The Replacement Bike 99 Honda Shadow Vt600

Thought it would be be better to start a new thread as after all it's here and is replacing has replaced the wrecked Ducati Monster 620ie.

So here we go it requires some TLC though it's low mileage at 19,005 on picking it up it's now got another 36km on it from the ride home and that was a little adventure on it's own as it seems that the carbs need a bit of a clean and rebuild it will not run unless the "Choke Knob" is pulled out a it which is not right. Not an uncommon problem on bikes that have been used little the stuff they sell us as petrol well when it evaporates it leaves crud behind that block the small passages in the carb notably the idle circuit and idle jets the bike shut down on me when I pushed the knob in fully. Also made a rookie mistake last night left the fuel tap turned on and this morning saw a little wet stain under the bike the float valves are not shutting off properly so had to drain the oil as yep it's contaminated with Benzine (as thy know petrol here) was way over full luckily drained 3 litre out capacity is only 2.3L.

I had a bottle/tub of Castrol Power 15-50 motorcycle oil not the recommended grade but it's what had on hand it's what is in the Trophy 900 and of course did not have a filter to hand so the oil and filter this time will be changed again pretty soon. Due to the high summer temps here many run this grade was advised to in the Ducati temps of 40C plus are common in summer highest I have personally see is 46C.




Things I need to sort out:-

1) Oil & Filter change again to make sure all the petrol contamination is flushed.
2) New air filters they are horrid well the one could access without removing fuel tank.
3) Flush brake fluid
4) Carb rebuild probably with a re-jetting for new exhaust
5) Am wanting to get some new free flowing exhaust pipes looking at a set of Marvin ones. Made in Italy.

So have plenty to play with.

Plezier

 

OK now I am confused as all the experts on these Shadows have been telling me from the photos that the bike had dual carbs as single carbs, the later versions, were never brought to Europe but something was nagging me about this morning when I removed the air filter and could plainly see the carb this should not be possible on the dual carbs ones so just went out and removed the air filter and this time it's mounting back plate and low and behold a single CV carb:-

Edit:- PK one chap did in fact tell me it had a single carb and has provided a lot of correct information to me even helping me identify the it is a 98 model of the European spec.and if fact is within the first 500 built in 98 according the frame and engine numbers.



This makes it so much easier and cheaper I also confirmed it is indeed a 5 speed model not a 4 speed like they get in the US.



The air filter has certainly seen better days going to order the following new :-

Air filter
Oil filter
Plugs
Carb rebuild kit
Exhaust port gaskets
New pipes

Hmmm do I forget the air filter and just order a velocity stack ?????

Plezier

 

Update:-

After messing with it and adjusting the mixture screw to approx 3 1/4 turns out she runs better took her out for the third test ride and she is running much smoother smoother response to the throttle rode into the city to the bike shop and ordered a carb float bowl service kit it will be here end of week they said, The young chap dealing with me is a Honda Shadow VT600 fan has one that he has bobbed asked if mine was outside if so could he come look at it. When outside he asked if he could hear it then sit one it saw no problem with any of this so said yes. Then the problem showed up he noticed it leaking and it was peeing petrol out of the float bowl breather................... dammit.

30km for home we fiddled with it and finally pulled the breather hose so it was standing almost vertical this helped a bit then it was once it started across the main road about 300m to the petrol station to top the tank up and try to get her home, Well managed it and was riding as quick as I could to get home as fast as possible my original plan was to stop on the way in some places and get some photos that went out of the window got home safely in one piece and would you believe it no more petrol from the breather I can only think that a bit of the broken fuel gauze off the fuel tap got down the line into the float bowl stopping the needle valve from shutting off. When checking her over at home noticed another issue that needs fixing right fork leg seal is leaking:-



It has sprayed oil over the front of the frame and the air cleaner chrome cover. Bought new seals and dust covers along with an air filter and a new throttle cable for the Trophy from ebay. The air filters are stupidly high prices got quoted 75 euro at the local factors on Friday did get a set of four plugs, oil filter and 4L of Motul 5100 10/0 4T oil. Oil is darned expensive here the 4L cost 60 euro.

Am still debating what exhaust to get and whether to go the whole hog and get drag pipes with velocity stack with mesh screen and full carb re-jetting what wit the price of the air filter not having to shell out stupid amounts just for that bit of plastic and paper makes the cost seem more appealing I see that Keihin do velocity stacks for their carbs.

Plezier

 

Today was bright sunshine so just could leave the bike alone the morning had to go into town needed to fill the 10L petrol can and the Mercs diesel tank while in town got a brass barbed adaptor for the fuel line it's a stepped down one for 10mm to 8mm as Honda in their wisdom decided to use a 10mm spigot on the carb but 8mm spigots on the fuel tap and the vacuum valve Honda has a stepped down rubber hose:-



The end of it it seen here vertical this is the bit removed so could use the brass connector I used a piece of new 8mm I/D fuel hose from the tap after removing the Vacuum valve :-



It seems that this valve is a known cause of issues so much so a recall was issued on it but it appears my bike got missed. Removing the vacuum valve means also removing and sealing the port where a vacuum hose comes from the rear cylinder luckily I found a correct sized screw in my tool chest. Have a direct fuel feed from tap to carb means faster starting as no wait while vacuum build to open the valve.



This is the barbed stepdown connector fitted.

Made another discovery today it seems that a previous owner has drilled 6mm or 8mm holes in the bottom of the mufflers by the first baffle only noticed when it started blowing the saw dust put down to mop up the petrol I spilled when the hose came out of the fuel can while emptying the tank.

Plezier

 

Well that nice spring clip was not sealing the hose it was leaking so it's been replaced with a hose clamp with a screw that tightens it ...... leak gone.

Also discovered that someone in the past has drilled a hole into each muffler by the first baffle;-



The mufflers are showing their 26 years of age too.

Plezier

 

Maybe but as I seem to recall leaks like this would mean failure during an MOT have things changed on that score?

The Honda forum has informed that they are standard. Well I intend the change the exhaust next month need to wait before spending more after the recent spending on jacks and parts.

Plezier

 

And what stop would that be?

Plezier

 

Got the bike on charge it did not not to turn over properly this morning not sure when it was at full charge so we will have to see how it goes now. Battery is still on bike not really figured how it comes out as yet not easy to get to that's for sure.

Plezier

 

Well the new fuel tap turned up this afternoon and so went to fit it and of course it's not the same as the original so it;s no good:-





Have waited weeks for this when took it out of the box found the the plastic bag it was in had been opened and taped closed again am wondering if this had already been sent out once before. Have messaged the seller now have to wait and see what they say.

Will have to visit the city again and the bike shop and ask them what they can get and how much.

Plezier

 

Well it's actually worse than the old tap that only drips this new one dribbles a constant flow the seller is actioning a refund and I have bought one using a link a member over on Shadow.net gave me for AliExpress it will take a few weeks to get here but they say it's a good make.

Meanwhile discovered why it's a pig to start from cold seems that the carb rubber boot had gone hard and when the carb was removed to service the float bowl the seal there had actually broken up that is why it leaked well when the carb was refitted the boot is not sealing and have a vacuum leak to the inlet so bought new rubber boot for it, damn they are expensive for a bit of tubular molded rubber, the one bought is OE Honda along with new o'rings for the manifold to head joint.

We will get this thing running correctly.

Oh yes my two bike jacks turned up so when the fork seals arrive can get the forks out much easier.

Plezier

 

Things are looking up my parts are arriving picked up the master cylinder seal kit this afternoon should be picking up the new air filter and fork seals Thursday morning (tomorrow) the new fuel tap cleared customs today so that should be here next week and the rubber carb boot along with the inlet manifold O'Rings should be here Friday.

This little lot should sort out the poor running and lack of performance though we have more rain on the way and we are not clear from the threat of snow as yet in past years we have had snow late March and even in April

Plezier

 

Oh dear... oh deary me I have no idea as to how long this front brake masters piston had been leaking but certainly long enough for it to corrode the circlip in place. After a soaking and scraping what corrosion could get at and buying some new circlip pliers got it to move but these universal pliers are not ridgid enough to actually pull the darned thing out so got to get a set of normal circlip pliers and try again if not it means buying a replacement unit and that means more delay and expense the delivery (inlet rubbers O'Rings and boot) that was supposed to be here Friday is delayed and is arriving Monday morning ................... so they say we will see not sure where the fuel tap is tracking says local carrier but not which one could be one of several.

Plezier

 

Nah you forget that I still have the Trophy but sure this Shadow VT600 is sure easier for me to ride right now being lower and lighter. Those are two of the reasons I bought the Ducati 620ie to get back into riding the fact that I always wanted a Ducati was also in the mix however we never really jelled.

Before that was thinking of going classic British even looked at the prices of Norton jubilee's (my first real bike was a 66 one) did not consider the BSA C15 a had one back in 83 and did not like it that much a B31 though but the prices are a bit silly and not sure how they would fair in registration here.

Plezier

 

After leaving it to soak in penetrating fluid managed to get the circlip out and after some phaffing about got the new piston and seals installed will assemble it on the bike tomorrow and bleed to system.

Plezier

 

Well after much phaffing about got the new inlet manifold seals fitted and the new carb rubber and after two attempts it's not leaking spraying cold start spray around them does not cause any change in the running.

However the cold starting is still a pig and with out the vacuum leaks it now shows other issues like on a cold start it's only firing on the rear cylinder until revs are raised quite bit then the front one chimes in. Once warm and idling that's when the intermittent miss fire shows up. So have to find out how the test the coils and seeing as they are over 25years old it could also be the HT leads plugs are new less than 200km on them. Oh it seems that courier has lost my new air filter!!!!

Plezier