New magna owner/member here. (Updated with pics!!! 2/21/10)

[xwarp]

Well how to start?

I guess I will just jump right in. My name is Bill and just last weekend, picked up a 1985 Magna 700. The bike is in pretty decent shape with just over 14k on it, but needs help....as do I. I currently  live in Az, but, I did grow up in Houston. I found this site while trying to find info on this bike and have pretty much gone through all 78 pages of this forum, and WOW, I have learned quite a bit from just what I have found. I have also downloaded the factory service manual, and have gotten the "aftermarket" file also, so these should help a lot. I typically hate introducing myself under a 1st post with the need of help, but it is what it is and I am pretty excited about getting this bike running. (I don't know what it is about vintage vehicles.) On to the bike!

When I initially picked it up, it would not start as the front cylinders would not fire due to no spark. The rear cylinders had spark, but would not fire due to carb issues. Turns out the spark control unit was the problem. Being an electronics tech, I scoped the outputs and inputs and pinned the fault to the spark unit. I then tore apart the spark unit and re-flowed every solder joint on the board as I had found "cold solder" joints on various spots of the board. This has fixed that issue and I have now have spark on all four cylinders.

Next issue. Last Tuesday, I pulled the carb rack off and did as much cleaning as I could on them short of a complete rebuild. All rubber appeared to be in pretty good shape. I reinstalled the carburetor rack and proceeded to TRY to fire her up.

No dice. All I got was gas wanting to pour out into the carburetors and down into the intakes flooding the cylinders. Stuck floats? No, because I made sure those were cleaned. Stuck something? I was not sure. Well, to make a long story short, (and I must complain at this time that the clymer manual is not that great in respect to some things), that I discovered something VERY important.

Due to another very recent thread about a gas issue, and that another member posted a picture of the carb rack, I discovered that I had hooked up the fuel line to the vent lines.......OOOOOOPS. I did not mention earlier that the carbs were not hooked up at the time I got it, which I think aided in the confusion.

Anyways, I will be checking the carbs out again. I want to make sure the float needles aren't sticking and that the jets are still cleared and will be hooking them up again to see if I can get her to start.

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask, but, I am very curious about the feasibility of repair of the spark control units. Being that I am an electronics tech, I also play with this stuff at home and have such equipment as a 4 channel 100mhz scope and a pulse generator. I would be interested, if anyone has a bad unit that they want to sacrifice, in getting a few of them. I would be happy to do what I can to repair them, and if it's just re-flowing solder that fixes them, I would be happy to return these units and do this at no charge. I strongly believe in Karma and am sure I will be asking for more help soon too.

Now for me to go play with the bike some more, and thanks for reading!

bill

[roboto65]

Welcome to the club Bill and WoW what a write up !!   I am sure you will get her running just need three things to make her run and you have them I believe there is a fuel pump also so might want to check that but like you said you got fuel. And the offer to work on the ign unit I am sure a few guys will be wanting your number LOL.

                                                                    Anyway Welcome again !!

[hootmon]

First, Welcome to the Forum from Tampa Bay Floriduh (and I've NEVER lived in Texas!!!)

Wow.. You just jumped right in and ripped things apart, you must have some experience there it sounds like..

I have a Gen 3 (1994), so our bikes are different enough that I probably can't help beyond the general, but there are enough vintage folks, that you will get some help...

One suggestion, IF you had gas flowing into the cylinders, You may want to change the oil as soon as you get it fired up.. You probably got some gas by the rings and that will thin out the oil...

ANYWAYZ.. great to have you on the forum, and look forward to hearing your progress...

BTW.. Once you get some confidence in the bike, there is a Magna Meet in Texas during the summer (Search for MootMag), maybe you can make it and meet some of the folks..

Welcome again..

[xwarp]

Here's an update!!! 

I got the carb rack back on, and was much easier this time. Had to do some finagling, but the end result that engine came to life!!!!

SHE'S ALIVE!!!!

This is after what I will guess possibly two plus years of sitting from previous owner. So she idles somewhat and pretty much starts up rather quickly.

So the next step will be flushing the cooling system and changing out all the fluids.

In regards to my experience, I am not a mechanic, but am mechanically inclined and can wrench to a "weekend garage mechanic" level. The last bike that I had was back in 96, and that was an Interceptor 750. I did not have much experience on motorcycles outside of that one, and it was only basic maintenance at that. I wish I had kept that bike, (hindsight and all that....)

In regards to the spark units, I would be happy to look at any that are not currently working. Having repaired mine, I really would not be surprised if a high percentage of them that have failed, is due to cold solder joints. If anyone is interested, post here or send me a message.

That's about it for the moment, but will certainly update as I move along.

Thanks again and have a great weekend!

bill

[TLRam1]

Welcome to MOOT Bill, sounds like you have a good handle on the problems so far, if you need assistance be sure and post up.

[TLRam1]

Looks like we posted at the same time, congrats getting it running.

[xwarp]

Thanks again for the welcome. I hope that I can help out as much as what I have found on this site so far has helped me.

bill

[Jerry G Turner]

Welcome to MOOT glad you got it running post some pictures when you get a chance

[a65bug]

Yeah, that's what seems to typically go wrong with them...

Glad you got it running.  Make sure if the tires are old that you swap out the dry rubber for new ones, even if the tread is good, if they're dry you're not going to have a whole lot of traction.  Might want to pull the calipers to grease up all the slides, they like to stick after sitting.  Also, check your grounds, they like to get corroded and can really cause electrical gremlins.

After that, enjoy it, they're really fun bikes...

[xwarp]

Back again!!

So we developed a fuel leak in the tubes that run across the carbs. Will be changing out the o-rings tomorrow. Had it running a little bit yesterday and the while it seemed to idle pretty well considering the leak from the fuel tubes, there was light white smoke coming from the exhaust. I figure either valve seals or running lean, but does not appear to be water.

Will update as I move along on this issue.

bill

[dgc67]

I wouldn't worry too much about the smoke unless it doesn't go away in a reasonable time after running the bike.
2 possible culprits (I got into a bit of a debate on the v4 board about this, I know I know who could believe I would debate something)

1. (my stand) is that an engine that has been sitting can easily get stuck rings allowing for some oil to slip by and cause the smoke.  It is possible after some running; heat/cooling cycles; that they will break free and be fine.  IMO if you suspect this then put some Seafoam in the oil and run it a bit then change the oil.

2. Oil has built up in the collector for the exhaust, not the muffler but the "box" where all 4 pipes come to equalize things.  Some of the guys on the v4 board have this theory how it can happen.  How it happens with a non running engine so that there is enough oil in there to smoke when starting it again is beyond my understanding.  Their theory, IIRC, was something about the valve seals leaking and the oil somehow draining down the valve and out the exhaust port.  Again, I had trouble wrapping my head around this theory, but the guys who believe it really believe it.  Although I often felt on that board some just LIKED to debate, ESPECIALLY with anything I stated.

[MarylandMagnav45]

Hey Bill,

If you search the forum for my old posts (especially when I joined), I own the same bike as you.

I had to do a lot of repairs as well in and out of the shop.

I wouldn't say I'm even close to a weekend mechanic.

I've only done oil, air, carbs, and valves now (help of Leatherman).

I can finally say after 4 years that my bike now runs excellent.

Subtract 3 years though (back in 2006), and I can truly say my 85 v45 Magna was a PIECE OF ****.

[xwarp]

So I had to replace one of the o-rings on one of the tubes in the carb rack, so while I had it out, I replaced them all. I ran into a BIG problem though. The main fuel tube was cracked on both sides. Well, after about an hour running around ace hardware, I was able to fabricate a new fuel feed tube as seen in the second picture. Will be testing this out in the morning.

And finally, pics of the bike as it sits right now.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[hootmon]

If you ever want to get rid of your speedometer, Dan "1985v45Magna" will take it!!!!

[MarylandMagnav45]

If you ever want to get rid of your speedometer, Dan "1985v45Magna" will take it!!!!

you're a class act, Harry.

LOL