It's simple to check frame alignment. Few tools needed. What's the VIN plate say ? In PA you get a new one on recon titles. Look in front of the tank, fresh paint ? Cracks in the paint ? Does it track straight ? Hands-off at 40MPH, easy to keep in line ? Simplest check of all; put bike on center stand, align front wheel as best you can. NOW, stand in front of it about five feet away, facing away. now get down on your knees and bend over (far over) and look between your legs back at the bike. Before you pass out from being upside down, does everything look right? Believe it or not, that works. #PS; don't do this facing east. No telling what will happen. I can supply a whole set of instructions to check a frame. Kyle just went through this with me. His 700 has been changed a ton. You can borrow everything needed and it only takes a few minutes.
--- On Sun, 7/5/09, Music and Nighthawk Nut <[email protected]> wrote: From: Music and Nighthawk Nut <[email protected]> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Trade my 85 450 for a 82 650?? To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" <[email protected]> Date: Sunday, July 5, 2009, 2:30 PM I'm sorry. It's just that alot of guys are...Anyways, I didn't mean to sound like a lilbit. But I really do appreciate all the advice and knowledge that you are passing my way. I have another kicker for you, I found my bike title and yes, it's reconstructed, I didn't pay any attention to that when I bought it. So maybe a bent frame?? What do you think?? On Jul 5, 11:04 am, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote: > I wasn't picking on you, just an observation from years in the field. I > bought too many cars that turned into money pits and eventually got to the > point where I had more in then it was worth. I don't wish that on anybody. > When it comes to bikes, I'm a realist. > > --- On Sun, 7/5/09, Music and Nighthawk Nut <[email protected]> wrote: > > From: Music and Nighthawk Nut <[email protected]> > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Trade my 85 450 for a 82 650?? > To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" <[email protected]> > Date: Sunday, July 5, 2009, 9:10 AM > > I always check my tires before I ride, just habit due to the guy who > put my tires 1st didn't replace the valve stems so they would go flat > in a heartbeat and now that they're fixed I have no problems.So I'm ok > there. As far as my upkeep on the bike, I baby it and try to do > everything that I know of to keep stuff from tearing up. Anything that > comes up, I either come here or go up to the local bike shop. Just > with a bike or other form of transportation that you buy in bad shape, > you do your best to get it running, drive/ride it, and then wait for > the surprises that come up. No my forks aren't leaking, just a > question, trying to gain lil bits of knowledge. Thank again for the > info and advice. > > On Jul 4, 11:42 am, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Check head bearings by putting the bike on the center stand and get > > somebody to hold the back down. With the front wheel off the ground, slowly > > move the bars from right lock to left using just a finger. They should go > > from side to side smoothly. A bad bearing will show as a 'notch" (usually > > around center) Have that condition ? time to replace. I recommend having a > > shop do it. Too easy to crack a bearing race without the proper tools. Cost > > ? Expensive but it is a rather long procedure requiring the fork to be > > removed. Since you didn't say it happened any other time but passing the > > truck, they might be fine and you had a one-time turbulence nightmare. > > Check anyway. > > Chain maintenennce is general information and anybody with a chain drive > > bike needs to perform it regularly. With the bike on the center stand, > > rotate the back wheel and watch the upper run of the chain. It should not > > move up and down as the wheel is turned, nor should there be anywhere in > > the rotation a spot where the wheel gets tight. Lube and adjust. You > > mention fork seals. Are yours leaking ? > > # I'm amazed at the number of people who ride without correct tire > > pressures, rusty chains, and generally poorly maintained bikes. Worn tires > > too. > > > --- On Sat, 7/4/09, Music and Nighthawk Nut <[email protected]> wrote: > > > From: Music and Nighthawk Nut <[email protected]> > > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Trade my 85 450 for a 82 650?? > > To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" <[email protected]> > > Date: Saturday, July 4, 2009, 7:15 AM > > > Good Morning, I have been thinking about not trading after looking and > > thinking about my 450, and your advice has played a big part;-) Ok to > > the questions, no I haven't a windshield or anything extra on the > > bike, yet. Where are the bearings located and how to I check chain > > tension?? I am waiting on my manual to come in. if the fork seals need > > to be changed, will that make it shake?? Thank you for your time and > > advice!! > > > On Jul 3, 1:21 pm, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > A head shake is actually quite easy to diagnose and repair. > > > First off, I feel bad for you about all the expense. I think you'll find > > > out what REAL expense is if you do the 650 deal. > > > Now, the head shake; do you have a windshield ? At 75, passing a large > > > truck, that would be a major cause. Bad head bearings show up mostly at > > > lower speeds (50~55) . Still, check for bad head bearings, tire > > > pressures, AND, chain tension. A chain with a tight spot will cause a > > > head shake. > > > # a word about windshields; ever see a stop sign shaking in a high wind ? > > > It loads and then pivots on it's axis and unloads one side, repeat , > > > repeat, repeat. The windshield loads and then pivots the fork and unloads > > > one side. The larger the shield, it gets worse. > > > ## on a complaint about head shake, AHM directs that all accessories be > > > removed before diagnosis. (see above) [ yes, we will strip a Wing to only > > > original components] > > > # improperly maintained chains that have a tight spot really shake a > > > front end ? Oh yeah. A chain drive is constantly pulling the back wheel > > > to the left side and that twists the wheel to point right. Every time a > > > tight spot yanks on the rear wheel, the tail wags the dog. > > > "Wait for an older year" ?? NO, just an '83~'85 650. Later 750's maybe. > > > I have two 700's > > > > --- On Fri, 7/3/09, Music and Nighthawk Nut <[email protected]> > > > wrote: > > > > From: Music and Nighthawk Nut <[email protected]> > > > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Trade my 85 450 for a 82 650?? > > > To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" <[email protected]> > > > Date: Friday, July 3, 2009, 10:33 AM > > > > Thankx Dennis for replying back:-) It would be a step up for me. I > > > will be able to find more parts for it if need be. The only reason I > > > am selling/trading it is because the other day when I got up to 75 to > > > go around a semi, the front end started shaking REALLY bad and I can't > > > find out why other than a fork problem and from what a Honda tech told > > > me would be expensive. He has worked on my 450 since I bought it last > > > year non-running and have spent $2100 on just work. I have done some > > > of the work, but needed help so... I am meeting the guy with the 650 > > > Sun cause he is taking it to a bike shop to have it looked over and > > > get the tank creamed before he lets me see it. I will definitely hear > > > for the valve noise. So maybe wait huh for a older year?? > > > > On Jul 2, 9:00 pm, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > IMHO; I had a '82 CB650sc. A nice bike... just nice. no hydraulic valve > > > > adjusters, five speed (not six) chain drive (not drive shaft) two valve > > > > / single cam, cable operated clutch, just the last (best) of a run of > > > > pedestrian four cylinder 650 bikes that started in'79. As a Honda > > > > technician, I can say they had very few problems. There is one however, > > > > they tend to wear the head cover and make valve noise. it can be cured > > > > with a procedure that is somewhat costly. If it makes valve noise, I'd > > > > pass. Don't get me wrong, I liked mine. Is it a step up for you ? Yes, > > > > but it's only about half of what the '83~'85 bikes were. 21K is quite a > > > > bit for one of those. Mine had about 8K on it when I sold it for $1100 > > > > back in '87. > > > > Me ? I'd wait for a good '85. > > > > > --- On Thu, 7/2/09, Music and Nighthawk Nut <[email protected]> > > > > wrote: > > > > > From: Music and Nighthawk Nut <[email protected]> > > > > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Trade my 85 450 for a 82 650?? > > > > To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" <[email protected]> > > > > Date: Thursday, July 2, 2009, 11:33 PM > > > > > I have an offer on my 85 450 Nighthawk for an 82 650 Nighthawk. The > > > > 650 has 21000mi and just "needs the seat recovered" and possibly the > > > > master cylinder. My 450 needs another carb rebuild since the 1st guy > > > > didn't do it right the the gas tank creamed. It has 10685mi on it. > > > > Would it be a good trade since I do want a bigger bike?? --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. 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