I have located online a fairly nice "looking" '95 F3 that the seller says is not running.

His story is that he had a lot of travel come up and it sat in his garage for 6 months. Also has been sitting outside for a month. Says it was running fine before the lay-up.

Unfortunately the layup was not proper- just left to sit- now it won't start. He says it just needs a carb cleaning- but frankly he does not speak like a guy who has a great technical knowledge. In other words- may be speaking without knowing- anything.

To further complicate matters he is not close to me- at least a days drive to put my hands on it.

The offer is reasonable in price.

Question- What is the likelihood it is just a carb cleaning that keeps it from starting? Would this be a tough job? What else would you think would cause a non-start condition?

And last- would you spend two- to three days going and coming to buy it - even at a pretty good price? Or would you buy an FRZ600 at 200-300 less money?

I yield to the CBR Gods....

 

it all depends on how much time and effort you are willing to put into it. carb cleaning isnt that difficult if you are mechanically inclined and have some basic tools. i would most likely say that it is in fact that the carbs need cleaning. most people here clean them every season if they let them sit (without proper fuel treatment and proper storage). id say if youve never done it before, it'd take you about most of a saturday to do it give or take depending on your skills.

 

Thanks- my skills?

Lets see- Been riding 50 years. Done total restoration on 4 bikes, frame-up including engines... maybe I can work through a carb job...

I am just new to CBR's... just askin, and got a good answer- thanks.

Bob

 

It needs a proper carb cleaning/tune up.

CBR f3 ('95-98) vs. FZR600 ('89-'99): definately the CBR for a few hundred more. My buddy had an FZR600 that had nothing on the CBR [looks, performance, engineering, comfort, etc]

 

Does it crank over and just not fire? Or doesn't do -anything-?

 

Nothing... so I am told.

 

Battery is most definitely dead.

See if the guy can charge the battery or get a new one and see what happens when he tries to crank it over.

He should put in a little leg work before you make a trip like that to buy.

My two cents.

 

CBR carbs are easy as anything else. Getting them out is a huge pain, but the disassembly and cleaning of the actual carb unit is easy. *BUT* if it only sat for 6 months, and doesn't even have power, I'm willing to bet the carbs are fine, and it's just a battery issue. Do what Chuck said. In fact, ask the guy to go to Wal-Mart and get a $50 battery and try it. Tell him if it works, you'll pay for the battery (if he argues). I'm willing to bet the bike will turn over after a few tries with the new battery. Maybe spray some starter fluid into the intake to give it some motivation. 6 months is not really that long for modern gas to sit, what with all the thinners and detergents they throw in there now.

If it still has no power after a NEW battery, then only grab the bike if the price is unbeatable, and you feel like havnig another hobby bike to tinker with. If it cranks but won't turn over, then the slow jets are probably clogged. A carb cleaning would take care of that.