Looking for a local HONDA mechanic

[Eck]

Note: This is NOT my bike, but it belongs a neighbors bike and I am trying to help him.

I told him I would post here and see if I could locate a local (Huntsville, Al. area), HONDA mechanic or if someone may know of a local mechanic.

 

1983 V45 Honda 750 magna.

Problem: Fuel Leak - Fuel appears to be leaking from left carb. Fuel runs down main fuel inlet hose near the "T" joint.

 

Owner is wanting to sell this beautiful low mileage 83 and he does not want to put a bunch of money into it.

I forgot how many miles are on it but there wasn't very many at all.

 

This bike has been sitting in his garage for a long time. It starts right up and I must say it sounds great, but it has this fuel leak.

Anyone know a mechanic that can help out.

[slowrollwv]

Eck I am not in AL but my son and his friend work on those old Hondas all the time. I would be interested in buying it the way it is if he will sell it. I have been looking for an older bike to use for short days on the road.

[jimmy99]

I had an 82 V45 Magna, awesome bike. Good power and handling, felt like a lighter smaller MKII Venture.

 

The carbs are little tricky to get out of and in to the frame but otherwise no more difficult to work on than any other bike.

[MiCarl]

If it's in the carburetors or the fuel rails between them he is looking at a lot of labor. We'd bill 6 hours + parts to remove the carburetors and go through them.

 

From a money standpoint he'd probably be better off selling as it is.

[cowpuc]

Sad to say cause those were really fun bikes but I am with Carl.. If it has to go to a shop and have the carbs gone thru it will probably not be cheap. Something he may try is checking out Craigslist in the Motorcycle Parts section. I know around here there are back yard mechanics who advertise in there from time to time - of course you usually get what you pay for, gotta keep that in mind.. Could even run a quick ad "Looking For Mechanic To Repair Honda V-45 Carbs" - ya never know..

Also, something else to consider about putting a lot of money into it. A lot like our early 1st Gen Yamaha's and the second gear issue reducing the value of them, Honda had some issues back then with top end problems - cam failure in both the V45's and the 65's that may or may not affect the final selling price of it. That was a shame too because they had hydraulic lifters which should have made for a great high mileage scoot.. On the same token though, if it is an extremely low mileage scoot and in perfect condition, who knows.. Just some thoughts..

[cowpuc]

Also may get ahold of these guys and see if they know of a small shop in the area who work on older Metric street bikes. Never know.. By the way, all the best to your neighbor on what ever he decides Eck!

http://huntsville.craigslist.org/mcy/5288195054.html

[Eck]

Slowrollwv - I will tell him you are interested in it as is and give him your phone number if that is OK with you. I will only give him your phone number IF he wants to sell it as is..

 

Jimmy99 - I have read several times how this bike is harder to work on than any other out there. Especially the carbs, and that is why I don't want to attempt to do it for him..

 

MiCarl - He was already given a price of $400 to fix the leak. (Not rebuilding the carbs, but to fix wherever the leak is "only".)

 

Cowpuc - Thanks for the link. I am sending it to him now...I will also save it in my files....(you know..just in case I may need some help...)

 

Thanks guys for the come back info!! You guys rock!!!!!!!!

[jimmy99]

The carbs aren't completely terrible to do, just more so than other bikes. You have to drain the radiator and remove it, the upper fuel tank, some covers, etc. The air box/carbs come out as a unit from the side. It is a bit of a puzzle to get them out of the frame and I ended up cutting a small piece off the air box to make it easier (no one would ever see the missing piece). Once the air box is out, the float bowls can be removed and like other bikes most of the vital components can then be cleaned. He likely just has a sticky or dirty float valve.

 

The job could be done by the average backyard mechanic in an afternoon. Just work on one carb at a time as there are differences between the front and rear units. If it were closer to me I would do it for a few beers.

[Eck]

Slowrollwv - I just sent you an email with the AS IS price that he is asking..

(Edit: I sent him a text asking what the actual mileage is. Will post after his reply).

 

Jimmy99 - I read many an article and found you don't really have to pull the radiator, but you are correct in everything else. It makes it a lot easier if one does pull the radiator but it can be done without pulling it.

 

I was about 75% committed to attempt doing it, but that last 25% made my mind up NOT to attempt it. I don't want to be tied up working in his garage, on my knees, with out the bike on a jack to raise it up to a more comfortable level, and I don't have the place for it in my garage.

Edited November 8, 2015 by Eck

[Eck]

Slowrollwv

This bike has 16,188 original miles on it. I sent you his phone number (via email) in the case you are interested.

 

Eck

[Beach Bum]

I did the carbs on my 85 V65 Sabre and it was a bit of a pain in the ass. Whenever I hear of someone considering an attempt at this job the first thing I recommend is to buy a set of aluminum fuel pipes off of eBay (they connect the carbs with fuel). The OEM are plastic and mostly break when they've been in service for a number of years.

 

[Eck]

I did the carbs on my 85 V65 Sabre and it was a bit of a pain in the ass. Whenever I hear of someone considering an attempt at this job the first thing I recommend is to buy a set of aluminum fuel pipes off of eBay (they connect the carbs with fuel). The OEM are plastic and mostly break when they've been in service for a number of years.

 

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Very nice clean looking ride Beach bum.....SWEET!!!!

I am fairly mechanically inclined but after reading about the carbs, the work involved and then looking at the bike in person and being able to visually SEE the mass of labor involved I decided NOT to attempt working on his bike. Now if it was mine, I would tackle it and know I would not be rushing to get it done or having anyone watching every step I do over my shoulder...

[jimmy99]

Very nice clean looking ride Beach bum.....SWEET!!!!

I am fairly mechanically inclined but after reading about the carbs, the work involved and then looking at the bike in person and being able to visually SEE the mass of labor involved I decided NOT to attempt working on his bike. Now if it was mine, I would tackle it and know I would not be rushing to get it done or having anyone watching every step I do over my shoulder...

 

Don't blame you at all Eck. As you likely know - it seems like when you are working on someone else's stuff, things tend to go wrong or you break something. Then you feel bad as you were just trying to help but made things worse. I usually end up with $$ out of my pocket to fix whatever I screwed up and fix the bike/snowmobile/whatever and make it right.

If it were your own bike... then entirely different story as you mentioned.

You did the right thing here, looked into it, got some info, and decided it just wasn't worth the headache for you. Too many people might have just jumped in and in the end caused tension between friends.

 

Being the V45 has such low mileage I'm sure it will be an easy sell as long as he doesn't think it's made of gold.

[Eck]

.......Being the V45 has such low mileage I'm sure it will be an easy sell as long as he doesn't think it's made of gold.

 

Owner of bike said: As is condition... $1750

Note: Not trying to sell his bike in this post now, just stating what he is asking for it.

 

After speaking with him for a lengthy time, I find him very knowledgeable and very mechanically inclined. He worked on Helicopters while in the service and he was a mechanic at a major FORD dealer.

Heck if he can work on FORD's.............he surely can fix his own bike.........

Edited November 9, 2015 by Eck

[jimmy99]

Heck if he can work on FORD's.............he surely can fix his own bike.........

 

Haha, that's funny.