New Owner-'82 750 Nighthawk

[ksaillant]

Greetings,

New to the group.  Recently purchased 1982 750 Nighthawk.  Not my first bike, just needed a good reliable to and from work bike.  It has been sitting for a couple years, cleans carbs, oil change, general maintenance, etc.  Got it running, found stator was bad, replaced.  He's my problem.  She is VERY difficult to start.  Fully charged battery yesterday, rode approx. 50 miles, (first trip), parked last night.  This morning,crank,...crank...crank,...just wont fire.  Didnt have tender on it last night figuring battery was good after ride.  Wants to start, battery cranks over good (until I ran it down,...more I crank,...more frustrating it gets, ) She stutters and stumbles and just won't take off.  Seems starved for fuel, but plugs are sometimes wet.  I know, could just be me not being able to figure choke settings, throttle position, etc.
Been that way from when I first started to work on it.  Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.  Guess I'm spoiled, ride a '07 Bandit for long trips, starts like a dream.  (I know,...big difference, etc).
Always wanted a Nighthawk, great look, great ride,...just needs a little help.

Any help, comments, questions are welcome.

[ROJ]

Congrats on the bike and  . Have you checked the plug wires, CDI, etc. to make sure they are all in good shape? Are you getting a strong spark to each plug?? Also take a look at the vacuum line going to the top of the carbs on the right side of the bike. That is a valve that shuts the fuel off when it loses vacuum. I had to replace mine to get it to start properly at first, so if its gettting stuck open you may be flooding the cylinders.
  Just a couple thoughts. Hope they help.

[ksaillant]

Thanks for the heads up ! ,....will check it all out and let you know.

[detdrbuzzard]

hello and welcome to nighthawk forums ksaillant

[Tryvelcro]

Greetings,

New to the group.  Recently purchased 1982 750 Nighthawk.  Not my first bike, just needed a good reliable to and from work bike.  It has been sitting for a couple years, cleans carbs, oil change, general maintenance, etc.  Got it running, found stator was bad, replaced.  He's my problem.  She is VERY difficult to start.  Fully charged battery yesterday, rode approx. 50 miles, (first trip), parked last night.  This morning,crank,...crank...crank,...just wont fire.  Didnt have tender on it last night figuring battery was good after ride.  Wants to start, battery cranks over good (until I ran it down,...more I crank,...more frustrating it gets, ) She stutters and stumbles and just won't take off.  Seems starved for fuel, but plugs are sometimes wet.  I know, could just be me not being able to figure choke settings, throttle position, etc.
Been that way from when I first started to work on it.  Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.  Guess I'm spoiled, ride a '07 Bandit for long trips, starts like a dream.  (I know,...big difference, etc).
Always wanted a Nighthawk, great look, great ride,...just needs a little help.

Any help, comments, questions are welcome.

Good bike combination!  I have, too, have a Hawk & now a Bandit (as of a week ago).

Welcome to the forums. 

I'm sure the gurus will chime in here, but this sounds a lot like a problem I was having a few weeks ago (cranking, not starting, seeming fuel starved).  Have you checked the petcock?  That was the source of my problem.

[ksaillant]

Thanks for the help.  Digging back into it tonight.  Will let you know.

Thanks again.

[swalter]

Hey Velcro, which Bandit did you purchase.  I really want a 1250 with ABS to put in the stall next to my Nighthawk.