* We loosened both ignition coil mounting bolts
* We drained the coolant into a container(I used my tester to see if it
had any "life" - it did not)
* We loosened the bolts securing the radiator to the frame
* We removed the hose that connects the thermostat housing to the engine
* We disconnected the thermostat cover bolts and ground cable
* We disconnected the temperature sensor electrical wire
* We removed the thermostat hose, radiator hose and the hose that
connects to the engine
* We disconnected the crankcase breather tube from the air chamber
* We removed the air chamber cover
* We loosened the clamping screws on the carburetor bands
The next step in the Clymer manual says:
Pull the carburetors from the rubber intake tubes.
Now either we've skipped a step or something, but these guys ain't moving. I read on and later in the chapter there are photos and text describing that the carbs are removed while still screwed into the air chamber, but I don't see how.
By this time it was dark, and they weren't moving, so we called it a day.
We brought the gas tank back to town. My current suspicion is that perhaps the key doesn't fit the lock! I talked to the bike's owner, and he reminded me that he had Honda make him the key from the key code, which he had on a document(orignal sales invoce). So hopefully a local locksmith can help us open the tank. However, the carbs would have to stay on the bike until I learned HOW TO GET THEM OFF.
When I got back home, I sent the following message out to the list:
>To: [email protected] (Sabre/Magna Owners list) >Subject: Rip Van Sabre: How to remove carbs >Status: RO >Can someone who has pulled the carbs from an 82 V45 sabre reply off >list? I have a couple of questions that're not worth the entire >lists' bandwidth. >ObSabMag: While I was inside yesterday, Gabriel put the seat back >on Rip, and when I came out, he was sitting on the bike, daydreaming about >rides to come. > >It was a golden moment for a father and reaffirms my idea about the project! > I heard back from Jude, Mike Stewart and Bob Franklyn! Thanks to each of you! I sent a version of the above description to Jude and Mike S. and just after I sent the note to Mike, I got the uneasy feeling that I should have consulting the SabMag FAQ. Sure enough, when I did, I learned that I had followed the directions, but that "Neither the Clymer nor Honda manual goes into enough detail about getting the carbs out of and back into the connectors. " AMEN! I also got the following from Jude: >To: Ted Fulmer >Subject: Re: Rip Van Sabre: How to remove carbs > >As mundane as this may sound, Ted, you have done everything >you can. Time to just work the thing back and forth until it >loosens! sorry there's no other magic recipe. > >a few things that will help (and it always feels _impossible_ >to remove--just wait till you have to put them back in!! :) > >+) you can spray a little bit of armor all on the rubber >intake tubes where the carbs meet them; armor all is nice and >slippery and easily cleaned/wiped off when you are done. > >+) you can _gently, gently gently_ use a small slot-head screw- >driver to pry the rubber tubes away from the aluminum carb >cylinders. (Did I say gently?) Do not pry the rubber OFF the >cylinder with a screwdriver or you will damage the carb itself, >it's pretty soft metal. Just loosen the rubber by prying it >radially away from the carb. > >+) rock the carbs toward the rear engine cylinder bank, then >back toward the front bank. At first it will _barely_ >move, but keep doing it, and the movement will increase >very slightly each time. Keep repeating this, and with each >repitition the carbs will loosen a bit more. when finally >two of the carbs pop out of their intake hoses, try to KEEP >them out as you wiggle the other two carbs free of theirs. >this is a bit tricky but possible. > >Just for time reference, the first time I did this it took >me about forty five minutes to remove them (just this step, >this is not counting all the steps you detailed prior to reaching >this point), and about an hour and a half of finangling to >replace them. You'll get better with practice. Also, my friend >that was helping me at the time quit after about forty minutes >of trying to get them back in and left in frustration---but then >I actually got them in on my own. It can be _amazingly_ >frustrating doing this--just be patient and keep at it and it >will work. > >good luck! > >Jude Federspiel >[email protected] > >82 V45 Sabre (MIA) >DoD #1839 >I had an opportunity to ride my V65 sabre back out to the lake, and with the exception of 35mph crosswinds, it was a good day to ride. Armed with the info, the carbs came loose in less thank 10 minutes. Moving the assembly out of the frame and getting the choke and throttle cables took another 25 minutes, but was successfully accomplished! I wrapped the whole assembly in a plastic trash sack, put it in my backpack, and bungeed it to my bike for the ride home. Another friend here in town has been after me to find out if the pistons will move - he wants me to put the bike on the center stand and put it in gear, then move the rear wheel. I haven't done that yet, so don't know what possible trouble lies ahead! I'm just happy to have the carbs out and available for cleaning, etc.
I guess this should reinforce all the previous good words about the FAQ. It really is a good source of knowledge(and a printed copy now resides at the cabin for future reference).