Author Topic: New bike! Let's start with the carbs ...  (Read 1907 times)

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nickap

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New bike! Let's start with the carbs ...
« on: July 30, 2009, 03:03:55 PM »
So, I just got to work on my 'new' CB650C (bought last weekend, $250). It had been sitting a few years so I knew there would be some work to do ... Took off the carbs; gave them a quick spray with a can of carb cleaner to start with. Put 'em all back on, cleaned out the gas tank and put in some fresh gas, loaded up the new battery I picked up yesterday. Crossed my fingers and hit the starter - the bike fired right up!! Sounded NICE too. Though that was still running far from perfect - I do have some work to do for sure. At this point the 3rd header pipe is still cold, so it's only firing on three. I'll check the spark but I'd lay money that the carbs are still pretty messed up - especially since I got gas pouring out the drain of carb#2 even though the drain screws were all closed.

So my plan is to take the carbs all apart and give them a REALLY good clean this time, soaking them in a can of Berrymans, and then spraying any leftover crap out with compressed air. I wouldn't mind replacing all the o-rings etc. while I'm in there - anyone know if I can get a carb rebuild kit for the 1980 650c slide carbs? The only ones I've found so far have been for CV carbs. While I'm in there, should I replace the main jets? Float valves? Any good carb tips? I kind of know the basics of inline-4 carb setups - my first bike was a KZ650 that I restored over a couple of years - but I'm far from an expert and could still definitely use all the help I can get.

thx

Offline kslrr

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Re: New bike! Let's start with the carbs ...
« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2009, 03:33:10 PM »
Honda still offers complete carb rebuilt kits as well as just O-ring/gasket kits.  Go with Honda, not Kester.  Kester's brass parts are soft.  The Kester Jet-Neadles I used in my '79 CB650 were pitted after 6 months. Honda parts are Hard-Anodized.

Oh, and welcome to the BEST SOHC Forum....anywhere.
Now  1972 CB350FX (experimental v2.0)
        1981 CB650c Custom with '79 engine (wifes)
        1981 CB650 engine
        2004 HD XL883C Custom
        1977 Yamaha XS750D (in progress)
Then 1972 CL175
        1964 Yamaha YGS-1T
No ride is a Bad ride

nickap

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Re: New bike! Let's start with the carbs ...
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2009, 04:49:48 PM »
Any suggestions where to buy the rebuild kits? Every one I've found so far online has been for the post-1981 CV carbs, not for the slide carbs.

Offline Zaipai

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Re: New bike! Let's start with the carbs ...
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2009, 05:05:22 PM »
Oh, and welcome to the BEST SOHC Forum....anywhere.

Here, Here.. I agree. Welcome and GL with your bike. You should call the Honda dealer to see if you can get the carb rebuild kit that you are looking for. You could check the Faq forum I believe has a list of links to parts vendors. Or just goto a Honda dealer and see what they want for it.
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Offline Hush

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Re: New bike! Let's start with the carbs ...
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2009, 11:39:32 PM »
You may not need a rebuild kit for them mate, remove tank and just unbolt them from air filter and head isolators, undo the throttle and choke cables.
I use a trailer tie-downs to hold the airfilter and tubes back, makes it real easy to remove the carbs, remove them from the right hand side (your right if sitting on the bike).
When putting them back on you can use the tie-downs in reverse by wrapping them around the forks and the backs of the carbs and use the ratchet action to move them back into the isolators.
While you've got them off just clean them as best you can, lightly sand the pivot pins (axels) to avoid floats hanging (jamming).
Remove all the jets and especially clear the small holes in the tubes, soak the carbs if you can.
Seriously unless there is a fault in the carbs then you don't need to buy any rebuild kits, the original stuff is fine and probably better quality anyway. :D
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nickap

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Re: New bike! Let's start with the carbs ...
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2009, 06:12:18 AM »
I hear you Hush, I've been starting to think the same thing - and so far everything on this bike has been overall in great condition, so I have no reason to think there should be real problems with the carbs. Going to pick up a can of Berrymans - I already had the carbs off the bike once so no problems there. I guess I can soak the jets & then blow out the holes with compressed air - suppose I can soak the bowls too - how about the carb bodies? I want to get all the crud out of all them little holes but I don't want to do anything that will harm the o-rings ...

Offline Zaipai

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Re: New bike! Let's start with the carbs ...
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2009, 08:22:05 AM »
I hear you Hush, I've been starting to think the same thing - and so far everything on this bike has been overall in great condition, so I have no reason to think there should be real problems with the carbs. Going to pick up a can of Berrymans - I already had the carbs off the bike once so no problems there. I guess I can soak the jets & then blow out the holes with compressed air - suppose I can soak the bowls too - how about the carb bodies? I want to get all the crud out of all them little holes but I don't want to do anything that will harm the o-rings ...

I believe just letting them soak in the Berrymans for like 24hours will clean the carb bodies real nice. I read that in one of the posts here. I soaked mine over night and they came clean. Had I left them longer they would have looked almost new.. So I plan to do that over the winter, unless some one comes up with a better way..
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Offline kslrr

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Re: New bike! Let's start with the carbs ...
« Reply #7 on: July 31, 2009, 12:03:49 PM »
Try to remove all O-rings and gaskets before soaking.  That way you won't risk having those parts eaten up by soaking.
Now  1972 CB350FX (experimental v2.0)
        1981 CB650c Custom with '79 engine (wifes)
        1981 CB650 engine
        2004 HD XL883C Custom
        1977 Yamaha XS750D (in progress)
Then 1972 CL175
        1964 Yamaha YGS-1T
No ride is a Bad ride

Offline razor02097

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Re: New bike! Let's start with the carbs ...
« Reply #8 on: July 31, 2009, 12:10:47 PM »
The Honda carb kits are about $40 for each carb.  Usually not needed, as you can find many O-rings needed at autozone or such for about a dollar.  Cleaning the passages are good enough.  Also getting an accelerator pump kit.  If you decide to tear the carbs apart that would be the time to replace the air cut off valves.
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