85 700 are any of these probs common?

Hey guys I am not new to bikes or forums, but I am brand new to this forum and this type of bike.
Picked up a 1985 interceptor 700.
It looks great but has a few problems I need to fix and looking for some advice on. I have been an automechanic for years but never worked on a bike. If you have the time to read my whole post and can help with any ( or all ) of these probs please do! Thanks.

1. I think the carbs need a little attention. Starts and runs and idles fine, however the idle speed is inconsistant. I like it when I am sitting around 700-1000 at a stop light but sometimes it is more like 1800 or even 2000.

2.Pretty good oil leak at both valve cover gaskets ( will probobly be fixed when problem 5 is fixed )

3.Buzzing?! sound at around 30 to 45 mph. I actually thought it was like a low oil buzzer or something because of problem #2 but now I think it is a speedometer problem because of problem #4

4. Speedometer is eratic at highway / freeway speeds. It jumps up and down wildly within about 10mph of target range. EG; if it looks like I am doing 55 the speedo bounces between 45 and 65 rapidly. ( this is usually when my bike makes that wierd buzzing sound )

5. Valve train noise when cold
a very rapid high pitched ticking sound. I dont know what it is but I have heard that these engines have bad oiling to the cams. It is about every full revolution so I beleive it to be noise from above one cyclinder.

6. My whole front top fairing is crooked. I took of the plastic and found it to be that the whole headlight cage ( that the gauges and fairing and blinkers bolt onto ) is crooked. someone dropped it I think. can I bend it back with a crowbar? I am afraid that it will break if I try.

7. Is this bike moderatly fast? I find it to be about as fast as my 77 cb750 was, but I thought that at half the weight this would get out of its own way a little quicker.... just curious if its running healthy or not.

8. when I center my blinker light it never centers correctly without having to jimmy with it, so the result is unless I mess with it only one light is steady on and the other stays off. I dont mind my bike winking at you but I dont want a ticket either.

thanks for reading and any help or advice! Even if you dont have the answer but have the same problem that would be helpful to know.

heres my new baby, 1000$ im happy so far. Lets see if she breaks my budget fixing her up.





That link doesnt seem to work here is the direct link I guess.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32700339@N04/3340069310/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32700339@N04/3339239759/

 

hey where to start well.... 1 run seafoam through the tank if that does not work time to remove them for a cleaning.
2 check bikebandit.com good prices.
3 look on ebay for speedo.
4 fixed with three.
5 check out other posts under search.
6 take it off the bike, don't use a crowbar while it on the bike my break something else. use a small hammer and eyeball it.
7 will be fixed with the carbs cleaned or taken off to clean.
8 remove and clean the contacts that should help.

lastly welcome and have fun. got any pictures of your bike.

 

in my profile, just uploaded like 3 minutes ago. thanks!

 

Great looking bike ! hope I helped a little.

 

try lubing the "cable" use graphite not WD40. it beats replacing the speedo
# 7 Your kidding right? this bike you have is fast....faster than a sabre.

welcome

 

its probably just the speedo cable not the speedometer itself. Mine buzzed and bounced right before the cable broke

 

Try my best to help you.

Hello guys

For the first I agree with crustyrider about changing the speedocable,but it could also be the speedometer.Be sure that problem #5 doesn´t come from the basement if it does shit you problaby have damaged rod bearing.Problem #6 if it breaks it most of the time can be weld.Fix the oil leak that is right these bike had problem with there camshaft beacause they don´t get enough oil so if it is leaking that means less oil NOT GOOD.Problem #3 check the wheel bearings.And these carbs if you don´t know them don´t touch them.They are very fragile.Hope this helps.Just with problem #5 I had that kind of noise like little higher sound then a normal valve sounds also pinging I tought that it was first my valves but then it was the rod bearing damaged.And my bike started fine and idle but if I put it on the center stand and set in 1st gear let it roll and put resitance to the wheel just with hands it started to choke untill it died.Then I start again no problem.

Best regards

Gunnar

 

As far as the valve cover leaks go:

link: Engine - SabMagFAQ