Topic: anyone know a good SOHC mechanic in Vancouver

[gold72]

Just as the title says, looking for a good mechanic who knows his sohc engines.  Honda center who had done work on my bike previously is down a mechanic or two and not taking any more vintage bikes. 

Also now that its not raining every hour of every day if anyone in the van area wants to go for a cruise drop me a line

One last question I am running on ngk d7ea for my 72 500, I have heard that the d8ea might be a better plug to run, anyone have a suggestion (my d7ea seem to foul fairly regularly)

Thanks to everyone on here, this forum has been a great help to a newbie like me

[mlinder]

Vancouver WA, or Vancouver Canada?

[gold72]

Vancouver Canada

[feliz]

I started a thread in the Canada section about getting together in Vancouver BC for a ride but only one person responded.

It's getting harder and harder to find a good SOHC mechanic, if you do let me know. I've found that dealerships of all brands are getting more reluctant to work on the older bikes.

[tom8Toe]

.

[gold72]

Thanks Tom, Feliz drop me a line if you want to go for a burn.  Are you going to check out the show and shine at main and 6th on Sunday (at the Whip)?

I know Modern will do work on vintage bikes, but I get a bad vibe from those Yamaha guys, and they did a #$%* job on my friends rd350

hmm the search continues, how about the plugs d7ea or d8ea

[seaweb11]

Just found a couple of business cards for shops in Van I used for used parts before I found Ebay.

Simon's Auto Cycle
255 E 7th Ave
(604) 879-6615  http://www.simonsautocycle.com

Parts:
Grand Champion Cycle
Don Tryon (604) 533-4451

There's a starting point anyway  Good luck.

P.S. What's wrong with bike?

[gold72]

 Nothing too major is wrong with her, she is pretty mint (the honda center completley rebuilt the engine  few thousand miles ago) and I think it could use a good spring tune up, I just want to make sure the person working on my bike knows what they are doing and has experience with old bikes, I am very protective of the beast

the issues I am having are basically
1) electrical
2) my plugs are frequently fouling black (would putting to much oil in the bike cause this?) is there a good way to clean the holes the spark plug goes in.  I think the plugs being fouled is causing it to be harder to start when cold (although it always fires without any choke) and once its warm starts on first kick every time

I think this forum while being a huge help to me has made me a little paranoid about every sound, smell etc .lol


One last question is there an easy way/ tool to measure correct rpms? my tach is sluggish as hell

[Gordon]

YOU are the best mechanic for your old bike. (with the aid of a decent manual and these forums)


You may not believe me, but it's a fact.

I'm not saying that there's no one else out there who could do it better, but there is no one else out there who will have the patience and take the time to do it right. (unless, of course, you have bottomless pockets). 

[gold72]

I believe you and my pockets aren't bottomless.  I have rebuilt my front brakes, switched to ss brakelines stopped them from squealing like a banshee, fixed my starter button, which was stuck and a few other things (thanks entirely to this forum)  I enjoy working on the bike

The carbs and engine on the other hand......yikes, but I can be peer pressured.

My main worry is making things worse worse and being my first bike not being familiar with the sounds/ intricacies etc

[Gordon]

You can do it, man!!!

None of us were born with the ability to fix these bikes. 

You'll end up paying somebody else hundreds of dollars to work on it, and then you'll come here asking for help to figure out what the hell that guy did to #$%* it up, and then end up figuring out how to fix it yourself anyway.

Save yourself the time and money and do it yourself to begin with!

[feliz]

Feliz drop me a line if you want to go for a burn.  Are you going to check out the show and shine at main and 6th on Sunday (at the Whip)?

Never new about it, perhaps l will

[seaweb11]

Skip the mechanic for now.

"One last question is there an easy way/ tool to measure correct rpms? my tach is sluggish as hell"
      Disconnect the tach cable from the gauge, drip some oil down the line. It will take a while be patient. It will be sluggish no more!

" my plugs are frequently fouling black (would putting to much oil in the bike cause this?)"  NO
        Do a search on the home page of this forum for "plug chop" and you will find the answer to your questions there
    -Good link for plug info http://www.4secondsflat.com/Spark_plug_reading.html

" electrical"  Not specific enough to help.

You really are the best one to sort it out. $85.00 per hour to pour oil down your tach line?

I have done 3 of these old Hondas with a 4th in the works and I'm an idiot 
That's right I said it

You can do pretty much on your own with the help of members here and a good manual.

Derek

[Klark Kent]

you got the front brake to stop squealing?  you are better than my mechanic (me, also an idiot.)  the hardest tool to aquire is confidence, but once you do, the carbs are no big deal.  I found that spending hours reading the threads here and downloading the shop manual were enough to give me the confidence to go through everything but the engine itself (and i'm getting there) on my scoot without any prior experience.  the more i do the less i feel like it is held together by hope and ignorance and the better the old girl runs.  it does help to know some friendly mechanics local to you as they can listen to the bike (we out here in cyberspace have a hard time hearing) and offer advice, but with the help of this forum there is nothing about that simple machine you can't fix.

[gold72]

Thanks, I poured some oil down the tach cable...what do you know worked like a charm.  Went out for a ride last night and did some on the fly tests and my bike is running rich, I could even smell it.  I checked my air screws on my carbs and all four were set to different angles for some reason (reason for running rich?).  I am sold, I am going to town on it this weekend and tuning it up. 

Thanks to everyone who responded, will report back and let you guys know how I made out


My electrical problems are a electric starter that stays engaged (tried replacing solenoid, but it didnt do the trick and my hi /lo beam switch acting as a kill switch.  But I can live with lo beam and kickstart for the time being

[seaweb11]

Thanks, I poured some oil down the tach cable...what do you know worked like a charm. 

$85.00 invoice is in the mail

[gold72]

no doubt, I owe you one
thanks