Author Topic: I'm back with Honda! Bought a 1965 CA95 (Read 25296 times)

Tim. · « **on:** March 15, 2009, 06:12:01 PM »

Impulse buy for sure. Mostly because the wife said I could - she likes the look of this and may end up being the primary rider! At least once I finish it.

Looking for any advice, and most importantly, I need a petcock! Any condition - already ordered a rebuild kit, but the petcock itself has been pillaged.

I pick it up in a week - looking forward to getting it back on the road, and then tearing it apart and making it black.

The plan is as follows:

1. Get it ready for safety - tires, petcock, fix signal lights etc. Just bare minimum.
2. Register it, plate it, insure it
3. Ride it once or twice

4. Dismantle it

5. Powdercoat everything that's currently red to gloss black - everything is steel, including I think the sidecovers.
6. Buy a black solo-seat for it
7. Rebuild the engine - new pistons/rings, valve job, gaskets, repaint the engine cases etc.
8. Polish the snot out of the chrome
9. Replace the silencers

10. Reassemble
11. Enjoy
12. Find another project

Quick stock rebuild. Only changes are the color and the seat.

Current condition:

Target look (except with a solo seat)

Spikeybike · « **Reply #1 on:** March 15, 2009, 06:16:30 PM »

welcome back tintin

looks like a great starting point for your after, have fun

mrbreeze · « **Reply #2 on:** March 15, 2009, 06:19:17 PM »

Bill440cars,Haunda,Kghost,and Gordon(Ilbikes) are the best sources for the older ones I do believe. What ever happened to the sweet Yami 650 you were doing?

Tim. · « **Reply #3 on:** March 15, 2009, 06:32:54 PM »

Still working on that - hope to finish it up in the next few weeks. It's been a long cold unproductive winter (leaky roof etc.)

mrbreeze · « **Reply #4 on:** March 15, 2009, 06:36:13 PM »

......I totally understand.....first things first!!!!!

keiths · « **Reply #5 on:** March 15, 2009, 06:57:19 PM »

The rear shock covers are plastic. Back when I changed mine from red to black, I had a tough time painting the shocks. I covered mine with black electrical tape. You should just look for a black set.

Tim. · « **Reply #6 on:** March 15, 2009, 08:23:30 PM »

Thanks for the heads up. I will hunt down some black ones. How about the sidecovers?

Lots of the eBay parts seem to repro units from Thailand. I'll be hunting down pistons rings and gaskets too.

HondanutRider · « **Reply #7 on:** March 16, 2009, 06:13:40 AM »

From your pictures and description of the blinkers, it would appear that your bike might not be a CA95, but rather a C95. The CA95 was unique to the USA and was different from elsewhere in that it had no blinkers and the power output of the motor was higher (than the C95). The pistons had higher compression and the cam was a hotter version on the CA95 models. The black example in your pictures shows what likely is a CA95, as it does not have the blinkers. On the other hand, over the years someone might have added blinkers to your CA95.

I have a similar C95 from 1965 and it is a lovely bike to ride but very "gutless". The seating and handling are very accommodating at slow speed.

Tim. · « **Reply #8 on:** March 16, 2009, 07:16:48 AM »

Ah - you're likely right given its in Canada etc. Didn't realize there were these differences.

Didn't buy it for performance, so gutless is fine. In fact this may end up being my wife's transition bike from 49cc scooters to a proper motorcycle.

Aside from the cam/signals, any incompatibilities between the C and CA models?

HondanutRider · « **Reply #9 on:** March 16, 2009, 09:40:10 AM »

Quote from: tintin on March 16, 2009, 07:16:48 AM

Aside from the cam/signals, any incompatibilities between the C and CA models?

Nothing that I know, except I believe the pistons may be different with a higher compression on the CA model.

Tim. · « **Reply #10 on:** March 16, 2009, 10:50:04 AM »

That may help explain the different cam end covers on the engines. The CA seems to be finned, but the C isn't. Clearly nothing to do with performance, but it may be the reason I don't see CA95's with the plain covers.

HondanutRider · « **Reply #11 on:** March 16, 2009, 01:25:55 PM »

The picture of the red one that you are getting looks identical to mine. The tail light bracket has a cover on it just like the one on mine. You are in TO, I'm north of Uxbridge. Let me know how it goes and if you are getting rid of anything. Maybe we can see each other's toys sometime.

Tim. · « **Reply #12 on:** March 16, 2009, 02:22:02 PM »

I'll keep you posted - big task right now is a petcock. Saw someone over at the Honda305 forum who made an adaptor plate. Bolts to the tank where the petcock would, and accepts a 1/4npt threaded more standard petcock.

http://www.honda305.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=14203&highlight=#14203

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #13 on:** March 16, 2009, 07:30:25 PM »

Welcome back Tintin and congrats on your new find.
As Bob (hondanutrider) said, yours is a C95 with a strange looking rear lamp bracket.
Don't worry about the odd left side cam cover, some were finned, some not, I have plenty of finned ones if you want one.
The black one is not a 95, It's a CA160, a similar motor to the CB160 but with a single carb, again an American only model.
Check out this thread for some motor details and specs and chech out the bike of Greg (greggie-e) in Aus, It's just how you want yours. http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=46104.0
Anything you need to know, just PM me, only to pleased to help.

Sam.

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #14 on:** March 16, 2009, 07:33:36 PM »

Quote from: tintin on March 15, 2009, 08:23:30 PM

Thanks for the heads up. I will hunt down some black ones. How about the sidecovers?

Lots of the eBay parts seem to repro units from Thailand. I'll be hunting down pistons rings and gaskets too.

Be very carefull with aftermarket parts, a lot of cheap crap on ebay and I've heard some real bad stories about parts from Thailand.

Sam.

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #15 on:** March 16, 2009, 07:45:21 PM »

Quote from: tintin on March 16, 2009, 07:16:48 AM

Aside from the cam/signals, any incompatibilities between the C and CA models?

Tintin, differences between C and CA are head, carb, pistons, crank, crankcases, gearbox and the camshaft/revcounter drive (early model).
You can mix and max as most parts will interchange as long as you have the right crank for the crankcases and the right cam for the right head, but the C95 cam will go into an early CA head but not the other way round.
The only other thing is 3bhp

Sam.

Tim. · « **Reply #16 on:** March 16, 2009, 07:58:26 PM »

Yep - won't be buying any Thai parts. Funny that they are all pictured with Honda parts bags. The one thing I may break down and get from Thailand are the signal light lenses. I need all four, and they're selling a set for $15 + shipping. At least they'll get me on the road.

It's mainly the elusive petcock that is the issue right now. That and an equally elusive lower chain guard.

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #17 on:** March 16, 2009, 08:07:40 PM »

Yes, those are hard to come by but they do turn up on ebay.
You can search for Honda C92, CA92, C95 and CA95. They are all the same petcock and chain guard.

Sam.

bill440cars · « **Reply #18 on:** March 16, 2009, 08:19:05 PM »

Hey tintin. Good to see ya working with a Honda SOHC, even if you ARE missing 2 cyls.

I can't really help much with those though, but seems like you've got some fine assist already. I've got some on the 250/305 Hawk/Super Hawk and the CL72/77, some on the CB/CL450s, but there are others who have more on the ball about these bikes than I have. Of course, anything that I DO know, that will help, I'll be there. I am ALSO kinda missing the Yamaha 650 build.

Myself, I'm kinda trying to get ready to do some work on the Super Hawk and the Jawa 250 (mainly wan to get this one as ready for that engine, as possible.

Have fun with that one and we'll be watching.

HondanutRider · « **Reply #19 on:** March 16, 2009, 08:42:36 PM »

Here's a picture of my C95 where you can see the "strange looking rear lamp bracket". The picture also shows the mufflers on the bike when I originally got it - they are an earlier flat style rather than the larger round ones that were supposed to be on it. Since they were getting some bad holes, I replaced them with some aftermarket ones that work quite nice. I didn't get those mufflers from ebay, but I do think they may have originated in Thailand

Also originally on the bike were some higher, nonstandard handlebars with a throttle that wasn't the internal hinge design. Fortunately the switches, levers, and perches were correct. I had a spare raised handlebar off my CB77 that looked right, so I machined a slot and obtained some hinge mechanism and a correct throttle tube (both off ebay, from Thailand probably

). Also added some mirrors that were listed as for a Super Cub ('cause they're cheaper but look original - also Thailand

). Then there are the tank emblems which came from...you know where.

BTW, the sidecovers are metal, not plastic. And ebay has a complete petcock conversion currently listed, like your earlier picture showed. (I don't think its from Thailand, the price seemed a bit high. $:-\$ )

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #20 on:** March 16, 2009, 08:59:12 PM »

Hey Bob, after looking at the picture of your bike, I can confirm it's not a Canadian model, it's from.......

Thailand

Sam.

HondanutRider · « **Reply #21 on:** March 17, 2009, 05:25:09 AM »

(Good one Sam.

)

I can tell you that they are great bikes, even if "gutless" by most standards. Back in the late 1960's I once rode a friend's C95 all the way from Toronto to Kingston, with a passenger on the back. We took the expressway highway 401, a distance over 250 KM on a cold October day.

Tim. · « **Reply #22 on:** March 17, 2009, 06:47:57 AM »

Thanks guys for all the input. I've got a lot to learn about this bike to be sure.

I will hunt down that petcock conversion kit. It's on the critical path to getting the bike on the road, so even if a temporary fix, I'll spend the $$$ on it.

I will also need new mufflers - which aftermarket ones did you use? Looking for as close to stock looking as possible, but this isn't a total restoration project, so close-enough is good-enough!

Another thing on the must-have list is the solo seat. Would love the correct style as I've seen on some of the bikes - I guess it was a Japanese model feature, but I've seen other solo seats on eBay etc. that may be close enough. I might just make something work.

Whitewall tires are also on the plan - 3.0 x 16 if I'm correct. Firestone has a model for a reasonable price ($115 each) but they seem to be backordered. Will have to find a pair somewhere, or invest in some cheaper blackwall tires for the time being. I think it has the factory original tires on it.

Going to be a fun little bike.

Tim. · « **Reply #23 on:** March 17, 2009, 07:15:11 AM »

Oog - just saw that adaptor plate/Harley petcock setup. While it would solve my problem, US$70 + $17 shipping to Canada is way too much for this. I can buy a very nice Motion Pro petcock locally for $18, and then I just need a friendly machinist to make up the plate for me. Once I have specs for it, I have a few folks who will make one up.

US $87 = CAD $120 or so, which is about $100 more than I need to spend. Plus the adaptor on eBay is a little rough in its construction.

HondanutRider · « **Reply #24 on:** March 17, 2009, 08:25:54 AM »

Quote from: tintin on March 17, 2009, 07:15:11 AM

Oog - just saw that adaptor plate/Harley petcock setup. While it would solve my problem, US$70 + $17 shipping to Canada is way too much for this. I can buy a very nice Motion Pro petcock locally for $18, and then I just need a friendly machinist to make up the plate for me. Once I have specs for it, I have a few folks who will make one up.

US $87 = CAD $120 or so, which is about $100 more than I need to spend. Plus the adaptor on eBay is a little rough in its construction.

I would suspect the price is so high because of the Harley petcock. (I understand a lot of their stuff comes from Thailand or there-a-bouts.

)

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Author Topic: I'm back with Honda! Bought a 1965 CA95 (Read 25296 times)