A good mechanic? - Rockwall area

[Rags]

Hello all. I'm new to this forum. I just purchased two used bikes for myself and my wife. We've been riding off and on for a couple of years now, me more often than her. The bike I purchased for myself (99 VT1100 Aero) is in great shape, but my wife's (03 750 ACE) needs work. We bought it thinking it needed a chain, tires and a paint job. After getting it home and working on it, it seems to have electrical problems as well as other engine issues. I like to try to work on cars and other stuff as much as I can, but I think i'm over my head here. I'm looking for a good (honest) mechanic in the East DFW area preferably Rockwall area. Here's what I found so far:

Headlight intermittent
cold starting
oil leak around the oil filter area (only when running and hot)
starter intermittent (have to hold button and move handlebars before it tries to start)
idles fine when running but bad hesitation when reving with strong gas smell (too rich?)
engine dies if you shake the bike while running (electrical?)

This is in addition to needing tires and a chain. I'm hoping none of this is too serious, but oppinions and recommendations for a good mechanic are welcome.

[SpoonMan]

If you work on cars, you can work on bikes. There are some differences but most of the priciples in mechanics are the same. Sounds like you may have a couple wiring issues and maybe a couple mechanical issues. Pick one problem and run with it then go to the next. The headlight thing could be as easy as a loose wire in the back of the headlight. You gonna pay a mechanic for that??? You can check it out before you take it in to Mech, might save some money?

The having to shake the handlebars to get it to start is probably bad contacts in the starter/shutoff switch assy. (It is not an uncommon problem on these bikes)


Leak from the filter may be the seal on the filter, easy enough to change the oil, just make sure you check out the sticky note on this forums tech page about oil.

Dies when you shake it could be a loose wire or connector too.... Depending on if it dies right when you start shaking it or it takes a few hard shakes. Would like more info on this.

Gas smell when reving may be related to the dying when shaking. Any sign of leaking gas around in the engine area? wet spots? Loose air intake or maybe exhaust? Depending on what the prvious owner did you might have bad gaskets on the heads or it could be as simple as leak from the tank or petcock or filter?


Like I said pick one and work on it then move to the next. I chime in here every now and then but there are many more that have good or better answers to specific questions. It would probably be good to pick up a Honda Maintenance manual too.

[squidchief]

There's some pretty sharp and experienced guys over in the technical forum section. Toss some of these problems out there and see what happens. If nothing else, fixing a couple of the issues yourself might save you a peso or two.......

[Rags]

Thanks guys, I'll try reposting in the tech forum and work on some of these issues myself. When I say I work on cars, i'm pretty limited to things like replacing alternators, brake pads, fuses, sensors, things like that. If I can figure out the problem without too much trouble i will try myself to make the repair as long as I have the right tools, etc.

To answer some of your questions, no it doesn't leak gas anywhere I can see. I believe the gas smell is coming from the exhaust when trying to restart it after it dies or when giving it too much throttle.

It dies after moving the bike sharply from one side to the other. Usually one or two shakes. I was thinking that the problem with the dying engine, intermittent starter, and intermittent headlamp may all be related somehow to a loose wiring harness or connection somewhere, but i don't know.

Yes i'm a little overwhelmed and in a hurry to get my wife riding. I hate to see her discouraged over the new purchase and don't want to string these repairs out. But i'm all about saving some bucks and doing it myself. I enjoy it.

Thanks.