Honda cb175k6, 1972 re-build

[TGR90B]

Haven't you got one of those posh 4 wheel motorbike things for cruising around your acres?

[Terrotmt1]

Indeed mini, each to their own and that is good, we should keep an open mind.
Been labouring for the Head Gardener on the Estate today, so I know my place, and not a ride-on in sight.

Last part of the rebuild is coming from the USA, about the only place now where parts are available as bits drying up fast.
5 years ago parts were easy and cheap, not anymore.
I should have checked before I bought this bike..

A few posts ago it was mentioned to get parts made/cast etc using 3D printing and CAD, I ran a large design dept when working and spent a lot of time with these methods every day.

I considered using 3D printing to have made the plastic side panels, the left is a mirror of the right, so seemed a good route seeing as a pair was about £250 without the rare badges.

Quotes came back around £550 for the pair +vat etc and 3 weeks, many also wanted one real part to scan and then to print after for that.

I paid the £250 for parts, left side was £28, the rarer right side the rest. The badges on each side sell in the USA for £90 each and tend to be damaged. I bought a knackered one, cleaned it up and resin cast 6 for £25, painted them in with Humbrol paint and a steady hand.
 A pair with badges appeared on ebay for £67 3 weeks later!
Non of this is easy.

[Rex]

It seems that put a few year-incorrect parts on a Jap resto and the value is considerably decreased, and that's why I could never get into Jap restoration...too many anoraks!
My 1951 A7 (for example) has a 1953 tank on it, but few would know and even fewer would care, but then I don't do originality for the sake of it, and it isn't that critical to the value of an old British bike, generally speaking. I seem to be lucky though as I'm not plagued with originality buffs asking about the handlebar clamps or whatever.
Lola looks nice in her undergarments though.

[mini-me]

https://youtu.be/NFwP2huyNzg

no knicker pics though.

[TGR90B]

Can't we have a bit of Billy Fury instead?

[Terrotmt1]

Come on, we are in the early 70's here, surely some Led Zep!

Or:

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjrzJ3SgPnsAhUAaRUIHdxWBZwQtwIwAHoECAUQAg&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqZOGlgVldAs&usg=AOvVaw1ZFcOvhF3zNsb0qUeHbCUX

[mini-me]

suit yourself, I'm a lot further back than that............

same as tgr90. he's still waiting for someone to invent music

[Terrotmt1]

The iffy carbs are bugging me, so thinking of adapting some Dellorto knock-offs to suit.
Very cheap and you can get a wide range of jets for tuning them.

Why?
Advantage is absolutely clear drillings in the bodies and they install on the very same mounting holes to the Keihin originals.
Disadvantage? A step into the unknown....
Could irritate a few on here too!

Could be interesting side project too.

[Rex]

Dunno who it might irritate, but an old boy I know is now reduced to riding a Tiger Cub. He's a rider and machinist of many years experience but this Cub's carb had him tearing his remaining hair out, so he finally in desperation sprung fourteen quid for one of those Chinese carbs things off Ebay
Fitted straight on and other than a adjustment of the tickover speed it's been perfect straight out of the box.
Maybe he was just lucky, but at £14 it was worth a go.

[Terrotmt1]

Thanks Rex.
I'll check the jet sizes tomorrow and any other fitting  details, and if ok will buy a pair.
They are available in England for that money, so not a big issue.
Time will tell, fingers crossed.

[Terrotmt1]

Bit of a rollercoaster ride on the honda.
Got the carbs, now on the bike and it runs, not that well but I need to try harder on the fine tuning.
however, the starter system (electric) is giving me some jip, and that side of the engine is apart again.
Seems to me the starter gear bearing (runs on the crankshaft) is well worn, the play is about 0.5mm.

Thus, awaiting a nice oilite bush/sleeve to arrive so I can machine to size and get rid of the excessive play. I've replace everything else, so I hope this is the root of the chattering noise and the slipping of the drive to start the motor.

Job for the weekend I hope while the wife watches the GP.

[Rex]

I had a CD200 as a winter hack for years and reliability-wise it was the best bike I ever had, which was handy as I used it to commute to work. The electric start was marginal even when new so when the battery went west I used a cheaper non-electric start lower capacity battery and the kickstart.
When it came time to move the old girl on (2015) the bloke who had it said he was amazed that the starter motor etc still worked but then I'd never used it.
As he said, the sprag rollers usually develop flats and slip rather than grip, and the test is to lean the bike over and try using the electric start, as the rollers then tend to grip. New rollers are cheap enough though

[Terrotmt1]

Interesting!
I have installed new rollers, springs and cups, cheap at £17 the set and real Honda parts too.
The drive chain similarly, all new, good and tight and cost a lot more, but Honda NOS, £33.

This bush is the last bit that keeps the rollers true to the gear journal and to the crank shaft.
Should be with me for the weekend I've been promised.
Found a local company too that make replacement oem spec gaskets individually, £7 each for the side cover, bargain.

I have to admit I've found, since installing the engine and all around it that I've miss-assembled the kick starter shaft so I only have 1/2 the travel...

[Terrotmt1]

After the world's longest wait for a simple bearing to arrive, it did and with some lathe work all back together. Bloody thing still rattles, so ordered a new Chinese replacement for £23 delivered, a last gasp to fix the starter.

Bike fired up awkwardly and ran very rich.

Back to basics tomorrow, valve clearances, ign timing and start again. If this fails, swopping the jets from the original carbs to the copies, and try, try, try , again.

[Terrotmt1]

After 4 months thought I would have a Look-In to see what has happened on here...

I will not bore you with all the ups and downs that have gone on, would run into pages, but everything sorted now. A real sroy of 3 steps forward, 2 back (and further).
The Honda is now on the button (literally) with a skip load of parts and work.

Maybe a few pics to see if anyone is awake!