Dryrot is cracks in the tires, especially look in the treads for small cracks. If the motor turns over and doesn't start it might be that you 1. didn't open the petcock 2. didn't work the choke lever in the right direction. 3. cranked the hand throttle while trying to start it. 4. flooded it by doing either/or 2 and 3 5. gummed up carbs 6. weak spark (easy to check) 7. fouled plugs 8. low compression. 9. really old gas 10. plug wires hooked up wrong (i once got a truck really cheap from a failed attempt at a tune up :-)
One at a time pull the plugs and look at them, try cranking it with the plugs grounded to the engine you should see a bright BLUE spark (USE PLYERS you can get one hell of a shock). If you have a compression tester use it at this time, be sure to hold the throttle OPEN. If spark and compression check out then see if it will start with a shot of ether in the airbox (JUST A LITTLE you don't want a fireball shooting out if it backfires). If it starts with ether then your carbs are probably gummed up, most old bikes that have been sitting have this problem. It is the most common thing new members ask about. I hope this helps you out. Post a picture if you decide to get it. IMHO $500 sounds like a good price provided it has a clean title and looks in good shape otherwise. On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 7:55 PM, Minh Trat <minht...@gmail.com> wrote: > West coast Canada, Surrey (25minutes south of Vancouver). Time to google > dryrot. > > On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 4:52 PM, paul annen <greenzer...@gmail.com> wrote: >> 500 is a great price... i would start with a through carb cleaning... and >> check the tires carefully for dryrot... >> >> what part of the world are you in? >> >> On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 7:17 PM, Minh Trat <minht...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> Hello, >>> >>> I am going to purchase a 83 Nighthawk 750. It has been sitting in a >>> storage place for over a year. Tires are still soft, with decent >>> amount of tread. The seller says that he regularly got the bike >>> maintained by a mechanic the past few years, but that guy passed away, >>> so the seller gave up on the bike, and bought a Ducati. >>> I looked at the bike, and we attempted to start up the bike. No joy. >>> We were starting the bike with jumper cables hooked up to the battery. >>> It started, but the engine did not turn over. What are common problems >>> that would cause this, and what type of fixing do I need to look into? >>> I don't know much about motorcycles, but wouldn't mind learning about >>> it. >>> >>> Is the bike worth it for $500? I am getting it tomorrow, so a quick >>> response would be great. >>> >>> Thanks. >>> >>> Minh >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >> To post to this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > To post to this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to nighthawk_lovers+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
