I took a few pretty nice rides today and it was riding good.  I am
noticing that the charging system doesn't really charge the battery
well.
After a few times riding it , the battery is dead.

Do these have alternators like a car?

On Dec 17, 7:51 am, Andrew <[email protected]> wrote:
> Ok, I'll try turning them down.  What would I expect to see if they
> were not metering anything.  How would the bike react?
>
> A friend of mine gave me this bike so I know he has rebuilt these
> carbs before.  Thats probably when the one screw was replaced with a
> different one and I know that's why most of the rubber in the carb is
> in good shape.
>
> Thanks,
> Andrew
>
> On Dec 17, 12:33 am, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
> > 2 5/8 sounds a little "much" to me. At that setting they wouldn't be 
> > metering anything, just open. Try 1 1/2 to start. I really don't know the 
> > exact setting, I always count the turns in to seat before I remove them. 
> > put 'em back the same way. It might be in the Honda shop manual. For as 
> > much as I'm a "by the book" person, results count more. Glad you got it up 
> > and running. Learn anything ? Always better when you do.
> > The odd mixture screw is from an older bike. If you broke off the caps (too 
> > easy to do) you would be left with a skinny post. As long as it has the 
> > same profile as the others. When I see stuff like that, a red flag goes up 
> > and I examine each part for more mods. Somebody else has been here before 
> > and I don't know what they where up to or how good they were.
>
> > --- On Tue, 12/16/08, Andrew <[email protected]> wrote:
> > From: Andrew <[email protected]>
> > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Starting problems
> > To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" <[email protected]>
> > Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 9:02 AM
>
> > I got it running last night.  I took everything out again, used some
> > copper wire to clean out the jets and put it all back together.  Fired
> > up after a little starting fluid and now starts everytime.  I read
> > that 2 5/8 turns from bottomed out are the factory settings?  When I
> > first started it, I was getting a littel white smoke coming out the
> > pipes.  Is it running rich or just need to warm up?
>
> > I wondered why the bottom screw in the picture didn't have a
> > "nob".
> > Thanks for all of your help.
>
> > On Dec 15, 11:55 pm, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote:> Yes they 
> > are. Looks like one isn't original (nearest) and the stops
>
> > have been boogered on a couple of others. Great that you can remove and 
> > clean
> > the passageways. It / they control idle mixture and up a bit past 1000RPM. 
> > If
> > you spray into the hole it should discharge from three holes in the bore
> > (throttle plate end). Each one is exposed at a different throttle opening. 
> > spray
> > carb cleaner into the small openings in the bore (air cleaner side, one on 
> > each
> > side) and look for liquid coming from the hole the slow speed jet was in 
> > and the
> > the hole the mixture screw was in. Air enters where you sprayed into and 
> > picks
> > up fuel at the jet tower where the slowspeed jet was and continues through 
> > to
> > the bore.> Now, lets see the inside of the chambers. Remove the bowls and 
> > internals.
>
> > One at a time please. Did you locate the wire sizes I posted ?
>
> > > --- On Mon, 12/15/08, Andrew <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > From: Andrew <[email protected]>
> > > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Starting problems
> > > To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!"
>
> > <[email protected]>
>
> > > Date: Monday, December 15, 2008, 7:57 AM
>
> > > Can you take a look at this picture and tell me if these are the idle
> > > mixture screws?  These are what I took off and they didn't break.
> >  In
> > > fact, they came off very easy.  They were a little gunky so I am
> > > soaking them and recleaning everything again.  I'd like to make sure
> > I
> > > get everything this time.
>
> > > This link has the picture.
>
> > >http://home.comcast.net/~hbrown159/carbquestions1.jpg
>
> > > Thanks,
> > > Andrew
>
> > > On Dec 14, 4:19 pm, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote:>
>
> > However you get them off, whatever works for you, etc. I remove the clamps
>
> > > from the spigots and stick a thin screwdriver under the rubber. Spray
> > silicone
> > > in and remove screwdriver. Pry bar is fine. I do remove all airbox
> > mounting
> > > bolts and pull back to give room.
>
> > > > Andrew; don't attempt to remove the limiter caps. Grind the
> > protruding
>
> > > stops off. Then they can be removed without breakage. The stops only allow
> > 270
> > > of movement, no stops gets you 360. Careful work with a mototool will do
> > it in
> > > minutes. 
>
> > > > --- On Sun, 12/14/08, Kyle Munz <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > > From: Kyle Munz <[email protected]>
> > > > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Starting problems
> > > > To: [email protected]
> > > > Date: Sunday, December 14, 2008, 1:11 PM
>
> > > > Actually I'd like to know the secret to getting the carbs out of
> > the
>
> > > intake manifolds. I've actually been using a modified allen wrench to
> > remove
> > > the manifolds from the engine and leaving them attached to the carbs.
>
> > > > -Kyle
>
> > > > On Sun, Dec 14, 2008 at 12:04 PM, Andrew
>
> > <[email protected]>
>
> > > wrote:
>
> > > > Hi Dennis and Kyle, thanks for the help.  I am about to go out and
> > try
>
> > > > your suggestions.  The only part I have not gone through and blown/
>
> > > > cleaned out are those low speed channels you talked about.  I
> > didn't
>
> > > > know you could (should) remove them.  I'm hoping I can do it
> > without
>
> > > > breaking them.  I have cleaned out those jets in the bowls at least
> > 4
>
> > > > times.  I used a couple of small pieces of copper wire that I
>
> > > > stripped.  Must not have done a good enough job since it wasn't
> > the
>
> > > > correct size.
>
> > > > Is there a recommended way to remove the carbs from the rubber
>
> > > > mounting holes?   I use a 4 foot long pry bar to gently push them
> > out
>
> > > > and back in after I loosen the clamps.
>
> > > > Maybe I'll take some pictures.  Thanks Again,
>
> > > > Andrew
>
> > > > On Dec 14, 1:14 am, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > > > > YOU have a lot of work ahead. First off, if the carbs were
> > really
>
> > > clean you wouldn't be writing about this. On the plus side, you
> > don't
> > > seem to be adverse to the labor required. Remove the carb assembly once
> > again.
> > > Do not separate from the "runner" that keeps them together.
> > Remove
> > > float bowls and jets. The slow speed jets are most likely blocked.
> > Whatever rust
> > > migrated through the system will be everywhere. Slowly clean all passages
> > and
> > > jets that fuel flows through. You'll need cleaning wires, pressurized
> > carb
> > > cleaner and compressed air. The idle mixture adjustment screws are the
> > ones that
> > > have the caps on them. They should be removed and blown out given the
> > nature of
> > > your problem (rust injestion) It is possible to remove the caps but most
> > often
> > > they will break off and leave you with an additional problem. I carefully
> > grind
> > > the stop tabs off with a Dremel. Gaining access to the fuel circuit they
> > control
> > > will allow you clean a vital area. When replacing> >  the idle mix
>
> > screws, gently bottom out and back off about one turn
>
> > > as a starting point. The tabs prevented adjustment that would result in a
> > rich
> > > mixture and not comply with EPA. I recently posted the wire sizes required
> > to
> > > clean the jets of a 650 (#37 & #115). In the case of a rust problem
> > like
> > > yours, I route the fuel line to allow me to use an automotive fuel filter.
> > Find
> > > a place for it. My choice of carb cleaner is Berkbile 2+2 (not sold
> > everywhere
> > > due to hazard) When working on carbs follow the instructions of med
> > school;
> > > First do no harm. I might add that you need to verify that the fuel flow
> > from
> > > the tank is adequate. I open the vacuum with a syringe and blow back into
> > the
> > > tank. Rust is among the worst nightmares to deal with. Repeated cleaning
> > is not
> > > unknown. Always work on one carb at a time and do not switch slides. In
> > fact I
> > > don't remove them unless I suspect a defective diagphram. Before
> > installing
> > > carbs, support them in an upright
>
> > > >  position
>
> > > > >  and supply with fuel from an external tank source. Better to
> > see if
>
> > > you have a leak now and not remove again. Observe the spray from the
> > accelerator
> > > pump and insure it works. Good luck.
>
> > > > > --- On Sat, 12/13/08, Andrew <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> > > > > From: Andrew <[email protected]>
> > > > > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Starting problems
> > > > > To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!"
>
> > > <[email protected]>
>
> > > > > Date: Saturday, December 13, 2008, 6:17 PM
>
> > > > > Hi I have an 83 Nighthawk and I am having a problem getting it
> > > > > started.
>
> > > > > Before I start describing the problem I thought I should mention
> > that
> > > > > it sat for 4 years without being run.
> > > > > So when I got it, I took the tank to a local shop and had it
> > acid
> > > > > etched and coated.  I also took the carbs off, cleaned them out
> > and
> > > > > put it all back together.  It ran great for a week, then I let
> > sit.
> > > > > The next tiime I went to start it, I realized the petcock was
> > clogged
> > > > > and the shop missed a spot on the tank.  I took it back and had
> > it
> > > > > recoated.
>
> > > > > I took the carbs back of, cleaned them real good and put a new
> > fuel
> > > > > filter on.  Now I just can't seem to get it started.
>
> > > > > When I go to start it, I twist the throttle a couple of times,
> > set
> > > the
> > > > > choke and crank.  It fires for a second or two, then dies.
> >  Never
> > > > > staying running.  I can never give it any "throttle"
> > to
> > > keep it
> > > > > running.
>
> > > > > A couple of things I was wondering:
> > > > > 1.  Should I be tightening the either the small jets or the
> > needle
> > > > > valves from the air diagphrams above hand tight with a
> > screwdriver?
> > > > > Or should I leave them a
>
> ...
>
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>
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