[Chromequeen]

I had to post, since there are so many of you who have PM'd or asked on here about Sassy, and if I'd put her back together.

I'm feeling much better now, and couldn't resist the garage one more day. Put the pet c o c k on prime, sprayed a couple squirts of carb cleaner in the air filter and kept trying her, and one minute later heard signs of life.... She sputtered, backfired, and then roarrrred!!!
Seriously guys, I have never heard her run so smoothly! She sat there in the garage just humming, and patiently waited til I did my "joyful" dance, screamed and laughed, and donned my riding gloves and helmet. She didn't grumble at all when I took the choke all the way off, just sat humming nicely.

Took her for a ride, and she just sang! (Temporarily...) Went one street down, and she was living it up as much as me, next street I'm feeling some hesitations, and I start toward home since it doesn't look good. Third street she's complaining heavily now, and sounded like she was only running on 2 or 3 cylinders. By the time I got close to the house, she was bogging down and then stalled as I turned into the driveway... :?

One of my MI friends had her friend who is quite mechanical call me, and he said it sounded like the gaskets that connect the carbs to the cylinders needed to be replaced. Mechanics, does this sound like an air leak to you? Do I need to replace the carburetor manifold gaskets and tighten up the clamps to the air box boots? Or could this also be a sync'ing issue with the carbs from just being taken off and cleaned?

And lastly, what can I expect a reputable mechanic to charge me to sync them? I called one place, and told them I had taken them apart and cleaned them up within an inch of their lives, and what would he charge me,and he said the same as if I'd not touched them at all. NOT!
I don't think so, I did all that work, shouldn't I get a little bit off for effort? :wink:

Whatever it is, I am sooooo not upset, because while hearing her run again, I thought I was going to have a stroke! :wink: :grin:

And now the rest of the story; as Paul Harvey would say............
After she stalled and I rolled into the driveway, I parked it and (stupidly) leave the keys in the ignition, while I run inside for something. I came back out 30 minutes later. My bike is sitting there clicking, and I freak out! One of the bratty neighborhood kids tried to start it, and left the ignition turned on.... So now I have a dead battery, sitting on the trickle charger for the night.

I am smiling, even with a dead battery...... I cannot believe I heard her run today! Yipppppeeeee! A few more days, and I'll be a biker chic all over again! :grin: :grin: :grin:

 

[QKENUF4U]

you sure you have your float heights correct and your needle/seats are good ? sounds like you cleaned it out enough while working on it that it took a bit before it was flooded with fuel again (gas fouled plugs)

 

[Chromequeen]

No Lance,
I'm not sure about that, and if that's what you think it might be, then she'll have to see the mechanic. I don't know enough to do this all over again.

 

[Kenny]

Thank the Good Lord! I am so happy for you Chromegirl!!!!! I know it may have quit on you but you have made great progress,have'nt you? Yeah,do check for air leaks,and make sure the gas was cut on when you left the house!(just a thought). But anyway,congratulations to ya!!!! I'm excited too!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[2WheelFun]

Somehow....I knew this day would come!

Excellent job CQ!!! It does sound like Lance is giving you good information....and of course you'll need to sync the carbs also.

Did your manual arrive yet?

 

[woodchucks800]

Glad to here you got it running Chromy. As far as the wrench goes. He'll charge by the hour so what ever you did probably won't have much to do with what he has to do to get it running right.Just make sure he's a wrench that knows what he's doing. I'm guessing it should take no more than a couple of hours if that,so that should tell you a ball park price if you know what his hourly rate is.

 

[Chromequeen]

Thanks Kenny........

Thanks Kenny, and yeah, I'm pretty peticular about the gas and all that since it is in my garage... Yep, you've been one of the male cheerleaders!! :wink:

 

[Chromequeen]

Thanks Whistle...

Whistle, You've talked me through many rough spots alright, and you DID know that this day would come!
No manual yet, but it will help next time I need to tear into something! And yes, you're right, those carbs will need to be sync'd and I wish Lance was in my area so I could pay him to do it!!!

 

[Chromequeen]

Thanks Woody...

Woody, You are right... I hadn't considered that fact. I guess that makes total sense, he won't have to re-do what I've done, so his job will be sync'ing them.... Thanks for the congratulations!

 

[ispeed77]

just keep smiling like you are right now ! she'll purr again soon enough.

 

[Spok]

not sure how I missed this post yesterday, but hey...

GREAT NEWS for you. I knew you'd get Sassy running, and she is still living up to her name. Don't worry, it's all downhill now

 

[flynsouth]

Well I gotta tell ya, this has been a trial watching you try and rebuild and learn. There must be such a sesne of pride running through you right now that overcomes everything else you were worried about over the last couple weeks. You've gotten some very sage advice here and I can't offer anything additional mechanically but I'll tell you, you are rare and special in terms of your desire and fortitude to learn and see this through. There is nothing wrong in asking for a little help, in fact testosterone is what keeps most of us guys admitting until too late we need it and you'll rarely see a post about that!

 

[Chromequeen]

Thanks Ispeed and Spok, this little cheerleading section has really helped me get through this! And all too soon, I'll be telling ya about my riding adventures!

 

[Chromequeen]

Flyin'... You are right. I do have a sense of pride that has kept me smiling inside all day! I have had this "insane" love for anything motorized since I was able to walk and talk really. I used to take my remote control toys apart much to my adopted Mom's dismay... And I grew up hearing that girls didn't belong on bikes, or driving semi's, or doing anything "boyish" and I think it made my desire grow even more! :wink: Anyway, My husband has always cheered me on when ever I've decided to take something on like this, and with all of you, it has been even more of a reward.... I think our site, and all of you are just invaluable. I can't wait to have the honor of meeting each of you someday! :wink:

 

[2WheelFun]

CQ.....I raise my wine glass to you in honor of your get - r - done spirit.

Hip Hip Hooray!!! LOL

 

[gpzrider]

I am glad to hear you were able to get it going, even for a little while. I don't know about an airbox leak being your problem. An airbox leak normally shows it's self with mid range hesitation or roughness, but doesn't tend to effect idle or rpm's over 3500 or so. The first because not enough air is being drawn in to make a difference and the second because so much air is being drawn in.

It could be the carb boots, and that is easy enough to check for. In my experience, a leak in the carb boots makes adjusting the idle difficult if not impossible and creates an extreme lean condition when rpm's are elevated. Check the plugs to see what condition they are in. White for lean, tan for normal, blackened for a rich condition. To check for an air leak, if you can restart it, spray a little WD-40 around the carb and vacuum lines while it's idling. If the engine rpm's change you just have to find where it got into the system.

 

[Alex214]

I knew this day would come. Congratulations and good job!

 

[windrider18]

Woohoo! Way to go Chromequeen! I can't help with your stalling/carb problems, but I can cheer you on

Think Spring! Happy and safe riding!

Angela

 

[ispeed77]

Angela
glad you chimed in, this cheering squad has been needing some females in it !! we aren't the best looking bunch in short skirts....... :?

 

[Tobydawg]

Nicely done Chrome. Glad to hear you got it running.