Author Topic: Advice on a Honda CA95 (Read 10756 times)

jude0007 · « **on:** November 14, 2013, 02:06:11 PM »

Hey, does anyone know much about old CA95's or that style of bike? I'm interested in picking one up because I like the tank/seat, whole bike really but don't know much about them.

Hard to find parts? Fun to ride? It's basically a bigger moped. Thanks.

HondanutRider · « **Reply #1 on:** November 14, 2013, 02:25:28 PM »

They are called a "Benley" model by Honda. They are 150cc in displacement. The CA95 was unique to the USA market; elsewhere it was the C95 which had some differences in engine (the US model had different cam and carburetor, and produced more power) and also had turn signals that weren't on the CA95. They are very comfortable to ride but not very powerful by today's standards. Like any old bike, many parts can be a challenge to find.

brewsky · « **Reply #2 on:** November 15, 2013, 02:08:02 AM »

Depending on what you want to do with it, a CA77 (305cc) may be a better choice for road use.

Either are fun to ride and draw a crowd anywhere you stop.

jude0007 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2013, 09:29:37 AM »

I ended up picking the bike up pretty cheap. It's in rough shape, not terrible, but definitely the worst shape bike I've worked on.
I got it with no key but luckily was able to find a replacement key online! The PO thinks it's a '63. I can't find a frame number anywhere on the bike. I haven't looked for the engine serial number which I could use to reference what year it is but I always run the risk of the frame year being off a bit from the engine.

Can anyone tell what year it is or suggest where I look? I've done some research online and everywhere people suggest looking, there's nothing. Very puzzling. Also, I can't imagine that seat color is stock?

toytuff · « **Reply #4 on:** November 18, 2013, 01:52:48 PM »

The frame number is stamped by the brake light switch. Great purchase but like others stated parts can be a challenge.

Honda changed a lot of things through the years. Check out my "building the Dream thread". Was 4 months of hard work, blast to ride and a conversation piece where ever you go.

tt

jude0007 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 18, 2013, 02:01:49 PM »

Quote from: toytuff on November 18, 2013, 01:52:48 PM

The frame number is stamped by the brake light switch. Great purchase but like others stated parts can be a challenge.

Honda changed a lot of things through the years. Check out my "building the Dream thread". Was 4 months of hard work, blast to ride and a conversation piece where ever you go.

tt

I already read it a few days ago and it made it extremely difficult to get anything done at work... :-) Very nicely done sir!

I will check out the area near the brake light switch. Why are some of the easiest things harder than they should be?

toytuff · « **Reply #6 on:** November 18, 2013, 02:12:19 PM »

Glad to help. A few other members here are pretty sharp on these models.

tt

jude0007 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 18, 2013, 05:36:42 PM »

I still can't find the number for the frame. I swear it's not there.... I did find it on the engine (duh) and from the records I can see, it appears to a 64.

Are the wiring harnesses the same for most of the years or do I have to be careful about that? I can start new rather easily but I thought if something like this work 100%, than it's kind of a no brainer for me. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-C92-C95-CA92-CA95-CB92-Benly-Wire-Wiring-Harness-/360469338072?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53eda597d8&vxp=mtr

toytuff · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2013, 04:55:54 AM »

jude0007 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 21, 2013, 08:17:27 PM »

TT, my bike doesn't have a frame serial number anywhere. I've looked everywhere. Is it possible there's too much rust in that area that it's not visible? Just baffling.

I should probably start a build thread for all these questions, comments. I'm really getting excited for this little build!

RAFster122s · « **Reply #10 on:** November 21, 2013, 09:30:19 PM »

Pull your left side cover, stamped into the metal of the Tbone frame is the CA95---------- number. It will be some off from the engine number.

Scooter tire for 80mph would be all you need, as far as tires go.
just watch load rating as well.

Some parts are hard to find. Ohio Cycle is a good source. Tenavintage can get some things ( Anis is a good honest businessman.

David

jude0007 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2013, 11:55:38 AM »

Ok, I think I may have found where the frame is/was. It's pretty rusty in that area so the numbers are raised/disappeared. Not sure if I should clean the area up, or if it will show up better after bead blasting the frame?

Sorry for the poor picture but that's what I'm dealing with. I tried to rub a pencil and paper over it to transfer it but that didn't really work. You can definitely see some numbers in that area. Any suggestions?

I will start a build thread for this little pup. I'm fortunate in that I work at a large refinery as a rotating equipment engineer so I have access to a bead blaster, sand blaster and an automatic Safety Klean parts washer that you could walk into. That will come in handy for the motor and other parts. We also have a car paint booth at the cabin shop so hoping to get the frame painted in the next week.

At the moment, I have all the parts that I need. A few cosmetic items can be found easily ebay. My mufflers are shot so I'm thinking about picking up ones from Thailand. This will not be 100% authentic rebuild. I just want it to look nice and be mechanically sound then I'll drive the crap out it and enjoy every minute of it. (Can you technically drive the crap out of a 150 scooter/motorcycle?)

toytuff · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2013, 12:22:51 PM »

I would stay away from anything in Thailand.

Been there...done that.

Mufflers won't fit.

tt

HondanutRider · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2013, 02:32:52 PM »

Toy restored a CA77 that had a few peculiarities, not the CA95. He also wants to be very authentic. I've used parts from Thailand and they can be good or bad. They seem to make a lot of stuff over there for these models, usually not exactly authentic original but still better than nothing. I've replaced the tank labels from that area on my C95 and they look better than the originals did. (see picture) I also have replaced the mufflers and although they aren't the original, they fit and work fine. (unfortunately don't have a picture of that)

jude0007 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 22, 2013, 02:37:42 PM »

Quote from: HondanutRider on November 22, 2013, 02:32:52 PM

Toy restored a CA77 that had a few peculiarities, not the CA95. He also wants to be very authentic. I've used parts from Thailand and they can be good or bad. They seem to make a lot of stuff over there for these models, usually not exactly authentic original but still better than nothing. I've replaced the tank labels from that area on my C95 and they look better than the originals did. (see picture) I also have replaced the mufflers and although they aren't the original, they fit and work fine. (unfortunately don't have a picture of that)

Thanks for that. The guy or guys from Thailand sell a few different mufflers so I'll just have to make sure I order the correct ones. For ~$100, can't go wrong, mine are completely shot. I'm not going to pay $300+ for originals in terrible condition.

I restored a 64 Chris Craft boat a few years ago, when I tore it down I must have found 400 walnuts from squirrels. I found out this CA95 is actually a 64 as well, not a 63 as I was told. When I tore down the frame, I found ~40 walnuts (would have been more I'm sure but more would not fit) What's with these 64's and walnuts!!!

HondanutRider · « **Reply #15 on:** November 22, 2013, 02:50:20 PM »

Nuts!

HondanutRider · « **Reply #16 on:** November 22, 2013, 02:51:02 PM »

Like us that work on restoring em.

toytuff · « **Reply #17 on:** November 22, 2013, 02:52:18 PM »

Quote from: HondanutRider on November 22, 2013, 02:51:02 PM

Like us that work on restoring em.

+1

tt

toytuff · « **Reply #18 on:** November 22, 2013, 02:54:51 PM »

Well, let me know what you might need. Box of stuff that did not work.

tt

HondanutRider · « **Reply #19 on:** November 22, 2013, 03:00:22 PM »

But then you gotta ride em.

Short story here from long ago....on a cold Thanksgiving (Canadian) weekend in 1967, I rode a C95, two-up, for about 150 miles on a 4-lane divided highway. Nuts we were, and they were cold too!

Toy's stuff is probably off a C77...the Dream. You've got a Baby Dream which is totally different but looks similar, just smaller.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #20 on:** November 22, 2013, 03:24:40 PM »

If I recall correctly it is stamped into the frame on the flat of the side below the opening for air filter & tool tray...
More likely chipmunks or mice..
I can't make much out from your pic on my phone...

toytuff · « **Reply #21 on:** November 22, 2013, 04:38:15 PM »

Quote from: HondanutRider on November 22, 2013, 03:00:22 PM

But then you gotta ride em.

Short story here from long ago....on a cold Thanksgiving (Canadian) weekend in 1967, I rode a C95, two-up, for about 150 miles on a 4-lane divided highway. Nuts we were, and they were cold too!

Toy's stuff is probably off a C77...the Dream. You've got a Baby Dream which is totally different but looks similar, just smaller.

Ah...no. Parts for a CA95 that "was suppose" to be for a CA78.

tt

jude0007 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 22, 2013, 04:52:48 PM »

Quote from: RAFster122S on November 22, 2013, 03:24:40 PM

If I recall correctly it is stamped into the frame on the flat of the side below the opening for air filter & tool tray...
More likely chipmunks or mice..
I can't make much out from your pic on my phone...

At some point in the future, would you mind taking a pic of your tool tray? I think that I'm missing a few pieces in that area. It's hard to distinguish online with all the different years so seeing that you also have a 64, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

toytuff · « **Reply #23 on:** November 22, 2013, 04:58:55 PM »

jude0007 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 22, 2013, 05:00:47 PM »

Quote from: toytuff on November 22, 2013, 04:58:55 PM

tt

Oh good, I do have all that, or very similar. Some of the others it looked like had actual compartments or a round tube for the tools. Obviously I don't have that.

toytuff · « **Reply #25 on:** November 22, 2013, 05:04:59 PM »

You have to remember that Honda made so many changes through the years. These are hard bikes to do or at least it was for me. They made a CA72, CA95,CA77 and mine is a CA78.

Takes time for the right parts. This build was four (4) straight months, everyday. One (1) month just to clean parts.

I'll never do another.

tt

RAFster122s · « **Reply #26 on:** November 23, 2013, 09:19:47 AM »

Ohio Cycle, did you get bad parts from them? I found them to be very good. Aftermarket or NOS parts, beware. Anis @ Tena Vintage is in Indonesia and knows the S90, especially the Z models (produced for other markets a long time) so, that being said you have to study the parts and even then sometimes you won't know until you have it. Ebay is often NOT the place to find new parts. It often is the expensive way when you buy 2-3 times. Lots of people claim to have the right part; but they do not for multiple reasons.

toytuff · « **Reply #27 on:** November 23, 2013, 11:00:18 AM »

I only had bad experiences with:

Thailand, Did not order much. Actually a set of exhaust pipes. Bend was bad, chrome was bad, there in the shed. That's about it. I'm not saying everything is so but just remember it costs a lot to return anything you buy.

Fleabay, everybody has had this experience. Yeah, it fits. Great condition. Oh! I thought it was a CA77 part. Blah..blah..blah.

Ohio Cycle is great but remember, "everything is by part number." Makes a big difference.

tt

RAFster122s · « **Reply #28 on:** November 24, 2013, 05:47:54 PM »

I will have to dig out the CA95 Parts listing I created from the Ohio Cycle list...I imported the list to Excel and stripped out everything that wasn't for the CA95...early or late.

Jude, you will have the early model if I remember the break correctly. It might have been the late...I forget.
I was missing the tray and had to buy one...
Here's one in black in Australia...
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Honda-CA95-CA-95-150-Baby-Dream-Benly-air-filter-cleaner-box-airbox-cover-/271325249446?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f2c3ebfa6&_uhb=1

David

jude0007 · « **Reply #29 on:** November 24, 2013, 06:03:55 PM »

Quote from: RAFster122S on November 24, 2013, 05:47:54 PM

I will have to dig out the CA95 Parts listing I created from the Ohio Cycle list...I imported the list to Excel and stripped out everything that wasn't for the CA95...early or late.

Jude, you will have the early model if I remember the break correctly. It might have been the late...I forget.
I was missing the tray and had to buy one...
Here's one in black in Australia...
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Honda-CA95-CA-95-150-Baby-Dream-Benly-air-filter-cleaner-box-airbox-cover-/271325249446?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f2c3ebfa6&_uhb=1

David

I definitely have that tray.

jude0007 · « **Reply #30 on:** November 25, 2013, 08:09:48 PM »

My goal today after work was to get started on bead blasting the frame. I didn't get very far at all yikes. Do people really bead blast the entire frame? Perhaps they use a little more powerful blaster because I'm going to be at this forever.

I did get the motor pretty dang clean by running it in the auto parts washer a few times.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #31 on:** November 26, 2013, 04:09:33 AM »

Quote from: toytuff on November 23, 2013, 11:00:18 AM

I only had bad experiences with:

Thailand, Did not order much. Actually a set of exhaust pipes. Bend was bad, chrome was bad, there in the shed. That's about it. I'm not saying everything is so but just remember it costs a lot to return anything you buy.

Fleabay, everybody has had this experience. Yeah, it fits. Great condition. Oh! I thought it was a CA77 part. Blah..blah..blah.

Ohio Cycle is great but remember, "everything is by part number." Makes a big difference.

tt

tt,
Their online catalog pdf has short part name...and IDs model it applies to.

tomkimberly · « **Reply #32 on:** November 29, 2013, 10:30:48 PM »

Look for a tag on the main wire harness, if there, it will tell you the month and year of manufacture.

Tom

jude0007 · « **Reply #33 on:** November 30, 2013, 08:20:45 AM »

I actually found the serial number on the frame where others mentioned it would be. After having it sand blasted and removing the rust in that area, it became visible. I got a chance to throw some primer and paint on it over the Thanksgiving weekend and it became even more visible. Pretty crazy that it was missing in the rust, had me a little nervous.

A couple of pictures of the paint booth with primer on the frame.

toytuff · « **Reply #34 on:** November 30, 2013, 01:38:01 PM »

Wow! Nice to have access to that.

tt

jude0007 · « **Reply #35 on:** December 09, 2013, 07:25:31 PM »

I've made some good progress. All parts are painted with the exception of the tank, but that's getting some coats soon. Getting ready to assemble everything. I'm a little worried about the starter solenoid, ignition coils and other electronics (the square fin box which i believe is the regulator.

Since everything is disassembled, doesn't it make sense for me to hook up all wiring/connections while wiring loom is outside of the frame? Is there a better way to test these components?

A lot of my chrome is pitted and just not in great shape. Any suggestions on getting it looking as best as possible? I'm not looking to make a show stopper here, just want it to look nice. It's hard putting the chrome back on when the paint job looks so good.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #36 on:** December 09, 2013, 09:56:49 PM »

Selenium Rectifier is the square finned box... It is a weak point on the 60s bikes, they go bad. Replace with a modern full wave bridge rectifier...Yahoo group for the CT90 has a Radio Shack replacement and Scott Kirn on the Yahoo S90 had a nice pictorial of the swap with a Radio Shack part. Might have to source an equivalent from DigiKey or similar because RS is pretty much special order these days and ordering directly from a real electronics shop is going to be cheaper. I would advise you to pick up several when you order, as bikes are an addiction and you can always find a use for them if you put them where you can find them.

6V system so, remember that...

Selenium rectifier can be tested as it is a few diodes... the S90 had the same kind of rectifier, not the same one but, same kind.
Good multi-meter with diode tester can tell you if they are a go or no go and testing the resistance can tell you if it is out of spec...

David

jude0007 · « **Reply #37 on:** March 02, 2014, 08:59:01 PM »

Can anyone tell me how to test the ignition coil before I put everything back? I'm not exactly sure where I should be measuring across looking for the ~2-3 ohms (if that's even correct) Thanks!

krusty · « **Reply #38 on:** March 02, 2014, 09:47:16 PM »

The Honda shop manuals of that era specified a 'spark' test using a Honda shop tester. They didn't quote coil resistance numbers at all. I checked my C92/C95 manual as well as a CL/SS125 manual, no numbers in either.
It may be a case of 'suck it and see' unless others have better info.

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Author Topic: Advice on a Honda CA95 (Read 10756 times)