Author Topic: 33 days to get my 78 cb836F back on the road. Is it possible? (Read 2141 times)

Radam · « **on:** August 01, 2011, 06:28:18 AM »

So, I took my bike to my parents house over the weekend. It's about 300 miles round trip. On my way home I ran into a couple of pretty heavy rainstorms. There wasn't anywhere covered that I could pull over and keep dry, so I just kept riding. My bike has K&N pod filters on it. The bike ran fine through the rain and quite a while after the rain, but when I was about 15 miles from home it started losing power and smoking real bad. I had been on the interstate for about 30-40 miles running about 75mph. I haven't gotten to do/check anything on the bike yet, so I really don't know what's wrong yet. I'm guessing rings? Hopefully nothing more serious. Do you think that running in the rain had anything to do with killing my bike? Also, I have no shop. How am I going to get my engine out?! Should I just hope that one of the local guys will help me out and let me use their shop (it is a possibility), or should I try to figure out a way to do it under the carport that I built that has a gravel floor? I say that I only have 33 days to fix it because I've been planing a trip to Barber on Labor Day weekend. I really don't want to miss the trip because I've been planning it for a long time, but I don't think it would be the same in a car. Oh yeah, I also wrecked my car 2 weeks ago and I have to return my rental car tomorrow, and my phone got wet on the ride home and it stopped working. My wife's grandfather has a car he's going let us borrow, but we won't get it for a couple weeks. So, what does everyone think?

ekpent · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2011, 06:57:28 AM »

What color was the smoke,blue or black.Was it showing smoke before this trip. Usually pods and heavy rain can be troublesome when they get soaked.Does not seem like rings would switch from good to bad so quickly unless you were really drag racing it or severely abusing it.Seems though the 78 can have a few issues with the valves though.Looks like some hands trouble shooting time is in order to see if all the plugs are fireing,good compression,the list goes on.

Radam · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2011, 07:08:21 AM »

The smoke was more white than anything. It seemed to be blowing oil out of the exhaust too. The right side of my rear tire was covered in oil. I'll start checking everything after work today. I wasn't riding too hard, but I may have hit 80-85mph while passing on the interstate. Mainly just going about 75mph. I was in mountains too.

KingCustomCycles.com · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2011, 07:12:50 AM »

Swap the engine with a known good one and save the troubleshooting for when you have more time. The swap should take no more than 8 hours and cost less than $300.00

Radam · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2011, 07:14:15 AM »

Thanks King, I'm looking for one now.

Oh yeah, it did smoke just a little before, but not much. Just a little puff here and there.

Roach Carver · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2011, 08:05:53 AM »

Adam, You can use my garage if needed. I will just need to do some shuffeling of projects. I also have no ac in there so I can tell you first hand, It gets HOT. It may not be the best under your carport but at least its right out your back door if you want to tinker with it. Let me know.

Radam · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2011, 08:13:54 AM »

Thanks man. I was thinking that it being at my house would be nice, but I don't have a lot of tools and will need help pulling the engine so I'm not sure what I'll do. I'll be seeing you later today be it at my house or yours.

Radam · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2011, 04:56:37 PM »

Well, it's not looking good. Checked the compression and this is what it was #1 30, #2 0 (and it looks like the piston hit the spark plug), #3 30, and #4 90. Looks like I may be seeing what I can sell it for.

I know I'd do a lot better if I part it out, but I'll just have to think about it. I may even be able to find a good engine for it.

ekpent · « **Reply #8 on:** August 02, 2011, 05:24:10 AM »

Hmmm - wonder if you broke an ear off the cam or something to get that kind of interference.Must have made a little racket at some point.

Radam · « **Reply #9 on:** August 02, 2011, 05:34:49 AM »

Well, the wife says she wants me to just sell it and buy a 75 BMW R75/6 that I found. I may just go with her on this one. Do you think I'd be able to get somewhere in the $1000-1500 for it as is(probably closer to 1000)? I'd probably do a lot better if I just took some of the good stuff (Dyna ignition, Dyna coils...) off and sold the rest of the bike with title for about $500. Any thoughts?

the technological J · « **Reply #10 on:** August 02, 2011, 06:45:33 AM »

i understand you have a trip coming up but you sound like your in a panic mode... if you pull the engine make sure you take the exaust stud out before you do... it will save you an hour of hard pulling... dont ask how i know..
i would take a close look at that cylinderto see if you can figure out what went wrong

Radam · « **Reply #11 on:** August 02, 2011, 07:11:12 AM »

You're right, I'm in panic mode. I have to give up my rental car today. I was in a wreck that totaled my car 2 weeks ago, so now that my bike went down I'm down to a bicycle. My wife's grandpa is letting us borrow a car, but we won't get it for a couple weeks. I'm going to check out the BMW this weekend to see what kind of a deal it is. I may just hold on to my cb and try to fix it while I ride the BMW. If I even get it. I'm also planning my wedding reception and my wife is real busy because she's about to defend her PHD in a month. Life is just hitting us hard right now. I need to do something to calm down. I really want to make the Barber trip because it's something I've been planning and looking forward to for a long time. I guess I'll just see what happens.

jtb · « **Reply #12 on:** August 02, 2011, 05:46:14 PM »

Radam, Hope you make it. I've got an extra F and and extra K5 cam if you need. I am told by my wife and sister that we are going to SE KS over memorial day, but if you come on the 30th, we'll get together.

JTB

scottly · « **Reply #13 on:** August 02, 2011, 06:51:37 PM »

Pull the rocker covers off and do a quick check of your tappet clearances. My guess is that the "water injection" steamed loose some chunks of carbon, one of which may have hit the spark plug. There may be others, lodged under valves, holding them open. If this was the case, you would find unusually loose tappets on those valves.

Radam · « **Reply #14 on:** August 03, 2011, 05:00:22 AM »

Thanks scottly, I'll look into that.

Radam · « **Reply #15 on:** August 05, 2011, 05:21:09 AM »

Well, looks like I'll still be making the trip! I just picked up a 1975 R75/6 yesterday! I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my F. My wife thinks I should only have one old bike that need my attention. If she makes me sell it I'm debating on pulling all the good stuff off to sell on here then sell the frame (and whatever is left) with the title.
The new bike

ekpent · « **Reply #16 on:** August 05, 2011, 06:27:28 AM »

That is very yummy looking. How many miles are on the old girl? Enjoy

KingCustomCycles.com · « **Reply #17 on:** August 05, 2011, 06:47:18 AM »

Keep them both, have you priced BMW parts? $180 for a shift lever without the rubber or bolt. Ouch.

Radam · « **Reply #18 on:** August 05, 2011, 06:55:40 AM »

47k miles. Hopefully if I need any parts my friend who is a big BMW guy will be able to help me out. He said he hasn't really had any troubles finding parts for a reasonable price.

baronsmear · « **Reply #19 on:** August 05, 2011, 08:32:06 AM »

that bmw is gorgeous. i'm jealous.

dude, just reading about all you have going on is stressing ME out.

how much for the dyna coil? and will it work with another electronic ignition? -one that isn't dyna?

Roach Carver · « **Reply #20 on:** August 05, 2011, 08:37:16 AM »

Quote from: baronsmear on August 05, 2011, 08:32:06 AM

that bmw is gorgeous. i'm jealous.

dude, just reading about all you have going on is stressing ME out.

how much for the dyna coil? and will it work with another electronic ignition? -one that isn't dyna?

I am going to jump in on this one. I cant comment on whether its for sale or not but a coil is a coil (usually). You just need to know what ohm coil you need i.e. 3ohm, 5 ohm, whatever.

Radam · « **Reply #21 on:** August 05, 2011, 09:46:55 AM »

It's a 3ohm coil, but I'm not sure yet if I'll sell it. I just found out that I'm going to be putting in my letter of resignation at work soon, so I may have some extra time to mess with it next month.

Roach Carver · « **Reply #22 on:** August 05, 2011, 10:01:41 AM »

Quote from: Radam on August 05, 2011, 06:55:40 AM

47k miles. Hopefully if I need any parts my friend who is a big BMW guy will be able to help me out. He said he hasn't really had any troubles finding parts for a reasonable price.

I bought the entire trans on ebay rebuilt with shifter rubber and bolt for 180. Its like anything else. New parts can be expensive but I generally dont put brand new cosmetic type parts on my forty year old ride. Can you tell my stuffs not pretty?

Radam · « **Reply #23 on:** August 06, 2011, 12:12:01 PM »

Well, it looks like I've talked the wife into letting me fix up my cb! I just have to make sure I don't spend ALL my time with bikes and not give her any of my love/time. I've always said that I've wanted to take apart one of these engines to see what's in there, so it look like I'll be able to do so. Now I've just got to get some time to work on it, and talk Roach Carver into letting me bring it to his garage.

Barber trip is still on for Labor Day weekend, so join me on the ride or at Barber!

Radam · « **Reply #24 on:** August 25, 2011, 06:32:44 AM »

Well, it looks like my trip to Barber is canceled due to not having anyone to ride with. My wife is worried that if I ride alone I could fly off into the ditch and no one would know or ever find me. On a better note, I may have found an engine to put in my cb! Hopefully it works out and I'll get to learn more about the inside of one of these wonderful engines! Maybe I'll get to fix my bike in the time I planned on going to Barber. It's looking like I'll be in the states a little longer than I thought anyway, so hopefully I'll still get to go to Barber another time.

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Author Topic: 33 days to get my 78 cb836F back on the road. Is it possible? (Read 2141 times)

KingCustomCycles.com

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