Advice from bikers = Honda Shadow 600 VLX Motorcycle?

  • Thread starter Thread starter EETERNAL
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EETERNAL

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So I bought a 19?? Shadow, got it cheap. But it's been sitting for 5+ years (b4 i got it) Bought the book, and just started working on it. I don't really know $#it about bikes, but I'm fairly mechanical. So any way, I got the Carbs out. My friend told me there's a way to clean them without getting into the jets or anything complicated.
Can any1 tell me how? Can't really afford to pay someone to do it.
Also the title say's it's 93 but they didn't make it in Turqoise blue (which it is) in 93. Plus the VIN on the frame and engine are different how can I find out what I really have?
Does any one have experience on this bike? Or can you recommend a forum, website, etc.... where I can get some help or even cheap parts?
ANY help is greatly appreciated!
 
You'll NEED to thoroughly clean the carbs if it's been sitting for that amount of time and that bike is a good one, compared to other rice burners.
 
The Vin # of the frame & engine are always different.
The Vin # on the frame is the # used in identification.
Honda VINs explained -
http://www.vsource.org/VFR-RVF_files/BVINSystem.htm

http://www.bikebandit.com/parts/
Honda - 1993 - VT600C Shadow - Carbuetor Components
Use carb cleaner in a spray can.
Remove the chokes #10
Remove the air cut valves #11 - don't lose the o-rings.
Remove the float bowls #4
Remove the top covers and pull the slides out.
Remove the pilot jets #28 (long & thin)
Hold them up to the light - you should be able to see through them.
If not - let them soak in carb cleaner over night.
If necessary - pull a strand of wire from a wire brush - use it to poke through the jet - then spray it clean.
Spray every part till it's clean (you might have to scrape the dried gunk off of parts).
Spray through every opening in the carb - the carb cleaner should come out a different hole if that circuit is clear.
Make sure the choke plungers move freely when installed (pull on each one's cable - it should return on it's own).
Make sure the air cut valves slide in and out of the carb body.
Spray through the hole in the cover, to make sure the hole isn't clogged.
Re-install them making sure the diaphrams seat in their grooves and install the o-ring
Clean any gunk from the slide needles #19
Check the rubber diaphrams on top of the slides #17, for cracks, rips, or deformities.
Install the slides, springs and tops (careful to get the diaphrams seated in their grooves).
Stick your fingers in the carbs and lift the slides by hand - release them at the same time - they should both drop to the bottom at the same time - if not, figure out why.
With the float bowls off, attach a fuel supply and hold the carbs at the same angle as if they were mounted on the bike.
Turn on the fuel and lift the floats by hand (tie one up with a rubber band, so you can work on one at a time).
The fuel should stop flowing when the float arm is parrellel to the carb/float bowl mating surface.
If not - may need new float needle and seats #2
Install the float bowls making sure the rubber gaskets seat in their grooves.
Attach a fuel supply to check for leaks.

Todays lesson will be $50
 
you can find out what year the bike is by the 10th letter on the vin number.
if you have running problems, or it don't run, the first thing you should do is take a compression test.
if the compression is ok then its worth the effort to fix up the bike, if the compression is low it will cost you more than the bike is worth to fix it.
you can take the bike to a motorcycle mechanic and have them give you a quote to get it running
The Honda 600 Shadow is a very slow, geared high bike with only 4 gears.
 
I believe re: carbs your friend is referring to SEAFOAM which is an additive you can get at most auto parts stores. You can put it in fuel tank and also run it through carbs and it does work like it says. You can go to youtube and do a search for seafoam or sea foam car seafoam motorcycle etc.. and it will show you a demo of it.
 
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