A
Anonymous
Guest
First off, again, this is a great forum and a great resource. Since I'm not anything close to resembling a mechanic, or even mechanically savvy, the suggestions and tips i've read and received have been invaluable.
My bike: 84 750EF, Canadian model with the full fairings
, 55000 kms on it. to my knowledge the engine has never been rebuilt. last year had the cam chain replaced.
My story: When i got the bike, the next day I was bombing down the highway when the oil light came on. Pulled over, clutch in, rpms low. bike shuts off. puddle of oil underneath her cause some idiot repair shop in vancouver that the prev. owner took her to didn't tighten the oil drain plug, and it FELL OUT. drained all the oil from the case, and probably did some damage. hitchiked back home, got the bike there, replaced the plug, filled her up with new oil and started. first try. how lucky am I?
Since I didn't know what to listen for when i bought it, I can't tell if anything sounds different. I did notice one thing tho, listed below in the problems
List of problems:
1) Instrument cluster backing is held on with tape. (cosmetic only)
2) Another cosmetic, needs some road rash repair on engine covers and fairings (both sides)
3) Instruments: Tachometer doesn't function higher than 6000 or so. Fuel gauge doesn't read "F" when it's full, only reads 2/3.
4)Needed a new rear tire, was bald, fixed that with help from this forum
5)4-1 Supertrapp exhaust, been told I should check the needles etc. See below.
6) since the breakdown: tica tica tica tica from what sounds like the left side of the engine near the top. I've been told I should get my valve clearances checked/reset.
7) also I would imagine since the breakdown: hollow sounding knock very quiet from the lower part of the engine onthe right hand side, very close to the back.
8 ) Popping from the exhaust when I let off the throttle and decellerate. I think that this is because it's lean and is related to some extra rings I put on (related to #4).
Solutions: Also known as: Did i do this right?!?!
1 & 2) Not worried, don't care right now. Just want it to run better.
3) Tach: No idea. Fuel gauge: Follwed the directions for checking it in this forum. The gauge itself seems to be OK, reads "F" when the leads are connected, so I would assume that it's the float on the tank.
5 & 8 )
It's been suggested that I pull the lid off the breather box so it can breathe,but this will just lean it out more will it not? What about getting pods or a K&N filter for inside the box?
I'm running 4 rings right now. Pulled the plugs. They are very light, someone would probably say tan but I think they are more whitish. Tells me it's lean, right, too much air??? Checked the needles. They have 5 little grooves in the top. (not stock, so must be a jet kit?) e-clip was on the thrid from the top, right in the middle. I moved it down one groove. i *THINK* this raises the needle, allowing more fuel, also known as richening the mix?
However, i still get the popping. Feels like it's got more oomph though, at least in the lower range. I took it for a test ride without the fairings and seemed OK. SO: I suppose I should try my various mixture screws, starting with the pilot jet screw. (I do have the service manual, but the diagrams are greek to me). I know that there are three screws there, but when I was poking around with the carbs this afternoon I didn't see them, at least, I didn't know what I was looking for. Judging by the cutaway, it looks like the screws are up under the float bowls?! so, if I want to make these tiny little adjustments to the screws do I have to take the whole dang carbs out?
Might this be related to the next item?
6) Tica Tica Tica tica. I've been told i need valve clearances checked. However, I've also been told it's fine for a bike this old. Looking thru the service manual, it doesn't look that difficult, but what am I acutally going to measure, like where does the feeler gauge go? There are several different clearances that are listed: Valve clearance cold: .09 - 13 (mm I suppose), valve guide to valve stem clearances, etc. I think the first one, but again, clearance between what and what?
7) Knocking can't be good. Don't know what it is though, and it sounds very quiet. I can't tell cause of the tica tica from the top of the engine. Ideas?
I'm not looking for solutions for everything, mainly just a suggestion on what to try or where to go. Taking it to a mechanic is not out of the question, nor is putting the bike up for sale if it's got too many issues.
My bike: 84 750EF, Canadian model with the full fairings
, 55000 kms on it. to my knowledge the engine has never been rebuilt. last year had the cam chain replaced. My story: When i got the bike, the next day I was bombing down the highway when the oil light came on. Pulled over, clutch in, rpms low. bike shuts off. puddle of oil underneath her cause some idiot repair shop in vancouver that the prev. owner took her to didn't tighten the oil drain plug, and it FELL OUT. drained all the oil from the case, and probably did some damage. hitchiked back home, got the bike there, replaced the plug, filled her up with new oil and started. first try. how lucky am I?
Since I didn't know what to listen for when i bought it, I can't tell if anything sounds different. I did notice one thing tho, listed below in the problems
List of problems:
1) Instrument cluster backing is held on with tape. (cosmetic only)
2) Another cosmetic, needs some road rash repair on engine covers and fairings (both sides)
3) Instruments: Tachometer doesn't function higher than 6000 or so. Fuel gauge doesn't read "F" when it's full, only reads 2/3.
4)Needed a new rear tire, was bald, fixed that with help from this forum
5)4-1 Supertrapp exhaust, been told I should check the needles etc. See below.
6) since the breakdown: tica tica tica tica from what sounds like the left side of the engine near the top. I've been told I should get my valve clearances checked/reset.
7) also I would imagine since the breakdown: hollow sounding knock very quiet from the lower part of the engine onthe right hand side, very close to the back.
8 ) Popping from the exhaust when I let off the throttle and decellerate. I think that this is because it's lean and is related to some extra rings I put on (related to #4).
Solutions: Also known as: Did i do this right?!?!
1 & 2) Not worried, don't care right now. Just want it to run better.
3) Tach: No idea. Fuel gauge: Follwed the directions for checking it in this forum. The gauge itself seems to be OK, reads "F" when the leads are connected, so I would assume that it's the float on the tank.
5 & 8 )
It's been suggested that I pull the lid off the breather box so it can breathe,but this will just lean it out more will it not? What about getting pods or a K&N filter for inside the box?
I'm running 4 rings right now. Pulled the plugs. They are very light, someone would probably say tan but I think they are more whitish. Tells me it's lean, right, too much air??? Checked the needles. They have 5 little grooves in the top. (not stock, so must be a jet kit?) e-clip was on the thrid from the top, right in the middle. I moved it down one groove. i *THINK* this raises the needle, allowing more fuel, also known as richening the mix?
However, i still get the popping. Feels like it's got more oomph though, at least in the lower range. I took it for a test ride without the fairings and seemed OK. SO: I suppose I should try my various mixture screws, starting with the pilot jet screw. (I do have the service manual, but the diagrams are greek to me). I know that there are three screws there, but when I was poking around with the carbs this afternoon I didn't see them, at least, I didn't know what I was looking for. Judging by the cutaway, it looks like the screws are up under the float bowls?! so, if I want to make these tiny little adjustments to the screws do I have to take the whole dang carbs out?
Might this be related to the next item?
6) Tica Tica Tica tica. I've been told i need valve clearances checked. However, I've also been told it's fine for a bike this old. Looking thru the service manual, it doesn't look that difficult, but what am I acutally going to measure, like where does the feeler gauge go? There are several different clearances that are listed: Valve clearance cold: .09 - 13 (mm I suppose), valve guide to valve stem clearances, etc. I think the first one, but again, clearance between what and what?
7) Knocking can't be good. Don't know what it is though, and it sounds very quiet. I can't tell cause of the tica tica from the top of the engine. Ideas?
I'm not looking for solutions for everything, mainly just a suggestion on what to try or where to go. Taking it to a mechanic is not out of the question, nor is putting the bike up for sale if it's got too many issues.
