Motorcycle Repair: 1981 Hondamatic, float bowls, balancer shaft

Question
Hey do you know much about these models?  You may have seen a few.  I just bought one and I have not motorcycle knowhow at all.  I just heard they were a good started bike. well I got a battery and gas in it.  I tried starting it and it would turn over but no luck on the starting of it.  Also I noticed a tube coming from each carbs that went to no-where and they started to leak gas really bad.  What can I do to try getting it to turn over and where should these tubes be going?
Thanks

Answer
Jared, probably not the easiest way to introduce yourself to motorcycling, but I'm sure it can be repaired. My dad had one, back in the 1980s. With a little rejetting, it would drive all day in one gear, if you weren't in a hurry.

Basically, when bikes don't operate for a few months, the gasoline separates, evaporates and causes blockages of various jets, air and fuel passages. The fuel leak at the float bowls is due to float valves that are clogged up and are not closing off completely so that the float bowls overflow from their normal set fuel level heights. The hoses are just vent tubes that direct fuel away from the hot engine, hopefully, when that occurs.

Here is your parts listing reference

http://www.cmsnl.com/cm400a-hondamatic-1981-us_model7284/partslist/?q=cm400a

http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cm400a-hondamatic-1981-us_model7284/partslist/E++2001... for the carburetor illustrations and part numbers.

Basically, someone has to remove the seat, fuel tank, air box and carburetors for a good cleaning of the carburetor bowl, jets, and passageways. New O-rings, gaskets and float valves should bring the carb rack back to function, unless they are REALLY bad inside. If you had old gas in the tank, it should be drained out, petcock screen cleaned (it is inside the fuel tank) and hoses checked for cracks and loose fitting at the connections.

The 400T series bikes do need a balancer shaft adjustment every few thousand miles, along with a valve adjustment and camchain tension check. Once the carbs are cleaned, synchronized and dialed-in, then the bikes are pretty much trouble-free. Keep the oil clean, chain lubed and adjusted, tires filled up properly and you are on the road.

I hope you have completed the MSF safety course and have good safety gear for your protection.

Bill Silver