Topic: CB175 project (edited to document transmission disaster)

[fmctm1sw]

Bought a CB175 off a guy after I called him about an old S65 he had.  I had a CB125 growing up and realy liked it.  My friend had a '71 I think that was blue.  I drove all the way to Baton Rouge, LA then back to New Orleans to pick this up then back to Pensacola.  Quite a trip.  This is a "project thread."

The first photos are as it showed up at my house.

[fmctm1sw]

I really didn't get a good look at the bike before I bought it.  I had only one picture.  Some closer cosmetic looks revealed...

Bent fork ears and damaged turn signal - I'm assuming wrecked  

Cracked side covers

Obligitory electrical tape on the spark plug lead

Some kind of weird fake chrome on the rear rim.

Gas tank wasn't too bad on the inside but smelled awful.

That was the quick once over.  And oh yeah, the centerstand is broken.  Has to be leaned up against something.  The right hand control is broken too.

[fmctm1sw]

I'm not overly worried about that stuff.  I bought a right control off ebay and the centerstand is next on the list. The guy I bought it off of said it "would run."  So I figured I'd get the tank off.  Yes...  it took me about 15 minutes to figure out how to get the seat up.  Getting the tank off was kind of weird, there is a hose going across the bottom of the tank to (assumedly) level the fuel on each side of the tank.  Great idea but I assume it would make draining the tank a challenge.

I checked out the electrics.  No battery either but it connected it to my van with jumper cables.  All electrics were a go, headlight, tail light/brake light, turn signals, and even the horn.  I hastily moved to a compression check.  The switch actually still functions as far as the headlight goes and I can ground the starter button wire on the handlebars.  Compression?  Disappointing:  75 psi and 0psi    After I thought about it, I didnt pay attention the the throttle slides.  They need to be wide open for a compression test.  

Now's where it gets interesting.  I figured I'd remove the carbs altogether since I'm certain they need cleaned.  I (thought) I remembered from my CB125 that when you unscrewed the top of the throttle slide, the slides would pop right out.  Well, no such popping here.  I started to wonder exactly how they came out when I realized they were completely stuck.  I got the carbs off anyway and went ahead with the compression check:  150   and 25  .  I went on getting the slides out.  One of them was really gummed up and I had to use a flat tip screwdriver to force it out.  Used plently of WD 40.

[fmctm1sw]

I soaked the carbs in B12 and they cleaned up real nice.  I still have the jets soaking.  I'm having trouble getting one of the slides to go back in.  I may have to dress it up a little more after I used the screwdriver on it.  I forgot to mention, I checked spark before.

I went back to the compression issue.  I checked the valve adjustment and it looked ok.  I decided to crank it and shoot some carb cleaner into the intake and see what happened.  I got the 150psi side to fire for a few strokes.  The 25psi side shot a flame back out the intake.  I got to thinking my valve timing might be off but I sprayed it again and it fired for a few strokes like the other side.  I checked compression..  150psi! 

That's kind of where I'm at.  Good compression, good spark and carbs about to be cleaned and installed.  I did notice the throttle cable is broken.  It would appear the mechanism insode the black casing is supposed to travel freely unp and down.  I assure you it does not.  Front tire is flat too.  Rear is ok and the tire is good too. 

[fmctm1sw]

Update.  Now running.  Got the carbs all cleaned and float level set.  I borrowed the gas tank of my '72 350F and got some gas in the carbs.  Started up.  Need a throttle cable now for sure.  Didn't idle but it only ran a minute or so.  I don't think I left the bowls fill up enough, I took one off and it was empty already.  A couple hundred bucks and it should be back on the road...

[fmctm1sw]

And weird.  No kickstand.  I don't even really see a place to mount it.  Did these have one?

[mystic_1]

To me this looks like rust under chrome, lifting it up from underneath.  Can you chip away the bubbly looking bits?

mystic_1

[fmctm1sw]

To me this looks like rust under chrome, lifting it up from underneath.  Can you chip away the bubbly looking bits?

mystic_1

Yeah, it's peeling.

[Zaipai]

Well it looks rough, but that makes it all the better once you get it all cleaned up. From the few pictures I have seen of this bike they are all on center stand, so perhaps it did not come with one?

Here is one such picture..

[fmctm1sw]

Yeah, definately not show material.  But then again, neither am I...  It fits in well around here!

[Zaipai]

These are great bikes for moving around town if you live in a densely populated area.. Heck they are just fun period. I have a friend with one and I used to use it from time to time just to enjoy riding it.

[fmctm1sw]

I finally got this back in some sort of running condition.  I replaced the throttle cable, unstuck the front brake, had the top end tore apart, cleaned the carbs, replaced the front tire among other things.  It started right up today.  The side covers are in tough shape and I still have the air filters off it.  The thing I'm concentrating on now is the clutch.  It was completely frozen when I got it.  I had the plates out and soaked them in Berryman B12 like I ended up doing on my 350F.  And just like my 350F it is extremely difficult to shift.  You basically have to turn it off to shift back to neutral.  The clutch lever I bought isn't quite like the original so it may not have the same travel.  It may just need ridden too to free up the clutch plates.  It sat for who knows how long.  Anyway, now that the tire holds air, I can ride it for a short distance.

[kslrr]

Nice job on that 175.

[tbpmusic]

From the few pictures I have seen of this bike they are all on center stand, so perhaps it did not come with one?

They had a center stand as well as a side stand.
The center stand mounts on the "tube" ("SHAFT, MAIN STAND PIVOT") that the rear brake lever pivots on.

That particular part is common to a lot of old Hondas and is still available from Honda - not sure about the center stand itself. If the spacing between the frame members to mount a stand is the same, then you could probably fit a CB200 stand.
Mount dimensions aside, the main difference in the different center stands is the way they bend to accommodate the low-slung mufflers.

There are a couple on EBay right now.

The side stand is NLA, so you just have to watch EBay for a while, like 6 months or so.....
Also, a special bolt is involved, so be sure it's included if you buy one.

[fmctm1sw]

The worst posible thing just happened.  I don't know if I mentioned the aftermarket levers I bought but they were slightly difrerent.  They didn't allow the same travel that the other (broken) ones did.  I used a dremel tool to grind them up so I could get more travel.  I took it out of the garage and started it right up.  I took off down the road toward the end of the street.  Running great...  Through first, then second..  then...  a revving and jumping feeling in what must have used to have been third gear.  I tried it once more, same thing.  So I guess I have a knackered 3rd gear.  I got it into 4th ok but that's where I am now.  This sucks, the bike started right up and ran great. 

[hoodellyhoo]

sorry to hear that

[Zaipai]

That does suck.. However it could be worse..

.: Scott :.