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First of all let me once again say thank you to everyone who has helped me so far in my restoration! (I began with only a general knowledge of automotive repair having worked briefly in a garage and years doing some basic work on my family's cars)
A special shout-out to "posplayr" for welcoming my direct messages and noobyness in diagnosing my charging system. After more hours of research and testing than I'd care to admit, I have found a bad stator. However, in the process I found some awfully corroded grounds and connections which were more than happy to submit to a light sanding.
However, I have been able to ride successfully with a freshly charged battery. I am aware I am probably doing damage to the battery by riding it without the stator recharging it. Whatever, the cost of a new battery is worth the riding pleasure to me. Havent ridden in 5+ years and its just too damn fun.
So, in my riding I've noticed a few things that may or may not be a problem. I used to ride my dad's 2001 Honda Shadow 500 that ran like a dream, was kept well, and had a lot more low-end torque. So basically I have no frame of reference to certain things.
First, I noticed that at 50-55mph, I was around 5000 RPMs, which seemed high for 6th gear. Since my "L" model looks somewhat like a cruiser (for now hehe) I assumed it would rev and sound like a cruiser (noob alert). Now, I see the redline is 9500 or so, and I read on another forum that this is pretty normal for these bikes. But I figured I'd ask you experts before I started to worry about it. I still get power I'd expect at that gear and speed, it just sounds like a sportbike and initially I was alarmed.
Second, when I first start the bike (on full choke as it is chilly these days), it starts right up 9/10 times. Occasionally it has taken 2 or 3 tries. I dont hold it for more three seconds when I attempt (not trying to burn my starter out!). However after about 20-30 seconds of idling on choke, it suddenly increases RPMS to the top! I immediately then bring the choke down to halfway and it idles as it should and in another 30 seconds or so I can take the choke off and it idles right where it's supposed to at 1500rpms nice and smoothlike. Now, I can rule out a few things as this is probably a vacuum issue judging from similar threads I've already read through....
Intake boots are brand new, as are the o-rings. They were mounted with indian head gasket sealer.
Airbox boots were still nice and fresh somehow, but I bought new clamps to make sure they sat nice and tight.
Carbs are beautiful inside. The PO was a godsend in only this department. When I first bought the bike, this is the first thing I went to do as recommended by you people in the top 10 newb mistakes thread. But everything inside was newly rebuilt! I sighed a breath of relief and cracked a celebratory Yeungling.
Idle screw adjustment - I had to play around with this for awhile when I first got the bike running, As it liked to die out when taken off choke. Eventually I found the sweet spot.
Third, the tachometer is sluggish. It does not respond in time and during the first 10 minutes it barely responds at all. I've notice it's become more responsive the more I run and drive the bike. I think it just needs to be lubricated. Where do I begin here?
The second issue (sudden high RPMS) is the only thing at the moment that I feel warrants serious concern, despite the bike running nicely after it's warmed up. I noticed that there is an upper mounting screw for the air filter....but nothing for the bottom. Or am I wrong and missing a part? I took a look at the schematic diagram and that doesn't seem to be the case. Is this just terrible engineering? My thinking is that there is probably a gap near the bottom of the airbox which is causing this sudden increase when the air gets suddenly pulled through there. What should I check first to diagnose this other than the aforementioned previously checked or replaced items?
A special shout-out to "posplayr" for welcoming my direct messages and noobyness in diagnosing my charging system. After more hours of research and testing than I'd care to admit, I have found a bad stator. However, in the process I found some awfully corroded grounds and connections which were more than happy to submit to a light sanding.
However, I have been able to ride successfully with a freshly charged battery. I am aware I am probably doing damage to the battery by riding it without the stator recharging it. Whatever, the cost of a new battery is worth the riding pleasure to me. Havent ridden in 5+ years and its just too damn fun.
So, in my riding I've noticed a few things that may or may not be a problem. I used to ride my dad's 2001 Honda Shadow 500 that ran like a dream, was kept well, and had a lot more low-end torque. So basically I have no frame of reference to certain things.
First, I noticed that at 50-55mph, I was around 5000 RPMs, which seemed high for 6th gear. Since my "L" model looks somewhat like a cruiser (for now hehe) I assumed it would rev and sound like a cruiser (noob alert). Now, I see the redline is 9500 or so, and I read on another forum that this is pretty normal for these bikes. But I figured I'd ask you experts before I started to worry about it. I still get power I'd expect at that gear and speed, it just sounds like a sportbike and initially I was alarmed.
Second, when I first start the bike (on full choke as it is chilly these days), it starts right up 9/10 times. Occasionally it has taken 2 or 3 tries. I dont hold it for more three seconds when I attempt (not trying to burn my starter out!). However after about 20-30 seconds of idling on choke, it suddenly increases RPMS to the top! I immediately then bring the choke down to halfway and it idles as it should and in another 30 seconds or so I can take the choke off and it idles right where it's supposed to at 1500rpms nice and smoothlike. Now, I can rule out a few things as this is probably a vacuum issue judging from similar threads I've already read through....
Intake boots are brand new, as are the o-rings. They were mounted with indian head gasket sealer.
Airbox boots were still nice and fresh somehow, but I bought new clamps to make sure they sat nice and tight.
Carbs are beautiful inside. The PO was a godsend in only this department. When I first bought the bike, this is the first thing I went to do as recommended by you people in the top 10 newb mistakes thread. But everything inside was newly rebuilt! I sighed a breath of relief and cracked a celebratory Yeungling.
Idle screw adjustment - I had to play around with this for awhile when I first got the bike running, As it liked to die out when taken off choke. Eventually I found the sweet spot.
Third, the tachometer is sluggish. It does not respond in time and during the first 10 minutes it barely responds at all. I've notice it's become more responsive the more I run and drive the bike. I think it just needs to be lubricated. Where do I begin here?
The second issue (sudden high RPMS) is the only thing at the moment that I feel warrants serious concern, despite the bike running nicely after it's warmed up. I noticed that there is an upper mounting screw for the air filter....but nothing for the bottom. Or am I wrong and missing a part? I took a look at the schematic diagram and that doesn't seem to be the case. Is this just terrible engineering? My thinking is that there is probably a gap near the bottom of the airbox which is causing this sudden increase when the air gets suddenly pulled through there. What should I check first to diagnose this other than the aforementioned previously checked or replaced items?
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