Topic: Honda CRF230F

[RAFster122s]

Insanity pricing on those boots, she is cleaned up very nicely...I think you are getting distracted though...fun distraction I'm sure...

[BenelliSEI]

You’re right! I call it “deliberately distracted”. Got the soya beans planted (28 acre) here and at my next door neighbours (37 acres), so from now on I just do whatever I feel like. Focus is:
1. Mess with anything that catches my attention.
2. Prep the race car for next race (3 weeks).
3. Prep the Sandcast for Cobble Beach Concours (3 months)
4. Cut grass (weekly!).

[BenelliSEI]

This Amazon $13 petcock might have actually worked, if the manufacturer had attached a handle!

[RAFster122s]

They likely could send you a new peacock...one with a handle...

[Kelly E]

Anything wrong with the old handle?

[CycleRanger]

This Amazon $13 petcock might have actually worked, if the manufacturer had attached a handle!

Ok, that's lame but I am impressed that it's not riveted.

[BenelliSEI]

They likely could send you a new peacock...one with a handle...

Only option is to return it and order again.

[BenelliSEI]

Anything wrong with the old handle?

The Honda “handle” is part of the disc and they are not interchangeable. Too bad.

[BenelliSEI]

Few more bits arrived today so the front forks got done. Cleaned out 20 years of crud. These forks don’t have a drain screw. “Remove and invert”.

Fresh seals, dust caps and aftermarket boots ($20). Honda wanted $53 each and as much as I like their stuff, not that much! Front wheel and brakes, next time. A second Amazon petcock came in, and it looks good. Battery and rear shoes arrive Tuesday. Fun working on something different.

[BenelliSEI]

$10 Replacement Amazon petcock just arrived. This one is riveted but looks absolutely 100% identical to the original HONDA part! We’ll see?

Update. Fitted and installed with no issues. What a deal.

[BenelliSEI]

Front end back together, new brake pads and fresh fluid. Back end fell apart…..

Battery and petcock installed, it can now start up unassisted. Tiny battery but it turns it over very nicely. Really needs chain and sprockets, but not until it runs a few miles.

[Stev-o]

Nice progress, John...CRF's are excellent bikes.

[BenelliSEI]

Nice progress, John...CRF's are excellent bikes.

Thanks Steve. Hope to ride it today!

[BenelliSEI]

All done and ran around on it for an hour (ride #9?). Runs great., electric start is brilliant. The timing chain sounds a bit loud, not sure the “self adjusting” tensioner is working. Anyone know anything about them?

This machine has not run for close to 10 years. Will be interesting to see how much it likes being woken up! Coated the rusty muffler can with “stove black” that we use on our Finley Oval wood stove. Like wet shoe polish, rub on and spread it around. Baked on and looks good. New “touch up” tool…..

[Stev-o]

The timing chain sounds a bit loud, not sure the “self adjusting” tensioner is working.

Run it!  From what you described about the bike, this is prolly the first service work it has ever had.   No odo, right?

[BenelliSEI]

The timing chain sounds a bit loud, not sure the “self adjusting” tensioner is working.

Run it!  From what you described about the bike, this is prolly the first service work it has ever had.   No odo, right?

You are so right!! The rear shoes were down to the backing plates. Fork oil was a few drops of mud in the bottom……. It’s not smoking on startup (or any other time). Starts instantly, clutch is strong and there are six gears. It takes less than a litre of oil, so I’ll give it another change in a few hours. A small, electronic hour meter might be a good idea.

[grcamna2]

John,has your grandson heard about this bike yet ? 

[BenelliSEI]

John,has your grandson heard about this bike yet ? 

Nope…. His Dad might use it to ride with him. I bet I put 30 miles on it today. There is a rail trail 200’ from our gate, that leads right into town.

[grcamna2]

John,has your grandson heard about this bike yet ? 

Nope…. His Dad might use it to ride with him. I bet I put 30 miles on it today. There is a rail trail 200’ from our gate, that leads right into town.

Excellent.
I have heard that Rail Trails have been made into 'multi-use' paths,primarily for bicycles,skateboards,pedestrians..  ?  I hope trail bikes are allowed.
I like the Rail to Trail Conservancy and have donated to them in the past;they pull up the railroad tracks and ties and leave a very nice 'path of travel'.

[BenelliSEI]

This one is part of an ATV/ Snowmobile trail system, well maintained by the federations. With a permit, I can actually travel hundreds of kilometres on it.

[MauiK3]

Great project, nice bike!

[grcamna2]

This one is part of an ATV/ Snowmobile trail system, well maintained by the federations. With a permit, I can actually travel hundreds of kilometres on it.

I like that ! 👍🏻👍🏻

[BenelliSEI]

Great project, nice bike!

Steve…. Runs like a Honda! Yesterday our “farm cart” (ancient Yamaha G1 gas golf cart) blew its head gasket out the side. Been using this little bike to run around the farm and back and forth to the shop, all day. What a great ride! Needs a small rack and milk crate. The bucket hanging off the handle bars is a bit awkward!

[BenelliSEI]

Used the bike again today. Great ride but the engine has a brutal rattle. I have a feeling the cam chain tensioner is not doing its job. Investigation tomorrow.

[grcamna2]

Used the bike again today. Great ride but the engine has a brutal rattle. I have a feeling the cam chain tensioner is not doing its job. Investigation tomorrow.

I hope you'll be able to disassemble the cam chain tensioner John;The XR200R has a manual tensioner which needs to be adjusted at certain intervals.