New to Me 1996 1100 American Classic - questions

[lrayvick]

It's the blue/green on black model. 24 K mi. No title and non-running so I got it cheap. Pretty clean but has been out in the So Cal weather on and off and not started for about 6 years. I am still not sure if I can get a title for it but I will get it started then go from there. I know about starting long-sitting bikes.

My questions are:
1. Moterera and Cyclechaos say the serial number for the 96 Shadow ACE should start 1HFSC320*T... but mine is 1HFSC3218T... Anyone know why the difference (the "1" before the 8?) This isn't real important.

2. I have a Honda Service Manual for 1997-2007 Spirit and ACE. Anyone know of any differences mechanically between the 1996 and 1997?

Ray

[adlowe]

Model number for the 1996 110 ACE is VT1100C2. It has a single-pin-crank engine that is NOT the same as the dual-pin-crank engine in the Spirit (VT1100C) and ACE Tourer (VT1100T). If that shop manual you have is genuine Honda then it is NOT the one for your bike -- it is the one for the VT1100C & VT1100T. They were combined in the same manual. The ACE was always in a separate one. (Chilton and Haynes did all kinds of combinations that wouldn't make sense to Honda.) The biggest difference that I can identify are fluid capacities. I've never had the two manuals side-by-side for comparison.

The VT1100C2 was basically the same bike for the entire 1995 through 1999 production run. The changes made through the run were paint schemes and CA emission controls -- that one might affect you. There were also different stock tires during the run but that was making white walls standard equipment. (in 1997?)

This old thread is chock full of information and links that *might* answer all of your questions about the bike. There may be some old thread about getting a title but I haven't read anything about doing that in CA.

Good luck!

[lrayvick]

Thanks Art. I knew it was the 1100C2 but did not know about the Spirit/Tourer differences. Single pin eh - I guess its a wanna-be Harley.

From what I have seen so far the layout is pretty much like the other models.

Got it to fire on ether but the carbs were non-functioning so they are on my bench right now. Typical plugged slow jets, stuck enricher valves and one stuck float valve. I don't know if they had ever been off but one of the air intake boots was not connected to the carb which probably made it run sorta crappy at slow speeds.

Titleing bikes in the Sunshine State can be an art in intself.

[CrazyDave]

Originally Posted by lrayvick

Thanks Art. I knew it was the 1100C2 but did not know about the Spirit/Tourer differences. Single pin eh - I guess its a wanna-be Harley.

From what I have seen so far the layout is pretty much like the other models.

Got it to fire on ether but the carbs were non-functioning so they are on my bench right now. Typical plugged slow jets, stuck enricher valves and one stuck float valve. I don't know if they had ever been off but one of the air intake boots was not connected to the carb which probably made it run sorta crappy at slow speeds.

Titleing bikes in the Sunshine State can be an art in intself.

It was made that way specifically to mimic the Harley sound

[adlowe]

Originally Posted by lrayvick

From what I have seen so far the layout is pretty much like the other models.

It is. Many common parts. The engines are mostly the same. Gearing is different. So is ignition timing and the parts that control it. There's a thread here somewhere about it; someone had troubles with an eBay-purchased part earlier this year.