Darn dealers soak you some good money for that 600 mile checkup on a new bike
don't they? What do they really do to earn your money?? (around $120!)
- Oil change with oil filter
- Synchronize the carburetors
- Check/Set idle
- Check/Adjust cables
- Check torque on nuts and bolts
- Check tire pressures
- Check air filter
Hmmm. Nothing you really couldn't do yourself is there? Get a 6 pack, grab
your tools, and spend an hour in the garage. Run thru the bike and make sure
everything is tight and still fits like it was new, then change your oil. It's
easy if you've got a wrench that handles 2 1/2" filters. A Honda filter will set
you back $11, and 4 quarts of Mobile 1 is just shy of $20. (Don't buy that Honda
stuff!)
If you don't have tools, go buy some! Trust me, you'll still come in under
budget, plus you'll have them for next time.
Ooops. Never did a carb sync? Lemme see if I can give you enough info to
tackle it. It's not difficult at all and the money you save can be used to lay
offerings at the Temple of Chrome.
First
off you'll need a special tool. The one you'll see in the pictures is a Motion
Pro Deluxe Carb Tuner. The Economy model is only $42 and it works just as
well. If you look around the deluxe can be had for $65. Another nice looking
gauge is the Morgan Cardtune II. It's worth having
one because once you know how to do it, you can easily get that much in free beer by
synching your friends bikes! If your friend rides a Yamaha, make sure you get
the 6mm adapters, then slap your friend upside the head...
Yank
the seat, yank the tank. There's only 3 bolts for the seat, two for the tank,
and the main fuel line on the left side, and a breather hose under the tank on
the right. Rig up a small gas can like you see in the pic. A male/male (icky!)
adapter for an extra length of fuel line comes in handy. Check out that air
filter while you're in there...
Find
the vacuum hole in the intake manifold. (pic) Phillips head, and watch that
washer! It'll try to fall off and hide. The 5mm adapters go in each side. (Don't
attach the hoses to the Motion Pro gauge yet!)
Start
up the bike with 1/2 choke if it's warm, more if it's cold. Let it get up to
temp and leave the choke on a little. (The air sucking in the open adapter tubes
makes the bike run lean, so you need the extra fuel.) Move the "vent tube" on
the back of the gauge to "open". This allows air to replace the mercury that is
drawn into the measuring tubes. You'll only need two of the lines from the
gauge. (What's a guy need 4 cylinders for?!) Plug them into the adapters and
walk around and see what the gauge is telling you! Do not touch the throttle.
(You don't want your bike trying to run on mercury instead of petrol.) The
mercury jumps around a bit so you have to average it out by eye, but the level
should be close for each cylinder. If they're not you have to adjust.
OK.
Adjusting the balance of the carbs is really easy on paper, but tough in
reality! It's just the bolt/screw you have to turn, but it's hard to get to. I
was able to use a really long flathead screwdriver, but "Lastone3" from
the Sabre Group did a great job
putting this tool together to reach it! (pic) I'll have a tool like that put
together for the next time I do it. He says you don't have to pull the tank or
seat with it, just the right front chrome fake head cover. (where's that bargain
bin at Ace hardware!)
Turn
the screw this way and that, and you'll see the gauge react. 1/4 turn will move
the gauge quite a bit. It's nice to have the gauge hanging right off the grip
'cause you can watch it as you turn the balance screw. Once the thing looks
pretty dialed, it's all good! Shut the bike down, take the adapters out and
replace the screws. Slop the tank and seat back on, and you're dialed! Get on
the phone, call your friends and say "YOU GOIN' ??" (tomorrow....
you've been drinking!)
That wasn't that hard now was it?
|
Item |
Cost |
| Tools |
Free? |
| Fuel line adapter |
$1.00 |
| Extra fuel line |
$0.50 |
| Motion Pro Gauge |
$42.00 |
| Beer (domestic sure, but never Bud!) |
$4.00 |
| One hour not at "work" |
Cool!! |
| Total |
$47.50 |
| Not throwing your money at the "stealer"? |
Priceless |
Note to self: STP oil filter (p/n SMO-17) for the sabre at AutoZone for
~$6.00 (thanks mearnh!)
