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Clueless 1979 CF70 owner looking to find useful info on maintenance and care

Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 3:04 pm
by CornishCF70
Hello all :)

So I have a lovely (I think) 1979 CF70 Chaly. I bought it from a bloke who rebuilt it and resprayed it (glittery purple) last year.

I'll be honest, she's the first bike I've owned ever and I bought her on a total whim :) I've totally fallen in love with her but she can be a bit stroppy sometimes....

Ideally I'd love her to be a daily rider as my commute to work is only 4 miles each way, but sadly she keeps letting me down. She'll suddenly start backfiring (normally while changing gear but not always) and then she looses all power and cuts out. After that happens I can normally get her going and she'll idle in neutral for a while but cuts out when I put her into first.

That's the most pressing issue, I'm also having issues with my indicators being intermittent and my headlight being rubbish when I'm at low revs but they're less inconvenient haha

I live in rural Cornwall so I'm wondering if the incredibly horrific road surfaces are part of the problem....if so maybe better suspension might help??

Anyway that's enough from me :) but if anybody has any advice at all for a young lady starting her biking adventure I'd love to hear from You!!!!

Re: Clueless 1979 CF70 owner looking to find useful info on maintenance and care

Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 11:05 pm
by Capitano
Welcome to the forum. 8-)

Re: Clueless 1979 CF70 owner looking to find useful info on maintenance and care

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:41 am
by knapdog
CornishCF70 wrote:
Fri Feb 09, 2018 3:04 pm


she can be a bit stroppy sometimes....

Ideally I'd love her to be a daily rider but sadly she keeps letting me down. She'll suddenly start backfiring and then she looses all power and cuts out. After that happens I can normally get her going and she'll idle in neutral for a while but cuts out when I put her into first.

Bloody 'ell. Sounds like Mrs knapdog. :lol:

But seriously, a very warm welcome to you.
There isn't a problem that can't be solved.
Enjoy.

Re: Clueless 1979 CF70 owner looking to find useful info on maintenance and care

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 3:25 pm
by Capitano
Bump the thread from Monday onwards as several members are enjoying themselves at the Dragon Rally in Wales this weekend. 8-)

Re: Clueless 1979 CF70 owner looking to find useful info on maintenance and care

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 3:41 pm
by PhilB
Welcome!
You will get all the help you need here.. Just not from me :oops: :lol:

Re: Clueless 1979 CF70 owner looking to find useful info on maintenance and care

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:20 pm
by Bogger
It could well be carb icing. If there is a plastic spacer between the carb and the manifold remove it and try it again. Free easy 5 min possible fix.

Bogger. ..close to but not at the Dragon Rally ;)

Re: Clueless 1979 CF70 owner looking to find useful info on maintenance and care

Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:10 am
by Viper254
Erro!

I grew up down in Cornwall, I'm sure whatever's up with your bike must be fixable!

Re: Clueless 1979 CF70 owner looking to find useful info on maintenance and care

Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2018 12:36 pm
by wightegi
Back firing could be a leaking exhaust near the head.

Re: Clueless 1979 CF70 owner looking to find useful info on maintenance and care

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 1:49 am
by PEAKANF1
I had a cf70 two years ago, my advice to you is to start a fresh and get a service done, because it could be any number of things
new plug, air fiter, get the points checked and if can get a strobe light timing done, to get the timing spot on, battery checked,has the petrol tank got dirt in it and if their is a fuel filter between the tank and carb is it clean.
the carb on the cf70 is tiny and strange thing, they can stick on the little float inside and and might need setting up correctly not many people can set these up correctly because they are not like most other carbs.
don,t worry it sounds alot but once set up they run like clock work, they are worth the effort, they are lovely little things and are very collectable and will always go up in value.
I think in the service the problem will show, mine had the same problems but after the service it was fine. there is a photo of my 1977 cf70 on my post, newby peakanf1. I sold my chaly to a lady of she loves it to bits , tim
Image

Re: Clueless 1979 CF70 owner looking to find useful info on maintenance and care

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:07 am
by wightegi
Just to mention if there is any filter in the fuel lint to the carb throw it away they only cause poor running.