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CB650C
M0WBY:
Hi
Yes I had come to that conclusion as well.
Cheers
John
M0WBY:
Hi
Well after setting the valve timing and playing with the carbs I realised that there was very little fuel getting through to number 3 cylinder. So the carbs had to come off. What I found in there was not pleasant! Two of the float bowls had been off recently and had been stuck back on with silicon sealant. From that I new that there was going to be trouble ahead and I was not proven wrong! :'(
When I took them off I found out why the last guy passed on the bike! They were absolutely fubar! I mean really unserviceable! He has obviously had a half hearted attempt at cleaning the 9 year old crud that had accumulated in them. :(
It seems that the PO replaced two of the carbs with serviceable items but did not replace the other two. The needles were seriously scored on the two bad ones. One of the needle jet holders was chewed up where the PO had unsuccessfully tried and failed to get it out. The plastic floats on one of them were broken. Goodness knows how he expected it to work! Thankfully the inlet jet on the broken float was blocked or it would have flooded petrol out the bottom.
Ahh well such are the joys of restoration projects.
So it would seem that I am on the market for a decent set of CV carbs! Anybody know of a set anywhere? Must be serviceable or able to make a good set out of the two. I have two serviceable left hand ones. I think they are VB44 A type. I am wondering if a later set off a Cb650 nighthawk would be OK as there are a few more of them around on ebay!
Cheers
John
M0WBY
M0WBY:
Hi
Time for an update! It now has shiny replacement mirrors. Yes but that is not all! She is in a sorry state at the moment with bits taken off left right and centre! But I am getting there slowly!
I have managed to secure a set of carbs from France (well two sets actually that I can make one good set out of I hope!). Bitsa should be posting them to me any day now. Why are the main jets bigger in the US spec VB44 carbs than the european VB54 carbs? I would have thought bigger jets means more fuel unless the needle is bigger as well??? So the old girl is laid up waiting for the carbs to arrive. Whilst I am waiting I have been a busy little boy. I have removed the old case protection bars that are damaged and I am waiting till I can afford to get a new set. I also have been busy with the polishing kit getting the crud off the engine casings and getting them presentable!
I have secured a set of head light brackets also from Bitsa. I have bought a pair of pattern part replacement indicators from M&P motorcycles in Swansea and I have bought new rubber cushions for the head light brackets and also the bracket that goes behind the Honda cover on the front from from Dave Silver. I have a replacement second hand Honda badge to go on once the bracket arrives! So I have started disassembling the forks ready to put all the new bits on when they arrive.
My replacement front fender arrived last week so the old one has been taken off and is in my parts bin! I was going to have it rechromed but it is past it and the new one is in such good condition that I am putting it straight on!
I have a set of replacement clocks also from Bitsa (Is there anything he does not have or can get his hands on?). They are ex-Dave Silver pattern parts but should do me ok! Saved me £34 in shipping from the US! So the old CB750 tacho that has seen better days got chucked out! The US speedo that only reads up to 80mph has been demoted to my collection of spare parts.
The rusty old twin snail horns that barely worked have been taken off and chucked away! Just trying to decide do I put another set of snails on or do I just get a standard chrome motorcycle horn?
I have yet to order a new seat cover! I can get a set of new Honda Tank badges from Western Hills Honda but I am going to wait untill the winter really set in before I send the tank and side panels off to be resprayed.
My grab rail from Mid west cycles has yet to show up... but I am sure it will come soon. Western Hills informed me that the spacers I ordered from them they don't have so I have to drill out the old bolt end from my old one! Not looking forward to that as I have all kinds of scenarios involving broken stud extractors dancing across my mind!
I found out that the rear shocks can be refurbished with new springs if you are brave enough to try and take them apart. The only thing wrong with mine is the springs are rusty. I have never tried taking them apart and I may chicken out and take the easy option and just buy replacement ones. Can't decide which option to take!
All that leaves is what to do about the exhausts! Tricky question this one. Mine are Honda 4 into 2 as fitted to the CB650Z model. Now a lot of the pictures of 1981 CB650 Customs have these exhausts but also a fair few have the 4 into 4 exhausts which I prefer. I was told by someone that the 4 into 4 exhausts was the original exhausts that were fitted to the CB650 custom. But how come so many have the 4 into 2 like mine? Was it a popular upgrade? Do they perform better? There is a pair of 4 into 4 exhausts but the price of them and the cost to get them shipped to me is making me think twice about them. If I did get them It would be many months into the future! I may just get mine rechromed!
Such is the life of a restoration man! I hope I enjoy riding the old girl when she is finished.
Cheers
John
Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP):
Mowby,
Thanks for that and in your box's there is a surprise for you if you do not need it eBay it.Best of luck with your restoration and when done post lots of pics.
Cheers
Bitsa
M0WBY:
Hi
Ohhh wonder what it is!
This is Layla so far before rain stopped play yesterday!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/discoclover/sets/72157631696846357/
Cheers
John
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