QuestionI just recently bought a 1984 Honda Magna 700. It doesn't quite run. The seller had only purchased it because it was a package deal with a trailer. Little information was given to me about how long the bike might have been previously sitting up. I have no knowledge whatsoever about motorcycles. Where do I start to make this bike run?
AnswerJohn, in almost all cases of bikes that have been left in non-running condition, the carburetors and fuel system is the usual cause. Gasoline will evaporate in the float bowls, leaving varnish and other residues that will plug up the tiny idle jets and/or the main jets. Yamaha makes a carb cleaning solution that you mix with gasoline, inject it into the fuel lines, after you have drained as much of the old gas out of the float bowls, then let the solution sit overnight. Drain again and refill the fuel tank with fresh gasoline. Sometimes, this procedure will clean out the varnish deposits and sometimes they are too stubborn to be removed by anything short of a carburetor overhaul, which on this bike could run $500+ at a dealership. These bikes had potential issues with camshafts/tensioners, as well, so even once you get the fuel system functioning again, there may be other issues to deal with, like fork seals, brake hydraulic system rebuild, new battery, cables, tires, and so forth.
Unless you don't mind spending about $1,000+ on this bike to get it to come to life again, you might want to just pass it onto someone with more motorcycle knowledge and the ability to deal with the issues at hand.
Bill Silver
