Author Topic: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?  (Read 4228 times)

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Offline catzor

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Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« on: October 13, 2010, 04:10:12 PM »
I want to do a full restoration on a small twin and I've come across a cb175 I might be picking up. What are people's thoughts on this model? Any particular year ranges where things were significantly better or worse than others? Parts seem easy to find and CHEAP (no demand?) at a glance on ebay, which is nice. Are there any sources like SOHC for honda twins?
1991 CB250 Nighthawk
1986 VT500C
1989 EX500
1973 CB175 Super Sport

Offline fmctm1sw

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2010, 06:28:15 PM »
hondatwins.net maybe...  I had a '71 that I worked on the transmission.  Beware of the head gaskets on ebay.  Mine didn't fit right....  I had a post around here somewhere...
Quote from: 754
Dude is that a tire ? or an O-ring..??

Quote from: inkscars
This is not a pod thread
This is not a #$%* on my vacuum gauges thread
This is a help or GTFO thread.

1973 CB350F
1973 CB350G
1975 CB550K
1983 GL650I
1973 CB750K3 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=92888.0)
1984 Kawasaki KLT-250 (AKA 3 wheeler of death)
1994 Honda TRX300
1999 Honda TRX250

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2010, 06:37:21 PM »
My buddy has one, good bike.

What are the details, got pics??
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline catzor

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2010, 09:34:09 PM »
I haven't seen the bike yet, but from the seller's cell pics, it looks to be in great shape. He said it runs well and has less than 10k miles. He will take ~$500 for it. What do y'all think?





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« Last Edit: October 13, 2010, 09:35:56 PM by catzor »
1991 CB250 Nighthawk
1986 VT500C
1989 EX500
1973 CB175 Super Sport

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2010, 05:43:16 AM »
Go get it.......now!
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Alan F.

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2010, 06:09:10 AM »
Go get it is right, $500 running with papers?  www.hondatwins.com and www.hondatwins.net  have all of the info and know-how you want.

Offline catzor

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2010, 06:21:46 AM »
Well, I'm actually trading him a Marlin 60, A Marlin 917VS+goodies, and a Mosin Nagant. On a good day the package  might break $500 in value so yeah, I'll be going to pick that sucker up this weekend! Woot! Thanks guys!  ;D

FYI: I'm 21 and this will be my 6th motorcycle. I've got the bug so bad.
1991 CB250 Nighthawk
1986 VT500C
1989 EX500
1973 CB175 Super Sport

Offline tango911

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2010, 06:29:30 AM »
if it runs well, its a good buy.  i picked up a 71 scrambler for $600.00 not even knowing it ran, but i got it to. But he sold me the bike with the wrong heat shields :/

looks like a good buy to me.   Love the hondas
CURRENT STABLE:
1969 Honda Dream 305 (black)
1974 Mach III kawi 500 smoker
K2 (project)
K2 Original fixer up
K0 original fixer up
2006 CRF250R

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2010, 06:35:58 AM »
Does it have a clear title? If it doesn't, it may be difficult to register it for street use depending on what state your in.

6th bike by 21? You're doing something right!
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline tango911

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #9 on: October 14, 2010, 06:43:28 AM »
on that subject about title.   I got my scrambler with no title.  I live in indiana,  which is pretty much impossible to get a title with out having one.  So i sent mine to a friend in MI with a bill of sale and pictures.  Titled it no prob.

just fyi
CURRENT STABLE:
1969 Honda Dream 305 (black)
1974 Mach III kawi 500 smoker
K2 (project)
K2 Original fixer up
K0 original fixer up
2006 CRF250R

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #10 on: October 14, 2010, 06:57:59 AM »
You sent the bike to MI?

'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline tango911

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2010, 08:31:20 AM »
You sent the bike to MI?



correction, i sent the info to my friend in MI.   bill of sale and picture.
CURRENT STABLE:
1969 Honda Dream 305 (black)
1974 Mach III kawi 500 smoker
K2 (project)
K2 Original fixer up
K0 original fixer up
2006 CRF250R

Offline kirkn

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #12 on: October 14, 2010, 12:15:22 PM »
Great bikes!  Jump on it!

The final evolution of that motor was the CB200.  It's a bit trickier to find some parts for (the 200, that is) but the 175 should be fine. 

$500 for a runner in what looks to be really great condition?  Paint, seat, exhaust all nice looking?  Jump on it and a half!


Offline catzor

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #13 on: October 15, 2010, 10:00:53 PM »
I got the bike today. It's not in nearly as good of shape as I thought, unfortunately. The LH exhaust silencer has a BIG hole in it, the tank is full of rust, the carbs were really dirty, and there seems to be a serious failure somewhere in the electrical system. The good news, on the other hand, is that everything in is there, I got it to run already with a simple carb clean. Paint/sidecovers/chain/tires are all in good shape. Best of all, he took $300 for the whole thing!

I have a few question that maybe you guys can help me with:

1) The starter works. That's it. Nothing else gets power at all. No lights, no signals, no gauge lights, no tail light, nothing. I'm not so experience with electrical systems, so where would I start looking for something (a short, blown fuse, etc.) that would kill all electrical power except the starter (the coils are obviously getting power too, since the bike runs)?

2) What cheapish exhaust options are out there? I don't have the cash for a stock silence, I'm afraid. Would I have to rejet with a aftermarket silencer?

3) The ignition switch was moved to the handle bars at some point (may be related to question 1). Is there any obvious reason why a PO might have done this? The stock key fits it and the seat lock so I don't think it's an aftermarket unit or anything. I'm just stumped on why someone would do this in the first place.

Thanks!
1991 CB250 Nighthawk
1986 VT500C
1989 EX500
1973 CB175 Super Sport

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #14 on: October 16, 2010, 01:22:14 AM »
Pictures can be deceiving, but at $300, sounds like a good deal.

1. Start off by checking fuses and all wiring. make sure all connections are clean and tight.

2. I would try to find a used stock muffler, but here is another option:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA-CB175K4-CB175-CB125-EXHAUST-MUFFLER-1PAIR-BM-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2eb0426784QQitemZ200525637508QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

3. Who knows why some guys do to their bikes?!!?

Good Luck.
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline catzor

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #15 on: October 17, 2010, 07:01:26 PM »
Okay guys, I need a quick hand with my electrical situation. So...like I said, when the ignition is on, there is no power to anything other than the electric starter and the horn.

Fast forward to this morning. I pull down the rubber boot covering the wiring on the bottom of the ignition and find the origin of my problem. There are 4 wires, black and red, which serve obvious purposes, one brown and one brown with white stripe, both of which are melted and disconnected entirely from the switch. The black and red are connected appropriated to the bottom of the switch via solder. The is a small piece of brown wire branching two otherwise unused solder connections on the switch. There is a mysterious metal clip-ish thing extending from the bottom of the switch with nothing attached to it. Do the br and br+w wires attach to it? If not, any idea where they go or how they connect to the switch?

Also, would a too strong main fuse(it's under the seat, I guess it's the main fuse) cause this sort of melting in the first place? The PO mentioned installing a higher-rated fuse because he couldn't find the appropriate one, but could that lead to too much resistance, then excessive heat and melted wire?

Thanks for any help you might be able to bestow on my electrically-challenged self.
1991 CB250 Nighthawk
1986 VT500C
1989 EX500
1973 CB175 Super Sport

Offline gnarlycharlie4u

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Re: Looking at a 73 cb175...thoughts?
« Reply #16 on: October 18, 2010, 08:47:34 AM »
The higher rated fuse wouldn't directly CAUSE your ignition wires melting like that. But if there was something else causing the problem, the higher rated fuse would allow too much amperage to cross the wire and melt it.

If you have melted wires at the ignition then I would check the condition of the ignition.
You should also check the condition of ALL the other wires and connections.
CHECK ALL OF YOUR GROUNDS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE CLEAN/WELL GROUNDED.

The best piece of advice I can give you is get a proper wiring diagram and take pics of everything before and during the removal process.