starting the bike

[costell2]

I recently purchased a 1966 CB77 305 Superhawk from someone. I should preface that I am new to motorcycles, but am really enthusiatic about learning. Now to the point:<br /><br />When I first got the bike, it seemed to run great. It started up immediately with the electric start. Usually within the first three times trying from a cold start. It would run great for about the first half hour then seem to stall when the bike came to an intersection. I started to adust the idleing screws and that seemed to work, but then the engine would just race at high RPMs after the bike got hot and I would have to re-adjust the screws. The spark plugs fouled out twice in the first two months. Finally, I got the bike looked at from a vintage motorcycle repair shop and they figured out the problem.<br /><br />The carb slides were in backwards which cased the fouling of spark plugs.<br /><br />One carb caseing was warped and caused the right slide to stick (which is why the previous owner put them in backwards becuase they fit better and slid on their own weight) so they bored(?) out the inside so that it slid properly.<br /><br />The timing was way off and then adjusted. <br /><br />New breaks and break cables were put on.<br /><br />The splitter case (plastic) on the throttle cable needed to be replaced, (I still have the original that I would like to put back on) but they put on another plastic one that held together better.<br /><br />And then the clutch was adjusted/fixed, it froze up as they were test riding it. (It was sticking before, but they fixed it for nothing: it was hard to find neutral before and now it wirks great.)<br /><br />Now this is how it runs:<br />After the bike is warmed up and hot it runs great. My problem now lies in the fact that it takes FOREVER to start. Before, I never had to use the choke and it just started right up. Now I have to play around with it for about 10-15 minutes adjusting it fullly open, half way open, and a quarter way open and cannot find the right way to get it to start up. <br /><br />I cannot (initially) start it with the electric start; I have to kick it. After the bike is warm, I can use the electric start and it works.<br /><br />What happened between now and then that it is causing it to do this? I rode it around over the weekend for about 3 hours and it works better than it ever has. But it now takes a long time to start it.<br /><br />Can anyone offer any assitance with this or at least inform me how the choke works? <br /><br />I really love the bike, but an discouraged when I have to go start it.

[costell2]

Oh, and the points were cleaned and replaced. They looked as if it was just put in. <br /><br />A rear tail light switch was put on by the foot break. There was not one on the bike when I got it. <br /><br />I replaced the battery. Apparently, one of the cells was bad.<br /><br />Basically what they ( the repair shop) told me, was that the bike is in excellent shape, but it looks like the previous owner did not want to do some of the basic maintenace over the last year, which is why they replaced and adjusted the things they did.<br /><br />The previous owner had to leave town for work reasons and was selling a lot of his things. His bike happened to be one of them. On the good side of all the work that was put into it, I had the parts for it, I jsut had to pay for the labor. Ouch! <br /><br />The person that i bought it from had not ridden it in a year which basically tells me that he did not have the money nor time to keep up with the basic maintenace. <br /><br />I just want the bike to start like it did before. It turned over right away.

[kustommusic]

Hey, you'll get It, don't get discouraged! Think of all you'll learn about maintaince. Really, be patient. One thing at a time and it will come together and you'll be the better man for it! How bout for a pep talk!! Steve Greer

[costell2]

Steve, thatnks for the pep talk. I want to clarify that the slides are in right, (the V cut out towards the air filter) and after the bike is warm, it runs fine. The only thing that I have to do is turn the idle mixture screw about a quarter turn out (to take the idle down) after the bike is warm. The idle seems to high...<br /><br />The problem is when I start the bike. It used to start in the first couple tries with the electric start or kick starting.<br /><br />NOW, the bike takes me a loooong time to start. Usually about 10-15 minutes of kicking. Can someone tell me how to use the choke and what does it do? <br /><br />(again, I am really new to bikes, but want to learn.) I have been reading a lot on this site and getting lots of information.<br /><br />IS there a reason it use to turn over right away when the slides were in backwards and now that they are in correct, it takes forever to start?<br />

[LOUD MOUSE]

I had this problem for many years and what I found was that the timeing was not spot on. I like you had problems with Cold Starts and would adjust the slide screws as you do. Now I check the timeing when the engine has the symptoms you describe. Have you looked at the FAQ section on the left of this list and looked at the timing procedure?. ........LM<br />

[kustommusic]

Costell2, I have to choke the crap outta my cb77 to get it to start. But it fires up right away when I close the choke and dont need it at all when warm. It sounds like you'r not getting the fuel you need. Float setting? How about the o-rings in the isolaters,they ok? Like I said alwayse somthing to learn,but I think that is the fun part,Good Luck. Steve Greer