Popular Post kdotlowe Posted September 2, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted September 2, 2015 I'm going to start a slow build of my '73 Honda CL175 that has caused me nothing but trouble the past 12 months. Purchased in July 2014, spent a few months tidying things up and got her complied & registered. Proceeded to blow the damn thing up before she was even 100% legal. Big trail of smoke and loss of power at 100km/h. Pulled the engine, found a hole had blown in the left piston, looked like it had leaned out on that piston. Pretty much ended up refreshing the whole top end. New pistons, rings, valves and a 0.5mm overbore. In theory you'd think that motorcycle engines would be easy due the simple nature to them, but they're goddamn fiddly - and getting the pistons into the cylinders and the cam chain hooked up correctly took me the better part of 2 hours. Had the engine running earlier this year, but still couldn't get it running 100%. Was fairly certain there was something wrong with the carbs which would explain the lean condition. Took it into RestoRace to get a professional look at it. Got her back from RestoRace, running but unfortunately still not holding a decent idle for extended periods of time. They seemed to feel there was something wrong with the carbs also. Have pretty much decided that I will replace the standard carbs with a set of new Mikuni VM20s. Until.... I snapped my kick start lever off. Too much leg day. Unfortunately this means I have to split the engine cases to replace the shaft. Although the bike does have a electric starter which isn't working - seeing as I don't need to pull the engine to fix the electric starter, I'm going to try and fix this first. Here's where she sits now: I've already spent way too much money on this 175cc Honda so I'm not in any rush to get it finished. Plan is: • Fix starter • Change carbs • Do skids If the above fails, I will be doing a ground up rebuild. Watch this space. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 This is neat. Sorry to hear about your weird running issues. That sucks that its still not diagnosed. You must have put a fair boot in to break the kickstart shaft! Also, how was compliance? Did you have plates and papers etc? Any issues with that? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmmmnz Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 arhh the joys of honda twins, ive owned a couple of the early cb250's a k2 and a g5 the g5 ate cams, broke rockers, dropped valves, threw a rod, the k2 blew 2nd gear, snapped the kick start shaft, holed a couple of pistons, and ate some rings, cool bikes when running, but was never sure how honda got such a good reputation, i think it was on on the back of the c90 good luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdotlowe Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 This is neat. Sorry to hear about your weird running issues. That sucks that its still not diagnosed. You must have put a fair boot in to break the kickstart shaft! Also, how was compliance? Did you have plates and papers etc? Any issues with that? It's weird - I wasn't overly stomping it at all. Must've been 40 years of kicks taking its toll. Compliance was relatively straight forward for me despite the status of the bike. The bike had no registration history aside from the plate attached and the old rego label from 1984. It is believed that it fell off the system or was deregistered between the transition from paper to computer records. Basically I used the following things to get compliance: A signed declaration from the previous owner stating that I now owned the bike. A letter from Blue Wing Honda declaring that the bike was imported by Honda NZ in 1972. My original plates. This was all I needed to get compliance and it went through the check easily. The next step was getting permission from NZTA to use my original 4 letter black plate on the bike. Although it came on the bike, there was no history anywhere that it actually belonged to the bike. The plate wasn't in the system so with a few email back & forth to NZTA they let me keep the plates. I had to provide photos to prove the plates were in good condition (gave them a quick respray). I went through Red Baron in Auckland for compliance and truth be told, they couldn't have made things any easier. They pretty much did whatever they could to help me get my bike back on the road. Hope that helps! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdotlowe Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 arhh the joys of honda twins, ive owned a couple of the early cb250's a k2 and a g5 the g5 ate cams, broke rockers, dropped valves, threw a rod, the k2 blew 2nd gear, snapped the kick start shaft, holed a couple of pistons, and ate some rings, cool bikes when running, but was never sure how honda got such a good reputation, i think it was on on the back of the c90 good luck. Definitely a good challenge! But the thing's so much fun when it's running so I would love to keep it - plus those pipes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingbrick Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Is there a thread on the CORVETTE? I feel like there may be one but just can't stretch my mind that far right now 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdotlowe Posted September 3, 2015 Author Share Posted September 3, 2015 Is there a thread on the CORVETTE? I feel like there may be one but just can't stretch my mind that far right now I wish I could say there was. It's my dad's car and not mine. Could probably start one actually - we've done quite a bit of work to it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willdat? Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 It's weird - I wasn't overly stomping it at all. Must've been 40 years of kicks taking its toll. The similar vintage XL175s have an issue with the kick starter - to the extent I don't think that there's any NOS available anywhere. They don't have the option of electric start though. Push start only - which is where my CL50 currently is - at least that only weights 69kg dry... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdotlowe Posted September 3, 2015 Author Share Posted September 3, 2015 The similar vintage XL175s have an issue with the kick starter - to the extent I don't think that there's any NOS available anywhere. They don't have the option of electric start though. Push start only - which is where my CL50 currently is - at least that only weights 69kg dry... I've actually managed to track down one used and one NOS kick start shaft! But yeah thank god for the electric starter. It's far to hard to push start a bike that doesn't want to idle properly in the first place haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flauski Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 Nice pics, cameraman got skills. Some bikes you never have issues with and others are absolute pigs. Keep up the good work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdotlowe Posted September 3, 2015 Author Share Posted September 3, 2015 Nice pics, cameraman got skills. Some bikes you never have issues with and others are absolute pigs. Keep up the good work. Cheers mate, although they're just iPhone/Instagram photos haha. And yeah I've definitely got a pig - but it's a good learning process and relatively cheap compared to my cars! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyfive Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 I'm sad you have had/are having issues with the bike, but I enjoyed the story with pictures. Nice write up 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdotlowe Posted October 6, 2015 Author Share Posted October 6, 2015 Told you it would be a slow rebuild. Started to pull the side cover off to inspect the electric starter. Honda definitely don't make things easy as I had to remove various other parts to get inside. What's an old Japanese bike without some stripped heads? Purchased one of these bad boys and managed to remove the culprit bolts. Will replace all the current bolts with allen heads when it all goes back together. Unfortunately, the sprocket and chain connecting the starter motor to the crankshaft is non existent. No idea why it was removed, but the starter spins when I short the relay so I'm assuming it's working fine. Need to try locate some cheap replacement parts as I'd rather fix the electric starter than split the cases to fix the kick starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdotlowe Posted November 8, 2015 Author Share Posted November 8, 2015 New kick start spindle purchased. Going to split the cases this week. Never been in the bottom end before so this should be fun. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdotlowe Posted November 9, 2015 Author Share Posted November 9, 2015 Engine out. Will split the cases this weekend. Need to source crankcase sealant and we're good to go. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimShadboltfan27 Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 whats your method for cracking them? the ol' heat gun and a rubber mallet get up? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdotlowe Posted November 9, 2015 Author Share Posted November 9, 2015 whats your method for cracking them? the ol' heat gun and a rubber mallet get up? You know what, I have absolutely no idea haha, this is a first for me. Hadn't really thought about it, but the above method seems like it would do the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdotlowe Posted November 15, 2015 Author Share Posted November 15, 2015 Engine on the bench, flipped & ready to be stripped down so I can change out the broken kick starter spindle. Didn't realise I had to remove the clutch basket & everything behind the right cover. Also didn't realise I needed a special tool to remove the oil pump - out came the angle grinder. If it's stupid but it works, it ain't stupid. Intimidating to say the least. Cases split relatively easy. New kick starter shaft in. Spent about 2 hours cleaning the old goo off the mating services so I'd have a nice bond. And she's all good. Next step is to either get my carbs working properly OR buy some Mikunis and then ride the shit out of her! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted November 15, 2015 Share Posted November 15, 2015 Cool pics. I've got a 69 CD175 that needs the shaft replaced too. Not sure how I'll build it, was thinking a mini-cafe... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdotlowe Posted November 15, 2015 Author Share Posted November 15, 2015 Cool pics. I've got a 69 CD175 that needs the shaft replaced too. Not sure how I'll build it, was thinking a mini-cafe... Nice! Think I'm going to go for a tracker/scrambler look for mine. Good luck with the shaft swap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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