Motorcycle ?

Woppy V · Aug 5, 2007

I recently got an 83 honda shadow 500 to play around with save on gas while in town. It has this delayed throttle response that I'm assuming is the Carb. (I've never done work on a carb and don't really want to try.) I am curious how much it would cost to have a carb completely rehauled. Cleaned, synchronised, whatever it takes to get the thing back to new... I am asking because I was quoted $200.00 and haven't a clue if that is near accurate. Big Thanks in advance!

Robert Thomas · Aug 5, 2007

It depends if everything is still stock. If anything has be changed from stock, Honda get real hard to get the throttle response at top and botton coordinated. If nothing has been changed cleaning might do it.

Gavin Allan · Aug 5, 2007

Sounds like you are lean on the low end. Try a little larger jet?

First, check everything for cleanliness and tightness. You could just have an intake leak.

Jacob Dryer · Aug 5, 2007

$80/hr is what I've always seen from motorcycle mechanics.

Cleaned is approx 1 hr.

That doesn't take into account syncing and any other adjustments.

So to me $200 doesn't sound rediculous, but it does seem on the high side.

I know your on the northside of town, but I had really good luck with Jody at Sport Cycle Center on Hampton Blvd over by ODU. I think he nows ownes the shop were when I delt with him he was the head mechanic, but you might try there. He treated me right.

I have some friends that worked at Redline up in your area and they told me the shop was aweful.

Woppy V · Aug 5, 2007

JD I've heard the same about redline. I have a guy from Casey Cycle City in Newport News taking a look at it. I got off the phone with him just a little while ago and we discussed my price concern. Deal we came up with is this~ $200.00 gets me a cleaned carb and whatever else he needs to do in order resolve the throttle problem and having it running to my standards. So I think he's my guy now.

kil roy · Aug 6, 2007

they definitely need a cleaning as i think your main jets

are clogged, you didn't say whether it idles well but the idle jets

usually clog up before the mainjets.

at $200 i think you are getting a good deal as disassembly of the

carbs takes some doing.

but before you go that route you might want to try a trick i did on

a cx650 for a friend of mine a couple of years ago.

remove the tank

open the fuel drains on the carb bowls and drain all gas out

close the drains

then get some "berkables 2+2" carb cleaner ( don't use the cheap stuff)

and fill the carbs back up through the open gas line with straight 2+2.

let it sit over night

next day crack open the drains and let the bowls empty again.

refill the carbs with cleaner and fire the bike up until it

runs out and dies.

reconnect the fuel tank and let the carbs refill with gas

and try and run it again.

is it better? if it is, great.

if it isn't perfect but better than it was try to do it again

over the next 2 days.

if it doesnt show any improvement then the carbs will

definitely need to come off the bike.

good luck