Bike sat for looooong time - several years.

[The Buddha]

And I have steam comming out the Crankcase vent and its no ordinary steam either, it turned all the stuff in the airbox (it comes form under the airbox) into burning hot metal ...
Anyway, airbox fills with water possibly from steam condensing due to the stuff in there and then water starts boiling and then ... it also spews steam after turning it off ... for a good 10 mins.
No, I didn't change the oil before starting it, I didn't ahve the filter and I only change it when hot.
What gives ? water in cranckase if so, draining oil+water enough ? and how did it get there ... how to avoid it in future ?
Cool.
Buddha.

[sledge]

Yeah....I would say its full of H20. Dunno how and why though. Let it cool down over night, all the water will sink to the bottom of the sump then drain the lot.

[The Buddha]

Drained already.
Cool.
Buddha.

[ohgood]

i dragged home a guys bike for him saturday night.


early 80's Magna, blew a head gasket. threw it in the truck, drove 20 miles to his place, dumped it out. he started it again (why ? i dunno) and let it run for a few seconds. just long enough to coat his wife's nice white car with water/oil. lol

what kinda bike are you wrenchin on ss ?

[The Buddha]

Nighthawk S 1985, and man does it sound like an angry sewing machine ... someone cored its pipes letting the critter easy access, but the up coming head of burning hot combustion by products literally blew the thing to smithereens ... It was dry and covered with soot, and mostly had little acorn type shells or egg shells or somehting like that, I am thinking hornets nest. The exhaust gases were backing into the pipes and Chamber, and there was one loud misfire out the pipe about 1 min after starting. Must have been the one that blew this thing out. Shouldv'e got it on camera.
Cool.
Buddha.

[beRto]

And I have steam comming out the Crankcase vent and its no ordinary steam either, it turned all the stuff in the airbox (it comes form under the airbox) into burning hot metal ...
Anyway, airbox fills with water possibly from steam condensing due to the stuff in there and then water starts boiling and then ... it also spews steam after turning it off ... for a good 10 mins.
No, I didn't change the oil before starting it, I didn't ahve the filter and I only change it when hot.
What gives ? water in cranckase if so, draining oil+water enough ? and how did it get there ... how to avoid it in future ?
Cool.
Buddha.

I thought you never try to start up bikes that you purchase? Don't you go straight into dismantle, clean, rebuild?

[ohgood]

i love nighthawks. once they're set right, they sound like all things honda. smooth, sewing machine, smooth.


enjoy the project !

[ben2go]

If it's a water cooled bike it probably has an internal water leak.

[gsJack]

Nighthawk S is air cooled, same engine as my 85 Nighthawk 650 had and same engine was used in Nighthawk 750 sold in more recent years.