I don't have time to work on it, not that I know anything about them, or anything for that matter, but it's my little brother's project. Well it's a '78 Honda 750 Hondamatic piece'o'crap. But the sucker won't stay started, has problems starting, and is kinda crappy sounding. We just re hooked up the fuel lines and changed them out, changed out the fuel and oil, changed out the spark plugs and wires, cleaned the carbs, and tried to re-wire it (that was all him, he has this problem w/ tearing things apart as soon as he gets them, umm, yeah). Bro got it for free from one of my old neighbors accross the street, I say one because the guys that really owned this bike where at that point in jail for attempted gang related murder, , a great neighborhood mind you! If you could ask me some questions that I can answer to sort out this thing that would be awesome, not really trad, but he'd like to turn it into a chopper, or get it running to sell and buy a bike that's more to his liking. Also, weren't their some guys on here that built these bikes for a living, this was some time back. Thanks, sorry about the non trad post, but I wasn't sure where else to turn. Later, -peter
Start with the easy stuff first. Like checking for water in the Carbs and Tank, new plugs & wires, new fuel lines, etc.
I had a 750 honda that started mis-firing and got hard to start also. Turned out it was one of the condensors shorting out.
check your points and coils next. bike has 2 sets of points. once you get it running shine it on- there's much better candidates for a chopper than a Hondamatic in my opinion.
I bought an early 80's biker magazine for the beer belly contest pics and it has an automatic 750 chopper featured. The owner is pretty neat looking and had some handicap that required the auto trans. Anyhow, I don't have a scanner but if you really care I could take some digipics and post them. Chris
Not my choice for one either Dan, but the boy is trying to work w/ what he has. And Chris, I'm sure he'd love to see them, thanks man. -peter
Make sure your battery is up to snuff. My Honda 360 twin street bike got to where it wouldn't pull too well near the top end and later on got to where it stumbled along at full throttle past the RPM half way mark. A new battery cured it.
Peter, Since I had to spend 20 minutes photoing and uploading, you have to see this first... Otherwise it's a pretty goofy 70's style chop from Iron Horse, 6/1980... Dude's pretty bad ass... Chris
cleaning the carbs isn't as easy as may look...usually the pilot jets are blocked. remove the bowl, pilot jet is next to the main jet. you must remove the pilot(some times callsd the low speed jet) and clean it, also remove the mixture screw. this passage way must be clean, spray carb clean in the mixture screw passage it should come out the pilot hole......also if it is hard to start check the small passage in the float bowl.. this is the pick up for the choke........hope this helps by the way i clean my carbs with Simple Green, works great! CT.
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