Hello all, This seems like a great group and I've really enjoyed reading some of the back posts. This is my first post so I'm not sure how I should include images, etc so I'll just have links for now. If anybody has feedback on embedding photos or anything let me know. I just purchased an '82 Nighthawk 450 that has been parked since 1986. Here is a photo from when I first got it home: http://s1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg596/357Enthusiast/?action=view¤t=IMAG0224-crop.jpg
The first issue was that both sparkplugs had been broken off in the head, so I took the head to a machine shop to get them drilled out and retap the threads. I've pulled the cylinders off as well because the head bolts in the middle of the motor had a lot of rust, I guess from moisture that accumulated in the interior crevices of the engine, so I'll be retapping the head bolt threads before reassembly. The inside of the engine is in great shape so I just cleaned the carbon off the pistons, head, and valves and I'm going to start reassembing the valves into the head tonight. I'll add some photos of the bike in its current, maximum disassembly state tonight. The only problem I'm dealing with right now that I'm hoping for input on is that I don't have a key for the bike, and both replacing the lock set, which would include a new ignition, helmet lock and gas cap, or taking those items to a locksmith to get a key made, require removing the helmet lock, which is screwed to a bracket that is riveted to the frame in such a way that I can't get a screwdriver to the screws. The issue of not being able to unlock the helmet lock seems minor (I bet I could break it with a flat blade screw driver if I was going the replacement route) compared to the fact that I can't get to the screws on the backside to remove it even if I had it open. Does anybody else with a 450 have any advice on how I can remove the helmet lock? I'll post a photo when I get home to show how impossible access to the screws on the back of the helmet lock are. It's really the only truly frustrating element on what has so-far been a great experience working on and learning this bike. I'm leaning more toward the replacement option because the gas cap is missing the lock cylinder, so I'm either going to need to get a new lock cylinder put in it or else I'll end up replacing the gas cap anyways, which means I'll have mismatched keys, so a replacement set is really my preferred choice if I can figure out how to get this blasted helmet lock off. Thanks in advance for your advice and I promise to follow up with photos of my work in progress. :-) - Kevin -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
