Topic: The Corn Crib Special - Honda S65

[Just John]

A while back I was talking to a guy at the local Ace Hardware.  We were both looking for metric bolts and he mentioned he had seen an old Honda in a junkyard.  He didn't know what it was but felt sure it was from the 60s.  He gave me the address on Corn Crib Road.  It wasn't far from the house so we went to look at it.  Turns out the "junkyard" was actually someone's front yard!  It was a Honda S65 missing a bunch of parts and looking pretty sad.  We made a deal, loaded it in the truck and it has sat in the garage while I worked on other bikes.  I pulled it out this week and started working on it.  This will not be a restoration!  Here's a picture when I went to the "junkyard".

[Just John]

The original engine is in the white 5 gallon bucket.  Well some of it anyway.  The engine had been taken apart and the top end was missing.  There were pistons from 2 strokes, an exhaust from an ATC and various other pieces that may have gone to farm equipment.  The "seller" also included a Lifan 110cc engine that "ran fine when pulled from the pit bike".  It may have "ran fine" at some point in it's life but when I checked it was locked up.  Probably a cheap fix but the engine was a full automatic and I wanted a four speed!  Here's a picture with the 110 engine in the frame.  It was a bolt in.  Looking around the net found me a very good deal on a Lifan 125cc engine with manual 4 speed transmission. 

[Just John]

The S65 was a 65-69 import to the US.  I pulled the remains of the wiring harness and going by the tag on the harness mine is a 1965 model. 

[dave500]

those lifan engines are life savers if you dont want to have the exact honda motor,good job.

[Just John]

I started taking the 65 apart.  Took all of 30 minutes since a lot of it wasn't there.  I ran into a snag taking off the brake pedal.  The brake pedal shaft also serves as the shaft for the main stand.  I had noticed while moving the bike around that the brake pedal would move every time the main stand was lowered or raised.  I could also step on the brake pedal and the main stand would move up and down.  It has been a very long time since I worked on these small bikes but I knew the shaft had to be bent.  No problem, I'll tap it out and get a replacement.  The shaft is hollow and the side away from the brake pedal is held by a cotter pin.  The cotter pin came out easily but the shaft refused to move.  I tried tapping, pulling, twisting, lubrication, heat....a fair amount of cussing all to no avail.  I worked on it for two days in the Georgia heat and finally got it out.  I knew this original shaft was FUBAR before I even started trying to remove it.  Using my head for something other than a hat stand I had already found a replacement on EBay.  It arrived today.  I'm at the point of either sand blasting the chassis myself or taking it to the local sandblaster.   We are in the heat/humidity stage that makes blasting a time consuming and uncomfortable task.  Here's a picture of the replacement brake pedal/main stand shaft.  Amazing how such a simple thing can halt all activity.

[Just John]

Not much of an update.  Despite sending me several messages a day seeking my business the sand blasting company has yet to return any of my email, text or phone messages.  It rains here nearly everyday so little chance of me doing the blasting anytime soon.  In a bright note, I stuck some parts in EvapoRust and I'm pretty happy with the results. 

[Stev-o]

Hey John....looks like a fun project.  Did it come with a tank or seat?   

It is similar to the SS65 that I bought for my daughter...

[Just John]

The tank and seat were long gone.  I found a tank and chrome side panels on EBay.  The tank is in EvapoRust now.  The chrome panels are very good.  I have a seat from an Italian bike possibly one of the smaller Harley imports.  It looks great but I need to modify the mounting brackets.  It is not and never will be a show quality bike, just a fun little runner.  I've never seen an SS65.  Wow, that is a nice looking motorcycle.  Reminds me of the Super 90 but the tank has a similar shape to the 67-68 CB125SS.  We called them SS125s.  I wanted one of the CL 125 models in yellow but I got a slightly used 66 CL160 for a much lower price.  There is no substitute for cubic centimeters!  LOL! 

[Stev-o]

I've never seen an SS65.  Wow, that is a nice looking motorcycle.  Reminds me of the Super 90...

The SS65 was not imported into the U.S., we think the seller illegally imported it from Asia when he immigrated [he barely spoke English].  I call it the "Big Bore" bike as someone fitted a 110cc cylinder kit on it, it runs great!  My daughter is short so it is the perfect bike for her to learn to ride.

BTW - let me know if you need some tank rubbers, I have a spare set I will send you N/C.