picked up a "new' scoot last weekend

[niteman]

She's an '83 Honda cb650sc Nighthawk w/ just over 11K on the clock. I traded a guy in Tampa even for my '86 cb450sc twin I posted pics of when I joined. Mine was in a little okay a lot better shape cosmetically, but with not too much work I'll be tearin it up on this ride soon. Rebuilding the brake mc and calipers this weekend, forks w/new springs next after that, then paint and replace that square headlamp.   



Isn't that dash the ugliest thing yu've ever seen? It's so ugly I kinda like it.

[bagobones]

the square lamp has to go! Otherwise, she looks pretty straight. 650 is a great size too...not too small, not too big... Yeah the 80ls gauges a pretty crazy. They remind me of some old arcade game for reason..   ya gotta love lem.

[dt]

Sweet. 

[mrbones]

Hey, at least you have a fuel gauge on that ugly dash.

Why did the guy trade you?

[dt]

Isn't that dash the ugliest thing you've ever seen? It's so ugly I kinda like it.
 

I like it; looks like something out of an airplane cockpit.   

[niteman]

the square lamp has to go! Otherwise, she looks pretty straight. 650 is a great size too...not too small, not too big... Yeah the 80ls gauges a pretty crazy. They remind me of some old arcade game for reason.

I can't decide if the square lamp has to go, or if it's so ugly it adds character? And the gauge is somewhere between arcade and airplane...cb650sc flight simulator 

Hey, at least you have a fuel gauge on that ugly dash.

Why did the guy trade you?

Well, there is a fuel gauge yes, but it seams spotty at best. It has a full tank and will read anywhere between flashing (reserve) to full at random. The guy that traded me said that he wanted something that got better mpg's and was easier to work on...he had a Honda CB360T back in the day and missed the twin.

I like it; looks like something out of an airplane cockpit.

It kinda does doesn't it.
 

[mrbones]

Hey, I've got a CB360T. But it's not going to be a very comfortable ride after I cafe it. But, I don't care!

[niteman]

Those '70's CB's make awesome cafe's...you have to try really hard to make one look lame.

[mrbones]

How's the bike working out for you?

[niteman]

Hey, sorry, haven't been on here for a while.

The bike is coming along, if a bit slowly. I finally had time and parts this past weekend and almost got her back on the road, but ran out of time and now back to work. Progress thus far:

- brake calipers and master cylinder rebuilt
- forks rebuilt and painted black (not my best paint job though)
- front end is now all back together
- carbs rebuilt, cleaned, synced up, and reinstalled finally (those things were nasty with a   capital N)
- worked on a couple of electrical gremlins that reared their ugly heads
- new plugs

All I have left to do at this point is clean out the fuel petcock and make sure that doesn't need rebuilt. Then put the tank back on and install the in line filter. Fingers crossed she'll fire up and be on the road by the weekend time permitting. 

I didn't paint the body work yet...I'm trying to decide if I want to tackle it or find a shop and get a good paint job done and not mess around with it. She'll be back on the road soon but she won't be pretty.

[dt]

Great progress! Post up some pics, soon. 

[niteman]

Back on the road!

I got her all put back together and back on the road now. I am pleased with the current state of the machine except for I still need to get it painted when I find the shop and have the blow money to do so.

Went out for about an hour ride this afternoon and she performed great. I'll post pics when I get a chance.

[dt]

Glad to hear you're back in business.   

Now if we can get some good riding weather...

______________________

[niteman]

Glad to hear you're back in business.   

Now if we can get some good riding weather...

I hear ya on the weather man (albeit this reply is about a month out...sorry). It's flippin cold for Florida lately.

I thought I was back in business...The last ride I took was to and from work on Dec 18 or 19. I got home and noticed that the cylinder head seemed to be a little too hot. I'm still getting acquainted with this bike so I don't know how hot is too hot, I know their air cooled. I felt like there was more heat radiating from the engine than seemed normal, so when I got home I wet the finger of my glove and touched the cylinder head...it sizzled like I had just touched the header pipe!

I'm on a Nighthawk specific forum and nobody seemed to have any input on this. I don't know if I'm being paranoid or not, but I have parked the bike until I can figure it all out. I may end up taking it to a shop as it has me stumped (I'm no mechanic after all). It seams like it's running slightly lean due to the color of the plugs, but aside from that the engine is getting plenty of oil, the air filter is clean and new, and the carbs were cleaned and synced. Aside from something major I'm at a loss.

At least it's in the freakin 30's so I won't be riding anyway.

[sticky]

I dont mean to get intio you're buisness however I may have some clues for you . Check all the sparkplugs ,looking to see if they all look the same.If they dont that will show the problem to you. Things to check are floats free? same jets in the carbs? All collar locks around the carbs tight and sealed?And also at the heads?If nothing points to any carb problems . It will probably be valve lash adjustment. A manual will be needed And feeler gauges. Also back to the carbs, Check all of the vacume chambers and make sur the rubbers are good and the sliders arent binding and the jets in the chamber arent clogged.
 Hopfully that might find you're problem. I also have had to sync carbs more than once.
                                                                                                                    Sticky

[niteman]

Sticky - no problem man, I'm always open to advice with this thing. Let's see; I just had the carbs off not long ago and thoroughly cleaned them, bench synced them, verified all jet sizes, checked floats and replaced one, etc... They were a PIA to get back on, but I did verify a good seal around the air boots and the manifold boots.

The valves are hydraulic so they're not supposed to need adjusting, but i should probably pull out the shop manual and figure out how to check them anyway. Thanks for pointing that out.

The air filter, spark plugs, wires, are all new and I added an inline fuel filter.

I'm guessing at this point I probably need to pull the carbs again and go through them all again.

Could the addition of an inline filter be making it run too lean I wonder?

[sticky]

yes and its much better to run rich than lean. Do all the plugs look the same?If so start bike put fan in front to cool and put syncs on and gauge you,re self. If all are good then check mech. of carbs which I am sure you have done.I  would guess it has to be carbs. Could be goofy like clogged exhaust . the bike looks in fantastic shape. How hot does it get?

[niteman]

Plugs are pretty much all the same, with the #1 a little whiter than the rest.

As for how hot, no temp gauge so I'm not sure...just that the cylinder head was hot enough to sizzle when I wet my gloved finger and touched it (like the exhaust headers will).

I think it may be in the carb boot seal on the #1 carb from airbox to carb. i don't know hoow the hell I'm going to get it on there any tighter though. I haven't had time to mess with it this week due to work being crazy.

On the bike looking good - Thanks! However I think the pics are being a little deceiving. the paint is thin a few spots on the tail and the aluminum bits are all "aged" and cloudy. It's getting there though.

Those airbox boots are such a pain in the ass to get to seal...

[sticky]

I don't believe the problem would be in the area between the air box and carb. Because that is before any mixtures are done.And no pressures are involved in that area. There is a trick you can do to check the carb boots tho.Use a bottle of propain and control the flow ,administer in area around carb boots,If the idle goes up you have found the leak. Witch in turn will cause heat . But the plugs should reflect.

[niteman]

Hey man, that's good info on the air box to carb. I'll have to use that trick to check the connections between carbs and head this weekend. with any luck it's just a simple and fixable minor air intrusion. Otherwise the carbs are coming off and I'm going to be using a bunch of expletives. I can't wait to have this thing back on the road and dependable.

How far is lake helen from new port richey  just kidding.