Topic: Sparty's first ride... almost no problems, you are going to laugh.

[sparty]

Thank the Heavens my oil leak is fixed.  I am so freaking happy right now.  I don’t want to jinx myself, so I’ll fill you in on how I fixed it after a 100 miles of so.

The first ride was great for the most part.  I ran it through the gears used good engine braking pulled over a few times to check the oil leak area.  Ran it up to about 7000 a few times.  The power comes on around 5000.  I think my carbs need a good adjusting because it seems like I might begin to run out of fuel and/or air near 7000, it is tough to tell at this point.  I expected it to really pick up around there, but it seems a little flat.  I have my Dyna 2000 set on the number 5 setting, maybe I should try 4 or I may need to adjust the timing.  At the moment it is at 35 degrees.

The engine got good and hot and my oil filter did as well.  I love the sound of the K&Ns sucking air.  The 17 front sprocket is awesome.  I have some lag with the CRs when they first open, but then they are all business beyond ¼ throttle.  That front wheel stayed on the ground, but I could tell that it got light a few times.  I was careful not to lag the engine.

My only problem today was that I ran out of gas about three miles from home.  I had to tip the bike over to let the carbs fill and I would get about a ¼ mile before it ran dry again.  I did this a few times and had to push it home about a mile.  I live at the top of a ridge, so the last mile was hell.  I would push it 20 feet and take a break – I repeated this for what seemed like forever.  I don’t have a reserve line anymore, so I still had some gas, but it was below the stand pipe.  I was wondering if I could cut the stand pipe shorter.

Overall it was a fun experience, I just need to sort out the carbs and timing and make sure that my tank has more than 2 gallons of gas in it.  Today I put near 30 miles on the bike, the last one was me pushing it.

Sparty

[scondon]

Good deal, Sparty. Runnin' out of gas before making it home from the first ride.....classic 

   35 is a good place to start. I wouldn't even mess with #5 since the advance comes on too slow, #4 oughta work for you. What main jets/ clip positions do you have your CR's set at?

 Man, are you gonna have some fun or what?

[dustyc]

Come on now.  How much have you put into that engine???  -And you're not going to fix/replace the petcock???  That's all the grief I'll give you for that. 

Congratulations.  I bet it felt great(except for the last mile).

[sparty]

Good deal, Sparty. Runnin' out of gas before making it home from the first ride.....classic 

   35 is a good place to start. I wouldn't even mess with #5 since the advance comes on too slow, #4 oughta work for you. What main jets/ clip positions do you have your CR's set at?

 Man, are you gonna have some fun or what?

Yeah, #4.  I just got off the phone with Mike, he said the same thing.

[RRRToolSolutions]

I was going to tell you #4 - unless you've got 12-13:1 Dragrace compression - you don't need to wait to 6,500 to bring it in.

#4, 34 degrees (35 max) total timing, check both 1/4 and 2/3 with a light for dead-nuts accuracy, and set the revs for 10,000 to handle a missed shift or go-pedal control.

Sparty - you can get an NOS petcock from Honda for approx $50. Mine flows plenty of fuel. The only reason "not" to have a reserve is running a Pingel. I hate them, but on my green meanie there is no vacuum port to pull the diaphram.

Gordon

[sparty]

I was going to tell you #4 - unless you've got 12-13:1 Dragrace compression - you don't need to wait to 6,500 to bring it in.

#4, 34 degrees (35 max) total timing, check both 1/4 and 2/3 with a light for dead-nuts accuracy, and set the revs for 10,000 to handle a missed shift or go-pedal control.

Sparty - you can get an NOS petcock from Honda for approx $50. Mine flows plenty of fuel. The only reason "not" to have a reserve is running a Pingel. I hate them, but on my green meanie there is no vacuum port to pull the diaphram.

Gordon

I am at 35 degrees now and will set it to #4 for tomorrow's ride.  I will need to make some carb adjustments to get it just right.  My stock petcock has a reserve hose that is now blocked with a small line and plug.  I have a Y fitting, but will mess with that at some other point.  That is a minor issue.  I just need to add more fuel.  A gallon and a half was just too little   That is the first time I ever ran out of gas on a street bike.  Totally my fault.

[RRRToolSolutions]

I jetted 5 different ways before getting these "right". Most of my riding is at 2,500 to 3,000 feet and I found the sweet spot at 115 mains, lowering the jet needles 1 position, and 1 turn-out on the air screws. The bike still takes a while to warm before she'll respond to the CR's opened abruptly. Once the pistons are warmed and the intake tract up to operating temps, mine is 100% dialed-in. No dead spots, not blubbering, nothing but harmony. My bike won't take but a second of choke (enrichener) then it's a 2 minute warm-up at 2-3,000 and then a smooth, easy pace for 4-5 miles. By then she's ready to rock and roll.

You'll get her sorted.

Regards,
Gordon

[RRRToolSolutions]

Sparty, I don't have to tell you this, but running out of fuel is a bummer. Not only is the walk/push home miserable, the lean condition that occurs during the last few hundred revolutions generates dangerous heat. It's enough to kill 2-strokes with marginal jetting and cause rings to stick and seizures. 4-strokes are a lot more forgiving, but - be careful with high compression and lean mixtures.

Gordon

[bryanj]

I hate to worry you but a stock petcock does not have a reserve hose!!! gas should flow out of both on normal and reserve----its the lever that governs whether its normal or reserve.

[Gordon]

I hate to worry you but a stock petcock does not have a reserve hose!!! gas should flow out of both on normal and reserve----its the lever that governs whether its normal or reserve.

Yep.  You'll either need to rebuild the petcock or replace it. 

[sparty]

I hate to worry you but a stock petcock does not have a reserve hose!!! gas should flow out of both on normal and reserve----its the lever that governs whether its normal or reserve.

Mine does.  The gas can't get out when the line is plugged like mine.  My old bike ran out of gas the same way in my driveway.

[paulages]

I hate to worry you but a stock petcock does not have a reserve hose!!! gas should flow out of both on normal and reserve----its the lever that governs whether its normal or reserve.

Mine does.  The gas can't get out when the line is plugged like mine.  My old bike ran out of gas the same way in my driveway.

i have to admit, i'm less familiar with the 750 petcocks than the 550's, but i thought that on the dual line petcocks one line was for 1-2 and the other for 3-4 (with stock carbs, obviously)  . i've noticed when draining a tank that there may be vacuum issues that govern how the two lines flow, because sometimes only one will flow with no lines hooked up. i'd guess your reserve passageway in the petcock is plugged.

[mlinder]

My petcock flows from both, reserve or regular.
One goes to 1 and 2 carbs, and the other to 3 and 4 carbs, just as paulages described.
The standpipe feeds both lines.
On reserve, the hole at the bottom of the petcock feeds both lines.

[Terry in Australia]

I hate to worry you but a stock petcock does not have a reserve hose!!! gas should flow out of both on normal and reserve----its the lever that governs whether its normal or reserve.

Bryan's right Art, there is no "Reserve Hose" on the early twin outlet petcocks, so your's must be malfunctioning. Cheers, Terry.

[sparty]

My petcock flows from both, reserve or regular.
One goes to 1 and 2 carbs, and the other to 3 and 4 carbs, just as paulages described.
The standpipe feeds both lines.
On reserve, the hole at the bottom of the petcock feeds both lines.

Okay, well I never switched my lever to reserve that is why I ran out of gas.  My bad.

[jtb]

That is the first time I ever ran out of gas on a street bike.  Totally my fault.

I ran out... ONCE.  I had to push about 1/4 mile on level, then coasted a half mile.  Never again!   Otherwise, sound like your on the right track, Art, keep us posted

[rbmgf7]

i looked into your album of your engine build. that's quite a machine. woud like to see some video or audio clips of that monster 

[sparty]

i looked into your album of your engine build. that's quite a machine. woud like to see some video or audio clips of that monster 

I just posted a static video clip.  I will have one soon on what it sounds like.