If only most of my Hawk problems were that easy! Keep that bike, Susan.
Occasional frustration aside, I have seen very few for sale recently.
HotrodMamma
----- Original Message -----
From: Susan Sande
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 7:56 PM
Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Please advise!!!!
Hi Gene,
Instead of gumming up the email below I'll just comment here!
1. I'd let it crank away for up to 20 seconds then figured I'd burn out the
starter.
2. Had read somewhere to wait 15-30 seconds between cranking tries.
3. Cussed at it by naming off cities in Japan so as to not violate my Dad's
repairing motor vehicle rules.
4. Pull out at the front and slide cover forward!?!? How come I couldn't find
that anywhere!???
5. Maybe she got nervous when I actually wrote I was mad and threatening to
sell her if she didn't start starting easier.
I stopped at the local auto supply store and bought SeaFoam. Tried usual
starting method 3 times. Poured in 2 oz. of SeaFoam in a half tank of gas and
kind of swirled the tank back and forth, cussed as mentioned in #3 above and
two tries later (just pushing the starter button 15-20 seconds, no throttle as
usual) away she went! Kicked down the choke pretty fast, Let her run for a
while. Went to the gas station and gassed her up. Rode home. Parked. Heck I
don't know what did it. Just enough SeaFoam to dissolve some blockage?
Wish me luck tomorrow. I plan to Vespa to the office at 6:30 am when it's
dark and it has a big ol' halogen light. Later in the morning when the sun
comes up I have to work cross town so I'll skip home and trade for the 450.
Thanks again
Susan
On Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 4:37 PM, Gene Henry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Susan,
Note my comments inserted below:
----- Original Message -----
From: Susan Sande
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 2:16 PM
Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Please advise!!!!
Dear Gene,
I love you. In a Nighthawk kind of way only of course!!! This is
exaclty what I was looking for. Sure I went to my Clymers book and read up on
troubleshooting. But it does not have the anecdotal information that helps me
like your email does. I am headed to Harbor Freight at lunch if I can sneak
away. Below I've inserted comments based on what I have done to date.
Thanks so much!!!
Susan
On Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 11:25 AM, Gene Henry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
You might try to narrow the problem down to fuel or ignition/spark.
With the choke fully on, throttle closed, crank it for 15 to 30 seconds.
Remove a sparkplug (or two), and see if they are wet or dry. If dry, your
problem is probably fuel. If wet, probably ignition, or too much choke. To
clear engine with too much fuel, crank with throttle fully open for 5+ seconds.
(Sorry, probably is the best I can do!) I've tried choke in all different
positions on different tires/different dates same temp conditions. We are
talking cold start here.
<deleted>
Your description seems to indicate that it will fire and run briefly,
repeatedly, even if not well, before it quits running, and once running well,
will continue to run well until you turn it off. Fires and starts briefly when
I get to tries number 13-15.
Are you saying that you crank it "briefly" for _?__ seconds each time,
then wait _?___ seconds and it takes 13-to15 such brief tries before it starts?
What happens if you just keep the starter cranking for 20-30 seconds?
Thoughts: Is this problem worse with cooler temperatures? If so,
probably fuel. Ambient temp makes no difference.
Can you observe the choke operation at the carb(s) to insure that the
choke is pulling the mechanism on the carb to its full on position? I;ve
watched and the rocker mechanism does move, but to full on? I'm not sure. May
need adjusting! Try reaching in with something and attempt to move the rocker
mechanism more from the position that the choke cable pulled it to. If you can
move it further, then adjust the cable. If unsure, try to adjust the mechanism
to operate it fully.
Have you replaced the spark plugs recently? I'll give that a try next.
If not, good place to start, and will remove a problem possibility.
Have you tried Sea Foam in your gas? This too, I can stop by auto parts
store at lunch too. I would suggest a large amount in a partial tank of gas.
Mix is not critical, but keep it "strong".
When experiencing the problem, do not try a variety of solutions
quickly to keep it running, such as choke position, throttle position, invoking
or cursing a variety of gods, etc.This might be my problem , I don't know how
to cuss in Japanese. I know the rule, you must curse in the same language as
the origin of manufacture. I am ok cussing in Italian (had Fiats and my Dad had
Moto Guzzi's and Alfa's) Remember, this is an imported cycle, that meets
American standards. American profanity should work OK! Try (and hold) a choke
and throttle position until you are sure it will not work, then change only one
or the other until you are sure that is not going to work, then try another.
You may be able to find the one "that aligns the stars". Your cycle has a
right to be as idiosyncratic as you are. Or is that "unique"?
If you have a battery charger/maintainer, I would strongly suggest you
have it hooked up and the batter fully charged before you experiment. OK so
this will sound lame too, I have't removed any body panels yet. I can see the
positive terminal (or something that is decorated as one) under the seat, and I
know where the battery is because I can see it. Remove/isolate another possible
problem. Not sure for your '85 450, but the '83-85 650 and the '83 550 side
covers just pull out at the front then slide forward to release the covers.
I would suggest you be as specific as possible if your report further
on your problems: I will!!
"With the temp at 56 degrees, and the batter fully charged, the choke
fully on, and the throttle fully closed, it cranked for 10 seconds before
firing at all, then ran roughly for 5 seconds before quitting. I waited 2
seconds and tried again, with the same throttle/choke settings, and it cranked
for 5 seconds before firing, and then ran 15 seconds before quitting. etc. etc.
etc. Or you could send us an audio recording, complete with profanity! ;~}
You need to know that profanity directed to the Gods voids prayers to them!
(And if you're putting it up for sale, notify only me!) (I will, are
you close enough to come pick it up? There is a toy in Seattle calling my
name...)
Sorry, I'm really too far away. Would love to have a 450, though.
What is the "toy in Seattle's" name? ;~)
Gene
----- Original Message -----
From: Susan Sande
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 11:47 AM
Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Please advise!!!!
Ok I am about to put my little ol' 450 up for sale cause I can't
spend any more time waiting for it to start in the morning (or afternoon or
evening for that matter). Once it starts and holds she runs like a champ.
Please any suggetions on how to get it to start/what I can change out etc/look
at. If I am lucky and the stars are aligned it takes me 13-15 tries to get the
combustion to hold and keep the motor running. I want to try what I can before
I have to haul it down to the local Honda place - that is, if I can get it
started!!
I use the choke (I've tried without and in different positions), I've
tried the 15-30 seconds between attempts suggestion, I've changed out the air
filter. What more should I be trying? Seems to have a nice strong battery.
New spark plugs?
Choke cable adjustment?
Send me a picture of where to spray some ether?
Send me a picture of where I can easily access the carb intakes
without tearing apart the whole thing (and having to spend time putting it back
together before I can ride) so I can maybe ungunk something?
Bueller? Bueller?
Anyone else have this problem???
Thanks in advance,
Susan
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