TechnoGecko

I actually had the same thing happen on my car. Turns out the overflow hose that connects right where the cap does had a small split in it. Couldnt even see it unless you ran water though it. So when it got hot and the radiator moved a little water over to the overflow, it would seep out through the small hole and leave a small puddle w/ a coolant smell. Perhaps the same on the bird?

I just replaced my R/R last week at only 18,000 miles too.

Well the battery was history. The Honda dealership replace it for me free of charge. Thanks Western Honda! I replaced it and it seems to be working ok for now, but we'll see. Its got a new R/R and battery, so if it still does it it's not an answer im going to like! Mabye the R/R did overcharge and nuke the battery...

*nod* I'm going to take a look at it later, but right now I've got a ton to do today and this upcomming week. Like I said, the battery is brand new so I'd like to think its not that. Is it possible? Sure, but if it were internally shorted I doubt it would have lasted the last two weeks. Either way, I've got some testing to do....

Yes, sit as in not running. If the engine is running the bike runs fine without any problems, but if it sits off for any period of time it goes dead fast. The battery is brand spankin new, so I'm kinda at a loss here for ideas. I checked the harnesses, didn't see anything wrong. I picked up a replacement R/R today for $70 and installed it. Going to let the battery charge overnight and see how it holds up tomorrow. I'll let ya know...

Went to start the bike this morning and the battery is dead. It seemed like it was getting weaker in the last day or so. Its not even three weeks old, so I'm guessing the R/R went. If I throw it on the charger it starts right up on a dime. But if it sits without the charger on it for more than about 15 minutes the battery is totally dead again. Am I safe to assume the R/R went?

Yeeaaaa........ It is -not- possible to get the carbs off this bike. Don't get me wrong, I've removed carbs off other bikes ( both the Magna and Shadow ) and while its diffucult, at least you can see yourself making progress. Took me about 20-30 minutes on the Shadow and a good hour on the Magna. I tried for over 20 hours to remove those carbs. Its just not humanly possible. Heat gun, wedging a screwdriver between the seals, wd40, rubber lubricant - you name it. There was no way they were comming off. Now having spent $120 on this jet kit I was really pissed. But dammit, no bike was going to beat me! I removed the tops off the carbs and changed the needles and drilled the hole just fine, the diffucult part was in the jets. With some help and alot of patience I was able to remove the float bowls from the carbs ( took me two hours to remove all four ) and change the jets. Then I managed to get them all back on! It was so incredibly time intensive, but it worked. So in the end I got the bike jetted, and boy does it scream faster than it ever has before. The flat spot is totally gone, and the bike runs like a dream. Unforuntley I broke the choke cable *slaps forehead* so I've got one on order that'll be here Wednesday - but besides that its all done! I'll post some pictures of the bike when I get a chance, its going to be a chaotic beginning of the week here however. So in the end all I have to say is "fuck you" to the Honda service manual that says "Ease the carbs off". Ease my ass, I don't think Arnold could get those suckers off there. But in the end, its got the kit on - runs great. My knuckles are all bloody from working in the tiny area, but all in the name of a good running bike! Thanks for your help Success!

I've just spent another 2 hours this morning rocking and pulling, these thing will not come out to save my soul. The only other idea I had was to use a heat gun to warm up the rubber and hopefully have it get soft enough to brake loose. But obviously gas + heatgun = diaster Sooooo.... I was able to install the needle and springs without removing the carbs, I just need to change the jet now which I can't get to unless I remove the carbs. The bird uses 142s right now, and this kit says to use 136s or 140s. Any chance if I just say screw it and see how it runs on the 142s that it'll preform decent? I've been yanking, pulling, wiggling, rocking, screaming, and crying over these carbs now for over 5 hours. I can't believe this is so diffucult. It took me a good hour on the Magna, but this is insane! Ideas?

Alright. I give up. I've been trying to get the carbs off this bike for over two hours now. Ive loosened the clamps at the bottom and wiggled back and forth and pulled like all hell. Even got someone else to help pull. Used a 2x4 as a pivot point, you name it. They haven't even budged. I've sprayed the hoses with wd40 hoping to work them loose, not a chance. Got the jetkit, now I can't install it because I can't get the carbs off! ARGH! Any ideas? The shop manual says 'ease the carbs off, however they may be snug' Snug?!?! More like welded on. *sigh* Ideas?

Please do NOT have my children :wink: