I haven't done any screw adjustments but I will start with the  
simplest - the petcock, etc.  thanks,  Graham

On Mar 6, 2009, at 8:31 AM, Creative Residential Designs wrote:

> It sounds like it's not getting enough gas. Have you adjusted the  
> carbs with the screw adjustment? Have you checked the screen in the  
> petcock to see if there's any debris? Is the air filter clean? I  
> like to start with the little things before I go into major  
> surgery. HotrodMamma..
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Graham Rogers
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 5:59 AM
> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Nighthawk S starting problem
>
> This bike CB700) is on hold for a little bit.  I'm having to make  
> the difficult decision to sell one of my Hondas. So I'm going to  
> sell my 1980 CB750F.  But first I have a problem. I restored this  
> bike as much as I can (paint job, new decals, new seat cover and  
> detailed clean, including carbs).  The bike runs good as long as I  
> keep the choke on some. The bike breaks up and dies if I do not use  
> the choke.  Here's what I suspect may be the problem and this is  
> where I need help.  I could not find a vacuum leak by spraying  
> around the carbs while it was running.  The bike has a 4 into 1  
> exhaust system. That's how I got it.  Should the carbs have been  
> modified/adjusted for the change from the original exhaust system  
> and had they not,  would that cause it to run lean and so need the  
> choke activated?  If that's the case what do I need to do?  
> Installing stock exhausts/mufflers is too expensive.  Thanks guys,  
> Graham
>
> On Feb 26, 2009, at 12:38 AM, Dennis Hammerl wrote:
>
>> They are your carbs. Investigate what passages are blocked. It  
>> would seem that you have sufficient intake vacuum, Hand choking  
>> increases that. If all was well, after hand choking, the plugs  
>> would be saturated. Because they aren't, the path from bowl to  
>> intake via choke valves must be blocked or the choke valves don't  
>> work properly. They can be removed without too much trouble. Very  
>> simple devices.
>>
>> --- On Wed, 2/25/09, Graham Rogers <[email protected]> wrote:
>> From: Graham Rogers <[email protected]>
>> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Nighthawk S starting problem
>> To: [email protected]
>> Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 5:46 PM
>>
>> I cranked  the motor over - it tried to start, at least on one or  
>> two cyl. Then I checked the plugs.  They were dry on the tips and  
>> porcelain but a little wet on the rim of the plug.  It didn't  
>> smell like gas however.  I then tried to start the bike with my  
>> hand restricting the air flow at the air filter.  It did start but  
>> died when I moved my 'hand choke' I probably could have gotten it  
>> started that way.  So, it looks like the choke isn't working eh?   
>> Now what?
>> Graham
>>
>> On Feb 25, 2009, at 12:21 AM, Dennis Hammerl wrote:
>>
>>> Spraying it optimizes the conditions needed for starting.  
>>> Which... means the chokes aren't working. If it has a strong  
>>> vacuum when cranking if you hold your hand over any carb throat,  
>>> the chokes aren't passing any fuel. WHY ? The "gas chokes" are  
>>> very simple valve devices. If they have access to fuel from the  
>>> float chamber and they are open to the bores when activated, all  
>>> should work. With the throttle plates closed, the high vacuum  
>>> (or , more properly, low pressure) should draw fuel up through  
>>> the choke circuits and into the motor. It's as simple as a  
>>> faucet. I don't want to get into any abstract at this point. Are  
>>> the plugs getting wet when you crank the motor with the chioke  
>>> operated ? Knowing that is a must before proceding. If they are,  
>>> we look elsewhere. If not, we stay in the carbs.
>>>
>>> --- On Tue, 2/24/09, Graham Rogers <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> From: Graham Rogers <[email protected]>
>>> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Nighthawk S starting problem
>>> To: [email protected]
>>> Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2009, 8:05 AM
>>>
>>> Tried starting the bike this morning and there doesn't seem to be  
>>> any improvement.  It would 'bubble' along like it was trying to  
>>> catch (it acted like a weak spark) but again it took starting  
>>> fluid and the choke seemed not to play apart.  Once it had  
>>> 'caught', restricting the air flow through the air filter with my  
>>> hand significantly increased the rpms.  Maybe I should also check  
>>> the state of the battery huh?
>>> Incidently I noticed the fuel gauge didn't work until I revved  
>>> the engine significantly and held the revs. That was a new one to  
>>> me,  Graham
>>>
>>> On Feb 23, 2009, at 11:02 PM, Dennis Hammerl wrote:
>>>
>>>> Let us know how that works out. The neutral wiring is grounded  
>>>> and that's why it always shows N / green light. Let's get into  
>>>> that later. You have multiple issues. One at a time.
>>>>
>>>> --- On Mon, 2/23/09, kiwi <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> From: kiwi <[email protected]>
>>>> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Nighthawk S starting problem
>>>> To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!"  
>>>> <[email protected]>
>>>> Date: Monday, February 23, 2009, 1:16 PM
>>>>
>>>> Blasted those tiny holes that allow the gas through when using the
>>>> choke with compressed air and
>>>>  spent 2 hours reinstalling the carbs. It
>>>> still took starting fluid to get the bike started BUT, not very  
>>>> much
>>>> and the choke worked a little.  I'll see how it starts
>>>>  tomorrow when
>>>> it is back to winter temperature.
>>>> Second problem with this NH is the neutral/gear indicator.  It  
>>>> reads N
>>>> all the time and won't show what gear the bike is in. I found a  
>>>> little
>>>> black box under the tail section that I think is part of the N/gear
>>>> indicator system.  Is there a way to check it?
>>>> Third problem should be
>>>>  simple.  The left front turn signal is
>>>> 'bright' when ignition is on but will not blink when  it  
>>>> should.  The
>>>> others work as they should.  That left one shines a lot brighter  
>>>> than
>>>> the right front when ignition is on.
>>>>
>>>> On Feb 22, 11:11 pm, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> > I will assume your carb clean was a complete operation. Let's  
>>>> examine
>>>> how the choke works. The cable opens valves that will
>>>>  permit raw fuel to be
>>>> sucked into the motor during cranking. Now, lets say that works  
>>>> fine.Your plugs
>>>> should be wet after cranking for a short while. Y-N ? The most  
>>>> common
>>>>  cause of
>>>> the plugs being dry after cranking is the throttle plates being  
>>>> open too far and
>>>> causing insufficient vacuum. Same as opening the throttle while  
>>>> trying to start.
>>>> When the intake air flow is too low, no fuel will be drawn in  
>>>> from the choke
>>>> circuit. If the plugs are wet, you're flooding the motor.
>>>> > We start
>>>>  here. Additional checks of compression and a leak-down may be in
>>>> order.
>>>> > This may take time to resolve. Get at it.
>>>> >
>>>> > --- On Sun, 2/22/09, Graham Rogers <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> > From: Graham Rogers <[email protected]>
>>>> > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Nighthawk S starting problem
>>>> > To: [email protected]
>>>> > Date: Sunday, February 22, 2009, 6:18 PM
>>>> >
>>>> > I have a 1986 Nighthawk S.  It ran before I got it but always  
>>>> took
>>>> > starter fluid in the air filter to get it going.  I pulled the  
>>>> carbs
>>>> > and
>>>>  thoroughly cleaned them and used to compressed air in all the
>>>> > holes.  However the bike still will not start without stater  
>>>> fluid
>>>> > and even then it takes along time with the fluid.  I noticed that
>>>> >
>>>>  using the choke seemed to make no difference at all so,  
>>>> thinking that
>>>> > perhaps the choke isn't working at all I removed the carbs again
>>>> > (they are terrible to remove) and did what I could toi ensure the
>>>> > choke was working right.  The mechanism moves as it should and  
>>>> I used
>>>> > compressed air in the holes to the where I
>>>>  presume the choke opens.
>>>> > Now, before I reinstall the carbs, any suggestions?  Could the
>>>> > problem have been the choke or is there something else that would
>>>> > cause the same problem.  By the way, once the bike was warmed  
>>>> up, it
>>>> > ran fine - just when it's cold I have to use
>>>>  starting fluid,  Graham
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> >


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