New Bike, New Member

Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 11:45 pm

Hey there!
I just bought my first bike, and found this forum while doing some research on the work I'm going to have to do on. The bike is a 1980 CB900, and let's just say the previous owner(s) may have thougth they knew how to work on it and fix things, but they really did a number on this thing. But I was able to pick it up dirt cheap, and thought it would make a fun winter project.

The person I bougth it from said it didn't run, but had ran last year. He though it was something electrical.
After my initial inspection i saw a number of things that I knew would need addressed. Someone had removed the ignition, and put in a flip switch as well as drilled out the gas cap so it has no lock and doesn't latch. The head light bracket is "Custom" diamond plate. The side panelse are missing and the factory air box has been replaced by pod filters. Someone completely removed the entire back brake assembly, pedal, springs, master cylinder, and caliper. The right grip is toast, and the left controls have a crack. And I need a new spring for the center stand. I'll definitely need to put new tires and brakes on it, and while everything is tore apart I'll give it a new paint job.

But, First things first I needed to make sure the motor was sound. The first problem was simply a blown main fuse, easy enough. After spraying out the carbs, cleaning up the plugs, and reattaching the throttle cable to the thottle body, it fired up pretty easily. I took it up and down the street a few times going through the first 3 gears.

At this time I've ordered many of the parts I need to complete the tear down and rebuild. Most of them should come in by the weekend so I should have an update on how things are going next week.

I'm trying to get a picture that i can put up for a before shot, and maybe I'll be able to put in some in progress shots as well.

I look forward to learning a lot more as I go through the whole thing.

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 12:28 am

Welcome to the site BillG24 ... Smile

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 1:23 am

sounds like you have your work cut out for you. hopefully the PO paid you to remove it from his property.

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 2:03 am

welcome to the site bill.

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 8:09 am

Welcome. Do you have some pictures? Always nice to do before and after pictures.

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 10:56 am

hi bill

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 12:24 pm

Hey welcome and good luck with your project.

Seans checklist (in my sig) is a great starting point for your rehab. Parts are available here (try Nieko) and fleabay of course.

I scares me a bit when you say "sprayed out carbs" There is nothing to be gained by spraying that stuff willy nilly.

Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 4:12 pm

I do have some pictures, and i'll figure out where I want to load those to.

davida, I like the checklist, thanks for pointing that out. I really sprayed down the throttle body to get it loosened up, and once I got it running i shot a little cleaner in each carb while it was idling to help loosen up any thing else that might have been in there. As part of my tear down I plan on takine the carbs apart and doing a full cleaning, or possibly a rebiuld depending on how they look.

Some parts I know I'll still need to pick up are the right & left side panels, the emblems, and I'd like to get the original headlight brackets.

The tank is semi-clean, but was researching the electolysis method of fully cleaning it out. Has anyone here done that before?

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 12:23 am

Welcome to the site. Good luck on the project and may it bring you plenty of joy during the process and when finished!

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:26 am

Thans tachks. I think I have almost as much fun working it, as I do riding.

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:53 am

BillG24 wrote:

The tank is semi-clean, but was researching the electolysis method of fully cleaning it out. Has anyone here done that before?

I know we've talked about it here before. Try searching for it. There's a huge catalog of info on this site, but you'll need to get familiar with the search function to really make use of it.

It would help to spell it correctly too: electrolysis
Wink

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:06 am

our guess search function hasn't been activated yet

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:59 am

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 2:58 pm

Oh I get it, Guess search.

Bill - Carb cleaner will destroy expensive rubber bits in your carbs. Sean did an excellent carb cleaning guide available at a better than fair price on this site. He also offers cleaning services.

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 9:26 am

Here's my attempt at posting a pic.

[img]

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 9:36 am

Bill , your garage is way too clean . Wink

I see you fish big water . Salmon maybe ?

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 11:10 am

Mostly catfish, We don't get a lot of salmon here in Illinois.

The garage is fairly clean now cause I had to clear clear out a side for the bike and block it off to keep the kids from being near it.

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 11:18 am

Ah . I thought maybe you went a bit North on Lake Michigan .

And , that blocked off area might be a good place to keep all your cherished tools ? Wink

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 12:01 pm

Yep, toolbox is to the left just outside of the picture, and the kegerator is around the corner

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 12:36 pm

Sounds like you thought the situation through . I suppose the 'shop' is heated ?

What part of IL are you ?

We've accepted a park host position in Streator which starts next Spring .

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 2:29 pm

Welcome to here Bill. wave

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 11:28 am

I'm in Central IL, the Springfield Area. Streator is north of me a couple hours.

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 4:33 pm

I'm in the springfield area too, in falkland ridge

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 4:50 pm

BillG24 wrote:

I'm in Central IL, the Springfield Area. Streator is north of me a couple hours.

That's a nice Sunday afternoon ride . Stop up and take a break . Smile

Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 3:54 am

BTW, you should say in your sig if that CB900 is a cb900c or a cb900f. They are way different, other than the motor.