83 nighthawk 650 owner needs advice on getting it running

[surrey_boy]

I got it for a thousand dollars, not running.  The guy says all it needs is a carb flush, battery and new rubber.

This forum software is wierd - it uploads an image but then you have to manually write the file name between the tags?

Anyways - hi guys I need help with my 83 Nighthwak.
Its been sitting forever and needs a carb flush.
The shop wants $400 to do it so I guess I'm doing it myself.
Can somebody explain how to do the Seafoam thing, in detail?

[B83550nighthawk]

If it's not running, no real way to do a 'carb flush", as that would typically involve adding seafoam to the fuel in the tank and running the bike to dissolve any buildup of lacquer, etc, from it sitting.

Your best bet is probably to remove the carbs and do the Pinesol soak and cleaning, then reassemble and go from there.

Also, the easiest way to post pics is to have them on a hosting site such as Photobucket and then just paste the image code into your message.

[surrey_boy]

Pinesol works for that, hey?  Thanks for the tip.

-How picky is carb dis-assembly though? 
-Could somebody with good hand eye coordination but no experience do it alone?

I'll take tons of photos and carefully place removed components in a way that makes it easy to tell where they go and in which order.

[Bumblebee]

What condition is it in right now? Electrical comes up when the key is on and the starter will turn the engine hopefully.

-How picky is carb dis-assembly though? 
-Could somebody with good hand eye coordination but no experience do it alone?

You can do it easily within reason even without a manual. The basic general cleaning can be done without separating the carburetors from the rack thus you're not messing with the fine adjustment stuff. Pull the vacuum hardware on the top and the float bowls on the bottom. Everything in there is straightforward as long as you have any kind of reasonable coordination and observation skills.

Don't separate the carbs from the racks. Don't mess with the throttle plate adjustment screws. Don't mess with the pilot screw unless you count the number of turns and write that number down. Be careful of any hoses and note where they come from and where they go. Patience is the rule.

The first time you pull them off the engine and put them back on, it's likely to be fairly difficult due to the age hardened rubber intake seals. Set the bike with the sun on them on a warm day then be patient. Clean the inside of the rubber seal and remove any rubber that was fused to the intake side of the carburetors. When reassembling, a little water on the inside of the rubber intake seal does wonder. Be patient and don't use a hammer, knife, hydraulic press or explosives. After 2-3 times, the rubber will be less of a pain to deal with.

I'll take tons of photos and carefully place removed components in a way that makes it easy to tell where they go and in which order.

I have a few centuries of wrenching experience and that is still the method I use on unfamiliar equipment. I haven't ended up with an extra bolt laying around yet and things tend to run properly on the first attempt.

Best advice: Get an official honda shop manual. They're inexpensive, accurate and worth the bike's weight in diamonds.

[Laminar]

http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/topic,4907.0/

[surrey_boy]

Sounds like excellent advice.

The linked-to thread on carb disassembly was better than a youtube video of the same thing I found earlier - a slideshow of stills with captions and silly music.  I'm pretty sure I can handle it after seeing that.

I might have to wait till Tuesday for the bike to be delivered.  I'll dive in as soon as it gets here.

[surrey_boy]

Here's a closeup of the rear seat structure from the high-res original.

[noahnsteph]

I have to wonder if that back rest won't swing up to be used by the driver?

[surrey_boy]

You know what - I think it does.  Look at the two structural elements that rise up from where it's attached to the frame.  See the traingular-looking bit and the short bar the goes from upper left to lower right, the bottom part of that short bar looks like a wingnut or somesuch.  If the two risers DID swing forward, this would reposition the lower part of that bar right where there's another hole for the bolt.

I bet it does, yeah.

[gammer]

Hello fellow Canuck and 

As others have mentioned, removing the carbs isn't too hard without a manual. But a manual would sure help and you will reference it for other things in the future.

Here is a link to the Pine Sol de-greaser topic:
http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/topic,4472.msg54844.html#msg54844

As mentioned in the Pine Sol thread, you can soak the carbs as one bank; you do not need to separate them. This is how I do all of my carb cleanings.

[surrey_boy]

I just read the Pinesol thread - looks good.

Will it dissolve the lacquer-like coating that gasoline leaves behind when it completely evaporates?

Is Pinesol better than Seafoam?

I just talked with the seller - he'll have it here tomorrow morning for sure.

[gammer]

Will it dissolve the lacquer-like coating that gasoline leaves behind when it completely evaporates?

It did on the carbs I soaked it with. Note that using Pine Sol on the carbs will leave them dry looking. I also sprayed mine down with WD40 and wiped them off with a rag. Made them shine up nice.

Is Pinesol better than Seafoam?

Both are used for different applications. Pine Sol is a cleaner/de-greaser. SeaFoam is a fuel additive and is better to be used when the bike is in running condition.

[surrey_boy]

  It's bike day!

Of course, we get hardly a drop of rain for months but the very day the bike arrives - wham!  Torrential downpour and no room inside for the beast - I'll wait till the rain stops, I guess.  It shouldn't be too long according to the weather radar.

[gammer]

Looks good 
Hope you get it going soon!

[Munkey]

Your pic didn't work.

[surrey_boy]

 Miraculous - it still has a charge but the fluids gone.  I wonder if I could resurrect it?
 Closeup of seat back.
 It folds up for sure.  

Some dry weather would be nice but it's BC, so it could be wet for a while.  Oh well - time to curl up with manuals.

Is there a way to link to picasaweb?

The code given by picasa for direct linking to pics doesnt seem to worK:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ozvPROBI6wGJuw0pA4s63Q?feat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ozvPROBI6wGJuw0pA4s63Q?feat=directlink

[surrey_boy]

when i upload a pic to the server (this server), i have to manually insert it between img tags and even then its not right.  I'm guessing this is this way on purpose to deter ppl from jamming the HDD with images?  hotlinking is preferred?  but i only use picasa and dont want to set up an entirely new photo account just to show pics of a motorcycle.

i tried encloseing the picasa-provided hotlink code with both hyperling and image tags - neither works.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ozvPROBI6wGJuw0pA4s63Q?feat=directlink

I'd rather the pic was displayed, not just the link - is this possible?

[Munkey]

[Is there a way to link to picasaweb?

The code given by picasa for direct linking to pics doesnt seem to worK:

In Picasa, if you right click the picture, then go to "properties", copy and paste the complete link beside where it says "address. 

[surrey_boy]

where does what say "address"?

[surrey_boy]

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_G5EgMQBP1Mw/TH1Xa-R-egI/AAAAAAAAO4M/krSeb2WAZDQ/IMG_0001.JPG

[surrey_boy]

You mean copy that and put it (somewhere) that says address?

No - this wont always work because the severs change and these are dynamically generated, per session.

Hence the "link to this picture" text provided by picasa, which is this
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ozvPROBI6wGJuw0pA4s63Q?feat=directlink

that stays the same, the other one wont.

[surrey_boy]

where is this place that "says address"?

[gammer]

Take that link and wrap it with the IMG tag, like so:

Code:

[img]http://lh3.ggpht.com/_G5EgMQBP1Mw/TH1Xa-R-egI/AAAAAAAAO4M/krSeb2WAZDQ/IMG_0001.JPG[/img]

Result is this:

[gammer]

p.s. I'd recommend a new battery. Canadian Tire sells one for my 750s. I'm sure they would have one for your 650.

[surrey_boy]

I'm pretty sure that'll stop working as soon as this session times out and the picasa server starts making new, dynamically generated session-urls.

But maybe not.

Let's see if it does.

But this begs the question as to why the link-to codes that picasa provides wont work in the img or url tags - anybody know?