Mid Life Crisis

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cando

New Member
Greetings All,

While I'm new to this forum, having been lurking for the last several months...

So when I was about 12 years old I brought a used Honda Mini 50. Man I loved that little bike. About the same time my pal's dad brought him a brand new ct 70 in the candy red color and the image of that bright red bike is still vivid in my mind. I can't remember what happen to my bike or my pal's, but as entered junior and then senior high I drifted away from bikes in general.

In May of this year I turned 50... So have been watching the Ct 70 market and associated actvity on the internet for about a year now. I just couldn't get the thought of re-living part of my youth again through the Ct 70 experience... So two weeks ago I found a candy gold 1971 ct 70 with a couple thousand miles on it locally.

Good paint, seat very good, chrome good, engine turned (didn't start), gears shifted, tires rotted, headlight bucket busted, cable covering shot. Over all in pretty good condition from what I seen on ebay. I paid the kid $275 and drove aaway with in my truck. I so excited about that purchase and the potential I didn't sleep much that night...

Up the next morning at 5:00 a.m. a new plug in, oil drained and changed got th big chunks out of the carb. After messing with it for a couple of hours I was able to get to fire and run for about 20 seconds by pouring some fuel into the bowl.... It ran to full rpm and then shut down. I noticed that after it ran there was a noise coming from the flywheel housing when I tried subsequent kick start attempts. I removed the inspection plate to the stator assemble the flywheel nut had come off. On further inspection it became obvious the key-way on the crankshift was badly stripped.

So I thought, not the best start to re-living my youth years and was somewhat disappointed that I was now faced with a major repair, re-selling the bike / parting it out or replacing the engine...

I'm turning to forum for some insight and suggestions on what you might do given the same set of circumstances. I have limited mechnical skills but I have the time to learn....

What would you do in this case?

Thanks in advance...

Cando
:)
 
J

John Pond

Member
First of all, Congratulations and Welcome!

Second, I suspect asking us what to do is not gonna help you much. I say fix it and ride it! But then, I am spending obscene amounts of money on these little bikes...

Seriously, if you are interested in improving your mechanical skills these are fun bikes to work on, and nearly everything you could possibly need is available. Only you know what your budget is, and how much you want it. That will help you decide what course to take; rebuild your current engine, replace with a clone engine, sell it and move on...

I still say fix it! Make it great and ride it!

Cheers!

John
 
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ckyle29

Member
I'll second John's opinion. I say fix it.

But you need to really ask yourself what about the bike is it that is drawing you back. If you're just looking to ride something, you would probably be better off just buying a Chinese re-pop and be done with it.

But if you want to spend countless untold hours in the garage restoring this little bad boy so when you're done you can look at it proudly and say "look what I did", then fix it. Plus, you get to be the envy of every middle-aged, pot-bellied man in the neighborhood who are now casting longing glances towards e-bay and trying to figure out how in the hell they are going to explain this to the Mrs. If so, then these little orginal bikes are for you. For me, rebuilding the bike was as much fun as riding it.
 
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hecklerkoch

Member
Well I think you are referring to the crankshaft being damaged by the flywheel spinning free on it right? I know in most cases you either have to replace the crank or have it built up by welding and ground back to the correct size. There is also a "ghetto" soloution. You get some of that cold weld material from your local supplier(not jb-weld, I cant think of the name). Then you use it to build up the shaft just like you would with real welding and sand it back down to the right size.

-edit- After looking around on the net it seems many people have no trouble with this repair lasting for years or even for the useful life of the motor. Worth a try and will save you some time and cash.
 
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CobraDan

Member
Lol!!! This is the funniest thing I've read in a long time. I almost fell out of the chair. As I was riding my freshly rescued 70 around the neighborhood last weekend, I saw that pot-bellied guy watch me ride by.

He's right, restoring is as much fun (or more fun) as riding. Planning the build, chasing parts, getting them in the mail, taking used parts and learning new metal finishing techniques... if all this sound like fun to you, then you better start ordering parts. My Mrs. is very understanding, even though she really doesn't understand this "Honda-thing".

If nothing else, I'm happy just having an old project bike in the garage, even if it's just waiting. Hang onto the one you have and wait for a nice running bike to come along. You'll want to have 2 anyway, so you'll have one to ride while restoring the first one.

Dan



ckyle29 said:
...But if you want to spend countless untold hours in the garage restoring this little bad boy so when you're done you can look at it proudly and say "look what I did", then fix it. Plus, you get to be the envy of every middle-aged, pot-bellied man in the neighborhood who are now casting longing glances towards e-bay and trying to figure out how in the hell they are going to explain this to the Mrs. If so...
Click to expand...
 
A

Art

Member
Being a new CT70 owner myself, I say buy a few tools, manuals, and repair it.
eBay is chock full of parts for these bikes.

My case, the cam chain idlers had deteriorated to the point that the intake valve crashed into the piston and warped the valve.

Almost everything is available from many vendors, DrATV http://dratv.stores.yahoo.net/honctminnewp.html is the one I primarily buy from.
 
C

cando

New Member
Thanks for the encourage gentlemen... I have always maintained the the importance of having passion(s) in one's life regardless of what it or they may be... It's those passions that sustains you and keep you grounded when life throws the envitable "curve ball" So it came to me last night as I was reflecting on your comments it really not about riding these cool little bikes, (that's the bonus) its about working on them admiring them, showing them off. So deal me in guys... Oh I brought a used crankshaft and flywheel cover on ebay last night.


Cheers

SS:)
 
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Bugandi

Member
I agree with many above. I had almost no mecanical skill when i started, and these little motors are very strait forward. get a manual and use common sense, and you will be able to rebuild or repair this. Then you will have fun riding.
b
 
V

vanmorton

New Member
Mid Life

Hey... You're not alone with the midlife crisis. This week I bought a new (to me) 72 CT70. Hope I'm up to the task.
GOOD LUCK
 
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redrider37

Member
I know a few people including myself that dont even run a flywheel key. Simply put the flywheel on with some valve grinding compound on the crankshaft. Spin it around for a good 10 minutes till you have 2 perfect tapers. The flywheel will fit like a glove. You then put on with a impact and it will never spin again. You can still use a key with this method if you are worried about the timing.
 
C

cando

New Member
Thanks again to all... Oh and I brought the re-built engine off of ebay from namrac (Stewart) Any of gents worked with this seller? So now in matter of 48 hrs. I own a freshly rebuilt engine and have parts in route to begin rebuilding another... this is totally addicting and sick.. I love it!

:)
 
C

cando

New Member
Thanks red... That good info. I might just try that first. I'm pretty green with this stuff so tell me how you you set the timing without the key?
 
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Art

Member
cando said:
Thanks red... That good info. I might just try that first. I'm pretty green with this stuff so tell me how you you set the timing without the key?
Click to expand...
The Clymer manual describes how to make a simple continunity tester from batteries and a flashlight bulb.
You turn the flywheel as you watch the bulb, when the bulb dims, the flywheel marks should line up. If not, you adjust the points slightly.
 
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