I've been reading as much as I can in this forum and thought I'd finally introduce myself and ask my newbie questions after my first motorcycle purchase and first ride out.
I've recently picked up a cb77 from a guy that really didn't know much about the bike, so as a total newbie I'm a bit stumped on the actual year of the motorcycle and couldn't get any info from the previous owner. I only know that it was a Honda CB77 from the sticker on the side when I bought the bike. While it isn't an original restoration, it has a different seat and pipes are similar to the scrambler but one pipe per side and set higher up, it would start right up with the electric starter and kick start when I bought it, so I thought it was in decent condition. I didn't see any oil leaks at the time and I don't know anything about motorcycles so thought it was a good first bike. I understand that it's an old motorcycle and can be fickle with operating it but I'm use to old cars and their issues so I thought it would be a great bike and after reading posts in this forum, I stoked that I made the purchase!
I had a few questions, and not sure if they should be broken up into individual posts or just asked all in one post. So please excuse me if I'm not doing this correctly and let me know the correct way to post my questions.
What year is my bike?
On my title, it says it's a 1964 but the engine number says: CB77E-211561 and Vin: CB7713075 I checked the Engine and Frame No History document that's floating around this forum but the numbers don't seem to match up to anything on there. Can someone help me determine what year my bike is? Or is this a frankenstein type of restoration with a frame from a different model mixed with a CB77 engine?
Bike dies suddenly while riding.
On my first ride on the bike today along Pacific Coast Highway and Santa Monica Mountains (Los Angeles). It was 65 degrees out, sunny with a little wind. A strange thing happened when I was going down a hill, the bike was in second gear going about 40mph, approx 6000rpm, the bike suddenly started dropping in rpm and then the bike completely shut off. I tried to give it some throttle when it started dropping in rpm but nothing helped before it died moments later. I've already been riding for around 20mins so the engine was definitely warmed up. When I tried to kick start up the bike, I had the choke set halfway open and it started right up, so I closed it and it immediately shut the bike off. (I thought that was odd since the bike was already warmed up and was told that the choke should be off.) So I kept the choke at the half open point again while I was riding it the rest of the time. This happened a couple times while I was riding down a big hill. So was wondering if this is with the choke or the carburetors? It seemed that the engine wasn't getting enough fuel?
I was told by someone that when I did start it and let it run in the garage, that the fuel mixture was a bit rich because it would push out a little bit of white smoke out of the pipes and fill up the garage if I had it running for 3-5mins or so. Also, I had the headlight on the entire ride until I started having this issue and then turned off the headlight for my ride home. (I read on Oscar Mayer tips on the 3rd page, that the CB77 wasn't meant to have the lights running all the time unless constantly running over 4000rpms cause it would drain the battery. Not sure if that's accurate or if it makes any difference in figuring out my problem. Here's a link to the tips:
http://www.oscarmayer.net/atc/manuals/h ... P_TIPS.pdf
Small oil leak on right side of the bottom crankcase?
When I got home, I noticed that the engine was leaking on the right side bottom in a couple spots but not at the oil pan bolt that I would unscrew to change the oil (that bolt is dry). The spots on the ground were about 1" inch in diameter. It never leaked since I got it a couple weeks ago, that I noticed), but I only started it up and would ride it in my apartment parking structure for a few minutes to keep everything working and not let it sit too long. So wondering if this is normal and happens after a 30min ride or if it's gasket that need to be replaced or something else?
I don't have any experience in motorcycle repair, but I'm excited to learn what I can since I've falling more in love with this bike each time I start it up and after the ride today, I'm totally hooked! Any advice would be great and if I should've posted each of my questions in a single post, let me know too. Totally new to forums as well :)
I've included pictures of the bike and also the bottom of the crankcase where I spotted the oil leak drops.
Thanks in advance for any info or advice you can give me.
Best
Andy
IMG_0506-side by adangvu1972, on Flickr
IMG_0513-3quarter-front by adangvu1972, on Flickr
IMG_0511-3quarter-back2 by adangvu1972, on Flickr
IMG_0518 by adangvu1972, on Flickr
oil-leak by adangvu1972, on Flickr
