Newbie

[SAM33]

OH, and BIG thanks for all the key info above! MUCH appreciated!

SAM33

[SAM33]

Well, I THOUGHT I was getting a bike in good running condition, but looks like the joke's on me. I was afraid of this, as I'm not an engine mechanic and was hoping to get one already running fairly well and then do cosmetic work, but of course that was the real dream here!

SO it now will not go far at all before:
The idle starts getting high -
It then dies when you cut the throttle at a stop, or sometimes even to shift.
Thought it was heat related, but now it is happening right away. Was guessing coil or condenser, but now not really sure that makes sense?

Still starts easily cold. Will initially idle pretty well. But start riding and it immediately starts acting up.

Possible guesses?
Vacuum leak? Could that make the idle go high?
Some kind of intermittent fuel starvation? But I just don't see how.
The guy I got it from had just cleaned the carb, but maybe I need to take that apart and see if something's stuck?
Looked at the points for what little I know, they seem real clean. Don't yet have a timing light, but I don't think that's the issue here. Again, I'm pretty ignorant of all this so feeling lost.

After one fun day, now it's really not ride-able.

Also have some gremlins with the neutral light (intermittent, probably a loose wire?), and maybe the battery's not charging? Isn't the red light on the speedo supposed to go off once you are running? Mine's on all the time.

So looks like the problems may just keep piling on, and really not sure if I'm up for the challenge. Hoping to be doing body and paint work this winter, not an engine re-build and putting in a whole new wiring harness.

I'll be trying to find some local resources to help me through this, ideally someone who could work WITH me so I can learn some of this, otherwise I think I'm screwed.

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted...

[revlover]

Relax my friend, you're not screwed. These are just some of the many pains that accompany owning something a half century old. No matter the malfunction there are many seasoned old timers here who can step you through any repair. As far as the red dot on the speedo, it's the high beam indicator for the headlight. For starters, I would first check the battery voltage and verify your alternator is charging. Low volts can cause weak and erratic spark. It might explain why it runs well for a while and then dies after running a while. Vacuum leaks can be easily diagnosed with a spray can of starting fluid or carb cleaner. Just spray suspected areas while the engine is running and if a leak is present the engine will either speed up or stumble in response. Also check the valve clearances if you haven't already. Valves adjusted too close can cause problems as soon as the engine warms up. And finally check the carb float level too. These are just a few things that come to mind. Please let us know what you find out.

[Gaius M]

Revlover is right, keep calm,breath deep, probably a simple problem, get with P.O. see what he did/ changed recently. as far as fuel starvation, check to see that the fuel cap vent is not clogged,
(is it a new cap) check for vacuum leak. but if it was running well, see what was changed and start there. Nice Bike

[SAM33]

Thanks much both -
I realize how frustrated my last post reads, but that was how I felt after 2 days of mounting problems.

Actually, it's not like I'm ultimately surprised, I totally get it's 50 years old, it's just I thought I was getting one running well enough that I could take it to a small vintage bike rally LITERALLY one mile from my house this coming Thursday (and it WAS last Friday!) Now it won't go 3 blocks without dying at a stop. There I hope to connect with some other old Honda owners and get some advice first hand with the bike in front of them.

Not sure I'll have time this week after work to get it going well enough to get there now, so that is aggravating. But I'll be trying some of the simpler suggestions these evenings. Been going through old posts here like mad, and this place is certainly a goldmine of info!

I know I'll eventually get better at this, and I'll not be giving up so easily! I have to learn maintenance basics to own this, but I'm not up for a whole engine build. Again, I'll probably be retired within 2 years max, and then I want to take it all apart and get it back to as close to original visually as possible.

It IS a solid bike overall, only rust is on the underside of tank, although inside is fairly funky too, and needs taken off this winter and re-done. But it seems otherwise a great candidate for a good cosmetic restore. And I got it for a pretty good price, so I have some room to spend on it.

Again, my newbie thanks to all you good folks here!

[964roadster]

You said the inside of the the tank is a bit funky. Personally that's the first place I would look if it starts running poorly and was previously running well. The timing hasn't changed. The valve lash hasn't changed. These are all things that need to be checked at some point, but I would start with the fuel. Take the fuel line off the carb, open the petcock and drain some fuel Into a jar. Take a look at it- does it drain nicely? - is there any junk in it? Turn the petcock off, take the bottom off, look for junk. If there is junk there, then there is junk in the carb. Take the carb bowl off, if there is junk there it settles to the bottom so the motor will start then suck up all the crap and then run roughly. If you found junk anywhere a quick clean of things might make things might make it run well for a while, but the tank will need cleaning at some point. If all looks clean, then it's time to look at the timing and points.
Just my opinion and a starting point.

[SAM33]

Much thanks 964roadster!

Indeed, based on independent input from a buddy, my plan for the next step is to do just as you say, actually drain the tank (not all that full at this point), see if I can get the petcock off (I gather these can be well stuck sometimes if they've never been off?), and check all the fuel lines (these have been replaced with heavy opaque black rubber ones as the PO said the clear ones had deteriorated). Chase it through to the carb if necessary.

I'll let you all know what goes from here...