New Alberta 1982 CB900C Owner

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 4:53 pm

Good day. I'm Joe...55 years old living in Alberta. I've had a few bikes over the years; 1978 Yamaha 750 Special...(worst bike ever), 1986 BMW K100RT, 1996 BMW R1100RT and a 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale.

I needed something a bit lighter than the 900lb behemoth Venture Royale I sold last year. I got a pretty good deal on a CB900C with stock side bags and a backrest. It was allegedly running but wouldn't when I got there. After much farting around, and a few spritzes of carb cleaner, it would run with all 4 cylinders and that was good enough for me for $400 CAD.

I took the carbs off and gave them a quick clean. I didn't split the carbs. The main jets were completely clogged on 2 and the float needle was stuck closed on another. After some cleaning, the bike runs pretty good. It smokes a bit but it hasn't run for a couple of years. I've had good luck with older engines that have sat around after thrashing them a bit and some quick oil changes. It may tighten up a bit...or not, but it should be fine for the summer.

Good tires. No leaks. Drive and valve trains are quiet...all good signs. The front calipers tend to stick on after a while, but if they're anything like my Venture, there is a tiny vent hole that is probably plugged.

The bike used to have the stock fairing but the PO removed it and installed the bare headlight kit. I prefer a fairing and I made a deal to swap that kit with a stock fairing. He even is throwing in the funky, retro Vetter side and top bags and mounts.

He has two bikes, both with fairings and bags and as part of the deal, I"m going to help him get a bare CB900C running, for easier sale. He may part out the other one...which has lots of good stuff on it. I'll post any items he may put up for sale in the classifieds.

I stumbled upon this site after much searching for CB900 info and it has already been a valuable resource. I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions, inevitably will ask the same ones that have been asked hundreds of times before and couldn't find on a search, but I'll do my best.

Groups like this are an invaluable resource for people who own something years, maybe decades, out of warranty. I look forward to participating and maybe even make the odd contribution.

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 6:39 pm

Welcome to here wave

These carbs generally need fairly detailed cleaning if they get fouled. There are hidden passages that take special consideration to really get clean. Check out the MacGregor carb link in my sig for help with that, it's good.

Also be sure not to spray the carbs with carb cleaner... it eats the rubber, brake cleaner is much safer.

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 6:58 pm

Incidentally, none of the 79-83 DOHC models came stock with a fairing or luggage. (The 1100F came with a little bikini fairing, but that doesn't really count.) All of the Hondaline stuff was bought as an add-on at the dealer. The Vetter branded stuff is aftermarket of course.

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 7:25 pm

I edited your post to attach your signature. Just keep the box Attach signature (signatures can be changed in profile) under quick reply checked and you will have no worries.

Enjoy the site and when you get time please post some pictures for all to see Smile

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 11:11 pm

Welcome to the site JoeCanuck ... Smile

If you haven't read the following page , now is the time .

http://www.cb750c.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=80601#80601

If you run into problems with any of that , Please let us know . Thanks . Smile

.

Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 5:13 am

Hi

Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 2:55 pm

I forgot to mention that I read the 'must read' threads...which is not to say I have them memorized.

Sites like this made life with the Venture much easier. There were hidden traps I wouldn't even have thought to look for, and I was also able to come up with some ideas that helped some fellow riders.

This site has already made my life easier with a lot of handy tips as I skulked in the background. Links to manuals made the carb cleaning a lot easier.

Genesound; I did exactly that. I checked out that link, and while I didn't get the things completely apart, the goal was a quick clean to see if I had a working bike. So far, so good.

If the bike is performing to my satisfaction as is, I'll wait until winter to do a deep clean with a proper kit. If it starts acting like crap, and I can't get it to stop....that may happen sooner.

I've been burned by carb cleaner in the past so I'm wary of the stuff now. On the inside of the carb to clean the passages, I used brake clean and a can of compressed air, and I cleaned the float needle seats, bowls and jets with CLR.

I plan on running a carb cleaner in the gas on the occasional tank. What's the recommended choice? Seafoam seems to be the magic bullet for a lot of ills, but I don't have much experience with it.

It seems to be running not bad right now but I only have a few trips around the block on it. A lot can change as the engine gets thrashed a bit...hopefully mostly for the better.

I didn't know that the fairings were aftermarket and/or dealer addons. Regardless, I'm a fan of those crazy looking retro hunks of plastic. I can always change back.

The paint is pretty ratty...another victim of 80's auto clearcoat. I'll post some pics in the near future.

Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2016 3:46 pm

Yep, Seafoam is good, no more than 1/2 a can to a tank of fuel, 1/3 can is probably better. If it gets too strong, the motor won't run as well just because the stuff isn't really a good fuel, it has less BTU/volume than gasoline, so it weakens the mixture... but it will help clean up carb deposits if they're not too bad.

Chevron Techroline is also good...

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 5:22 pm

Welcome...

Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2016 5:49 am

Welcome, pictures are always appreciated.