What a concept - A Girl Bringing Back Her 1966 Super Hawk

[sarals]

Hi,

CB72, a hawk, but I really don't thinks that there is much difference between a hawk and a super hawk according to mileage,

Jensen

Thanks, Jensey,,,I wondered!

[sarals]

Although I remember my first Superhawk used to get around 45 MPG, I have kept a record over the last 2600 miles and the average is 53.9 MPG. Coincidentally, this agrees with Jensey's.

Re "running out of gas" at speed. It's probably a clogged gas cap vent, as you think.

But, my bike seized trying to keep up with some faster bikes on a long climb into Randsberg (Mojave desert) 3 weeks ago. (One of my spark plug electrodes was missing, melted back to the center insulator from the heat!) After I changed the plug, I retarded the timing "a bit" and babied it home, where I discovered the spark advance was about 10 degrees past the full advance marks when revved up, even though it was right on for static timing. Be sure to check the timing with a timing light at full advance, as the experts recommend.

My Old Girl suffered her demise ages ago by having advanced timing on the left cylinder. The engine was running hot and it seized one warm afternoon while running along at 70 MPH on the Long Island Expressway. I think that was in 1976, maybe 1975.

I was concerned when she started to loose power this past Wednesday when I took her out on her first long(er) ride. She was acting a little bit like she did when she died, but that event was much more sudden and she stopped running. In fact, she was skidding because the engine had seized and the rear wheel stopped! This time, she was under load with a lot of throttle, and she started to hesitate, subtly. It got my attention, believe me! As I said, she did it twice. The first time was due to the gas cap, I'm pretty sure (the vent WAS plugged up), the second time she was ready to go on reserve. She ran just fine after both episodes. I backed off the throttle a little after the first one and she stopped the silliness. On the second one, she perked right up after I switched the petcock to reserve. Not long after that I had her under a pretty good load going up a hill at 60 MPH. She didn't mind that at all. But, she isn't a powerhouse, that's for sure!

Did you get your bike sorted?

[jensey]

btw, my CB450 K0 does also 22 km on a litre fuel, that's a 450

[redblk63]

"Did you get your bike sorted?"

Well, thanks for asking, and it seems to run well now that I retarded the timing so that both cylinders are firing within the two full-advance marks when revved. But, it ran well before. We'll see how it goes.

My reason for posting was to alert Superhawk riders to check the timing at full-advance, as mine was right on when checked static. That means my advance mechanism is out of spec, but I am willing to accept the late timing below 3000 RPM that I have now it is correct at full advance.

By the way, the CB77 subjectively feels more powerful than my SL350 K2, and is a delight to use as a daily rider on local roads.

I know you will enjoy your beautiful bike. [Please check the timing at advance, if you have not already done so.]

Best,
Larry

[sarals]

I had to postpone my DMV trip until Thursday. No worries!

I got the air filter covers stripped down and filled. Tomorrow I'll sand them and shoot a coat of primer on them. If they wet sand well, they might get put into color tomorrow, as well!

[sarals]

"Did you get your bike sorted?"

Well, thanks for asking, and it seems to run well now that I retarded the timing so that both cylinders are firing within the two full-advance marks when revved. But, it ran well before. We'll see how it goes.

My reason for posting was to alert Superhawk riders to check the timing at full-advance, as mine was right on when checked static. That means my advance mechanism is out of spec, but I am willing to accept the late timing below 3000 RPM that I have now it is correct at full advance.

By the way, the CB77 subjectively feels more powerful than my SL350 K2, and is a delight to use as a daily rider on local roads.

I know you will enjoy your beautiful bike. [Please check the timing at advance, if you have not already done so.]

Best,
Larry

Larry, you're sweet, thank you! That was very kind.

I'm really happy to hear you worked out the timing issues with your bike. Mine seems in spec, LM rebuilt the advancer and it shows proper advance on the timing light. That is unloaded, though, I know.

Your Superhawk is stronger than a 350? I never rode a 350, so I can't comment. My brother had a Honda SL250 when my Superhawk was last running, and I recall that they were pretty close in acceleration. I also remember my 305 having a bit more poop up top then than she does right now, but then again, I'm keeping her off of the cam. And, my final drive ratios are different than stock.

Do enjoy your bike! Summer is almost upon us!!

[sarals]

The air filter covers have been refurbished, not perfect, but very good - like the rest of her (and me).

I also reinstalled the flipper with the proper hardware set.

DMV is still giving me fits. Now, I have to go to CHP and have a "VIN Tag affixed" (over my dead body they're attaching something to my bike!), and I either have to have a bond for the value (notarized, of course) OR a title (I have the registration, that's a title), BECAUSE it has been so long since the bike was last registered, AND it was registered out of state, AND they have to verify it wasn't "salvaged". I'm sure after I do all of that, the next person I see at DMV will have another roadblock to prevent me from registering her.

Patience, Young Jedi....