question about motorcycles and small engines

[ben10]

so i got an 87 cbr 600 its the first generation cbr, commonly known as the hurricane. my step dad has owned it for probably about 16-18 years, and he just gave it to me, but he parked it in 99 and it has been in storage since... it has a lot of new parts, new tires, chain, sprockets and about a year before it got parked he had the carbs (all 4 of em) jetted and tuned.

my question is this, i know i need to drain the gas out of it, but do you think i will need to pull the carbs apart? or can i just fill it up with fresh gas? i got a new battery for it, and i am gonna change the oil in it before i even try to crank it over, i was thinking about pulling the plugs too. any tips or advice?

[Kerick]

How long ago were the carbs clean? If recently probobly not. If I was you Id put a new oil filter and oil in it. Also check the air filter and throw some new plugs in.

[ben10]

i think it was brought in to be jetted and tuned like a year before it was parked, but im worried about fuel sitting in the bowls or will it evaporate? and yeah plugs wires and at least checking the air filter will be in order... anyone else have ideas? i got a battery today, getting oil next week when i come back from skiing, i hope to get her started then!

[2002 2WD Edge]

Do not change things which are original and may be fine. Ask him if he put fuel stabilizer in the gas before parking it. No minor detail that is. If he did all should be fine. You don't want to start dismantling 4 carbs which are mounted together and synchronized if you hardly know what you are doing..no offense but is true. Why did he have it re-jetted?..the answer could be a problem in itself. Good chance the battery isn't up to snuff anymore. Bikes need a good battery to run right. You do not want to spend too much on it since it is a non-descript Honda of no significant collector value. Check out new tires..you will be in for a shock. Add the cost of insurance and bikes are hard to justify anymore. Hey I love them..but I'm old enough not to want to ride 'common' stock.

[ben10]

hahahaha yeah, i got a new battery, fuel stabilizer was not added, it was my step dads bike, i have no money into it other than the batter yet... but its got new tires, new chain, new sprockets. i know some about motors but not much about carb tuning so i want to stay as far away from them as possible, it was rejetted cause he moved from colorado to san fransisco. insurance will suck, but the fact that my ranger gets less than 20 miles to the gallon and this will get over 50 has me about sold, not to mention it will give me the ability to park my ranger and do the solid axle once the weather is good.

[2002 2WD Edge]

Originally Posted by ben10

hahahaha yeah, i got a new battery, fuel stabilizer was not added, it was my step dads bike, i have no money into it other than the batter yet... but its got new tires, new chain, new sprockets. i know some about motors but not much about carb tuning so i want to stay as far away from them as possible, it was rejetted cause he moved from colorado to san fransisco. insurance will suck, but the fact that my ranger gets less than 20 miles to the gallon and this will get over 50 has me about sold, not to mention it will give me the ability to park my ranger and do the solid axle once the weather is good.

OK sounds good...don't count on the over 50MPG though. Carb synchronization is no big deal but requires proper gauges. Best if you don't have to go there. Get yourself a proper workshop manual for it.
Like one of these....http://www.clymer.com/SearchResults.aspx?t=CBR600&

[ben10]

i got the factory service manual for it online already

i think the plan is actually to get it running good and clean it up and sell it or trade it for a dual sport.

[pooleo]

I had a cbr 600 it was an F3. That thing was so much fun, but its strange, you get on that thing and if you got some kind of sweet pipe on it (I had a two bros full system) you just want to do stupid things! I always thought how stupid these guys were for riding fast and riding wheelies and such. Im here to tell you, it don't take long once you feel the power between your legs on one of those bikes to start doing stupid things! The feeling is just plain awesome! Luckily for me, I traded it off before I hurt myself, which I think would have happend. I started getting comfy doing wheelies and burnouts with it. Later my dad gave me his sportster when he bought a new bike, that is a whole different ride right there. I don't have the "stupid" in me anymore!

I say fix it, sell it/trade it, get a nice cruiser bike or a dual purpose would be ok to.

[2002 2WD Edge]

[QUOTE=pooleo;277942]I had a cbr 600 it was an F3. That thing was so much fun, but its strange, you get on that thing and if you got some kind of sweet pipe on it (I had a two bros full system) you just want to do stupid things! I always thought how stupid these guys were for riding fast and riding wheelies and such. Im here to tell you, it don't take long once you feel the power between your legs on one of those bikes to start doing stupid things! The feeling is just plain awesome! Luckily for me, I traded it off before I hurt myself, which I think would have happend. I started getting comfy doing wheelies and burnouts with it. Later my dad gave me his sportster when he bought a new bike, that is a whole different ride right there. I don't have the "stupid" in me anymore!

REDEEMED!!!!!

[ben10]

yeah a cruiser would be sweet someday, the sport bike isnt really me, but it was free and a could be fun for a minute, if i can get it to run.

[ben10]

bump

[ben10]

so i got the plugs swapped out with some new ones, drained the tank put fresh fuel in it, put a new air filter in and she doesnt want to run... i think i might end up taking it into a shop... i was really hoping i wouldnt have to do that.

[2002 2WD Edge]

Originally Posted by ben10

so i got the plugs swapped out with some new ones, drained the tank put fresh fuel in it, put a new air filter in and she doesnt want to run... i think i might end up taking it into a shop... i was really hoping i wouldnt have to do that.

Did you check to see if it has spark to the plugs? Since the plan is to deal it for a dual-sport or whatever, you may be best to clean it up and see if you can trade it for such,..explaining to the dealer or whoever that you don't want to put unnecessary money into it just to get it running. It sat long enough that without fuel stabilizer preventing gumming-up of the carbs..the fix could be expensive. If it has spark..maybe it will run but only after trying for a long time. Since you have already tried..pulling a plug would be interesting to see if it is wet. If it is that is a good sign. Take all 4 out and look for that. Then with them out and connected to the plug wires still,..see if they spark. One by one grounding the plug to the cylinder head...just touch any of the lower sparkplug to the head. With all plugs out and the battery fully charged the motor will turn over easy and for longer than with the plugs in. Plugs can get fouled and not work right without proper cleaning. One new plug if you don't have to buy 4 at a time would be best for testing each cylinder for spark with the plug out. All 4 of the ones already tried being wet would suggest the carbs aren't too badly gummed-up and could be cleaned-up without dismantling them..using an appropriate cleaner added to the gas.

[richarddhoward]

Newer fuel especially in Cali is about 10% ethanol in a lot of places, this will eat your old rubber hoses especially if it sits for a year. You may just need to change out all your fuel lines, and filter, also drain and clean the tank. I had this issue on my Dad's weed whacker that I fixed this summer. He thought it needed a rebuild, took me about 3 hours and 5 bucks total between fuel line and filter, I pulled the cord and it ripped to life.

[ben10]

Yeah I need some new fuel line, and a fuel filter, and the shut off valve leaks. But trsting for spark is next.