Topic: Seeking non-snappy answers to stupid questions CB650, Nighthawk

[jeepster]

Or maybe a snappy answer or two...I dunno. My tappet adjuster just came in from Honda, and I am now facing the prospect of my bike actually functioning once more, but I want to just clarify some things before I dump in a gallon of Kuwait's finest and open the taps...

Tank vent...So I am going to just go ahead and assume mine's clogged seeing as there's kreme residue all over it. Where exactly is the vent though? Is it that tiny hole on the rim there? How can I make sure it's not clogged up?


I left the plugs out for a week or so... it's been hot...now it's not that hot. Dust may have accumulated... Also the bike has been empty of oil for a month at least. Did I do any damage here? No big thing?

Back in the dark days of ignorance I may have squirted some chain lube into my rear wheel bearings...not really inside, never took the wheel off...but uh, you know in the joint there. Now when I push the bike I get a slight ugly rubbing noise. Can I lube this fella without taking the wheel off? Was thinking of just squirting some grease in there with a syringe...

[bistromath]

Tank vent is next to those two little tabs there. Best way to clean it out is to soak it in MEK to dissolve the Kreem goop.

Bike should be fine as long as humidity is negligible. I wouldn't leave it without oil for a long period of time, but it should be fine.

And last, I wouldn't lube that joint at all, since the joint is really the cover plate for your rear drum brake. Hopefully the ugly rubbing sound is just the brake. Try pushing the rear brake pedal down a hair and spinning the wheel again, see if you get more noise.

[jeepster]

That makes sense. A bit worried about the MEK messing with the rubber seal though. Should be OK for a quick dunk and scrub...

OK just spun the wheel with a little brake...makes the same noise.  Odd thing is it's not continuous, only sounds ugly in some spots. Sounds 1000X worse if I spin the wheel backwards...Plus when I press the pedal I can hear a very quiet crunching noise, like there is dirt in the works somewhere...

Sounds bad...but annoying bad or will lock up my rear brake at a stoplight bad?

I don't wanna take this wheel off. Season's almost over! 

[HavocTurbo]

That sound and crunching noise could just be flash rust on your drum surface... Take it around the block a time or two to see if it goes away. If not... wheel must come off.

As for the plugs... if you are really worried about it... squirt a little bit of oil in the cylinders to lube them up. Not a lot... just a little. about 3 or 4 squirts from a thumb oiler. Do that in each one and it should lube the rings pretty well. Just be prepared for it to smoke like a chimney for a few minutes upon restart.

I have no idea about the fuel vent sorry... I don't use Kreem. 

[jeepster]

That sound and crunching noise could just be flash rust on your drum surface... Take it around the block a time or two to see if it goes away. If not... wheel must come off.

As for the plugs... if you are really worried about it... squirt a little bit of oil in the cylinders to lube them up. Not a lot... just a little. about 3 or 4 squirts from a thumb oiler. Do that in each one and it should lube the rings pretty well. Just be prepared for it to smoke like a chimney for a few minutes upon restart.
I have no idea about the fuel vent sorry... I don't use Kreem. 

You really must try it. Lovely with a nice chianti.

[Gordon]

That makes sense. A bit worried about the MEK messing with the rubber seal though. Should be OK for a quick dunk and scrub...

Remove the rubber seal before soaking the cap in any kind of solvent. 

And what's this about not wanting to remove the rear wheel for inspection because the riding season is almost over?  It doesn't take long at all to pull the wheel, have a look inside the hub, and put it back on. 

[HavocTurbo]

I imagine I'd need a bottle or two of that lovely dry wine to get the taste outta my mouth. 

[jeepster]

That makes sense. A bit worried about the MEK messing with the rubber seal though. Should be OK for a quick dunk and scrub...

Remove the rubber seal before soaking the cap in any kind of solvent. 

And what's this about not wanting to remove the rear wheel for inspection because the riding season is almost over?  It doesn't take long at all to pull the wheel, have a look inside the hub, and put it back on. 

Well, if it doesn't go away I guess I won't have a choice.  Remember too that this is my first bike, rode up until December last season, dumped it (2 blocks from a hospital  ), moved to Brooklyn, broke it and it's been sitting in my living room ever since.