The best things in life are...
 

... Free.

I am now the owner of a Honda Shadow Spirit...

ONSSP's mom bought it new a few years ago and after crashing 2-up in Yellowstone (her ex's Goldwing) last year she has no desire to ride it... Instead of selling it, she gave it to us! Rode it home last night... felt pretty good...

Needs a bit of carb work though... I think a float is stuck or something because it spews gas like a motherfucker while running from the petcock area(didn't investitage too closely yet), idles like shit, and hesitates/sputters when you yank the throttle at speed. It had been sitting for about a year so I figure it just needs a good cleaning...

Pics as soon as I'm not lazy...

Here's a stock pic - looks exactly like this:
http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/cro...--3_460x0w.jpg

Bobber?

I recently got a 2003 Honda Shadow 750 ACE in a similar manner. It had been sitting for 3 years and wouldn't even start because the carbs were in such bad shape.

I pulled the carbs over the weekend, cleaned them up, put everything back together, and test rode it last night. Fun bike!

Not sure of your experience level with carbs, but if you need any help, feel free to PM me. I also did a video of the teardown that I still need to put on Youtube if that would help you out.

What year is it? I found a service manual online for '02-05 I *think* ? I'll have to verify the years, but if it fits what you have, I'll gladly send it to you. Definitely came in handy.

I doubt it. I'll probably keep it a couple of years and sell it... I don't need another project - with the Tiller in pieces and a list of shit to do around the house as long as my arm, I'm busy enough. I'll get it going and commute with it, maybe do some quick weekend runs...

If anything I'll put some pipes on it, a K&N filter, and re-jet it... I'm sure there's some free mods out there just like anything... airbox mod probably... :idk:

I don't know anything about carbs... The old man was a mechanic so I may trick him into helping me... I figure it can't be too hard and with manuals/videos available online, I've been able to figure pretty much anything out so far...

It's a 2008... I will certainly be hitting you up if I get elbow deep in this thing and start losing my mind.

My cousin rides one of those. He made his totally custom. Not a bad bike.

Good bike. My buddy used to have one till it commited suicide

ride it to TN...

I'm still loving my '01. For what its worth, I go to hondashadow.net and shadowriders.net for tech topics, spare parts and mods. They have some pretty detailed posts buried if you search for any issues you may come across, especially the first place.

Before you go tearing into it too much, drain every bit of gas and throw in some BP 93. Had a set of pressure washers I bought years ago that sat underneath an uncovered deck for 2 years. Started up first pull but ran like shit. Drained the gas and went to the gas station for new gas and it runs like a champ ever since.

Sweet score!

Always check for bad gas.

God damnit...

Turns out that the leak was the diaphram on the petcock...

Turns out that when you take it apart it dissinegrates in your hands...

Turns out there's a repair kit for every Honda model ever produced... except this one...

Turns out that there's a recall on it...

Who wants to guess that the dealer will require me to bring in the bike in for them to repair it... and who wants to take bets on it NOT working when I put it back together...

Motherfucker.

vacuum operated petcocks FTL

Got a call back from the dealer this morning... If the VIN falls under the recall, I can bring in the petcock and get a replacement... Just gotta wait for the part to come in... :banana:

That's cool. You would think if it was a recall part they would keep at least 1 or 2 on hand.

You would think that. But the dealer had to order my headlights on the Buell recall.

I don't want to know about your pet cock.

I think that is crappy dealership management.

:lol: You just summed up the entire Buell Motorcycle Company.

Goddamnit why is everyone getting free motorcycles? Im the one who wants one!

I loved my honda ss chop.

Ok... turns out that this shit was already replaced on the recall... or most likely the bike sat in the shop and they reported it back to Honda as completed and now I'm stuck fixing it.

Great news is I can't find a rebuild kit anywhere online, so I'm going to have to buy a whole new fucking petcock... Can't say dumping $100 or so into this bike will be the end of the world, but just knowing that they obviously didn't fix it when they should have just fucking pisses me off.

That sucks OSP but only a $100 to fix a bike that isn't running isn't that bad. Ya know...

stupid bike..haha


great bike and she never gave me a problem. get some pipes or pull the baffles.

Knowing Honda, they probably used the same type petcock on a dozen different models. Any motorcycle yards near you?

And do some poppies

Not that I know of... and this is the sort of thing I'd rather buy new anyway... I mean, if the one I have already failed from a bad seal, what are the odds that one that's sat outside in the elements for a couple of years will be worry free for years...

I actually found a replacement part... it's the whole vacuum assembly... which is cheaper than the replacement diaphrams I found for other models... $30 is WAY better than $100 any day...

I'll order it when I get back from vacation...

Replaced the petcock parts and the bike still wouldn't run worth a shit... Tried a fuel additive... still no bueno... also replaced the battery (donated from the TL)

I took apart the carb this weekend and cleaned it out real good... there was a good amount of gunk in various places and several of the passageways were partially or completely blocked.

When I put it all back together, she took a while to start, then fired right up... Now she fires right up, no choke, just blip the starter and she's running like a top.

ONSSP and I put on about 45 miles on Sunday and I rode it to work yesterday and today...


Still gotta do a couple little things to it, but all in all it's just gas and go... it feels damn good to be back on two wheels.

Here's a shitty cell phone pic:

Glad you got it running again!!

Woot

never, EVER put your petcock in the vacuum.

Awesome!

Good deal man I love my shadow. Only downfall of the newer ones after 07 is the shaft drive.

Why is that a downfall?

Just something I don't personally like because with the smaller cc motor at highway speeds It runs at pretty high rpms and with the pre 07 models being chain drive you can change the gearing to make it more comfortable. I have a 38 tooth sprocket I throw on for longer highway trips but keep the stock 41 on when I'm staying in around town.

Roger, good reasoning.