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                                Maintenance 
                                and Performance for CJ750: 
                              These 
                                basic maintenance and performance tips are what 
                                we get from people that are very experienced Chang 
                                Jiang 750 sidecar owners. They may not be the 
                                most detailed answers, but we do hope they give 
                                you a good idea of what may be the solution to 
                                all of your Chang Jiang 750 questions. Also, they 
                                should help keep your Chang Jiang 750 in top running 
                                condition.  
                              We 
                                welcome your input. Please feel free to send us 
                                any additional CHANG JIANG 750 tips you have, 
                                so that we may post it and help out other Chang 
                                Jiang 750 owners. 
                              Remember, 
                                “the Chang Jiang 750 is a high maintenance 
                                motorcycle”. This is 1930s technology and 
                                should be treated as such. If you live in China, 
                                then you are lucky to have plenty of Chang Jiang 
                                750 mechanics around that can help you out. The 
                                cost is generally just a few dollars. Most Chang 
                                Jiang 750 shops in China will even do minor repairs 
                                for free if you bought your bike from them. Leaking 
                                oil is probably the biggest concern compared to 
                                modern motorcycles. Being that these motorcycles 
                                come from a “simpler” era, they are 
                                not real complicated. You will not find many electronic 
                                black boxes on them, they are mostly steel and 
                                rubber and very basic machines. Some mechanics 
                                say that if you can tinker with a lawn mower, 
                                you can basically do work on a Chang Jiang 750. 
                                 
                              Remember, 
                                “If you live in a western country make sure 
                                you are comfortable with a wrench before buying 
                                a Chang Jiang 750 “ 
                              Are 
                                engine gas cleaners and solvents good for my engine? 
                              No, 
                                engine cleaner may actually harm your engine because 
                                it can strip off metal from the engine block, 
                                enter pores in the engine and harm engine internals. 
                              Is 
                                synthetic oil good for my engine? 
                              No! 
                                Synthetic oils can dissolve the seals in this 
                                type of motor. DO NOT use synthetic oils. 
                              Is 
                                overheating normal? 
                              Depends 
                                on the road conditions and how your ride your 
                                bike and also what you consider as overheating. 
                                It is normal for the CJ750 may run very hot especially 
                                the smaller engine. 
                              Having 
                                a well tuned bike (ignition timing, setting your 
                                valves, and synchronized carburetors) will seriously 
                                reduce the problem of overheating. Even too much 
                                or too little oil will affect the engine heating. 
                                 
                              Normally 
                                the Chang Jiang 750 should not overheat unless 
                                going uphill for long distances. It is normal 
                                practice when we ride in the summer to rest the 
                                Chang Jiang sidevalve 24 HP engine every hour 
                                or 50km on mountain roads or every 45 minutes 
                                of riding to let the engines cool down.  
                              Is 
                                it bad to spray water on my engine when it is 
                                hot to cool it down? 
                              Spraying 
                                too much cold water on your engine can crack it 
                                if it is too hot. Importantly cooling it too fast 
                                will cause the outside engine case to contract 
                                while the pistons and parts inside the engine 
                                is still expanded from the heat, thus this may 
                                cause scratching of the piston walls. Best to 
                                take a 15 to 20 min break and let it cool down 
                                naturally. Chang Jiang 750 sidecars are not meant 
                                for fast speeds and to be stressed for extended 
                                periods. Relax and enjoy your ride, and take an 
                                occasional stop to rest the engine. The same rule 
                                applies when crossing a river or deep water; let 
                                your engine cool down. 
                              When 
                                do I need to change my engine oil? 
                              Normally 
                                every 3,000 kilometers.  
                              When 
                                should I check my engine and transmission oil? 
                              Daily 
                                check is a good rule of thumb. Definitely every 
                                time you fill your gas tank, check the engine 
                                oil. Most Chang Jiang engines do leak and burn 
                                oil so a few drops of oil on the garage floor 
                                is normal. Basically it is best to check the engine 
                                oil as often as possible. For transmission oil, 
                                we recommend every 1,000KM.  
                              Are 
                                oil leaks common? 
                                 
                                Yes, the Chang Jiang 750 tends to leak some oil 
                                (just like a Harley), however it should not be 
                                too much (usually just a few drops). Be aware 
                                of oil leak at the rear main seal. If this happens 
                                oil can wet the clutch plates, causing the clutch 
                                to slip. 
                              How 
                                can I see the oil on the oil stick especially 
                                when I use new oil? 
                              Press 
                                your oil stick on a clean cloth and look at the 
                                oil mark on the cloth. You may machine the dip 
                                stick by grinding it flat on one side or use a 
                                tap and die and cut thread into the bottom of 
                                the dip stick. This will make it easier to read 
                                the oil level. Keep your oil near the top line. 
                                NEVER over fill the oil.  
                              Check 
                                your oil frequently, this means every time before 
                                you ride your Chang Jiang 750. In some Chang Jiang 
                                750’s oil disappears like water. 
                              Does 
                                the type of head gasket used on the Chang Jiang 
                                750 engine affect my bike? 
                              There 
                                are 2 types of head gaskets, one is a thin solid 
                                copper gasket. This is sometimes preferred because 
                                it is a better conductor of heat from the cylinders 
                                out to the heads where there is more cooling. 
                                The other type of gasket has asbestos sandwiched 
                                between 2 thin plates of copper. If the machining 
                                of the head and cylinders is not exact, the asbestos 
                                will fill in any imperfections. You can take the 
                                copper asbesto gasket apart and just use the copper. 
                              I 
                                just put in new gasket? 
                              After 
                                100km or so, check and re-torque the head bolts 
                                if necessary. Sometimes the head bolts loosen 
                                due to the heat and vibration, especially after 
                                it is first installed. Remember to torque the 
                                head properly going from opposite sides of the 
                                head and torque them gradually. Never take the 
                                head cover off when it is hot. 
                              Are 
                                there ways to improve the brakes? 
                              The 
                                Chang Jiang 750 is a very heavy motorcycle, and 
                                does not stop like a high performance motorcycle. 
                                It depends mainly on rear wheel braking. There 
                                are a few types of brake shoes and also there 
                                are two types of thickness for the brake shoes. 
                                The softer brake shoes control feel much more 
                                sensitive however the harder type last longer. 
                              Make 
                                sure that the pads are put in correctly and correct 
                                side on the inside. Make sure your brake drum 
                                is not old and worn, if so, it may need to be 
                                replaced. 
                              If 
                                you drive at 60 KPH (40 MPH) you will likely be 
                                fine with the stock brakes. Many Chang Jiang 750 
                                riders do end up modifying their bikes to improve 
                                brake performance. Big Bill's Bikes offers sidecar wheel brakes, 
                                hydraulic front disk brakes and M-5 drum brakes 
                                which all will greatly improve your Chang Jiang 
                                750 braking. (the M-5 drum brakes use wider brake 
                                shoes and stop much better). 
                              Are 
                                disk brakes better? 
                              Technically 
                                yes. But, for the Chang Jiang 750 their effectiveness 
                                can depend. The Chang Jiang 750 is a very heavy 
                                bike, so disk brakes in the front will not make 
                                a major difference. You will still need to rely 
                                heavily on the rear brake to stop.  
                              A 
                                disadvantage of having a hydraulic front disk 
                                brake is that if get a flat tire, the 4th (spare) 
                                wheel will usually not a disk brake on it. Make 
                                sure that you get a proper installation and you 
                                will be able to rotate all 4 wheels using the 
                                same disk brake. Some Chang Jiang 750 bikers that 
                                have disk brakes have told us that the difference 
                                is only slightly noticeable. 
                              What 
                                type of gas should I use? 
                              Regular 
                                leaded gas is best, but any unleaded gas will 
                                also work.  
                              Are 
                                round tires or flat ones better? 
                              The 
                                Chang Jiang 750 sidecars do not lean on turns 
                                so flat tires are better and more economical. 
                                Solo Chang Jiang 750 should use round (radial 
                                tires) for better performance. It is advisable 
                                to not use off-road tires on the road due to their 
                                reduced traction on pavement. 
                              Are 
                                there differences in tires? 
                                 
                                Yes, wear, traction, width and price. Big Bill's Bikes tire 
                                prices range from 80rmb to 250rmb. Tires on a 
                                Chang Jiang 750 tends to wear out quicker because 
                                of the toe-in pitch of the bike with the sidecar. 
                                Some tires wear out faster than others, most of 
                                the better quality newer made tires on the back 
                                wheel will last around 5,000 km. 
                              Are 
                                alloy wheels better than spokes? 
                              Down 
                                side of alloy wheels is they have a harder ride, 
                                and are harder on wheel bearings. Up side of alloy 
                                rims, is they are far truer than the average spoked 
                                Chang Jiang 750 wheel. Spokes have a softer ride, 
                                however on strong impacts the spokes may absorb 
                                the impact, and then the spokes break.  
                              There 
                                are about 5 different types of alloys wheels available. 
                                For long distance rides, on rough roads, most 
                                of us will prefer to use alloy wheels especially 
                                on the rear wheel.  
                              Big Bill's Bikes 
                                has also aluminum alloy rims with high strength 
                                spokes. These wheels are powder coated and also 
                                may be polished for a super shine. The disadvantage 
                                of the alloy rims are that they are too stiff 
                                and will rip the spokes out of the hub when you 
                                ride on rough roads. For flat roads they are perfect. 
                               
                                Are old stock wheels better than the new ones? 
                              The 
                                newer wheels are made of thinner metal and you 
                                can see where it is welded together, the spokes 
                                are also thinner and in our experience not as 
                                strong as the older wheels. There are some older 
                                non-polished rims that are made from thicker metal, 
                                however we have seen many that are not true. Big Bill's Bikes 
                                has Duxin spokes which are thicker, however these 
                                can be very difficult to find and in short supply. 
                                Make sure the spokes are all evenly tightened, 
                                and always replace broken spokes immediately. 
                              What 
                                is the top speed of a Chang Jiang 750? 
                              That 
                                is a good question. It usually boils down to 1.) 
                                who tuned your bike and 2.) the modifications 
                                that have been done to it. We have Chang Jiang 
                                750 sidecars with 32 hp engines that have done 
                                up to 140 km/h. The new CV carbs are a big help 
                                in the power department. With a normal 32 hp the 
                                Chang Jiang 750 can comfortably cruise at 80 km/h 
                                with top speed of about 110km/h.  
                                 
                                For 24hp Chang Jiang 750 sidecars with 24 hp engines 
                                we have seen ones that can reach and maintain 
                                top speeds of 128 km/h. Normally a 24 hp Chang 
                                Jiang 750 can cruise comfortably at 70km/h, with 
                                top speed at about 100 km/h.  
                              For 
                                bikers that want top speed, we recommend the CV 
                                carburetors, 3 ring pistons, high speed 4th gear 
                                or high speed rear differential.  
                              What 
                                is the performance of the new 3 ring pistons? 
                              On 
                                24 hp engines it is very noticeable performance 
                                upgrade. It is not so noticeable on the 32 hp 
                                OHV engines. On the 24 hp engine, when installed, 
                                you notice an immediate increase in acceleration, 
                                gear changing is done at higher engine speeds, 
                                and the engine runs cooler and quieter. The overall 
                                performance will also depend on the quality of 
                                your engine. Big Bill's Bikes has installed over 100 pairs 
                                of them and the performance varied on each Chang 
                                Jiang 750 depending on condition of the engine. 
                                Generally, this is a very worthwhile upgrade for 
                                the 24 hp engine.  
                              What 
                                is the performance of the new thinner piston ring 
                                pistons? 
                              The 
                                difference as like the the 3 ring pistons are 
                                very noticable. It has higher compression, less 
                                noise, and engine runs cooler importantly goes 
                                faster.  
                              What 
                                is the performance of the high performance carburetors? 
                              We 
                                strongly recommend the high performance carburetors. 
                                Faster and smoother acceleration 
                                Better throttle response 
                                More consistency and balance 
                                No vapor lock, or boiling gas 
                                Engine runs cooler 
                                Easier starting 
                                Better gas mileage 
                                Less gas leakage and sticking floats 
                                Big Bill's Bikes was the first shop in Beijing that tested 
                                the CV carburetor. We tested these, along with 
                                the Fire Dragons M/C Club, for three months before 
                                they were sold on the local market. Big Bill's Bikes has installed 
                                over 100 sets in the past couple of months. Ask 
                                any rider that has them installed, and they will 
                                tell you how well they perform. A very reasonable 
                                price (55 USD) for much improved power and performance. 
                              How 
                                is the high speed 4th gear performance? 
                              Obvious, 
                                it will be faster, however you need the horsepower 
                                to attain higher speeds. Power on up-hills at 
                                speed in 4th gear is also compromised. This upgrade 
                                is recommended only on the 32 hp OHV engines. 
                                Big Bill's Bikes installed the high speed 4th gear as standard 
                                for premium restorations. Most of the local Beijing 
                                riders use 24 hp engines, on the weekend rides 
                                into the mountains there have been complaints 
                                of not enough hauling power with the high speed 
                                4th gear when going up hills.  
                              How 
                                is the high speed rear differential ? 
                              Faster 
                                top speed. As with the high speed 4th gear, Big Bill's Bikes 
                                only recommends them only on the 32 hp OHV engines. 
                                The 24 hp engine just does not have the power 
                                to push this higher gear ration especially when 
                                there are two passengers. 
                              High 
                                speed rear differentials versus high speed 4th 
                                gear? 
                              The 
                                high speed 4th gear is a better value. It cost 
                                less. The performance will depend on the type 
                                of engine you have. 
                              Does 
                                a deep oil sump make a difference? 
                              Theoretically, 
                                yes. But, experience has shown that it has not 
                                made a big difference. A big drawback of the deep 
                                sump oil pan, is it reduces the CJ750 ground clearance. 
                                Off-road, this can be very detrimental; it is 
                                east to damage the deep oil sump. When buying 
                                the deep sump, make sure that the shop knows how 
                                to modify the oil pump so that it can draw the 
                                oil from lower in the sump, than the stock oil 
                                pump. All the oil will not be circulated if you 
                                do not lower the oil pump suction point. Many 
                                shops will gladly install the deep sump, and not 
                                make any change to the oil pump.  
                              Are 
                                Chang Jiang 750 transmissions without reverse 
                                gears faster? 
                              No. 
                                Transmissions without the reverse gear are simpler. 
                                However, most riders do like the convenience of 
                                the reverse gear. For example, when pulling out 
                                of a “head first” parking space, or 
                                when making a 3 point turn. 
                              Are 
                                there different reverse gear transmissions? 
                              Yes. 
                                There are the stock transmissions that have a 
                                lever that can go into reverse from first gear. 
                                 
                                The “331 tranny” (by Nan Fang) requires 
                                first being in neutral, before switching into 
                                reverse. It takes some getting used to before 
                                being able to go quickly into neutral.  
                                The “52 tranny” (by Chang Jiang) is 
                                the single lever reverse transmission that can 
                                go into reverse in first gear. It is the stock 
                                transmission that is on most Chang Jiang 750 sidecars. 
                                Some riders do not like this transmission because 
                                it is very easy to throw it into reverse when 
                                the bike is moving and grind the gears. This happens 
                                quite often with beginners.  
                              Are 
                                there any differences in the reverse gears boxes? 
                              Different 
                                folks, different strokes, some prefer the M-5 
                                model as it is safer and will not accidentally 
                                grind the transmission. Others prefer the stock 
                                one due to the ease of not having to find neutral 
                                to get reverse. 
                              Are 
                                maintenance free batteries better? 
                              Depends. 
                                Normal lead acid batteries last longer. Maintenance 
                                free batteries, just like normal batteries, do 
                                vent acid fumes when it they get hot. Sealed “maintenance 
                                free” batteries tend to stay cleaner. If 
                                you have it on the side of the Chang Jiang 750, 
                                it seems more resistant to the elements. If your 
                                battery is on the side of the bike, make sure 
                                it is tied. Batteries have been known to fall 
                                out, when not tied down.  
                              Can 
                                the battery be put in the trunk? 
                              Yes, 
                                most of our customized Chang Jiang 750 sidecars 
                                have their batteries put in the trunk. But, remember, 
                                if it is the trunk, the biker can not be converted 
                                to a “Chang Jiang 750 Solo” ride, 
                                without switching the battery back to the motorcycle. 
                                Also, be sure that it is in an enclosed box that 
                                is ventilated. We have seen poorly installed batteries 
                                in the sidecar bucket that have let to fires when 
                                metal touched both terminals of the battery. If 
                                your batteries are on the side of your Chang Jiang 
                                750, please make sure it is secured in place. 
                                We have seen batteries fly off during rough rides. 
                              Do 
                                sidecar brakes work? 
                              Yes, 
                                they work, however they need to be adjusted frequently 
                                due to cables being stretched. It is best to adjust 
                                the cables so that it assist in the stopping and 
                                do not adversely affect the performance of the 
                                bike. We recommend not tightening it too tightly, 
                                as changes in the weight of the sidecar will affect 
                                its performance of the pull of the bike when stopping. 
                              Are 
                                straight pipes bad for my engine? 
                              Yes, 
                                straight pipes do not give the engine enough back 
                                compression pressure. This can cause extra heat 
                                and stress on the top end of the engine (piston 
                                and valves). You may install straight pipes that 
                                have mufflers in them. It is advisable not to 
                                ride your Chang Jiang 750 with straight pipes 
                                that have no mufflers especially during the breaking 
                                in period. 
                              My 
                                wheels keep hitting the center stand causing it 
                                hit the ground? 
                              Sometimes 
                                the stand can get out of position, and it can 
                                be widened. Also check the spacer / washer in 
                                the rear wheel. It is possible that your wheel 
                                bearings have an excess of play. 
                              There 
                                is a strong clicking nose in the engine? 
                              A 
                                small amount of clicking is quite normal however 
                                it can also be a sign of a problem. Excess noise 
                                can be your valves, pistons, etc. 32 hp engines 
                                have overhead valves, with more moving parts, 
                                it has more engine noise than a 24 hp engines. 
                                 
                                 
                                When the engine starts to overheat, it makes clicking 
                                noises. Also, when overheating, it is fairly clear, 
                                just sitting on the motorcycle. You can feel it. 
                                A lot of Chang Jiang 750 riders have devised different 
                                methods of installing temperature gauges on their 
                                Chang Jiang 750s. 
                              If 
                                you are overheating, take a rest, and let the 
                                engine cool down. You will feel the difference, 
                                the engine runs far stronger after it cools down, 
                                (and the clicking noise should go away). 
                              There 
                                is a chirping noise in the engine? 
                              If 
                                there is a chirping noise and you engine seems 
                                to be losing power, it can be either the gasket 
                                is burnt and leaking or your valves are leaking. 
                                Be careful of leaking gaskets that are facing 
                                your feet. The hot air leaking out will burn your 
                                shoes or pants. 
                              My 
                                Chang Jiang 750 feels sluggish? 
                              Check 
                                your tire air pressure, and make sure brakes are 
                                returning to position, and that the foot rest 
                                is not pushing down on the brake pedal. Do not 
                                ride your Chang Jiang 750 with flat tires, the 
                                rubber on the sidewalls of the tire will be ruined 
                                and the tube will not stay in place when inflated. 
                              My 
                                steering is very heavy? 
                              Check 
                                your tire air pressure, and also do not over tighten 
                                the steering damper, make sure the brake is returning 
                                back to position, and not stuck. 
                              My 
                                Chang Jiang 750 does not accelerate out of first 
                                gear smoothly? 
                              If 
                                the Chang Jiang750 jolts a bit on accelerating 
                                the clutch throw-out bearing might be bad.  
                              My 
                                Chang Jiang 750 does not decelerate when I down 
                                shift and when changing gear the clutch reacts 
                                very slow? 
                              Most 
                                likely your clutch actuator might be bad, the 
                                bearing may be worn or clutch might have some 
                                problems. 
                              My 
                                Chang Jiang 750 does not accelerate well? 
                              Adjust 
                                your valves, check the ignition timing, carburetors 
                                may be dirty or may need balancing, clutch may 
                                be worn, etc. The Chang Jiang 750 is a peculiar 
                                motorcycle; the timing may be fine tuned for power 
                                on acceleration, or tuned for high speeds, however 
                                not for both. The timing will also affect the 
                                gas mileage.  
                              If 
                                you like power and acceleration and have a 24hp 
                                engine, try the new 3 ring pistons from Dong Tian. 
                                However be aware of the older 3 ring pistons that 
                                are of inferior quality due to poor controls on 
                                metallurgy as it may wear out your piston walls. 
                                If you have a 32 hp engine, try the new 30mm high 
                                performance carburetors also from Dong Tian. You 
                                will notice immediate improvements in performance, 
                                throttle response and acceleration. Both Dong 
                                Tian products are also available at Big Bill's Bikes. To date 
                                Big Bill's Bikes has installed over 100 sets of the new carbs 
                                and new pistons. We have plenty of good recommendations 
                                about these parts. 
                               
                                My Chang Jiang 750 goes to one side when braking 
                                and accelerating? 
                              Camber 
                                or “toe in“ of the bike may not be 
                                correct. Different production runs of Chang Jiang 
                                750 sidecars will vary on the camber they have 
                                the sidecar set at. Some Chang Jiang 750s are 
                                a bit taller and the sidecar is lower, others 
                                may have a higher sidecar. We have also seen many 
                                Chang Jiang 750 with slight alignment problems 
                                with the sidecar wheel, most likely caused by 
                                the sidecar hitting the curb too often. A small 
                                amount of pull on acceleration and deceleration 
                                is normal. Also riding with a passenger in the 
                                sidecar will also affect the pull of the bike. 
                              How 
                                do I know when my bike is not charging? 
                              The 
                                light on the left side of the ignition key stays 
                                on. If it blinks a bit when you increase above 
                                idle RPM, most likely it is a wiring problem, 
                                if it stays on and nothing happens when you increase 
                                the RPMs the alternator may be bad. If you are 
                                riding fast, leave your head lights on. At night 
                                when riding in the city with the lights on, your 
                                Chang Jiang 750 may not charge fast enough, the 
                                rate of usage can exceed the charging rate of 
                                the system. This may result in the battery running 
                                out of power. 
                              My 
                                battery does not charge? 
                              It 
                                can be a loose ground cable, the alternator, the 
                                rectifier, the voltage regulator or other electrical 
                                parts.  
                              My 
                                Chang Jiang 750 does not turn on with the key 
                                switch? 
                              Check 
                                the switch or fuse under the seat or in the electric 
                                box. Run a wire from the positive terminal of 
                                the battery to the positive wire on the 2 way 
                                coil. You can now kick start your bike. 
                              I 
                                push my starter button and nothing happens or 
                                starter turns very slow?  
                              If 
                                nothing happens electric might be bad or the switch 
                                might be broken, if starter turns but very slowly, 
                                it could be a weak battery or bad starter. Some 
                                starters just get worn out and will have no power. 
                              My 
                                starter turns and engine does not start? 
                              Check 
                                your distributor, points, gas, plugs, spark plug 
                                cable, or the starter gears might be worn out. 
                                 
                              My 
                                starter and engine turns but Chang Jiang 750 does 
                                not start? 
                                 
                                Make sure the gas is on and you have gas, and 
                                tickle the button on the top of the carbs a few 
                                times. Check the spark plug cables to see if there 
                                is spark. Open the distributor and see if the 
                                points are sparking. If there is no electricity 
                                going to the cables it may be a bad coil. If the 
                                points are not sparking it may be the distributor 
                                or condenser. 
                              My 
                                engine is back firing and has irregular sparking? 
                              Check 
                                the condenser, points, spark plugs, spark plug 
                                cables and carburetors. 
                              My 
                                engine is only firing on one cylinder? 
                              Check 
                                your spark plug, spark plug cables, ignition coil, 
                                fuel delivery or carburetors. 
                              There 
                                is white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipes? 
                              There 
                                is water in the engine which may be from the engine 
                                being cold, or improperly adjusted carburetor. 
                                 
                              There 
                                is blue smoke coming out of the exhaust pipes? 
                              You 
                                are burning oil. It may be from worn valves, or 
                                a problem with your piston or rings. It also could 
                                be a scratched cylinder wall.  
                              There 
                                is occasional blue smoke coming out of my exhaust 
                                pipes? 
                              Some 
                                oil might get into the combustion chamber via 
                                the carburetors. Most Chang Jiang 750s have a 
                                oil vent line (hose) goes from the front of the 
                                engine block, into the air filter housing. The 
                                air filter can fill and overflow. 
                              There 
                                is some rattling sound from the exhaust pipes? 
                              The 
                                innards of the muffler can come loose. Also make 
                                sure the bolts that hold the fender mounts are 
                                tight. Vibration loosens most bolts with time. 
                                Installing lock washers on every nut on the bike 
                                is a good idea. 
                              My 
                                bike back fires? 
                              Check 
                                your carburetors, condenser and points. 
                              Handle 
                                bars wobbles? 
                              Tighten 
                                the steering damper. That is the butterfly knob 
                                in front of the handle bar. A slight wobble is 
                                very common at low speeds. The front bearing and 
                                fork mount assembly may have to be tightened or 
                                bearings might need to be replaced. 
                              Handlebar 
                                wobbles especially when I brake? 
                              Might 
                                be a problem with the forks or wheels. It is possible 
                                your bike has been in an accident. 
                              My 
                                throttle is too tight? 
                              Loosen 
                                the screw under the throttle, oil the throttle, 
                                make sure the cables are moving in and out freely. 
                                Get a cable lubricator, and spray lube into all 
                                cables  
                              Idle 
                                does not go down? 
                              Check 
                                that the throttle cables are not sticking. Also, 
                                may be that the carbs may need cleaning. Sometimes 
                                the cable will get caught, hangs up. It this happens 
                                when you are riding, you might have to manually 
                                pull it back down, to allow it to get back into 
                                place. Just pull the cable on top of the carburetor 
                                a few times softly or wiggle it a bit and it should 
                                go back into place. 
                              My 
                                Chang Jiang 750 starts but engine is running off 
                                beat? 
                              Balance 
                                (synch) your carburetors, check the plugs and 
                                spark plug cables. 
                              My 
                                idle is running a bit fast or too slow? 
                              Check 
                                your timing and carburetor adjustment. 
                              My 
                                Chang Jiang 750 runs but has no power? 
                              Check 
                                the following: carburetors, valve adjustment, 
                                ignition timing and compression. 
                              My 
                                back brake no longer effective? 
                              Tighten 
                                your brakes by adjusting the butterfly bolt behind 
                                the brake pedal. The brake shoes may be worn out, 
                                or the drum. Also, rear differentials have been 
                                known to leak, this may cause the brake pads to 
                                get contaminated with oil. 
                              Can 
                                I make the brake lights work when I use my front 
                                brake? 
                              No, 
                                unless you modify the bike to have a front brake 
                                switch installed. Big Bill's Bikes installs those on Chang 
                                Jiang 750 going to Europe. This is the law in 
                                most countries in Europe and America. 
                              How 
                                do I know when my wheel bearings are bad? 
                              They 
                                may scratch and make a nasty “metal on metal” 
                                noise. Also you may hear some grinding noise and 
                                vibration. Normally bearings may go bad after 
                                a hard impact. 
                              My 
                                engine runs, drive shaft rotates but the Chang 
                                Jiang 750 does not move? 
                              Drive 
                                gear in the rear wheel may be worn out. Rear differential 
                                may be worn out, or the spacer in the back wheel 
                                is broken thus drive is not catching.  
                              My 
                                Chang Jiang 750 is having a hard time changing 
                                gears and it gets very hot in the transmission 
                                area? 
                              Check 
                                that your gear box has not run out of oil. 
                              What 
                                type of gear oil should I use? 
                              We 
                                recommend SAE 80W90 
                              How 
                                much oil should I put it the transmission and 
                                rear differential? 
                              0.7 
                                liters in the tranny, 0.3 liters in the rear differential. 
                                Look carefully when filling transmission with 
                                oil, when it reaches the third thread from the 
                                bottom. 
                              My 
                                back wheel drive is leaking oil? 
                              Seal 
                                is bad, or it may be too much oil in the rear 
                                drive. A hard impact to the back wheel may also 
                                loosen the seal causing it to leak. 
                                 
                                Is slipping out of gear normal on a Chang 
                                Jiang 750? 
                              Yes, 
                                on most Chang Jiang 750 sidecar motorcycles the 
                                bike will occasionally slip out of gear. However 
                                it should not happen constantly. The transmission 
                                has two adjustment screws that should cure this 
                                problem. Beware though if you take your bike to 
                                a repair shop. They may charge you for repairing 
                                the tranny, when it only needed an adjustment 
                                of the two screws to fix the gear slipping. When 
                                the bike is moving and the gear slips into neutral 
                                always up shift the gear to get it back into gear. 
                              How 
                                do I adjust my gears when they are slipping? 
                              The 
                                upper screw is for adjustment of down shifting. 
                                The lower screw is for adjustments of up shifting. 
                                It is advisable to have a professional adjust 
                                it because they will be able to tell if it is 
                                correct by the amount of movement in the hand 
                                shift. If you have to adjust it yourself, do not 
                                over adjust the screws. Each adjustment should 
                                only be about a quarter of a turn or less. Read 
                                more on our gear adjustment FAQ. 
                              My 
                                back wheel locked up? 
                              Might 
                                be transmission gears jammed or locked. It could 
                                be the rear wheel differential locked up. It can 
                                be gears jammed from teeth breaking off the gears. 
                              My 
                                engine runs, goes into gear, but bike does not 
                                move? 
                              Gear 
                                teeth in the back wheel can be worn out, back 
                                wheel might not be tighten in properly, or drive 
                                donut is broken. 
                              I 
                                am big and heavy, my seat keeps hitting the fender? 
                              Seat 
                                can be adjusted for the seat to be higher or use 
                                double springs. 
                              The 
                                seat is a bit uncomfortable especially the raised 
                                front part is there any solution? 
                              Commonly 
                                called ball breakers, use a leather seat cover 
                                and pad it with foam or a towel. 
                              I 
                                hear a pulsating hissing sound? 
                              The 
                                head gasket may be leaking, spark plug may be 
                                loose, and may also be the carburetors. 
                              Do 
                                I need to turn off the gas petcock? 
                              Yes, 
                                especially if you are going to let the bike sit 
                                for a while (more than a few days). Best to always 
                                turn it off as it is easy for carburetors to leak 
                                gas. Gas may seep into the engine. 
                              My 
                                carburetor is leaking gas? 
                              This 
                                is very common with old stylecarbs. Sometimes 
                                the floats stick, do not rise and shut off the 
                                fuel flow. Press the gas release button on top 
                                of the carburetor a few times, it may free the 
                                sticking float. If it still leaks, take off top 
                                of the carb and clean out the float bowl. Also, 
                                check the float to see if it is cracked or broken. 
                                Sometimes just tapping on the side of the carburetor 
                                with the handle of a screwdriver is enough to 
                                settle the float. Also sharpening the pin that 
                                points out the the float will help it. 
                              Gas 
                                leaks out of the top of my tank? 
                              Put 
                                a splash guard in, that is a round screen that 
                                fits into the mouth of the gas tank. 
                              How 
                                much throttle should I give my Chang Jiang 750 
                                when starting? 
                              Do 
                                not open the throttle when cranking the bike over. 
                                Let the bike idle and give it time to warm up 
                                too fast; just use a little slow twist to get 
                                the engine started.  
                              What 
                                should I carry besides basic tools? 
                              A 
                                liter of motor oil 
                                2 meter long electrical wire to hotwire the bike 
                                in case of electrical problems 
                                Spare engine gaskets 
                                Funnel or plastic bottle for adding oil to the 
                                engine 
                                Spare condenser and points 
                                Spare clutch cable and brake cable 
                                Electrical tape 
                                Tow rope 
                                A empty plastic bottle in case you run out of 
                                gas.  
                               
                                A last, but sad one: My Chang Jiang 750 was stolen? 
                              I 
                                hope it’s a legally registered CJ. It’s 
                                always advisable to lock your CJ750, and chain 
                                it to something, especially in Beijing. CJ750 
                                sidecars are often stolen, and if you are lucky 
                                you may get if back. Theft of license plates is 
                                also very common (especially black plates). If 
                                you have all the documents to prove that the bike 
                                is legal, you can get a report from the police 
                                which will allow you to replace the bike with 
                                the same plates. Thus you will not need to buy 
                                a fully registered bike, but an NOS or something 
                                much cheaper and get your original plates replaced 
                                on it. It takes a bit of documentation and running 
                                around but can be done. 
                              
                              • 
                                Where can I get technical information on my Chang 
                                Jiang 750? 
                              http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thechangjiangexperience 
                                 
                              A 
                                special "Thanks" to some of the guys 
                                for helping with the information and editing. 
                                
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