Alright, let’s talk about this ’82 Honda CB650SC Nighthawk I picked up. It wasn’t exactly pretty when I got my hands on it. Looked like it had been sitting under a tarp for a good few years, maybe more. You know the look – dust everywhere, flat tires, a bit of rust here and there. But the bones seemed solid, and I’ve always had a soft spot for these old Hondas. Got it for a decent price, couldn’t really say no.
First Things First – The Cleanup
First job was just getting the grime off. Rolled it into the garage, gave it a good wash down. Amazing what a little soap and water can reveal. Still rough, but better. Then I pulled the seat and tank off to get a better look at everything underneath. Frame looked okay, no major rust-through, which was a relief. Wiring looked mostly intact, surprisingly, though a bit crusty.
Getting Down to Business: Making it Run
Okay, the real work. I knew the fuel system would be nasty.
- Fuel Tank: Pulled it off, drained the old gas – smelled awful, like varnish. Swished some cleaner around in there, lots of crud came out. Let it dry out good. Petcock screen was clogged solid, cleaned that up too.
- Carburetors: Oh boy. Pulled the whole bank of four carbs off. Took ’em apart carefully on the bench. Jets were totally gummed up, float bowls had sediment. Soaked everything, scrubbed with small brushes, blew out all the passages with compressed air. Put new gaskets and o-rings in when I reassembled them. This took a while, gotta be patient with carbs.
- Battery & Spark: The old battery was dead as a doornail, obviously. Got a new one. Checked the spark plugs – they were black and fouled. Put in a fresh set. Checked for spark at the plugs – nice and blue, good sign.
- Oil Change: Drained the old oil. Looked pretty dark, but no metal bits, thankfully. New filter, fresh oil. Basic stuff, but essential.
With the carbs back on, fresh gas in the tank, and the new battery hooked up, it was time for the moment of truth. Turned the key, hit the starter… cranked a bit, sputtered… gave it a little throttle… and boom! It fired up. Rough at first, lots of smoke, but it was running! Let it warm up, played with the idle screw a bit. Sounded pretty decent, actually.
Sorting Out the Rest
Getting it running is one thing, making it safe to ride is another.
Brakes: Front brake felt spongy. Bled the lines, put in fresh fluid. Much better bite. Rear drum brake just needed adjustment.
Tires: The old ones were cracked and hard. No way I was riding on those. Ordered a new set, wrestled them onto the rims myself. Always a workout, that.
Lights & Electricals: Checked all the lights. Headlight, taillight, brake light worked. Turn signals were intermittent. Cleaned up the switch contacts on the handlebars, that fixed it. Horn sounded weak, probably just needs replacing later.
Little Things: Lubed the chain, adjusted the tension. Checked cables, lubed them too. Tightened bolts here and there. Just giving it a once-over.
The Result? A Rider!
So, after all that cleaning, wrenching, and parts swapping, the old Nighthawk is back on the road. It’s not a show bike, got plenty of patina, you could say. But it starts right up, runs strong, shifts smooth, and stops when I tell it to. Took it for a spin around the neighborhood, then a longer ride. Felt great. There’s just something satisfying about bringing an old machine like this back to life with your own hands. It ain’t perfect, but it’s mine, and I got it running again. That’s what counts.
