Author Topic: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank" I cant leave anything alone!  (Read 40435 times)

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Offline Flying J

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1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank" I cant leave anything alone!
« on: July 29, 2010, 10:18:20 PM »
Sold 1 of my 550s yesterday and picked up a CL125 today. Just starting a build thread to keep track of what i need to do and what has been done.


Need new float Jb weld. see if that works
Blinkers
Compression @160
Needs
New piston and rings,
ss bolts
new seals
kick shaft spring
air filter
true front wheel.

Finished all that and now it looked like this.


 Geting the cafe treatment.


Now in its current pimpness
« Last Edit: January 29, 2011, 02:51:48 PM by ffjmoore »

Offline Flying J

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2010, 11:56:27 PM »
Ok so the kick start shaft is not returning up. Im guessing that the internal spring is messed up? Am i correct in that i have to take the motor apart to fix this?



Offline jaguar

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2010, 11:49:23 AM »
great bike.  i have one just like it.  74 was the only year for that color.

you should be able to get into the kicker buy just getting the right cover off.
to get the clutch off you need a honda tool.  parts unlimited has it too its like $10

Offline scroggins5000

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2010, 12:06:59 PM »
Nice little bike!

Offline Flying J

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2010, 12:35:09 PM »
great bike.  i have one just like it.  74 was the only year for that color.

you should be able to get into the kicker buy just getting the right cover off.
to get the clutch off you need a honda tool.  parts unlimited has it too its like $10

Thanks. i was thinking im going to have to rebuild the whole motor. The honda dealer sells it for like $8 I ll give it a shot. I priced out parts for a rebuild and it was going to cost like $40. Crazy.

Offline jaguar

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #5 on: August 01, 2010, 08:48:36 AM »
do the timming chain and gides while you are in there.  dont use cheap parts.

almost everything can still be had from honda for these bikes.
if not they are still making them as lifans today.

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #6 on: August 01, 2010, 09:04:30 AM »
Well, might as well do a total rebuild on the motor while it is out.

They key to get this to work well is going to be weight reduction and lower gearing.

It's never going to do the ton, so, might as well drop the front sprocket 2 teeth and chop out a BUNCH of weight.

(that is if cafe is the idea.) :-\

~Joe

Offline jaguar

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2010, 01:08:25 PM »
I wouldn't be so fast to say that it will not do the ton....that's what I'm going for with mine.  All be it with way more money then it's worth.


Offline Flying J

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #8 on: August 01, 2010, 01:29:27 PM »
Well darn, timing chain and guides adds $160 to the rebuild. You know anywhere else to source parts besides honda. I have to look everything up as CB125 on ebay. Same motor right? So your saying dont get the stuff from thailand? I think ill wait and see how things look inside before i  spend that much. Im not going for speed records or doing a cafe on this one. Its just a simple restore, ride and then sell for more money. I rode it around the block and it does ok. Needs some fine tuning on the carbs. It doesnt idle yet. Might be float height due to the added weight of the JB weld.
« Last Edit: August 01, 2010, 01:36:38 PM by ffjmoore »

Offline jaguar

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #9 on: August 01, 2010, 04:18:32 PM »
I got a DID chain with guides for like $100 on eBay.
The cheap stuff is crap and will break

Offline Flying J

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #10 on: August 01, 2010, 04:41:17 PM »
Ill keep my eyes out. I could not find one on ebay. What other bikes had this motor. Cb125 xl125?

Offline jaguar

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2010, 04:51:18 PM »
Xl
Sl
Cl
Tl
Cb
All the same, well for the most
Part
Alot of stuff crosses to 100cc motors too

If you don't wanta use that rearmrack let me know

Offline Flying J

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #12 on: August 02, 2010, 02:37:00 PM »
Trying to Download the service man. but what are these screw for? I assume the brass on is the pilot but what is the one the screw driver is pointing at. Im having a hard time getting the bike to idle. Could be float height due to the added weight of the JB weld.

Offline jaguar

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #13 on: August 02, 2010, 02:42:04 PM »
That should be ideal speed.
These motors seem to hate to run without a filter.
The manual is easy to find and download.
Search for the cb100 manual.  It yields better results from the searching (ie not the cb125 twin)

Offline Flying J

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #14 on: August 02, 2010, 02:46:34 PM »
I found it but it has one page for the carbs, I guess they are just that simple. Im going to guess that its float height and ill deal with it when i put it back together. I have to let my wife ride it one time tonight and then the motor is coming out.   :-X

Offline Kevin D

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #15 on: August 02, 2010, 07:11:14 PM »
I think its the idle speed and it fits into the angled cut on the side of the carb slide.
CW raise idle speed.
« Last Edit: August 03, 2010, 03:47:46 PM by Kevin D »
71 CB750 K1
104,000 miles
Original Owner
———past———
70 SL100/125/150
70 Candy BlueGreen CB 750 K0
————————————————-
Former Honda parts kid/counter kid/do all
—————————————————————-
Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right
Genius is 99% perspiration, 1% inspiration

Offline Flying J

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #16 on: August 03, 2010, 03:10:29 PM »
Ok, got the motor out and im tearing it down. Trying to pull the Dynamo. How does that come off. does it thread off or pull off?

Offline jaguar

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #17 on: August 03, 2010, 04:25:31 PM »
Need a threaded pull to get the flywheel off

Offline Flying J

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #18 on: August 03, 2010, 07:39:36 PM »
needed a 14 X 1.50 bolt to do the trick.  :D  SO now im trying to split the case. i took the jug in and they said to get a piston and then bring it back so off to ebay to get a .50 over Its looking like ill need 1 side of the cam chain guide. The front one looks fine. On another note. How do you get the tapet covers off. Mine are on sooooo good. I went a got a 23mm socket but no go yet. Im going to try heat after i soak them  with Penetrating spray.

Offline Flying J

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #19 on: August 03, 2010, 07:44:47 PM »
Go .50 over or go 3mm over and bump up to 136? What are the risks and benefits?
Will i have to re jet?
Will a stock gasket work on the head?
« Last Edit: August 03, 2010, 08:38:35 PM by ffjmoore »

Offline jaguar

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #20 on: August 04, 2010, 10:21:01 AM »
3mm over?
the hell with that just drop in a CB750 sleeve and piston.

im going to run a cb350 sleeve bored out to 66mm with a XR200 piston....175cc
but thats going to be a run race motor.  not a great idea for the street


i would say go .5 over and use OEM stuff from ebay and you will not have to mess with gaskets or jets
some of the stuff from over seas is good but most is not.
you can find NOS honda stuff on ebay easy

Offline Flying J

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #21 on: August 04, 2010, 11:19:18 AM »
Well dam. I waited till late last night and had no comments so i bought the 3mm over. it was about the same price as a honda piston and rings and came with the pin and clips. I dont think ill need a new gasket. But for $60 i couldn't help my self. I just saw more cc's and my mouse started clicking. I got the motor split. Im not going to pull all the gears out im just going to leave them in the left side. Hows your 125 coming? your going for land speed record arent you?

Offline jaguar

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #22 on: August 04, 2010, 03:26:23 PM »
mine is coming along.
got a new frame and a fresh start from the last build.
xr head
big valves
TI valves, springs and retainers.
im working on cam specs now.
really is a ton of work and way more money then its worth.
plan is to run just over 100mph in the standing mile.
will take a bunch of soft records at the ECTA and maybe even a record on the salts too
all that just to make alittle over 20hp at 12,500 RPM

its fun but its not worth it for a street bike.  i have a very nice CL125 for the road, was using it all day today.

Offline Flying J

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #23 on: August 05, 2010, 12:45:39 AM »
Yeah, im going to use mine for an around town commuter bike. So i guess ill throw the big bore on the shelf or back on ebay and buy a set of .50 over. Do you think it matters if its NOS or aftermarket. I was thinking about buying this one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Honda-CB125-Piston-Kit-Single-SL125-50-CB-SL-125-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem53e0ba3d91QQitemZ360252587409QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_2717wt_941
also how do i know that i have the stock size piston in there and am not replacing a .25 or .50? Thats what i should really find out before i buy a piston.

still looking for a cam chain guide. dealer is $65.

I did buy new stainless allen bolts for the case and covers today. After 30+ years those bolts did not want to come loose.

I want to see and hear that motor your building.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2010, 12:59:59 AM by ffjmoore »

Offline scroggins5000

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Re: 1974 CL 125 "Lil Frank"
« Reply #24 on: August 05, 2010, 08:33:24 AM »
Yeah, im going to use mine for an around town commuter bike. So i guess ill throw the big bore on the shelf or back on ebay and buy a set of .50 over. Do you think it matters if its NOS or aftermarket. I was thinking about buying this one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Honda-CB125-Piston-Kit-Single-SL125-50-CB-SL-125-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem53e0ba3d91QQitemZ360252587409QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_2717wt_941
also how do i know that i have the stock size piston in there and am not replacing a .25 or .50? Thats what i should really find out before i buy a piston.

still looking for a cam chain guide. dealer is $65.

I did buy new stainless allen bolts for the case and covers today. After 30+ years those bolts did not want to come loose.

I want to see and hear that motor your building.

Only way to find out exactly what size you need (and currently have) is to measure your cylinders and pistons. You should be able to find what STD piston size is in mm fairly easily. I think stock bore size for a CB125 is 44mm? I just did a quick search so I'm not sure.

When I was doing my piston replacement on my 750F, I was going to have to go from STD pistons to .50 over, because of the amount of wear on the cylinders. All of that went out of the window when I couldn't find any pistons .50 and up, and ended up having to go with a big bore kit anyways...

Hopefully you just need .25 over, so you can get more rebuilds out of the motor later if ever needed.