1972 ct90 Lifan swap

[-Nate]

Wow ;

You're persistent, I like it .

The primary deal here is : they sold you the WRONG ENGINE ~ Lifan also makes and sells engines that match the bolt holes .

How is it now that you're riding ? .

What CC is the engine ? .

Add a rare earth magnet to the drain plug or buy a magnetic oil drain plug from 4into1.something....

RIGHT NOW you need to stop and check the valve gaps, they go to .002" engine cold and set to the 'T' Mark .

Then get it good and hot and do another oil change, allow the oil to drip out over night, a picture of the metal would be good but usually it's just left over machining SWARF from lazy communist workers not doing their job .

Most I've met who go the Lifan route like them but don't ride them as fard / hard as the die hards like me ride / run out old stockers so I'm keen to learn how this works out for you .

 

[Tuuubbs]

Nate, I don’t know that it’s the wrong engine. The bolts all line up now, I was overthinking everything at first. It’s a Liffan 125 from t-boltUSA. The engine came with a magnetic drain plug and pulled out a fair amount of fine shavings, nothing major, I also wiped it and held it under the draining oil and no more shavings stuck to it.

It rides great now that I’ve got the new tires and clutch dampers in. I took it to my work Monday and rode it around in our piles of old asphalt from a parking lot we tore up, I stalled it a few times but I was able to crawl quite well just riding the clutch in first gear. I’ve gotten it up to 40mph without being full throttle. I don’t have tags, title, bill of sale, or a motorcycle license, so I’ll have to find some long straight I can ride worry free to test top speed.

 

[-Nate]

EXCELLENT ! .

I was wondering , some Chinese engines have the earlier bolt pattern and so are wonderful for dropping into your dead 1962 C100, 102, 105 etc....

I thought that's what you were dealing with .

Depending on what state you live in, licensing can be easy or bleeding hemorroids .

What clutch dampers ? .

The SWARF is normal, run it 500 ~ 1,000 miles and hot change the oil again and remove the clutch cover and clean the oil intake screen, it'll have more SWARF and some clutch fibers in it too .

 

[MiniBike Mike’s Garage]

EXCELLENT ! .

I was wondering , some Chinese engines have the earlier bolt pattern and so are wonderful for dropping into your dead 1962 C100, 102, 105 etc....

I thought that's what you were dealing with .

Depending on what state you live in, licensing can be easy or bleeding hemorroids .

What clutch dampers ? .

The SWARF is normal, run it 500 ~ 1,000 miles and hot change the oil again and remove the clutch cover and clean the oil intake screen, it'll have more SWARF and some clutch fibers in it too .

I’ve been building bikes with aftermarket engines, mostly Lifan’s, for 20 years and have never seen one with a engine mounting pattern that wasn’t standard for the 70cc or smaller Honda’s. The C200 and CT200 are the only 90cc bikes that are coming to my mind that use that same bolt pattern. Most 90cc bikes use a different pattern and the aftermarket engines are not a direct bolt in. You’ve seen a Lifan that will bolt into a CT90 without mods?

 

[Tuuubbs]

The part I ordered was called clutch dampers, the rubber bits in the rear hub

 

[-Nate]

Yes, I have seen Lifan engines that used the factory 90CC holes. according to the O.P. here, he has one .

 

[MiniBike Mike’s Garage]

Yes, I have seen Lifan engines that used the factory 90CC holes. according to the O.P. here, he has one .

If you reread the original post, he’s using the Dr.ATV rear mounting bracket that is needed to install an aftermarket engine in a CT90.

 

[-Nate]

O.K., may bad - post # 42 indicated he used the frame holes, .

I have seen quite a few Lifan conversions that don't use brackets .

I have never done one so who knows ? .

You're prolly correct .

 

[Tuuubbs]

I’ve had a few friend tell me that since there’s no electric start on this bike, I can just hard wire the electrics. They said I’ll need a converter but it should be easy. Any negative side effects of this?

 

[MiniBike Mike’s Garage]

I’ve had a few friend tell me that since there’s no electric start on this bike, I can just hard wire the electrics. They said I’ll need a converter but it should be easy. Any negative side effects of this?

What does “hardwire the electrics” mean? Are you trying to get lights to work? If so, what wiring harness are you using on the bike?

I prefer to use a new harness that is designed for the 12v engine. Trail Buddy sells two models: one for use of turn signals (part #TB422) and another if you’re not using signals (part #TB515). I also suggest swapping all bulbs to 12v.

 

[Old Guy Too Many Bikes]

I’ve had a few friend tell me that since there’s no electric start on this bike, I can just hard wire the electrics. They said I’ll need a converter but it should be easy. Any negative side effects of this?

Just because it doesn't have electric start, you don't get a free lunch. You still have to wire it up using one of the lifan / generic Chinese wiring diagrams. The only easy way out is if you're putting it in a pit bike or off-road bike, where you don't need any lights. In that case, you don't need to wire the charging system or need a battery or regulator. The flywheel and CDI box powers the coil and plug.

 

[Tuuubbs]

Have a friend who is willing to help with the wiring. New rear suspension is installed from isvintage (site looked American, but turned out to be very Chinese). They’re much stiffer than the old ones and I have no rear tire rub when hitting bumps, but my front wheel is clipping the front fender, especially when leaning into turns. I deflated it some but it feels a little squirrely on pavement. Is it just because they’re new tires and will wear down. Also how are the fork reflectors attached? I don’t mind the look but the rattle is driving me insane

 

[-Nate]

What size front tire did you fit ? .

 

[Tuuubbs]

What size front tire did you fit ? .

2.3/4”-17 shenko. Amazon has them 2 tires and 2 tubes for $100

 

[-Nate]

Thanx .

If it rubs then try a 2.50X17......

Many of the earlier 'Earles' typ forks are too narrow for the modern tires that have wider shoulders .

I've had the same issue with my older BMW /5's, I don't recommend doing what I did : just ride the darn thing and in time the slight excess of rubber gets worn off.....

 

[Tuuubbs]

I’ve got pretty much everything dialed in, went out last weekend on gravel roads for about 2 hours and ended up dropping it in a creek. Took probably 60-75 kicks to get back started but once it did it ran fine the 2 miles back to my cabin. Before I flooded it I got some good clutch control work climbing steep washed out gravel roads and got up to 58mph on a nice long smooth section of gravel.with the new suspension in the rear it feels like a hard tail mountain bike, once I got ahold of standing on this bike it was convenient for smaller bumps/washouts at speed. Changed the oil when I got home and I’ve put 20 miles on it around the neighborhood and it feels good. Wouldn’t mind getting a windscreen after the amount of dust that was in my eyes, I had a hard time with letting cars past me on the gravel roads. I had to be a dick to a few people who wouldn’t let me by and pass them unexpected.

 

[Tuuubbs]

Side note; the Apache 2800 through 4800 fit great on the rack as a tool kit/wallet/lunch holder. I used a single lashing strap to hold secure it and it also stayed water proof when I tipped into the creek

 

[-Nate]

Nice picture ! .

I carry old stock factory Honda tools in the space provided .

DON'T waste your time/$ on any open ended HONDA tool but the stamped ones are great as is the tube spark plug tool......

Glad to see you stuck with it to get it fully sorted .

Passing cars that refuse to yield isn't a dick move .

 

[cjpayne]

Passing cars that refuse to yield isn't a dick move .

X2.lol. AMEN brother. Hate it when I'm on a back road and someone is going 5MPH in the middle of the road. THAT is a dick move.

 

[-Nate]

LOL ! .

Yesterday it was 111* F in the shade so of course I was changing the radiator and heater valves in my 40 year old 407,000 + mile Mercedes Diesel taxi .

After I was done I was beat from the heat and so headed up the Angeles Crest Highway, as soon as I passed 3,000 feet it cooled off sharply and I drove under some thunderheads, it rained a little bit and the smell was glorious .

Anyways, there wasn't much traffic going up but it was being impeded by some boob puttering along in a blue(ish) tiny little station wagon, they refused to pull out so at one point where I had clear sight lines for almost a full mile I pulled out and passed the string of slow cars, one guy in a BMW (?) pulled in behind me, I waved him past me as my Diesel makes a whopping 67 horsepower and weighs almost 4,000 pounds .

Amazingly I was *almost* able to keep up with the Bimmer, he tended slow down for corners so I'd catch him up easily .

Coming back down I had better luck, I ran with my headlight an og lamps on and every car I tooted at pulled over at the next place .