Prince George Vintage Motorcycle Club
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: benwaechter on April 28, 2013, 09:57:56 AM
-
Hey, going to look at a 1984 Honda Magna 750cc shortly. I have done some reading and it is fairly common for these bikes to suffer from lack of lubrication to the camshafts. I have read about some aftermarket kits that can be installed that put more oil directly on to the cam bearings and also seen some guys that have built their own kits. Wondering if anyone on the forum rides one of these or has had one of these and can say they have done the mod? Either way I am going to do it but any one that has input would be helpful. Thanks again.
Ben.
-
Ben. Jack Graves who is in the PGVMCC i believe did the complete conversion with cooler etc. to his Honda V4 750 Intercepter. I suggest that you have a chat with him first. It and the Magna were known for their chocolate cams. I hope they are paying you to buy it. That is one dogs opinion good luck.
British Bulldog
-
Ben you can also talk to parker...madmac ...he has one. Also bulldog will say that about any bike that's not British so don't read too much into it.
-
British bikes have there issues to in engering, i will be the first to admit that and what it might cost and stay away from unless you have a love for a certain model. I love all motorcycles i started riding at 16 and i am 64 and still riding. What i am trying to say is try and find a bike with power plant that might not cost you big dollars unless that is the baby you relay want and don't care what it might cost you in the end. But as long as you are happy that is what counts. Sorry for been rude if that is the bike and model of your dreams. Just trying to help SORRY. Try and find a bike with a engine that is known to be close to bullet proof and a good track record without add on kits. The bike is 24 years old what i wonder what the bottom end may be like? Just a thought. Remember i love all motorcycles and it doesn't matter what a person rides to me as long as they are happy with the wind and a smile on there face.
British Bulldog
-
Correction it is 29 years old
British Bulldog
-
this bike only has 22,000 km on it and I am hoping that the cams haven't taken a beating yet. I read that Honda was replacing them for free back in the day so my hope is it is on it's second set. Besides the additional oil needed at the cams I haven't found to many things that go wrong with these. I pulled and inspected the carbs last night, which is far less fun than my CX500, and they were spotless. Emptied the tank, put in a inline filter, with a little coaxing it fired up and idled quite well. I think all that is left before riding is disassembling the front calipers to clean them out and getting the clutch bled. If MadMac has any suggestions/tips I am all ears. First time with one of these bikes and the previous owner gave me a owners manual he printed, only problem was he only printed the odd number pages. It is half helpful.......
-
I gave Parker a couple manuals, you may be able to bribe him with beer... As for this oiling thing I have never heard about it. Emery has a v-45 that is a high mile rat bike that he rides hard and it runs fine. Used to have a customer with a V-65 that was over 200,000 k and ran great. As long as it got the upgraded cams you should be good to go. CHEERS.
-
From what I have picked up over the years is that both the Sabre and the Magna had "some" cam issues. Honda did fix a few and after the first couple of years or so they fixed the problem and no more issues. It's sort of like the exploding Pintos (Ford for you younger ones ;) ). A few burned and the reputaion exploded. Yet there are 1000's that didn't. There are lots of sabres/magnas out there that have not had any problems. So ride and enjoy. :)
-
If the top end sounds quiet, then have at er. I have a 500 Magna that I thought was in need of a valve adjustment, Boy was I wrong. I ended up pulling the motor and getting the cams re- ground. I do not advise digging into this V-4 honda as i did. Unless, of course, You like a challange, as your tag line suggests..... ;D
-
I hope I don't have to do any major engine work but if it comes to that it could be interesting. Does anyone on here have a source for the small tapered head bolts that hold your clutch and brake fluid reservoir cap down? they always seem to be seized in on me and cannot find them anywhere. Even Wiser Wire and Rope doesn't have them, they seem to have everything. Also I am looking for a set of mufflers for this bike, I don't need them to be the same as the ones I am running but would hope they are not crazy huge or super small. Thanks, let me know what you have and what you want.
thanks again for all the help this forum offers.
-
Here's the trick. Steel and aluminum like to bond over time. Before you even try to turn those screws give them a good rap or 3 with a small drift (I use a brass one) This should break the bond and they will turn out easy. If you or (most likely) someone else has already stripped the screw head you want to use the same hammer and drift more aggressively. Beat the crap out of it forcing the corners in. Now take a 1/4 drive #2 Phillips bit and tap it into the top of the screw. Remove with screwdriver. Works 99 out of a hundred. As for replacement screws you might try Northern hardware- every time I can't find something they have it and they do have a large selection of smaller fasteners and a competent staff. Win or lose you can skip over to the Ritz bakery for the best bread in town and a tasty treat. If you go in the morning the bread is still warm . Luck and CHEERS.
-
I did try the punch trick, worked on one, the other still wouldn't come, I used a small chisel and forced it to turn slowly. Thanks for the help.
Dennis do you have a pair of Drag Bars I could borrow for a night to see if they work for me? I can come by anytime that is convenient for you. Thanks
-
I did try the punch trick, worked on one, the other still wouldn't come, I used a small chisel and forced it to turn slowly. Thanks for the help.
Dennis do you have a pair of Drag Bars I could borrow for a night to see if they work for me? I can come by anytime that is convenient for you. Thanks
I loaned them and my super bike bars but they haven't come home yet. Elliot has a used set in my garage which he'd probably loan for a mock up.
Some one should be in the garage tonight. I will be coming and going. I will be there late for sure because I have to have the flat tracker in it presentable state tonight or else.
Peace & Grease, Dennis
-
Thanks Dennis.
I will have to swing by another time. Got busy tearing apart the two front calipers and master cylinder tonight. Cleaned them all and they no longer drag. Went to Northern Hardware today and they do not have the bolts I need to hold down the master cylinder lid. Does anyone have any other suggestions as to where a person could buy these? Cycle North said they don't have anything which I find hard to believe. If I can't source new ones I will have to go out to Roys and pull some out of an old piece. thanks again.
Ben.
-
Chieftain is always worth a shot. I managed to get replacement Allen bolts for my 1980 KZ750 starter clutch, and they were a pretty random size.
-
Chieftain is always worth a shot. I managed to get replacement Allen bolts for my 1980 KZ750 starter clutch, and they were a pretty random size.
For a nice selection of metric allen cap bolt is Fastenal up on the Hart. My last experience with them was not great because they had to order stuff, but screwed up the order. However, they do stock on the shelves a nice selection of metric bolts. If you can't find it, don"t order it.
-
I found some but cannot get the bolt out. Tried extracting it and things went south. Wondering if anyone has a master cylinder lever combo off of a Honda though would like to sell. Prefer one designed for a dual disc bike but I think others will work.
-
If you (carefully) drill or grind the head off the screw the cover should come off and there should be just enough left to grab with a small pair of vise grips. Barring that take it to Jeff. Where did you find screws?? CHEERS.
-
Cycle north. Talked to someone competent. I am way beyond drilling the head off. No repairing this mistake. Need a new one. I think I'll head to Roy's tomorow and hope he has one.
-
You might try Kim at K+K motors. Bought a voltage regulator from him for 30 bucks this week. Didn't help. CHEERS.
-
Is there anyone on the forum that is a good welder? I want to make some bars for my bike out of 7/8 pipe but I don't know that I trust my welds on pipe that small. I can pay. Thanks.
Ben.
-
Another question for you all. My Magna runs great when cold, starts easy, idles well. But when I ride for a bit and shut it down it doesn't want to start for a while after. I am suspecting the voltage regulator is faulty, I have read they heat up when the bike is running in an attempt to get rid of the excess voltage created by the generator. My idea is to ride it until this happens, then hold an ice pack onto the thing and hope that the quick cooling will allow me to start again. Does anyone see any downsides to this idea? (besides water and electrical) also does anyone thing it is worth looking at roys for one? used one may be cheap but may be the problem again.
thanks
ben.
-
My understanding is that the voltage regulator only functions to control the voltage going to the battery. If the regulator is bad, the battery voltage would drop. If the battery has sufficient juice, the bike will run without a functioning reg/rect for over an hour. Have you checked the voltage across the terminals while it is running? When you say it won't start, do you mean the starter is not turning the engine over or the engine won't catch?
-
It is cranking fine but wont catch, has fuel, has air, has compression. Only leaves spark. This is the only thing I can find so far that is common. Not sure how to test the regulator. The battery seems to be charging fine when running but won't start when warm. I cannot test it when it is acting up because I can't start it.
-
If you pull the plug and leave attached to the plug wire, you can visually check for for spark. If there is no spark (or crackling noise) it could be your igniter (or equivalent component).
-
My Suzuki 400 was like that, traced it finally to a set of coils that were breaking down when they got warm. Solved when replaced.
-
I'm pretty sure that when you go to parkers house, you guys will figure it out.
Trust the guys on the forum here... without Parker or them and fast1.. my bike surely would not be running and providing me many many joyeous hours of riding this weekend !
-
So tonight I pulled my one valve cover to look into a noise I started to hear on my last ride. The cam chain seemed to be quite loose. I looked into how the cam chain tensioner works and could not decide if it was working or not without pulling the one camshaft and the tensioner. Once I pulled the tensioner I found half of the tensioner spring in the tensioner. I cannot find the other half. I think I am left with no choice but to pull the oil pan and hope it is there. Then find a new one, then install it all and hope nothing is wrong. On a side note I will for sure be putting the oil line mod on this bike, with only 22,000, (the one camshaft that is notorious for pitting) does have some pitting. All in all a pain in the butt and disappointing to say the least. Not sure when I will get it on the road, have to find a spring that is suitable and get the oil pan off, that requires pulling the exhaust, etc.
If you have a source for springs and patience I will take directions to either. Thanks.
-
The spring is steel so most of it should be on the oil plug magnet. If it is do a good flush and you shouldn't have to pull the pan. As for the tensioner try k&k motors first. Roy won't sell parts off a complete motor. CHEERS.
-
For some unknown reason there is no magnet on the pan plug, besides one hard to get at bolt, the pan will be fairly easy to remove. Also don't think that a bike that has sat for over 10 years could be harmed by getting all the other junk that has built up in there. Either way I will have to source a spring, I will call KK motors on Monday, thanks. If not I will call the dealers. I doubt they can get me that though. Thanks again.
-
So after three weeks of down time the magna lives once more. the cam chain tensioner spring broke, how I don't know, maybe due to age and sitting for 10 years? either way it was a pain to diagnose and a pain to fix. Had to pull one cam and then the tensioner, did this in frame and I wish it had been the front cylinders not the rear. bought a spring at cycle north ($4) cheap I thought. got it all back together today, all that is left is the voltage regulator (bike will not start once hot) and now the large fuel line that connects the primary to the secondary tank. (Hoping the bike wayne got has one, and that he has no use for it) All in all a learning experience.
I did order two springs when I bought them, does anyone think this was a random occurance or should I spend the time pulling the other side apart and changing that? I don't see it being a regular thing to break but if one can than another can. Opinions?
-
Just happens to be a voltage reg. on the Interceptor. The actual engine is gone but most of the electrical is there, complete set of carbs, airbox and a couple misc. pieces. Front brake master cylinder still works, clutch cylinder is there. good set of clocks. Tank is not dinged but no key to look inside, tail cowl, seat and tail light. I just want the suspension. Call me tomorrow about coming for what you want. Thanks and a beer owed to Syncro. CHEERS.
-
Awesome. I can come by anytime you want tomorrow. I am for sure going to be downtown and out and about at 11:00. not sure where you live but anywhere works. Also I will take anything you don't need. I have only put 70 km on this bike and don't know what else may fail. thanks. where would I bring beer for "syncro".
-
Stripped the VFR to the bare frame after you left Ben. The i.c. igniters (c.d.i.s) from the tail which is what I actually think is wrong with your bike along with the fuel pump and the rest of the electrical. After some measuring it became obvious that adapting the suspension to my Suzuki is not viable. Ended up with a small pile of goodies to keep. Everything else is available to whomever wants them at the price I paid-0. The rear axle, swing arm pivots and steering head bearings all still had grease on them and everything came apart easy. CHEERS.
-
I can come grab it all on Wednesday if that works for you Wayne. I am tied up until then. Thanks