You're all correct, local shops/waste of money.

[mike_of_bbg]

Nobody wants to touch it. (78 GS1000). I think I have found a guy in Va. That works on nothing but vintage bikes. Randy's Cycle & Restoration. Has anyone heard of this guy ? any feedback would be helpful .

Yes, where are you in VA, or are you in VA? (you can put this in your User CP so we never have to ask, hint, hint) I've never heard of them - though I do know a local guy who really does love old bikes (mostly Nortons but he works on them all) and has decent labor rates. Still, I probably wouldn't take a bike to him unless I was exhausted of other options.

Syncing carbs is something that needs to be done regularly on motorcycles - and yes a full sync needs to be done with the carbs on a running bike. It's going to pay to get a manometer and learn to do it yourself. If your carbs are wildly out of sync you can start with a bench sync. Search the forums for the term and you'll probably get good pictures.

 

[davidduarte]

There's a shop in CT called Valley Motorsports (http://www.vmsonline.net/) that works on old bikes. I've had pretty good luck with them in the past, although since I moved further away from them, I haven't been back for anything other than having my tank coated. Lately I've been doing almost all my own mechanical work. My new stator should arrive on Thursday, so I'll probably start taking the case off this weekend sometime, although the gasket won't be here until Monday. It should give me time to replace all those phillip's head screws with allen head cap screws.

 

[sachsaca]

Just tooling around here reading the thoughts of America in general. I don't think the "Art" of being a mechanic is well respected enough any more. I remember when I was a kid a mechanic was worth his weight in gold. You knew who they were, they were like legends. They could fix anything you had or get it close. My grandad was like that, He would build anything he needed, from trucks to engines. He was called on to do alot of stuff by family and friends.
On the other side of things he always got paid in some form or fashion, he never left a house without being served a meal because they knew what he was dooing for them. It is a lost art beimg able to pick up a wrench and go to work on a car. truck or motorcycle and get it right. I am in the process of learning and I have this place to thank for that. Don't forget your not just tinkerers your artists, men and women who dream outside the box, who dare to imagine themselves riding a machine they put together or repaired with their own two hands. I for one and glad to have found this site. Now Old Para, get the wrenches out, put on some old britches and a work shirt, take your time and get to work, you my friend are part of a huge family that will talk you thru it and if need be probably come by and help you. Good luck, sachsaca.