Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Just dropping in to introduce my lurking self. After years of procrastination and barely there excuses, finally took the MSF course at one of the local H-D dealers back in June. What an absolutely awesome 3 days that was! Passed both riding & written tests easily and quickly lined up a trip to MVA to add the endorsement. Spent lots of time wasted trolling Craigslist, cycle-trader, etc. when a friend offered to sell his (not running, idle for 1.5 yrs) Shadow to me AS IS - for a dollar.

I love tinkering with all things electrical and can handle most car repairs, so I figure - why not! Verified that the engine isn't seized with a push test, strapped the bike to the truck and took it home. I'll be starting a thread to document (and get input on what-next questions?) as I get this thing cleaned up and running.

Here's hoping I manage to get it going before it's too cold to ride.

-Mike

(and since the engine doesn't work, avatar reflects a serious breach of safety gear!! )

Mike to the Total Motorcycle community! Easily one of the friendlist spots on the internet to spend some time at.

Good on you for taking the MSF course, it will save you skin a few times on the road and help you relax and focus more on riding too. With the H-D course, what bikes did they use to teach you on? And interestingly enough, that 1999 Honda VLX600 you have there is as close to a sportster sounding engine as possible as it's 44° V-Twin (vs 45° for a HD)

A bike for a buck? That's awesome! All of us here would be willing to help you out and get it running.

Mike

Thanks Mike! Our class was taught on Buell Blasts - lots of fun, but noisy and VERY touchy on the brakes.

The guy I bought from was sick of CL "buyers" that wanted to argue/change terms of sale, I got lucky and had a birthday and jokingly said "slap a bow on it, I'll take it!". He bit, I bought, going to register at MVA on Monday!!! Known issues are (obviously) gas tank, carb, battery, and fuel lines. He willingly disclosed that the chain is at its limit and I determined the tires need to be replaced soon.

Hope this hangout is as helpful and friendly as the A/V forum I spend way too much time on!

-Mike

Hey, Mike. Welcome to TMW.



Considering you have mechanical skills, you'll get that bike fitted with new parts and running in no time.....

........providing you don't spend too much time on the computer.

It's been a month....got that bike running yet?

Not yet. Combination of rainy weekends, Boy Scouts, and a perforated diaphragm in the fuel auto-valve have held up progress.

I disassembled, cleaned and rejetted to accommodate the removal of the stock airbox. Put everything together and had no fuel flow

So I drained the gallon or so of new gas & seafoam out and hauled the tank off again. Pulled the petcock out and discovered the filter/screen tube was as messed up as the carb had been, not too mention it looked like it went through a wood-chipper. Ordered a new one from RonAyers and cleaned up the petcock while I awaited Mr Postman. Reassembled, refueled, rubbed my hands together and cackled like a mad scientist, opened the petcock, turn the key, check neutral, flip kill switch, and push start...

...turns over but no ignition...



wisely walked away to deal with it later. Figured out there still was no fuel getting to the the carb (floats are dry). Pulled everything apart again and with much sweat and a bit of blood got the auto-valve off the bike. As carefully as I could I opened it up, hoping against all odds to find it ok... ... the larger diameter diaphragm looks like it melted.

Awaiting a rebuild kit and nice weather (which, of course, has been abundant this week).

Thanks for asking!

Aside from the puzzle of figuring what's wrong...for a dollar..so far not too bad.

Welcome to the form, kinda new here too.

Welcome to TMW Ram, You'll enjoy it here...

Do you have a sense of humour? I couldn't resist...

got it!! bike is ready to roll. going to get the 30 day tags tomorrow and get it inspected later this week. can't wait to take advantage of the last few weeks of riding weather in MD!!