1. I heard the '84 bikes had some problems that were corrected in the '85s and '86s. Can someone enlighten me on this? What sort of problems?
2. Where can I get an owner's manual for an '84 700S? I have access to an '86 manual. Would it apply to an '84, or were there enough differences that I should keep looking for an '84 manual?
I don't think there were any significant changes over the 3-year run... I had an '85 Canadian model (750S) and an '86 U.S. model (700S) for parts. The motor is pretty much bullet-proof, if you set the valves occasionally and change the oil fairly often.
The only problem I every had with mine was a grooved clutch basket... too many hard upshifts or something. Easy to correct with some emery paper and a few hours labour.
Try putting some air in those front forks - they don't take much (like 6 psi, if I remember) but you can feel the difference between having pressure in the forks and not having pressure.
Oil starvation of the top end was an issue on the early V4 if I recall. Don't quote me on it as I didn't have mine long enough to get to know it but it's something you could look into.
Oil starvation of the top end was an issue on the early V4 if I recall. Don't quote me on it as I didn't have mine long enough to get to know it but it's something you could look into.
That was a problem with the early Magnas, which were V4s. The Nighthawks were air cooled Inline Fours.
An 86 should work. I probably have my old 85 manual laying around but am keeping it for sentimental reasons. Loved that bike. As far as I know there were no common problems with any of them. I had mine for 11 years and never took to the shop for anything. Being carburated it was a little hard to start so I ended up putting in a new battery every couple years. Other than that, great bike.
__________________
No plan survives first contact...but there's always a plan.
I don't think there were any significant changes over the 3-year run... I had an '85 Canadian model (750S) and an '86 U.S. model (700S) for parts. The motor is pretty much bullet-proof, if you set the valves occasionally and change the oil fairly often.
I was under the impression that they had hydraulic lifters that never needed adjustment. Watch for regulator/rectifier failure in this series.
Doc
__________________
"FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS EARLY APEX."
anyone can chime in here, but I thought the cb750sc was dohc and as such, no hydraulic lifters. I had one coil fail on my 650 (which was sohc) in the 4 years and 50,000kms I put on it.
I had an 92 and an 02 750 nighthawk. I'm pretty sure the 02 was DOHC with hydraulic lifters. They were both good bikes, I just couldn't go very long distance on it and the suspension was junk. It was decently quick up to 90, then after that it would barely go. It looks like our past background with the bikes we've owned has an affect on what bikes you own now.
Exactly what does the rectifier do? Is it prone to fail in Nighthawks?
The rectifier changes the current from AC to DC. Think of it as a one way gate. They were prone to fail in this series. Remember this was before the advent of maintenance free batteries and tenders.
Doc
__________________
"FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS EARLY APEX."
Hmm, that's interesting. I had my '86 for about ten years and never had an issue with it. Maybe I just got lucky. Thanks for the info. Does a maintenance-free battery help the problem, or is it still an issue regardless? (Can you tell I'm not an electrical whiz?)
Hmm, that's interesting. I had my '86 for about ten years and never had an issue with it. Maybe I just got lucky. Thanks for the info. Does a maintenance-free battery help the problem, or is it still an issue regardless? (Can you tell I'm not an electrical whiz?)
The typical scenario was a non-maintenance free battery running very low on electrolyte and the charging system feverishly trying to keep up with the demand of the battery to stay charged and you end up frying the regulator/rectifier in the process due to overheating.
Usually the regulator/rectifier is not exactly mounted out in the airstream so it can stay cool either.
Doc
__________________
"FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS EARLY APEX."
I believe the Doc is correct on this plus you had to rev high to get any juice. The electrics now have a wider rpm range, then 20 yrs ago. That's why some older bikes used to eat up a battery. Not riding often, boost it off on Sunday and the thing would be charging like crazy to build the battery which was often low on water. Plates crack and crumble on bottom or the rectifer would burn.
Sorry, not a word was said about the S except man I wished I had a cherry 85.
I just bought a 84 Nighthawk 700s with only 3000 miles (questionable miles) rode it over 47miles to get home about an hour trip without a working starter. My question is when I got it home I noticed oil residue over most of the motor and my wife told me a strong fuel smell was coming from the exhaust. What areas of the motor are more likely to leak and what would be a starting point for trouble shooting the fuel smell coming from exhaust? I am currently waiting on my OEM repair manual just wanted to pick fellow owners brains on their experiences. Thanks.
my advice to you is..... get to know those carbs intimately.... take them apart yourself and put them back together. you'll be doing it fairly often, more so if you intend to rejet. relatively simple concept, biggest pain are all the small screws and what not.
1. I heard the '84 bikes had some problems that were corrected in the '85s and '86s. Can someone enlighten me on this? What sort of problems?
2. Where can I get an owner's manual for an '84 700S? I have access to an '86 manual. Would it apply to an '84, or were there enough differences that I should keep looking for an '84 manual?
The 84's had a poor design on left side crank seal. They were prone to leaking and the cases had to be split to replace a $3 seal. Honda had a TSB on the problem. I actually had a copy of it somewhere. The problem was corrected in 85. No BS just 1st hand knowledge.
I have owned many and would buy another 85 or 86 in a heartbeat. NEVER a 84 again.
Looks like everyone else got to most everything before I did.
The 700 owner's manual is pretty much the same for the whole run - also, there is an entire forum out there devoted specifically to the Nighthawks that can be of specific use for parts and advice - Nighthawk-forums.com. There are more 700s over there than I've ever seen anywhere else.
my advice to you is..... get to know those carbs intimately.... take them apart yourself and put them back together. you'll be doing it fairly often, more so if you intend to rejet. relatively simple concept, biggest pain are all the small screws and what not.
With all the information I've gathered I'm going to have my hands full with this 84. Starting to look like I may want to go fishing for an 86. Could I just swap 84 motor with an 85-86 model motor?
Linear Mode
Chevy Camaro Forum
Ford Mustang Forum
Jeep Wrangler Forum
Volkswagen Touareg Forum
Land Rover Defender Forum
