Greetings everyone, I'm not dead :)
I'm afraid the time has come to look at selling ye olde Magna :-( . Since the SV650S came into the fold the Magna has been ridden less and less and in fact it may very well have been over a year now. At first I thought it would be awesome to have two bikes but I realized that one will eventually get neglected. Last time I tried to get it running I used some seafoam and it started but wasn't happy about it. I'm afraid the carbs are gummed up, if not totally then at least partially. I helped Greg C. replace the jets a LONG time ago but I don't remember specifics about it. I'm pretty sure I could probably pull them but not so confident about going into them. My main fear is yanking them, screwing them up and being left with a partially disassembled motorcycle to continue to sit in my carport. I'd even be willing to ship them to somebody for cleaning...lol.
Advice? Tips? Prayers? :D
Jimmy, the writeup is still on the web site, isn't it? I have used it three times in the last 7 years, with no difficulty -- and I am all dumb thumbs, with a tremor to boot!
You can do this! (If you really want to, that is).
The easy part is cleaning them, the hard part is on and off.
Lawrence is a genius mechanic compared to me... find the instructions and follow them and you will be OK...
I did, and I survived...
Quote from: lragan on March 13, 2015, 10:54:21 PM
Jimmy, the writeup is still on the web site, isn't it? I have used it three times in the last 7 years, with no difficulty -- and I am all dumb thumbs, with a tremor to boot!
You can do this! (If you really want to, that is).
I forgot about that write up :D
I'm in the same boat. My Zero has been getting all the attention, meanwhile the Versys' battery died and the Magna's low-speed jets clogged. I pulled the carbs a few weeks ago, thought I'd gotten the jets cleaned out but must not have done enough as it still runs like crap until it's up on the mains even after a full tank of new gas with a seafoam overdose. I'll probably pull the carbs again this week and give it another shot. This is the last carburetted machine I'll own, EFI or bust (or electric ;) ).
Well this weekend I pulled the carbs and sure enough they were clogged. Cleaned them out and tried to start it and lo and behold it cranked and idled (Yay!!!)....but there's gas coming out of the left side carb closest to the seat (Booo!!). UGH!!!!!!! :sad:
What I did was pulled the bowls on each carb and the two jets, at least that's what I'm calling them, in the bowl that have slots for removal I cleaned those out with carb cleaner and an air gun. There's a third needle something in there with no slot to remove it so I just sprayed that too. The floats seemed ok but I'm assuming one is not closing now and that's where the gas is coming from? I didn't touch the diaphragms or the main jets.
You may need to replace the float needles ... the little rubber tips can harden up over time and not seal so well, especially when exposed to what passes for gasoline these days. It's a good idea to clean out the seat area too with a q-tip dipped in some carb cleaner. Just make sure it's all dry in there before installing the float needles or the cleaner could possibly damage the rubber needled tip.
Ok I found this picture online. I cleaned what they are calling the "Pilot Jet" (yellow) and the "Main Jet" (blue). Where would the float needle be?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v289/gloveberg/carbH23jetloc_zps93no7wv6.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/gloveberg/media/carbH23jetloc_zps93no7wv6.jpg.html)
Here you go ... you have to slide the float pin out and remove the plastic floats. The needle sits on top of them in the location I've indicated in the picture you found.
This?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-94-03-VF750C-VF750CD-VF750C2-Magna-K-L-Carburetor-Repair-Kit-18-5394-/391004649267?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5b09b17733&vxp=mtr
Quote from: Gloveberg on March 31, 2015, 11:42:15 PM
This?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-94-03-VF750C-VF750CD-VF750C2-Magna-K-L-Carburetor-Repair-Kit-18-5394-/391004649267?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5b09b17733&vxp=mtr
That would be it.
Much much appreciated guys. From what I could tell it was only one carb and it's the rear left. It was dripping so bad I wondered if the bowl drain screw was loose :shock:. So just to be sure I understand the float needle is attached to the float and as the bowl fills and the float rises it pushes the needle into the orifice (?) to stop the flow of gas into the bowl?
I really hope this is it because I dread working on carburetors. We just don't mix well.
You've got it ... the float valve just sits on top of the floats (think it's retained loosely in a little slot). It's got a little spring loaded pin that the float will push against as the bowl fills with gasoline to seal the opening and stop the flow of gas.
Quote from: LIMagna on April 01, 2015, 06:55:44 AM
You've got it ... the float valve just sits on top of the floats (think it's retained loosely in a little slot). It's got a little spring loaded pin that the float will push against as the bowl fills with gasoline to seal the opening and stop the flow of gas.
Sweet. At $28 a pop I hope it's just this one carb :shock:
These are listed as being compatible at a fraction of the price:
http://www.siriusconinc.com/pro-detail.php?pid=&product_id=4163 (http://www.siriusconinc.com/pro-detail.php?pid=&product_id=4163)
other parts are also listed on that site:
http://www.siriusconinc.com/search_result.php?search=search&make=1&model=vf750c&part=1&partno=&x=47&y=10 (http://www.siriusconinc.com/search_result.php?search=search&make=1&model=vf750c&part=1&partno=&x=47&y=10)
Thanx Charlie... They are out of carb kits now, but hopefully they will have some in the future
Quote from: LIMagna on April 01, 2015, 07:00:45 PM
These are listed as being compatible at a fraction of the price:
http://www.siriusconinc.com/pro-detail.php?pid=&product_id=4163 (http://www.siriusconinc.com/pro-detail.php?pid=&product_id=4163)
other parts are also listed on that site:
http://www.siriusconinc.com/search_result.php?search=search&make=1&model=vf750c&part=1&partno=&x=47&y=10 (http://www.siriusconinc.com/search_result.php?search=search&make=1&model=vf750c&part=1&partno=&x=47&y=10)
Nice!!
I wish I had known about that site when I did my carbs ... ended paying ~$100 for the factory gasket sets. I think the previous owner gave me a set of new float needles though when I bought the bike. Swapped out those parts and have had no troubles since (~ 5 years).
The nice thing about these kits (IF they ever get them in stock!!!) Is it looks like they are made of material that stands up to ethanol...
I might as well confess too. My name is Rick and I abused my Magna. It sat way too long for even Seafoam to protect it.
I have successfully rebuilt its carbs before but don't want to unless that is the problem. Here is where I am. I drained ALL the gas from: tanks, lines, filter, bowls. Put in a new fuel filter and new gas and verified gas will come out the bowl drain for each cylinder. It starts now if I slightly open the throttle. It runs above 2k RPM but not below. After 2-3 minutes of running this way, the exhaust pipes near the heads on 1 and 4 are not even warm, 2 and 3 are hot. I have decent spark at all plug wires. Plugs aren't wet, but 1,3,4 are damp and dark; all gaps are correct.
The cold cylinders are not on the same coil/spark box and having a good spark convinces me it is not ignition.
I already have the carb kit and I almost want to tear into it to install stainless replacements for the fuel and air tubes which I already have too.
I know I'll be going into the carbs; honestly, I think I'm just stalling. June 3 isn't going to wait though. Electric? Humm sounds better all the time.
Rick Frankenberger
83 V45
Quote from: SkyRide on April 04, 2015, 08:09:08 PM
I might as well confess too. My name is Rick and I abused my Magna.
and the Magna Abuse intervention group in the circle responds, "Hi Rick"
You already know the answer.
Everything is back together and runs like it used to. I'm ready for June.
I haven't seen this posted before so here is what I think is a better way to bench sync your carbs. Shine a bright light from the air box side and look at the throttle plate side. Adjust until the crescent of light between the throttle plate and the carb throat almost disappears. Repeat for each carb. I found it a lot easier and more consistent than judging when the plate aligned with the small hole or using a shim to get them all the same.
Rick Frankenberger