Honda-SOHC

Hi

Well the assessment stage is here for Laney. Just going round it and making a list of what needs doing.

It looks like I am going to have to buy a secondhand set of clocks and make a good pair out of the two. Basically the rev counter is off of another bike (possible Honda) and has been bodged on heath robinson style! it is just slightly smaller diameter and has no screws in the back to hold it in place. A screw through the top of the chrome cover has been used to prevent it vibrating (that is the theory but actually an epic fail) and the chrome cover at the back has been chopped apart to accommodate it because the mechanism is slightly bigger and longer. Don't know what it is off of but according to the ones on Ebay it should have a red line beginning at 9500 rpm but the one on it start at 8000 rpm. It looks similar to a honda clock but is not the right one!

Also the guy who got it's MOT put gaiters on to hide the fact that it has pitting on the fork sanctions and one of the fork seals has gone! So they will need to be re-chromed and new fork seals putting in.

I will put a new set of plugs and HT caps on today ready for tomorrow when the new battery arrives! Then I can look at the carbs and try and get it running right.

Cheers

John

Reality hits now I have the bike home but it is not insurmountable and considering it has not ridden in anger since 2003 I suppose some work is to be expected!

Hi Guys

Just thought I would introduce myself and say something about me bike(s)! I have been around bikes since I was 15. Am now 44years young! I have owned loads of bikes in my time some of the better road going ones were a 76 RD350, 77 Suzuki GT750, 83 Kawasaki Z1100LTD (import from the US), and a GPZ1000RX.

I had to take some time out 4 years ago when I suffered a stroke. So I sold my GPZ thou and hung up my leathers and resigned myself to my fate. Or so it seemed but after a lot of soul searching I decided to not let my body get the better of me! After regular gym work, and buying a dog to walk everyday, I am fighting fit now. Earlier this year I got a Honda 100cc Bali EX to wizz around town on. But I had a real hankering for something bigger, much bigger, again! But the finances just were not there so I began looking for a restoration project. After a few near misses (I really wanted a CX500 Custom) I settled in the end for a CB650CB Custom. Another US import!

It is an 81 model. It has 12 months ticket and is pretty sound apart from a few bit missing and some little jobs to do. The guy bought it for a cafe racer project that he never got around to starting so I rescued it. I aim to put it back to original and ride it. I think it would be a shame to do a 100% pristine restoration job on it. It needs the carbs balancing as it pop and bangs when cold (I thought a 30 year old was meant to do this anyway? Apparently not?). It needs attention to a split in the seat. The exhausts are off a CB650 and are 4 into 2 affairs, but I am not sure if they are original or not as according to my research they should be 4 into 4 on the Cb Custom varient?, so they may need changing. It also has no grab rail, the headlight is not original, it is missing the head light brackets (has a pair of after market clip on affairs!), and the chrome trim across the front with the Honda badge on it is missing. It has covered 25K miles so I think it has spent a lot of time languishing in somebody's garage not being used.

So expect a few questions as I deal in and find what secrets are lurking for me!

Cheers

John
M0WBY