[bowermad]

Seeking tips from the sages and wisemen of motorcycle repair.
What shortcuts and improper maintainance that are sure to mess up my machine? And just what should I not take apart?

I read an article that said motorcycle maintainance is like a zen art, sometimes it just takes a relationship with her (your ride)

Im not too worried about hurting my ride, I just want to eek a few years out of her. I've got a 1981 Honda CB 750K. I bought her just last year, for a deal, and the idea was I'd tinker on her too. Well, she's got a list of things for me to tinker now, and I realize, that aside from general troubleshooting gas compression engines, I dont know much about Motorcycle Maintainance. Im pulling things apart and cleaning them, and from what I understand, that supposedly works wonders by itself. Here's my list of troubles:
Oil leaks from the front of the block, where the exhaust pipes exit.
Right blinker/running light is perma-on, left operates fine
Horn stopped working at the same time as the above lighting issue.
Headlamp fuse blew, replaced it, works now.
Steady 'knock' in back of bike (suspect piston/sparking problem)

Thanks for any imput,
Bowermad

 

[CB750F]

I wouldn't get into any internal engine work just yet. What I mean by internal is the trans and cylinder stuff. Clutches are fairly easy however. Yours if I remember right uses shims to adjust the valves. You would need to invest in a micrometer and a set of feeler gauges to adjust them. They can be somewhat tricky on DOHC engines like yours.

"Oil leaks from the front of the block, where the exhaust pipes exit."

Possible head gasket leak. To repair that you would need to pull the engine out of the frame. It ain't fun to get it out and it's real heavy. If it's above the exaust ports its probably a valve cover gasket.That isn't too god-awful to fix.

"Right blinker/running light is perma-on, left operates fine"

If its the front I'm sure they are supposed to be on at all times. If the right one blinks also check the bulb in the left one. If a bulb is out on one side the other possibly won't blink. Could be a bad ground too.

"Horn stopped working at the same time as the above lighting issue."

Ok I would say that could be a bad wire/ground. Pull the horn off and get a set of jumper clips and hook it to a battery. If the horn blows the horn is ok.

"Headlamp fuse blew, replaced it, works now."

Maybe a short someplace in the headlamp circuit.

"Steady 'knock' in back of bike (suspect piston/sparking problem)"

Could be a number of things. A cam chain can get real noisy when a bike has some miles on it. Could be the internal drive chain if yours has one,I'm not sure but some large streetbikes have them.

One thing you should pick up for it is a shop manual. In it you will find tons and tons of good info. Here is a site for you to check on parts if you need them.

http://www.oldbikebarn.com/

 

[bowermad]

Thank ya

Thanks for the line of response. I was fortunate enough to get an English manual with the bike from the previous owner. Your post will help me find a particular section to look through for the answers.

I picked up a multimeter for circuit testing, but realized that I dont really know how to use one. I thought I did, because my father let me use one helping him out when I was a kid, but I didnt really understand the readings. Well, guess I will take that auto-electric course at the community college now.

Thanks again,

bowermad,
Eureka, Ca.

 

[CB750F]

Mostly what you're gonna use with that multimeter is volts and continuity unless you get into having to test things like ignition coils and pick up coils then you would use ohms. I myself prefer the digital ones and me being cheap like I am I tend to buy those $8 tool sale jobbies because I tend to loose things. Matter of fact I have 2 of them, one for the garage and one for the house.

 

[bowermad]

Thanks

I appreciate the input. Im taking an Auto Electric course at the local college this Spring. Along with the electrical theory, the course offers the ACE Certification.