Motorcycle Repair: carb adjustments., honda cb 100, carb synchronizer

Question
Hi Chris, I recently purchased a 1972 Honda CB 100 That I am trying to restore. Not a lot of problems, but I screwed up and started trying to adjust the carb without a manual. I have a manual ordered but not here yet. I can get the engine to run, but can't adjust the carb so I'm not riding it now. Any suggestions on a starting point until the manual gets here? Also, the right turn signals work, but the left ones don't. Bulbs appear to be good. I suspect a flasher unit is bad. Any suggestion on where to buy one? Also tail light doesn't work but bulb is good. I suspect I will have to wait for manual to fix these things. Anyway, thanks for your help and any suggestions on where to get hard to find parts would be appreciated. Jimmy

Answer
Hi Jimmy.

With the carbs, you will need a carb synchronizer guage (often called a carbstyx, but properly restricted vacuum guages work well too).  This will tell you when all of the carbs are pulling together.   Many bikes differ, from model to model and make to make as to the exact proceedures for synchronizing that bike.

As far as the electrical problems, you should be able to trace the wiring to a main power connection that has power from each of the faulty bulbs. Check the wiring for bad connections, bad fuses and shorts (test with multimeter). For the signals, if one side works, then the other should as well, unless you have bad connections or shorts in the wiring.  Both sides run through the same flasher unit, so that is not the issue.  Also test the bulbs with a multimeter to be certain that they are good.

Let me know what you find.
Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON