Honda-SOHC

So what IS the story with this front brake?  Is it a sliding caliper type that only slides when you slide it yourself?  I've never seen an adjustment system like this...

I wonder what's with the fuel tank filler cap cover?  Why do we need two?  It's ugly, and it has scuffed up the tank paint...

Thanks Jon, and everyone!  Progress will be slow, I can assure you...

Quote from: hairygit on October 25, 2018, 09:16:44 AM

We had this discussion a while ago nursey, for some reason many of the U.S. F2's still had footrests on the swingarm.

I missed that discussion Mr Hairy 😀😀😀 Good to know though.

Actually, Nurse Julie, you did put in a brief appearance during one of the footrest discussions - but it was almost four years ago, and since I myself have trouble remembering if I put on my underwear this morning, I won't hold it against you if you don't recall the discussion.

I am curious to know, however, why the swingarm footrest setup was "fixed" in your market, but continued in ours...

The new bike just arrived!  Since I've only really got storage questions at this point, I'll start here...

I stumbled upon this bike three years ago; it was sporting 21.7K miles on the odometer and a pretty orange and white for-sale sign, so I stopped and took a bunch of photos.  Interestingly, at that time I didn't take any pics of the whole bike, just detail shots.  I called the seller about it then; turns out he was a friend who invited me to take it for a ride. It needed some tuning, but it ran pretty well. It had some condition issues. I wasn't really looking to buy a bike, and I didn't - but he's come calling now to trick me into taking it off his hands.

Here's those photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KAHnNEBDir375PbSA

And here's a little youtube video of it running - it was a warm start - it took a few kicks and some throttle juggling to get it to catch, but it idled well once it did.  I think I was focusing on noises, not knowing what's normal...

https://youtu.be/Szxke8bD_dg

Today...

It was last registered on August 3, 2016, and was put in storage at some point after that riding season.  The guy who was storing it for the owner just dropped it off and filled me in - he said drained the fuel tank, but not the carbs.  It was stored in a garage, uncovered, so it's very dusty.  He kicked it over occasionally, and it easily kicks through now.  The battery is stone dead, and the electrolyte levels are uniformly down about an inch.  It's topped up with oil, but I don't know how old it is.  The guy says it was "running great" when it was put away.  The air cleaner looks brand new.  Some of the obvious rust spots in the photos aren't as apparent at the moment, but I doubt they've been cleaned up or painted.

I'm new to Honda fours, so:

Can I assess the carbs without removing them?  I thought I might remove them for a winter once-over, but the "storer" says they'll be difficult to remove, and even harder to reinstall as the the rubber mounts will probably be hardened and expensive to replace.  He thinks I should just try to run it, but two years is a long time with fuel in...

I removed the tank and brought it indoors - the inside looks good and rust-free around the opening, but I can't see down to the lower recesses.  There is a certain stale petrochemical odor within.  I worry that there may be condition issues low-down where I can't see.  Should I just leave it for the winter?  Oil the interior somehow, perhaps?

When we took it off the trailer, I grabbed the front brake at one point to steady the bike, and the wheel locked up.  We backed it into my garage with the non-spinning front wheel leaving a rubber trail behind it.  A few more solid brake lever cycles allowed the wheel to free up some; the wheel turns, but the caliper is still sticking hard.  I can't imagine it's trustworthy without attention - worth removing for a winter overhaul?

I think that silencer crack didn't extend all the way around, and I don't think it leaked three years ago - but it looks like it encircles the whole thing now and I think it might have some black soot around it...

Might I salvage the battery, at least for testing purposes, by topping it up with distilled water and giving it a charge?

I don't have room in my unheated garage to store it; my next-door neighbor will keep this winter in his "basement"; I haven't found out whether it's heated or not, his whole bottom level seems to be a big garage.  But he says he has room along side three other bikes...

I found the original owners manual under the seat - I haven't seen any like it on the internet.  Maybe I'll duplicate it over the winter and make it available...

Any thoughts or input would be welcome...

Understood, thanks for clarifying...

The bike has arrived!  Should I continue my introductory comments and questions here, or start a thread somewhere else?

I've finished Nurse Julie's engine rebuild thread, well done!  A valuable resource, to be sure.

Comments were made regarding the usefulness of the Honda service manual and Haynes manual; on my initial perusal of the Honda download version, I find it light on a lot of details.  I've got a Clymer book on the way, for better or worse.  Do you guys think I'd be well served by obtaining a Haynes book as well?  If the Honda manual is useful, I'd really like to have a hard copy to work with...