First CT70 Restore

nemesis88

nemesis88

Member
Hey all. So I've been riding and fixing cars and bikes since I was a kid. I finally am ready to do my first mini trail and got this one for $200. My question is what do you think lol. No motor and lots of dirt etc. Where should I start after total disassembling? One of the headlight mounts on the fork tubes is mangled and ripped off. Do they sell just the tabs that I can weld on? Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 

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kirrbby

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
You certaincy chose a rare bike to build. But it does look like you have a lot of the parts present. What is your end goal? Make it run and ride?? Nice too? Restore to new? Trail bike or street bike? Stock or fast engine?
 
nemesis88

nemesis88

Member
kirrbby said:
You certaincy chose a rare bike to build. But it does look like you have a lot of the parts present. What is your end goal? Mait it run and ride?? Nice too? Restore to new? Trail bike or street bike? Stock or fast engine?
Click to expand...

Hey Kirrbby! Thanks for the reply! To be honest I don't know alot of specifics as far as which models are harder to find than others. Why is this model harder to find? As far as my end game, it's to get it back to original shape as possible using a honda engine. Thanks again!
 
kirrbby

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
I think your bike is a 76 or 77 model. They just didn't sell many of them back in the day, so there are fewer around, and fewer original parts to be had 40 years later.
Allenp is a member here and he recently built a 77, if you want to look up his thread. I'm sure he'll pipe in with some info for you.
 
nemesis88

nemesis88

Member
kirrbby said:
I think your bike is a 76 or 77 model. They just didn't sell many of them back in the day, so there are fewer around, and fewer original parts to be had 40 years later.
Allenp is a member here and he recently built a 77, if you want to look up his thread. I'm sure he'll pipe in with some info for you.
Click to expand...

Yes its a 1977. The only year that color orange was used I believe. Maybe one other year, 1976 possibly. Thanks again!
 
A

allenp42

Well-Known Member
Welcome aboard Nemesis! You bike looks similar to one I saw on craigslist down in SC. Anyway, "where do you start". I think Kirb already mentioned it, but a lot depends on where you want to end to end up and how much time, and how deep your you want to reach into your wallet:)

The best advice I can give you is work one section at a time. Bag, tag, and take pics of EVERYTHING.

The hardest parts to source and the most expensive are the headlight ears, handlebars and control switches. There are no aftermarket parts for these but they do show up on e-Bay from time to time in varying conditions. In general, you just don't see as many 75-78 parts floating around as you do for prior years.

It looks like your bars and controls are fine, but sometimes getting the knobs out of the bars can be a challenge. Hopefully you'll be lucky!

Any CT70 engine from 69 thru 78 (and beyond) will bolt right up. If you're wanting to score one from a 77, they do appear now and then but not not all the often.

Here is a link to my 77 rescue.

https://lilhonda.com/index.php?threads/ct70-1977-fixer-upper.21223/

Ton of resource and help is just a few keystrokes away.
 
kirrbby

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
Your 77 would have had a 3up trans vs 3down on some of the earlier CT's. So you might want a engine from a 1975 K4 thru 79, 3up. I think I have a K4 engine, and maybe a 79, but no 77.
 
6

69ST

Well-Known Member
Yep, "Shiny Orange" was a one-year-only color, for the `77 model...except in Canada where, for reasons unknown, it overlapped with the `76 model. The unobtainium pieces with this model are the turn signal stalks, handlebar-mounted switches, handlebars (which are specific to the K4-`78 models), speedometer and, the "ho-lee grail (Batman!)"... headlight ears. That last item on the list is the most likely to to be your biggest challenge. I've done a concours-level restoration of a `77, it has its challenges and those HL ears top the list...they soaked-up more man-hours than the rest of the body & paint work combined, and the bike had a bent frame(!). If you're going for perfection, know that some of the fasteners have different markings than the earlier models. Some have captive washers. And, there's a unique mix of plating colors. The brake plate assemblies are a little different than the early bikes but, you already have those, intact. As for HL ears, `77 & `78 are the same and, since they're painted, they are a lot easier to restore than the K3-`76 which were chromed. One compensating factor is the reduced amount of chrome plated parts on this model. The TL bracket, brake pedal, sparkplug guard and top fork tree were all painted. Another, on your bike, is the handlebar compliment...which look straight and include most, if not all, of the unobtainium parts.

If that sounds like potentially a lot of extra time, effort & bucks, it can be. That said, you've got a pretty good headstart so a few stupidly-expensive pieces shouldn't have much of an impact on the bottom line total of the whole project. Every restoration is unique in some way(s), or other. You'll almost certainly get an offsetting lucky break, or two, along with the nasty surprises. Last I checked, new reproduction seats were available for this model and they looked pretty good. Running gear & electrical parts are no problemo.The solid color makes the paint application a lot easier than the candy colors of the K0-K3 era. And, despite what yo
DSC03566.JPG
u may expect, this model is visually stunning when restored. You're unlikely to ever ride past another one.
 
nemesis88

nemesis88

Member
kirrbby said:
I think your bike is a 76 or 77 model. They just didn't sell many of them back in the day, so there are fewer around, and fewer original parts to be had 40 years later.
Allenp is a member here and he recently built a 77, if you want to look up his thread. I'm sure he'll pipe in with some info for you.
Click to expand...
Yes it's a 1977. Thanks so much Kirby!
 
nemesis88

nemesis88

Member
allenp42 said:
Welcome aboard Nemesis! You bike looks similar to one I saw on craigslist down in SC. Anyway, "where do you start". I think Kirb already mentioned it, but a lot depends on where you want to end to end up and how much time, and how deep your you want to reach into your wallet:)

The best advice I can give you is work one section at a time. Bag, tag, and take pics of EVERYTHING.

The hardest parts to source and the most expensive are the headlight ears, handlebars and control switches. There are no aftermarket parts for these but they do show up on e-Bay from time to time in varying conditions. In general, you just don't see as many 75-78 parts floating around as you do for prior years.

It looks like your bars and controls are fine, but sometimes getting the knobs out of the bars can be a challenge. Hopefully you'll be lucky!

Any CT70 engine from 69 thru 78 (and beyond) will bolt right up. If you're wanting to score one from a 77, they do appear now and then but not not all the often.

Here is a link to my 77 rescue.

https://lilhonda.com/index.php?threads/ct70-1977-fixer-upper.21223/

Ton of resource and help is just a few keystrokes away.
Click to expand...
Hey allen
allenp42 said:
Welcome aboard Nemesis! You bike looks similar to one I saw on craigslist down in SC. Anyway, "where do you start". I think Kirb already mentioned it, but a lot depends on where you want to end to end up and how much time, and how deep your you want to reach into your wallet:)

The best advice I can give you is work one section at a time. Bag, tag, and take pics of EVERYTHING.

The hardest parts to source and the most expensive are the headlight ears, handlebars and control switches. There are no aftermarket parts for these but they do show up on e-Bay from time to time in varying conditions. In general, you just don't see as many 75-78 parts floating around as you do for prior years.

It looks like your bars and controls are fine, but sometimes getting the knobs out of the bars can be a challenge. Hopefully you'll be lucky!

Any CT70 engine from 69 thru 78 (and beyond) will bolt right up. If you're wanting to score one from a 77, they do appear now and then but not not all the often.

Here is a link to my 77 rescue.

https://lilhonda.com/index.php?threads/ct70-1977-fixer-upper.21223/

Ton of resource and help is just a few keystrokes away.
Click to expand...

Hey Allen! Thank you so much for the info! So valuable. Sadly one of my headlight mounts tabs are totally screwed. Somehow the kid just mangled it lol. Your bike looks awesome! I'm hoping to get mine like that someday lol. I will have plenty of questions I'm sure lol! This bike is from Virginia. I had it shipped up to me in Rhode Island. As far as the motor, as long as it's a Honda Im good. Thanks so much for all the help and talk soon!
 
nemesis88

nemesis88

Member
kirrbby said:
Your 77 would have had a 3up trans vs 3down on some of the earlier CT's. So you might want a engine from a 1975 K4 thru 79, 3up. I think I have a K4 engine, and maybe a 79, but no 77.
Click to expand...
I might just be interested in one of them. I guess ill search for a 77 first and if not ill hit you up. Thanks Kirby!
 
nemesis88

nemesis88

Member
racerx said:
Yep, "Shiny Orange" was a one-year-only color, for the `77 model...except in Canada where, for reasons unknown, it overlapped with the `76 model. The unobtainium pieces with this model are the turn signal stalks, handlebar-mounted switches, handlebars (which are specific to the K4-`78 models), speedometer and, the "ho-lee grail (Batman!)"... headlight ears. That last item on the list is the most likely to to be your biggest challenge. I've done a concours-level restoration of a `77, it has its challenges and those HL ears top the list...they soaked-up more man-hours than the rest of the body & paint work combined, and the bike had a bent frame(!). If you're going for perfection, know that some of the fasteners have different markings than the earlier models. Some have captive washers. And, there's a unique mix of plating colors. The brake plate assemblies are a little different than the early bikes but, you already have those, intact. As for HL ears, `77 & `78 are the same and, since they're painted, they are a lot easier to restore than the K3-`76 which were chromed. One compensating factor is the reduced amount of chrome plated parts on this model. The TL bracket, brake pedal, sparkplug guard and top fork tree were all painted. Another, on your bike, is the handlebar compliment...which look straight and include most, if not all, of the unobtainium parts.

If that sounds like potentially a lot of extra time, effort & bucks, it can be. That said, you've got a pretty good headstart so a few stupidly-expensive pieces shouldn't have much of an impact on the bottom line total of the whole project. Every restoration is unique in some way(s), or other. You'll almost certainly get an offsetting lucky break, or two, along with the nasty surprises. Last I checked, new reproduction seats were available for this model and they looked pretty good. Running gear & electrical parts are no problemo.The solid color makes the paint application a lot easier than the candy colors of the K0-K3 era. And, despite what yoView attachment 58319 u may expect, this model is visually stunning when restored. You're unlikely to ever ride past another one.
Click to expand...

Hey Racer! Wow thats soawesome info! Thanks sooooo much mi amigo! Im so stoaked to get going on this bike but am trying to get as much info as possible on them first and you just helped immensly. I ordered the book that Jeremy Polson wrote and am hoping that will help a bit. Are there any other good sources of info that you know of for particulars as far as proper nuts etc? Im sure ill be friending you and askig soe question lol! Thanks so much and looking for to talking!
 
kirrbby

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
That signal set is VERY nice, and complete. Maybe the best used setup I've seen. I wouldn't be afraid to bid it up if I was in need.

I have a set of headlight ears from a 79 that I bought a while back. They're kinda rough, but it might be a option for you. A usable left side would give you a start. I'll post up some pictures when I can.
OLD CT had a nice set of 77 ears for sale a while back. He might have already sold them tho..?
 
nemesis88

nemesis88

Member
kirrbby said:
That signal set is VERY nice, and complete. Maybe the best used setup I've seen. I wouldn't be afraid to bid it up if I was in need.

I have a set of headlight ears from a 79 that I bought a while back. They're kinda rough, but it might be a option for you. A usable left side would give you a start. I'll post up some pictures when I can.
OLD CT had a nice set of 77 ears for sale a while back. He might have already sold them tho..?
Click to expand...
They really are in excellent shape .I'm going to keep an eye on it and see where it's at later in the auction. If it gets to high I'd definitely be interested in your parts. Thanks so much for all your help!
 
6

69ST

Well-Known Member
Front stalks are the "easy part" of the equation. You've got some options there and they are dead easy to change out, at any time. They're also one of the least expensive parts to have rechromed. The light assemblies can be sourced new, with a few different options...since they were used on a number of Honda models. But, even sourced piecemeal, this stuff adds-up. Figure $50 each to rechrome front stalks, 4 light body assemblies, plus the cost of sourcing used front stalks. That leaves you more than halfway toward the BIN number...and you'd still have to source a rear stalk unit. Those are scarce. IDK, at gut level, this is stupid money for these parts. That said, objectively, we're reallydebating a C-note, if that...a small premium and a drop in the bucket within the context of a total restoration project.
 
nemesis88

nemesis88

Member
racerx said:
Front stalks are the "easy part" of the equation. You've got some options there and they are dead easy to change out, at any time. They're also one of the least expensive parts to have rechromed. The light assemblies can be sourced new, with a few different options...since they were used on a number of Honda models. But, even sourced piecemeal, this stuff adds-up. Figure $50 each to rechrome front stalks, 4 light body assemblies, plus the cost of sourcing used front stalks. That leaves you more than halfway toward the BIN number...and you'd still have to source a rear stalk unit. Those are scarce. IDK, at gut level, this is stupid money for these parts. That said, objectively, we're reallydebating a C-note, if that...a small premium and a drop in the bucket within the context of a total restoration project.
Click to expand...
i agree. Going into this I knew there would be a decent investment but Im in no rush so if i miss out on one part ill just start the hunt again.Im also restoring a 1986 Honda Fourtrax so Ill bounce back and fourh between the 2. The CT is my main project tho and really want it to come out right. To me the hardest part is making sure I source all the correct parts including types of bolts etc. Most of my bike is all there so that helps alot. I guess once I have it all apart Ill start with the engine.I was talking to someone on in the CT70 group on FB who says he has a 1977 motor for sale so hopefully that works out.
 
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