Carburetor overhaul

[MikeL]

My otherwise trusty CB-1 which has now done 76,000 km recently started sulking and refusing to start. I had it looked at and the problem was diagnosed as worn carburetors. Two grand to overhaul or replace them, I was told, and after I recovered consciousness the mechanic said he could do a temporary adjustment to get the bike going again but it would not be a long-term solution. I've got the bike back on the road now and it's going well but I feel this dark cloud hanging over us... When the carbs finally give up the ghost what do I do? Throw the bike away? At the very least you could say I'm sentimentally attached to it (we've had some interesting times together...) and it seems a shame to consign it to the scrap heap when the engine and other bits are still in their prime (like me).
Any suggestions??

[cs363]

$2000 to replace the carbs I can believe , in fact that might even be a bit light for new items. But it sounds outrageous for an overhaul, I would certainly seek a second or even third opinion from reputable repairers before panicking. Did they mention what was supposed to be stuffed on them?
If the bike is still running but roughly I doubt that the fix would be that much. Most like parts for replacement would be the needles and needle jets and I'm sure they wouldn't cost that much. You can buy carb rebuild kits from various places, particularly on the net that have all the parts to refresh tired carbs and they don't cost that much!

[vifferman]

Mike! You're still alive! Sorry to hear the CB1 is supposedly getting older and more crusty than you. :(
Sorry, I don't have an answer on the carb problem, but I agree with what cs363 said - it shouldn't be that expensive.
Another option may be to source some fresher carbs from a crashed Jap import bike, or to get one of the dealers who import bikes from Japan to look at it for you. Perhaps Brian D'marge is a possible source too?

[hmmmnz]

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38&_nkw=cb1+carbs
$150 bucks tops for another set of carbs from the uk.
setup paypal, very easy to do and doesnt cost anything, contact the seller with a postage price to nz
and buy. simple :D

[MikeL]

Thanks for all the replies. It certainly doesn't look quite as dismal as I thought... I'll investigate the various options suggested.

And yes, vifferman, I'm still alive (and in my prime, although the crustiness is getting to be a bit of a problem according to others). Still riding but for various reasons haven't been on the forum for ages (I think I just got a bit bored with some of the topics...). Hope to meet up with some old friends for a ride one of these days.

[Madness]

Considering the estimate of $2k to overhaul your carbs, the best advice I can offer is to click on any one of the links on this page to Motorcycle Doctors (www.motorcycle-doctors.co.nz). George is great, and very reasonable indeed when it comes to charging.

Here's a comment I received (with Green bling atached) the last time I gave this advice;

Best advice I've ever had on this forum

[The Pastor]

needles are about $80 per needle.

jets are about $14 per jet.

a seal kit could well be $100 (not sure if that repalces the diaphrams or not)

but yeah 2k for a set of new carbs is about right.

what year is the bike? you could try the wreckers for a set - prob be about $200 i'd guess. problem with reckers is the parts you buy are often recked - esp in the case of carbs that have been sitting on a shelf for 5 years.

what I reconmend you do. Go back and ask him excatly what part of the carburettor was worn. then post up.

[SPman]

$2000! for a set of carbs
What are they - Keihin FCR's ?

[R6_kid]

Heh, i was going to suggest FCR's at that price!