I'll go ahead and repost Dennis' instructions for checking the frame. They worked for me.
It is possible to check the frame quite easily. You need only four items to > perform a critical check of alignment. Two large carpenters squares > (borrow them) and two 8' florescent tubes (burnt out is fine) . The back > tire is much wider than the front one. SO, get someone to hold your bike in > an upright position and you hold the tubes against the back tire about 4" > above the floor with the tubes extending forward past the front wheel. The > front tire should fit between the tubes with an equal space on either > side. (# tubes are straight within about .003" and work great for this) > Next, hold one square against the back tire and the floor. Will the other > one do the same in front ? Just a simple two axis check for damage. Look > under the fuel tank for paint flaking or signs of repaint on the frame. -Kyle On Sun, Jul 5, 2009 at 3:54 PM, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote: > 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]<http://mc/[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]<http://mc/[email protected]>> > wrote: > > > > From: Music and Nighthawk Nut > > <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]> > > > > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Trade my 85 450 for a 82 650?? > > To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" > > <[email protected]<http://mc/[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]<http://mc/[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]<http://mc/[email protected]>> > wrote: > > > > > From: Music and Nighthawk Nut > > > <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]> > > > > > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Trade my 85 450 for a 82 650?? > > > To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" > > > <[email protected]<http://mc/[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]<http://mc/[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]<http://mc/[email protected]>> > wrote: > > > > > > From: Music and Nighthawk Nut > > > > <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]> > > > > > > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: Trade my 85 450 for a 82 650?? > > > > To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" < > [email protected]<http://mc/[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]<http://mc/[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] <http://mc/[email protected]>> > wrote: > > > > > > > From: Music and Nighthawk Nut > > > > > <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]> > > > > > > > Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Trade my 85 450 for a 82 650?? > > > > > To: "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" < > [email protected]<http://mc/[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. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
