1974 CT 90 no start.

[Muzzledorf]

I was just going to mention resoldering condenser as I just got mine going 30 minutes ago doing that, after much frustration. I'm pretty sure that first thing one should check on these bikes. Never had that problem long ago when I worked on them but maybe over time they are just starting to fail.

 

[-Nate]

It's always nice to learn what the solution was but maybe a slightly larger photo showing where this bare copper wire goes would help .

 

[The 208]

The wire comes from the primary coil.

 

[-Nate]

Thank you Sir .

 

[The 208]

Definitley a learning experience.

I don't miss the nor cal heat, at all! Are you in north northern ca, IE: north of Sacramento?

 

[The 208]

I forgot the quote

I was just going to mention resoldering condenser as I just got mine going 30 minutes ago doing that, after much frustration. I'm pretty sure that first thing one should check on these bikes. Never had that problem long ago when I worked on them but maybe over time they are just starting to fail.

Definitley a learning experience.

I don't miss the nor cal heat, at all! Are you in north northern ca, IE: north of Sacramento?

 

[Muzzledorf]

It's always nice to learn what the solution was but maybe a slightly larger photo showing where this bare copper wire goes would help .

I forgot the quote

Yes Angels Camp. My problem is at 52 I can't take work on bikes non-stop for 3 or 4 hours outside in this heat like in my 30s or 40s. Sucks getting old!

 

[The 208]

Ah, yes Angels Camp. Went to Mountain air 86. Saw ZZ Top, Night Ranger, Autograph. Went up there about 10 years ago, too, and bought a horse trailer. Yes, getting old aint for sissies! I just turned 58.

 

[-Nate]

I got news for you guys......

Nevermind .

I'm in So. Cal., it's cooling off a bit as the hurricane is off shore and South of us, expected to make landfall by Sundy night .

Just get up earlier and work until you're tired, no need to cause a heart attack .

Sometimes I go out again after 4PM or so when the heat breaks and get another good bit of works done .

 

[The 208]

We had some rain here today. We got more coming sunday, monday and maybe mid-week with temps dropping to upper 70's to mid 80's, from about 97 today and 100+ the few days before. But, we have had a mild summer so far this year. We had 1 or 2 days in May that hit 90 then we didn't get any 90 temps until the last week of June. July was relatively mild. Had some days of 100. That's more of a normal summer for Idaho I think. At least where I live. The good thing here, is it cools off nicely at night. THe whole house fan works wonders!

 

[Muzzledorf]

We had some rain here today. We got more coming sunday, monday and maybe mid-week with temps dropping to upper 70's to mid 80's, from about 97 today and 100+ the few days before. But, we have had a mild summer so far this year. We had 1 or 2 days in May that hit 90 then we didn't get any 90 temps until the last week of June. July was relatively mild. Had some days of 100. That's more of a normal summer for Idaho I think. At least where I live. The good thing here, is it cools off nicely at night. THe whole house fan works wonders!

Yes today isn't as bad here in Cali needle 2° shy of 100, but we had some rain for about an hour and a half a few days ago 90° rain. Nights are hot but sitting in front of the swamp cooler works. Can't wait for the grass to turn green to do some gold prospecting!

 

[-Nate]

Wow, only 98* F in Needles, Ca. ?! that's great .

Swamp Coolers are fantastic but only in really dry climates .

Here in the So. Cal. are we've been sweating through many 100 + degree F days/weeks .

Saturday (8.19) it wasn't much above 97* but I goofed off instead of working when when I arose before sun up this morning it was drizzling so no works for me today =8-^ .

I really need to overhaul a fuel pump and carby on a vintage VW plus fix a minor leak in my old Mercedes' AC system but no way will I open the system when it's damp .

By 07:00 it was pouring rain, we're supposed to get 8" ~ 10"and that's quite a bit for here .

 

[Muzzledorf]

I love Vintage Vw's! Had a 59 panel a few years ago but it was burned up in one of the California wild fires.
Was barely able to get the 914 out before fire consumed everything in its path.

 

[Muzzledorf]

Wow, only 98* F in Needles, Ca. ?! that's great .

Swamp Coolers are fantastic but only in really dry climates .

Here in the So. Cal. are we've been sweating through many 100 + degree F days/weeks .

Saturday (8.19) it wasn't much above 97* but I goofed off instead of working when when I arose before sun up this morning it was drizzling so no works for me today =8-^ .

I really need to overhaul a fuel pump and carby on a vintage VW plus fix a minor leak in my old Mercedes' AC system but no way will I open the system when it's damp .

By 07:00 it was pouring rain, we're supposed to get 8" ~ 10"and that's quite a bit for here .

Angels Camp not Needles, I was referring to the needle on the thermometer. Lol.

 

[Muzzledorf]

The wire comes from the primary coil.
View attachment 79353

That Stator assembly looks brand new! I wish mine was like that. I was thinking mine having 2700 miles on it would be in better condition. But thinking of how long it would take me to put that mileage on riding out in the sticks, and not commute miles, the bike by then would be totally trashed and 2700 is more like 10,000 miles. Plus finding out that my bike was likely owned/worked on by Gorilla's, the surprises keep coming.

 

[The 208]

I replaced all that stuff not quite 2 years ago, so it's fairly new.

That Stator assembly looks brand new! I wish mine was like that. I was thinking mine having 2700 miles on it would be in better condition. But thinking of how long it would take me to put that mileage on riding out in the sticks, and not commute miles, the bike by then would be totally trashed and 2700 is more like 10,000 miles. Plus finding out that my bike was likely owned/worked on by Gorilla's, the surprises keep coming.

 

[-Nate]

Back on the old Yahoo CT90/110 forums it turned out that many CT'ers also had or liked air cooled VW's .

I have no excuse, I just like what I like .

Being old I've had more VW's than I can recollect at one time, I was thinking about my 1957 #211 panel truck, it had the double doors on both sides .

Then there was a really beat up '48 Bug with a 40HP engine, full crash box, cable brakes and so on .

 

[The 208]

Since I have so much experience now with the old style ignitions I'm gonna tackle this old bike that I've had for at least 12 years. LOL

It's a 1974 Kawasaki MC1M 90cc rotary valve 2 stroke. I rebuilt the top end and painted the frame and cleaned everything. I got it back together and couldn't get spark out of it. The kicker stripped out and I got disgusted with it and put it in the shed for a few years. I found kickers on ebay but they we all around $100 Then one day I saw on craigslist a 1976 KE100 roller for sale for $100. It had the kicker, handlebars, which I wanted as the ones I had were bent at some time and someone heated them up to straighten them out, and the throttle cable housing with the on/off switch. The one I had was not in good shape. As of now I have everything for the bike except for the air filter/cannister. Those are hard to find. I may have to make one. Everything is in great shape on this bike. Especially the metal gas tank. I sanded it and I had to fix a small spot of corrosion, but it doesn't have a single dent in it and it has the original cap. It's ready for paint. These pics are from 2014.

 

[Muzzledorf]

Cool bike. I've had a few of those over the years. Mostly just to sell but I always try to get them running, unless it's going to cost to much. Ive never owned to many Kawasaki's. All the ones I ever found were ran into the ground. I'm really into two-stroke street bikes like Yamaha twins or Suzuki triples. I'd love to find another R5 or GT380.

 

[-Nate]

Many of these older small bikes had magneto ignition ~ to stop the engine you grounded the points wire .

Give that a look and file the points as necessary, it's very important to use a super fine file ("Burnishing" file) and to file the contact surfaces square to each other .

I'm sure you've discovered the rotary valve proper is badly worn (it's not supposed to have those grooves in it) , go to CMSNL and look up the fiber valve's part # and use that to find an N.O.S. or aftermarket one they're out there .