[gweric47]

Would anyone care to venture a guess on the probablility of, say, the stator or maybe the CDI box of an abandoned and neglected bike out in the weather still being in working order? For several years now, out on a back road that I occasionally travel, I can see from a distance what looks like the clone of my bike ('81 cx500 74K) leaning against a barn up to its valve covers in weeds. For the past year or so, I've suspected, just suspected, that my ignition system is getting tired and, with money tight, scoring a few parts on the cheap would make my day. Do you think it's worth knocking on the farmer's door or am I wasting my time? The guy just might take $20 and let me pull some parts. I know this bike hasn't moved a foot in at least five years. I'm in northern cal where the winters are wet but no snow, sleet or freezing...whaddya think?

 

[Blue Fox]

Sure it is worth it. All he can say is no. I would just ask if he wanted to have someone get it out of his way. He may just give it to you. If not, he will tell you what he wants. Heck, maybe all it needs is a little buff out and you will have another bike. Or a great winter project.

 

[LRCXed]

Where in Nor Cal are you? It doesn't show in your signature. I'm in Sacramento if you get it and need help.

 

[Blindstitch]

If it's that neglected it might be worth nothing to him but it's the luck of the draw for it being a good bike. The damn thing could be as mint as it could be in the weather or rock solid. But as long as the sparkplugs are still in then it should be a good idea to check out.

 

[Allan]

Another possibility is that the stator or CDI quit working which led to the bike being parked.

The upside of this scenario is that it would probably only be one of these parts not working,,the other may be still OK.

 

[nolavox]

I'll bet he would give it too you... especially if his "farmer" wife heard you ask nicely. Maybe drop off a note? Maybe offer to RE$$$TORE it for him... I dunno, seems worth a try.



the connectors probably will be shot but Electronics do not wear out as much from sitting as do things like seals and rusty innards. (unless dunked)



One exception might be the coils (capacitors). I don't know how these are made, but electrolytic Caps will deteriorate, leak and cease to function eventually... The CDI Box or "brain" should be a sealed unit with components "goo-ed" or hermetically sealed.



I took off coils and a CDI from a 78 that has been outside (in direct sunlight, no seat) at the jyard for ??? You just never know until...



Good Luck!

J

 

[marshallf3]

Do us all a favor by filling in your profile and a small signature line.



What's the guy have? Cattle, horses, grain crops?



Offer him something he can use like a few bags of feed and he might even deliver the thing to your house.



There may be nothing wrong at all with it aside from the battery going South, the rural folks around here are notorious for parking stuff and moving on to something else. Got a '64 Chevy SW, factory 327, for free and sold it for $1,100 without having to touch it, just had to go over and feed/water his dog for a week. Still a lot of cars out there including the oddball AMC Gremlin with the 304 V-8 I've got the title to but it will take me a couple of days with my big chainsaw and help before I could even get a tow truck in to haul it out.

 

[gweric47]

Where in Nor Cal are you? It doesn't show in your signature. I'm in Sacramento if you get it and need help.

Thanks, LRCXed, for offering to get involved but I'm quite a ways from you. That bike that's piqued my curiousity is actually in west Marin County around San Rafael, about an hour away from me and probably at least two or three hours from you.



Thanks, as well, to all of you who threw in a thought or two as to what can be expected when hoping to glean a few goodies off a bike that's sat idle in the weather for years. You all pretty much summarized what I kinda figured already; you just have to get in there and take a closer look. With me being about an hour away and without a pickup truck at my immediate disposal, not to mention the fact that I'm really not in NEED of anything (here I go jinxing myself...lol), I'll probably won't organize a salvage expedition until I've at least talked to the owner.



Next time I'm up in that neck of the woods, I'll make it a point to see how willing the guy is to part with it or any part of it. I get the feeling it ain't going anywhere and if someone beats me to the punch, then so be it. I'll let you know how it plays out....



Thanks to all again...gweric

 

[markmakeitso]

Thanks, LRCXed, for offering to get involved but I'm quite a ways from you. That bike that's piqued my curiousity is actually in west Marin County around San Rafael, about an hour away from me and probably at least two or three hours from you.



Next time I'm up in that neck of the woods, I'll make it a point to see how willing the guy is to part with it or any part of it. I get the feeling it ain't going anywhere and if someone beats me to the punch, then so be it. I'll let you know how it plays out....



Thanks to all again...gweric

You of course realize that all these people volunteering to "help" and pestering you for location are in fact right now en route to San Rafael in a beat up full size Chevy with tobacco juice down both doors. They probably have a loading ramp, PB Blaster, starting fluid, and all manner of bargaining tools (wadded up 20s, Jim Beam, thirty aught six, etc) ready to go also. Sorry, you've been had by the notorious CX hawks at the CC forum, not the first, far from the last.

The expert advise and thin patina of friendliness in these parts hides a deep undercurrent of selfish hoarding, secret sabotage, and general backstabbery that shames every other motorcycle forum. Why, even 1%ers get a little weak-kneed when Stitch, Lucky, or Larry start nosing around.

 

[Blue Fox]

I was hoping to get a head start on Stitch, but Lucky and Larry have a 4 state lead on me from the get-go. Ah, but I have a secret weapon, I'm stopping by Vegas and pick up some daylight hoes. Maybe a couple of chickens too ifin I can catch them.



The race is on!!!!

 

[Blindstitch]

Sounds like a race. To bad I have to work tomorrow. You know it only cost's $150 to fly out to Larry's and then from there we can just restore it and drive it back. Seems like a better solution.