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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: bobrebos1 on March 04, 2024, 01:05:17 AM

Title: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: bobrebos1 on March 04, 2024, 01:05:17 AM
But it is getting hot under throttle.  Carb low speed idle jet, spark plug?  What would you check first?  1972 cb750 inline 4, 4 carbs.  Thanks for any help. 
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: faffi on March 04, 2024, 02:38:01 AM
The idle mixture screws on these should regulate air. So if all adjustment screws are set equally, it seems logical to expect a blockage in the idle circuit in the carb of the affected cylinder. Could be the jet, and/or the circuits in the carb body itself. I usually spray carb cleaner into on end of the circuit and check that the cleaner exit the other end to verify if it is blocked or clear.
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: bobrebos1 on March 04, 2024, 06:41:19 AM
The idle mixture screws on these should regulate air. So if all adjustment screws are set equally, it seems logical to expect a blockage in the idle circuit in the carb of the affected cylinder. Could be the jet, and/or the circuits in the carb body itself. I usually spray carb cleaner into on end of the circuit and check that the cleaner exit the other end to verify if it is blocked or clear.

That’s what I thought.  Hoping it’s something as easy as a clogged jet.  Il tear into carb next week. 
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: Scout63 on March 04, 2024, 07:22:33 AM
Good luck. I would imagine that getting to the carb will be harder than checking the jets.
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: guzzisteve on March 04, 2024, 09:06:06 AM
Could be a bad plug, put a timing light on it to see if sparking. Then move to carb.
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: Moparnut72 on March 04, 2024, 09:47:08 AM
I would add a bunch of Seafoam to the tank before I started tearing things apart. I live in California where non-ethanol fuel is non-extent where I live. I have trouble with engines that are only run seasonally even though I take steps to prevent the problem. Most of my yard equipment are the main trouble makers. Seafoam will usually get them running right again. It is usually the idle circuit that acts up.
kk
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: bmc5733946 on March 04, 2024, 11:27:53 AM
I was taught by a fella I respect to rev the engine high (near redline) and close the choke while holding the throttle open. He told me that occasionally it would suck something out of the jets and allow better running. I won't say it works, I have done it one my 1978 750-4 and it seemed to help. Costs nothing and is less work!

Brian
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: chuck peterson on March 05, 2024, 02:21:42 AM
Spark.  Timing light blinking? At idle…high rpp

Compression. Pull plug, thumb or gauge

Gas. Can you open a drain plug? Does moving the petcock on/off/res effect the flow of fuel thru the drain..

After that I would need more tools, like beer.
 :popcorn:
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: bobrebos1 on March 06, 2024, 12:54:24 AM
Il check spark at idle first, then float bowl fuel level using the clear tubing method, then float level, then low speed idle circuit.  Out of state for another week then will get to it!  Woo hoo!
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: Grabcon on March 06, 2024, 10:51:13 AM
A few of things on the SOHC CB750. As mentioned the spark plugs. Check the spark plug caps, they are screwed on to the plug wire. Unscrew and cut no more than 1/4" for a fresh end put back on plug cap. The wires are typical short  so trimming to much will give you grief. The plug wires cannot be extended they are molded into the coils.

Now to the carbs. If you have a cold cylinder pull the carbs off. pull them apart on the bench. Everything. Clean the passages and make sure that the emulsifiers are pulled and cleaned. If parts are needed, gaskets and needle valves and seats only buy keihin carb parts do not buy aftermarket kits. More money yes but less grief.

Make sure the float levels are properly set. Fully assemble on bench put the carbs level in a flat pan wide enough to hold are carbs. Hook up a gas supply and check to make sure the floats and needle valves are working and there are no leaks out of the overflow tubes. 

If all that tests good put back on the bike. If you have a center stand put the bike on the center stand and turn on the gas. Give it five mounts and check for overflow leaks. When they are apart polish the pin that hold the float in place. Once there is not issue, fire up the bike and again check for your cold cylinder.

When you park the bike overnight or longer period, turn off the petcock and run the carbs dry. this help keeps the ethanol from reacting with the pot metal of the carbs, and keeps the corrosion free.

If you have spark the issue on cold cylinders on these SOHC motors is always carbs.

Here is an excellent SOHC forum. http://forums.sohc4.net. Hondaman is the guy that is the technical guru.

Hope this helps.
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: John Croucher on March 06, 2024, 11:58:27 AM
Float level
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: bobrebos1 on March 07, 2024, 01:24:41 AM
A few of things on the SOHC CB750. As mentioned the spark plugs. Check the spark plug caps, they are screwed on to the plug wire. Unscrew and cut no more than 1/4" for a fresh end put back on plug cap. The wires are typical short  so trimming to much will give you grief. The plug wires cannot be extended they are molded into the coils.

Now to the carbs. If you have a cold cylinder pull the carbs off. pull them apart on the bench. Everything. Clean the passages and make sure that the emulsifiers are pulled and cleaned. If parts are needed, gaskets and needle valves and seats only buy keihin carb parts do not buy aftermarket kits. More money yes but less grief.

Make sure the float levels are properly set. Fully assemble on bench put the carbs level in a flat pan wide enough to hold are carbs. Hook up a gas supply and check to make sure the floats and needle valves are working and there are no leaks out of the overflow tubes. 

If all that tests good put back on the bike. If you have a center stand put the bike on the center stand and turn on the gas. Give it five mounts and check for overflow leaks. When they are apart polish the pin that hold the float in place. Once there is not issue, fire up the bike and again check for your cold cylinder.

When you park the bike overnight or longer period, turn off the petcock and run the carbs dry. this help keeps the ethanol from reacting with the pot metal of the carbs, and keeps the corrosion free.

If you have spark the issue on cold cylinders on these SOHC motors is always carbs.

Here is an excellent SOHC forum. http://forums.sohc4.net. Hondaman is the guy that is the technical guru.

Hope this helps.

Outstanding!  Thanks!!!!
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: Huzo on March 07, 2024, 04:36:01 AM
Have you said whether you have checked the carb balance ?
Is the slide for #3 lagging behind such that it does not provide fuel/air at idle, but chimes in to some degree at more open throttle ?
Can you detect the cylinder “coming alive” suddenly as revs rise, or does it just blend in ?
I guess I’m asking, at idle it noticeably running on three cylinders ?
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: Grabcon on March 07, 2024, 07:14:18 AM
Have you said whether you have checked the carb balance ?
Is the slide for #3 lagging behind such that it does not provide fuel/air at idle, but chimes in to some degree at more open throttle ?
Can you detect the cylinder “coming alive” suddenly as revs rise, or does it just blend in ?
I guess I’m asking, at idle it noticeably running on three cylinders ?

Carb sync will not affect the cylinder running cold. Syncing is for balancing the carb flow at idle.

The only year of the CB750 where the carb slide would lag or get stuck is the first year of production. One throttle cable split into four. All the years after that had a linkage that fixed all slides to move together without one or more getting stuck or moving at differently.

Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on July 28, 2025, 12:09:15 AM
Hi I belong to the BC Classic Motorcycle club one of my friends, Ross recently refurbished a CB750 so I showed him your thread.
Here's his response

Hello Roy,
Regarding the fellows CB750, there's a lot to unpack there.
Really needs to start from scratch.
It Runs
-Start up, let idle to warm.
Are all cylinders firing and hot? Use a spray bottle of water to check.

Compression, spark, fuel.

Compression test
are valves set

Spark Check:
-plugs
-plug caps
-plug wires
-coils
-points
-timing

Fuel check
-fuel to carbs
-float level
-float needles
-install proper size Keihin jets
-set main jet needle to stock height
- set fuel mixture screw to stock
-ensure sync

if after all that:
If only one exhaust pipe is cold, check everything on that cylinder
If two pipes are cold 1 & 4  or 2 & 3 there's a problem with that coil (one coil for 2 cylinders)
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: Vagrant on July 28, 2025, 06:52:02 AM
The only thing I can add is the spark plug caps had resistors in them. At least my 1970 did. It was common for them to fail especially if run through a pressure wash when hot. At this age I'd replace them all.
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: bobrebos1 on August 01, 2025, 11:58:04 PM
Thanks for all the replies.  It was a bad plug wire.  That’s it!  Now on to the carburetor problem.  Thanks again!
Title: Re: NGC, 1972 Cb 750 chopper cylinder 3 not getting hot at idle???
Post by: Grabcon on August 02, 2025, 08:22:52 AM
It seems that I mentioned the plug issue a while ago. :laugh:

https://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=120542.msg1878146#msg1878146