look at it this way, when the bike is all done after these repairs, will it be worth that much to you?, would you buy it for what you will have into it?  You know your local market, so could you sell it for close to what you will have into it?

[bryanj]

The cam chain is an totalengine strip as its an endless hyvo chain, i dont think your man realisesthis as i think he expects a roller chain he can fit a rivet link in. I would charge 10 hours if just the engine was brought to me.
6 hours for carbs is cheap BUT do not let him fit any aftermarket jets or needles

[ViBri95]

Thanks for your replies.
I feel reassured that the price quoted is reasonable. Thing is, I don't think I could sell it for close to what I will have poured into it, but if I don't make the repairs I also won't be able to sell it for close to what I've bought. So I guess that's the real conundrum. Rest of the bike is in pretty good shape, it looks and handles great and I do love riding it.

[RAFster122s]

Bikes aren't something you usually get your money back from, if ridden. You decide if repair cost is worth it for the enjoyment and if answer is no, then part ways and find another. Sometimes you are so deep in the red on your investment in it that some call it you are married to it and divorce isn't an option. You need to step back and ask yourself, is the bike worth it. Is it adequately insured for theft or accident if the unfortunate event were to occur, if you carry coverage for either...
A lot of people don't...it is a losing proposition on many bikes unless they are very expensive. Better to deposit that money you would have spent on coverage on lower value bikes in an account you cannot easily access to accrue a bit of interest and not touch it until it is time to replace the bike or the unfortunate happens...

[kerryb]

Thanks for your replies.
 Rest of the bike is in pretty good shape, it looks and handles great and I do love riding it.

There's your answer right there.  If you can afford it, go for it and be happy with your bike.
I have a bike I bought new for stupid money (for me) , but I love riding it so much I tell people it's the last one I'll sell. It's current market value is about 1/3  what I spent for it.