Yet another new Nighthawk rider

[Firebird]

Bought a Nighthawk last year. Didn't get much chance to ride, but have more time this year and already been out a few times.

She's an 83 Nighthawk 650. 18,000 miles and runs great. Passed inspection no prob, starts every time.

Got a few questions for the group.

Final drive is leaking around what looks to be a vent..a small chrome cap. I checked the final drive fluid level and it is fine.

After some research it would seem that the cam chain is causing some noise. How difficult is this to replace?

I get some wobble in the front end on decelleration. It comes in about 20 mph and stops around 13 mph. Any suggestions?

Also, the bike will need new exhaust fairly soon. It is rusting from the inside out. Where can I find new mufflers for it?

Thanks,

Dave

[Firebird]

Here's a pic

[Brittles]

Got a few questions for the group.

Final drive is leaking around what looks to be a vent..a small chrome cap. I checked the final drive fluid level and it is fine.

 
I've heard that overfilling can cause leaking around the vent.

I get some wobble in the front end on decelleration. It comes in about 20 mph and stops around 13 mph. Any suggestions?

I've seen a new front tire cure this problem.

[hppants]

  Dave

The vent cap on a 700s is still available, check your dealer.  Also, don't over tighten the pot metal fill plug.  BTDT - Tighten just enough to compress the o-ring.  Luckily, this too is available from Honda.

[Adam Roby]

Welcome to the group.  Cam chain tensioner can be adjusted on most if not all bikes, if you have a shop manual I would check that out or if someone here has the same bike can step you through it.  

[Firebird]

As mentioned before, final drive fluid level is fine.

Book says tensioner is automatic. No adjustments.

Thanks for the replies

[cb700sc]

New front tire just fixed my decel wobble... I had the same front tire as you.

Just because the tensioner says "automatic" doesn't mean its doing its job....

[Firebird]

The manual doesn't give me any info whatsoever on the tensioner. All it says is that it is automatic and no adjustment required. Where is it and how do I get to it and what do I do when I get there?

I might have to replace that front tire. It has plenty of tread, but I don't know how old it is and I have had the bike for a year and a half and put less than 1,000 miles on it.

Thanks again,

Dave

[happycommuter]

 
Vent cap is there to release pressure from heat.  It's working.  Totally replacing the fluid (do you know that there is good hypoid oil in there now?) is cheap and easy.

The shimmy could also be a slight wheel imbalance, or worn steering bearings.  Getting the front wheel up in the air should reveal either problem.  There should be a date code on the tires.

Chains make some noise.  Is this a constant nash, or a repeating, whining or other troublesome noise?

[Firebird]

Good point about the oil in the final drive. Wouldn't be hard to replace.

The noise I am getting is kinda like ball bearings rattling around. I will have to investigate further.

The bike is really in great shape and I really enjoy it. It has a lot more get-up and go than I expected from a 650.

There was enough fluid after my last ride leaking out of the vent cap on the final drive to where it was leaving a quarter size puddle wherever I parked.

[ariwhiteboy]

  to the forum firebird.  Nice lookin bike you got there, don't worry about the little problems.  Pretty much anything you need to do we should be able to walk you through it.

[genespleen]

Hi,

Nice-looking Nighthawk.  Consider joining the Yahoo group for Nighthawks, and look in the "Files" section.  There you'll see a 4-part document on R&R'ing the cam-chain issue.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/honda_nighthawk/

Also, use the search function here at this forum, and you'll find a lot of info. on what is a common problem with older Nighthawks.

best,
David

[fishball]

Hi and welcome.  Hope you get your issues sorted out soon enough.  Could wheel bearings have anything to do with the front wobble at deceleration?

[Firebird]

Well, the wobble issue is only on deceleration. During a turn to the right I hear what sounds like a brake pad lightly rubbing on the front rotor. Only to the right though. Maybe could use some front wheel bearings?

Is the Cam chain issue a difficult one to fix?

Where can I find replacement mufflers for the bike.

Thanks for all the compliments on my Nighthawk.

Thanks for all the help,

Dave

[Brittles]

Well, the wobble issue is only on deceleration. During a turn to the right I hear what sounds like a brake pad lightly rubbing on the front rotor. Only to the right though. Maybe could use some front wheel bearings?

Brake pads are always lightly against the brake rotors. Maybe your hearing it when turning to the right because the rotor is directed towards you more and you don't hear it when turning left because your deaf in your left ear? 

Seriously, get the front wheel off the ground and feel for movement in the wheel. Do a fall away test on the front end to check the neck bearings. I'm betting the front tire is the problem with your wobble, but I could be wrong......been wrong before.

As far as an exhaust, ebay, salvage yards, and Craigslist are about your only choices.

[Firebird]

Checked out the front end this evening. Can't find anything wrong. Everything seems tight. maybe I am just being paranoid about it.

Don't think I am deaf in my left ear, probably more likely in my right..it's the side my wife sits on when we are in the car 

[Firebird]

Got new tires front and rear on the bike and all the decel wobble is gone. Thanks for the suggestions.

I am hearing a light ticking noise in the engine at idle and I think the noise is increasing with engine RPM. It sounds a lot like a solid lifter engine should sound..But I believe this is a hydraulic lifter engine.

At highway speeds the noise sounds like something rattling...Hard to explain a noise..It makes me think of keys rattling in the switch, or a cover or something just slightly loose. Like I said, kinda hard to explain.

Thanks for all the suggestions,

Dave

[hppants]

The noise is probably your cam chain.  It's probably been there the whole time and you are just noticiing it.  A light cam chain noise is normal for these bikes.  To fix it, it's a pretty big job for an advanced mechanic, and a monstrous job for a beginner like me.  So, IMO, unless it gets really bad, I wouldn't mess with it.

[Firebird]

Thanks. I kinda figured it was the cam chain. At idle you can barely hear it. Once moving I can hear it but most people can't. It is probably me and my "It's gotta be perfect" mentality that says there is something wrong with it more than anything else.

I'm just gonna ride it and enjoy it.

Oh, and I changed the oil in the final drive and don't seem to have any more leaks after about 100 miles.

Thanks again,

Dave

[Firebird]

got a new problem..well I think it's a problem anyways.

Had my bike out today and got it up on interstate and decided to see what it would do. At 75 mph it just quit accelerating. It was running fine, but it just wouldn't go any faster, I had the throttle wide open and it just didn't have anymore. The speedo registers 160...That can't be top speed for the bike!

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Dave

[skramer360]

The 650 should easily go into the triple digits. I'd check fuel delivery first.

[82CB750SC]

Could you continue to shift up?  In other words, were you in your highest gear, or did you still have gears to shift up to?

[hppants]

Clutch slipping?  What rpm and gear are you pulling at that speed?

Also, you don't weigh over 600 pounds, do you?   

[Brittles]

Are you sure it's firing on all cylinders?

[Firebird]

The engine runs smooth so I am pretty sure that it is hitting on all four.

I weigh around 210.

I was in OD and on the interstate.

I hit 75 and it just quit pulling. It will pull away from a light or stop sign like a scalded dog.

I haven't cleaned the carbs or had them synced or anything since I have had the bike.

It starts  with the first push of the starter every time.