Eck Posted October 21, 2015 #1 Posted October 21, 2015 (edited) 1st time ever - Honda 450 Rebel carb rebuild Neighbor stopped by and asked if I could fix his old Honda Rebel. I said, bring up..I will give it my best shot. 10 minutes later, Im tearing the carbs off of it. Rebuilt and re-installed them (see attached pics), and it runs like a champ!! Just touch the starter button and it pops right off. OK, now the bad news... I put the bike up on my jack. After letting it down and starting it, the exhaust is now leaking severely...which it didn't do before. I look up under the bike at the exhaust, and I broke the darn crossover pipe off on one side.. So, now I take off the left hand side exhaust from block all the way back to muffler keeping it all assembled. I was able to remove the crossover pipe, Thank GOD there was a clamp / connection in the middle of the crossover pipe... I cleaned the broken edge of the cross over pipe and the broken edge of the exhaust pipe, so tomorrow I am off to the welder down town in hopes he can weld it up for me. Dang I didn't want to break this thing...sniff, tear, sniff... You try to help someone and it ends up costing you... Edited October 21, 2015 by Eck
cowpuc Posted October 21, 2015 #2 Posted October 21, 2015 Awe,, sorry about the pipe break Eckster BUT good on ya for helping out a friend:thumbsup:!! Gotta LOVE it when a plan comes together and a cool old scoot that aint been run in a while comes to life and makes ya though!! You da man brother!! :clap2: But only cause I KNOW you are gonna actually post those pics you are talking about:cool18:
cowpuc Posted October 21, 2015 #3 Posted October 21, 2015 What the heckster Eckster,,, those pics just magically appeared:think:
cowpuc Posted October 21, 2015 #4 Posted October 21, 2015 That last pic looks more like a vacuum operated fuel petcock assembly than I carb part,, that Eckster,, he holds nothing back when cleaning a fuel system if it is:beer:
Flyinfool Posted October 21, 2015 #5 Posted October 21, 2015 Let no good deed go unpunished.......... I would weld it for ya if ya bring it over here.......
cowpuc Posted October 21, 2015 #6 Posted October 21, 2015 Let no good deed go unpunished.......... I would weld it for ya if ya bring it over here....... You got a Tigger Fool? Careful,, if ya say yes I may just have to move into your shed next to the Snoper
Flyinfool Posted October 21, 2015 #7 Posted October 21, 2015 I have Gas, stick and MIG. TIG is still on the shopping list, but I have THE one picked out, just need $2K to snag it and the required consumables.
Eck Posted October 21, 2015 Author #8 Posted October 21, 2015 That last pic looks more like a vacuum operated fuel petcock assembly than I carb part,, that Eckster,, he holds nothing back when cleaning a fuel system if it is:beer: You are exactly right Cowpuc.. It is indeed the vacuum operated fuel petcock assembly in the last pic. I have it in my vice to hold it while I operated on it.. I drained all the old fuel out of the fuel tank, then removed the petcock assembly and took it apart and cleaned it all up, then put fresh high octane back in the tank. This way "I know" that everything from beginning to end of the fuel system is clean, and I'm not reusing any bad fuel that may have been part of the original problem with it running correctly. I just wish I paid near as much attention as to where I placed the jack...I thought when I looked under the bike I was putting the jack on the frame. I hate realizing that I just cant see as well as I once did...Dummy me..
cowpuc Posted October 21, 2015 #9 Posted October 21, 2015 You are exactly right Cowpuc.. It is indeed the vacuum operated fuel petcock assembly in the last pic. I have it in my vice to hold it while I operated on it.. I drained all the old fuel out of the fuel tank, then removed the petcock assembly and took it apart and cleaned it all up, then put fresh high octane back in the tank. This way "I know" that everything from beginning to end of the fuel system is clean, and I'm not reusing any bad fuel that may have been part of the original problem with it running correctly. I just wish I paid near as much attention as to where I placed the jack...I thought when I looked under the bike I was putting the jack on the frame. I hate realizing that I just cant see as well as I once did...Dummy me.. Right there with ya Eckster,, my vision was perfect for many years - now I gotta wear these PAIN IN THE NECK 3 power reading glasses to see anything,, drives me crazy.. Couple that with a good case of Dupentren's (its a hand ailment - cant open my fingers - farthest I can move my right pinky off the palm of my hand is about 1/2 inch) and this ol gear head is about shot. Bottom line my friend,, sounds like we are in the same raft going over the same waterfall Same as you too,, I still LOVE bringing ol scoots back to the land of the living!! It's FUN when you do everything right and bikes like that little Honda just set there and purrrr for ya!! Puts a well deserved smile on the face dont it brother? It put a on my face just following you here, THANKS:thumbsup: Not to side track you but gotta ask,, wondered if you did a real close check on the internal's of the fuel tank on that little Honda? I couldnt help but notice it had an add on fuel filter in one of the pics.. Back when I had my shop and I saw that (I know,, my buddies always tell me I see WAYYYY to much) on a scoot whose owner came in for a carb job I always took my little pen light and mirror and checked the tank really closely. Amazing how many times I found rusted tanks and its also amazing how some of those little rust particles could always find a way to ruin all my hard work:95:even thru the best of filters.. Just thought I would ask - knowing you you are wayyy ahead of my thoughts.. Thanks again for sharing this fun little thread - and with 's non the less:thumbsup: Your ol buddy Pucsterrrr
Eck Posted October 21, 2015 Author #10 Posted October 21, 2015 Cowpuc, The neighbor rides this bike every day. He goes past my house 3 to 4 times a day with it. The bike has not been sitting for rust to take over the tank. He filled up and had water in his gas tank so I drained it all out and replaced with fresh high octane, and cleaned out his entire fuel system completely! I just rode the bike to his house down the street, and it runs like a champ I feel anyway. I took the exhaust into town this morning and got it welded up since I broke it and put it back on...no leaks thank GOD... I was going to charge him $100.00 to do all this but since I broke his exhaust, I told him to just pay me $75.00, so not only did I pay $25 bucks to have it welded I also took another $25.00 off the price in hopes of making a fair deal with him. Im still upset that I broke his exhaust...
cowpuc Posted October 21, 2015 #11 Posted October 21, 2015 I have Gas, stick and MIG. TIG is still on the shopping list, but I have THE one picked out, just need $2K to snag it and the required consumables. Oh well,, got the same setup here except for the stick - burned down my old Lincoln buzz box and never replaced it.. Guess the shed you keep your White Washer in is safe from having me swim over and occupy it brother.. Spent some time Tigging pipe for the Boilermakers years back = what a BLAST!! Use to love walking the cup.. Also did a fair amount of sheet metal tigging in the shop - soooo pretty.. The shops tigger had foot pedal controls,, wayy sensitive and talk about welding the super thin stuff - ROCK N ROLL BRO!! Always wanted my own BUT, as you mentioned,, kinda sorta pricey to set up and own.. Wish we didnt have this 40 mile stretch of water between us,, we could join forces and cop us a tigger:thumbsup: Even share tungsten - each grind an end to our own satisfaction:big-grin-emoticon:
cowpuc Posted October 21, 2015 #12 Posted October 21, 2015 Cowpuc, The neighbor rides this bike every day. He goes past my house 3 to 4 times a day with it. The bike has not been sitting for rust to take over the tank. He filled up and had water in his gas tank so I drained it all out and replaced with fresh high octane, and cleaned out his entire fuel system completely! I just rode the bike to his house down the street, and it runs like a champ I feel anyway. I took the exhaust into town this morning and got it welded up since I broke it and put it back on...no leaks thank GOD... I was going to charge him $100.00 to do all this but since I broke his exhaust, I told him to just pay me $75.00, so not only did I pay $25 bucks to have it welded I also took another $25.00 off the price in hopes of making a fair deal with him. Im still upset that I broke his exhaust... Indeed,, I hate when that kinda stuff happens too Eckster,, know how ya feel brother.. I knew you were well on top of everything when I posted that bit about the fuel tank.. I actually wrote that for the benefit of an innocent bystanders who might be following this thread,,, just a reminder kind of thing.. You do very very nice work my friend, I know,, I been watchin By the way,, even though the broken pipe hurts and all that,, still gonna be really cool now to see your friend smiling and watch the scoot go by knowing that you helped - try to look at the positive outcome beyond the broken pipe:thumbsup:
Eck Posted October 22, 2015 Author #13 Posted October 22, 2015 Well here is the verdict on my attempt to rebuild the carbs on an old Honda rebel. A model or bike that I have never owned, rode or worked on in my life. The neighbor stopped by on his Honda Rebel about three hours after I dropped it off at his house. He rode the bike up my driveway and shut it off in front of my garage. I was in the garage at the time and stepped out to greet him. He said: We have to talk...I said oh-el..He said I have owned this bike for several years and this bike has never started so fast. This bike has never run so quiet or so smoothe. I don't know what you did but this is a new bike to me. It runs faster then it ever has. Even my wife made comment on how quiet it is... I said well, I am glad you are happy with the results. He handed me some folded up bills and said: Here, this is less than half of what the dealer wanted to fix this bike. I never looked or counted the bills. He shook my hand and drove off down the road. About an hour later I pulled the bills out of my pocket. I told him $75 bucks for what I did. I counted the bills and he gave me $120 BUCKS.... I am a happy idiotic mechanic right now....cant believe he gave me that much over what I told him I would charge him.. He is one happy neighbor I must say..
cowpuc Posted October 22, 2015 #14 Posted October 22, 2015 Well here is the verdict on my attempt to rebuild the carbs on an old Honda rebel. A model or bike that I have never owned, rode or worked on in my life. The neighbor stopped by on his Honda Rebel about three hours after I dropped it off at his house. He rode the bike up my driveway and shut it off in front of my garage. I was in the garage at the time and stepped out to greet him. He said: We have to talk...I said oh-el..He said I have owned this bike for several years and this bike has never started so fast. This bike has never run so quiet or so smoothe. I don't know what you did but this is a new bike to me. It runs faster then it ever has. Even my wife made comment on how quiet it is... I said well, I am glad you are happy with the results. He handed me some folded up bills and said: Here, this is less than half of what the dealer wanted to fix this bike. I never looked or counted the bills. He shook my hand and drove off down the road. About an hour later I pulled the bills out of my pocket. I told him $75 bucks for what I did. I counted the bills and he gave me $120 BUCKS.... I am a happy idiotic mechanic right now....cant believe he gave me that much over what I told him I would charge him.. He is one happy neighbor I must say.. :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::bowdown::bowdown::bowdown::bowdown: Gotta let you know Eckster, all that above is in response to what your neighbor did!!! He kinda put it all in perspective didnt he:guitarist 2::happy65: In a world that can seem overflowing with people trying to take advantage of others, a land of hard found real respect for a person's long earned skills and patience in applying those skills and where it seems like most times people only care about themselves - suddenly we get a wake up call that all that really isnt so.. There really are some very decent people out there and YOU my friend have one for a neighbor!!
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