Topic: Hacked to bits XL175

[Rich361]

Hi, My name is Rich,

I'm from Christchurch, New Zealand.

I've just brought an old 74 XL175 (taken out to a 185) also running on a Yamaha Electronic Ignition??

Had a look down the cylinder and looks nice and smooth with no marks!!

In short it's been hacked to death and I'd say it's had a very hard life!!!

For $100NZ I thought I'd have a play with it.

The kick start shaft is of course broken and the engine has been partly stripped down to get it... but has not been completed.

The rear forks have been re-mounted further up the swing arm... probably because they are the wrong ones??

The engine was "welded" into the frame??

The frame was also cut to remove the engine??

Ha Ha... when I read back on this, I'm starting to wonder why I brought it!!  Oh well should be some fun anyway!!

Will have to get hold of a Service Manual and get started!!!  Stay tuned!!!

[Rich361]

Hey,

Started to have a look through the bits a pieces that was supplied with the bike... 





Do these look ok??  Few marks??







Bit of crud on the valves


I think the cylinder looks ok??  Not marks or grooves... Thats good right??





The broken, damaged, grinded stump of the kick start shaft




Found out why the Kick Start shaft was never fixed...  The bolt holding the shaft in place had been snapped off...  After that without drilling out the rest of the bolt, it was not able to be removed.  So I carefully drilled it out... and out she came!!



As you can see....  it's been butchered!!  I've had alook around on the internet and it seems unlikely I will be able to buy a replacement one without re-morgaging my house... 
Does anyone have any ideas about trying to fix this one??  Maybe I would be able to cut off the abused piece and attach a new shaft??  Any other ideas would be great!!

Cheers

Rich

[Hasenkopf]

I will sell you the engine from my 185 for a hundred bucks............if you pay the shipping 

[Alan F.]

... I've had alook around on the internet and it seems unlikely I will be able to buy a replacement one without re-morgaging my house...  

Really?  http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=xl175+spindle&_sacat=0&_dmpt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&_odkw=xl175+kick&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

Maybe a US member can buy and reship it to you for less than the seller will ship it directly?

Upon searching...xl175's all had that problem and the part is NLA anywhere except NOS.  Maybe a more reliable engine will bolt up to your frame?

[Rich361]

Hey, Thanks for the response Alan F,

That link you gave me was for a Gear shift spindle....  I need the Kick Start Spindle...

I'm only playing around with this bike for experience, learn a few things and in the end, have a river bed bike and something to play around on!!!

I'm not wanting to spend big bucks on it and if I can fix it myself, I will try....

Please, If there is anything I can learn from you guys while I'm going through this process, Let me know... I need all the help I can get....

Cheers

Rich

[scunny]

hey Rich, your a tiger for punishment. if that frame of yours is buggered, I have a XL250S frame that you can have. I know where another running 175 is sitting unloved, will find out about it for you.

[Rich361]

Hey Scunny,

I'm only really having a play around with it.... Nothing too serious...

If I can get it running, with a kick start, I'll be happy...

I've never stripped a motor down and re-built it... so that's more of a reason I brought an old hack!!
If I stuffed it up or did something wrong... no big deal!!

This is more for experience than anything else!!!

PS

 400F is still in the process...  I've ran out of motivation now as I need to buy a whole lot of stuff for it, New spokes, Cables etc etc...   Garage has 3 bikes in it now....  I have a very understanding wife!! Ha Ha

[onagd]

Hey Rich,

The XL 175 was the first bike I ever owned. Loved that bike and did heaps of miles on it. Wou;d love to find another one in reasonable condition as I now have grandkids who are keen to learn to ride and it would make a great learners machine.(Scunny,how tidy is the one you know of. PM me if you wish)
Rich, if you can get it going it would be a great fun bike. Best of luck.

Brett

[Alan F.]

Hey, Thanks for the response Alan F,

That link you gave me was for a Gear shift spindle....  I need the Kick Start Spindle...

D'OH, sorry Rich, how about this?  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1973-78-Honda-XL175-Kick-Starter-Shaft-Spline-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3a605f2a3aQQitemZ250724952634QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

I can always bid for you and ship it if you're interested enough...  without a replacement you'd have to bump-start the bike every time, not too tough with a 175 single probably but hard on the clutch.  I'm sure someone can make up a kickstarter plug to block off the hole if you decide to go kickerless.

[Rich361]

Hi Alan F,

Why couldn't I find one when I looked!!  Ha Ha

Thank you very much for he offer but I might search the local wreckers first...  never know, could be one lurking around??

Learnt that lesson when I was finding parts for my CB400F, thought parts were impossible to get in New Zealand but then found a gold mine of parts at a wreckers around the corner from home, including 5 whole bikes (slightly rough)....

I might take you up on your offer if I come up empty handed...

Cheers

Rich

[Alan F.]

Perhaps this thread has something to offer: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=70337.0

[scunny]

hi Rich, no problem there, but if you need it just come and get it, I'll only charge your old man 1 beer for it 
if you need any help on your motor just let me know. might see you at the magpie madness next week.

[Rich361]

Perhaps this thread has something to offer: http://forums.sohc4.ne/index.php?topic=70337.0

Thanks a lot for all your help Alan F, I'll have a good read...  My Dad said he has a couple of mates who are quite handy on the metal lathe and are keen...  Might look into that option!!

hi Rich, no problem there, but if you need it just come and get it, I'll only charge your old man 1 beer for it 
if you need any help on your motor just let me know. might see you at the magpie madness next week.

Awesome, thanks Scunny...  I got an old frame off Trade Me for $20...  I'll see if I can squeeze the motor into that...  It's an old SL125 or something??  Make up a bit of a "Norton Special"     ...  Yes I'll see you at the Magpie!!  When you going down?? We are going down on Saturday Morning I think?? Hopefully the weather stays this!!  HOT!!
Dad won't be there, he's got a wedding to go...  We'll have to have a beer for him!!!


Cheers

Rich

[Alan F.]

  My Dad said he has a couple of mates who are quite handy on the metal lathe and are keen...  Might look into that option!!

If they can make a good one there's a market for them I suppose, so maybe make up a few?
Good luck.
Alan

[scunny]

going down on friday afternoon with the radical choppers crew, so it's short rides and long stops. hope nothing falls of them rattlers on the way 

[754]

 Your head and cam look buggered, look at the end of the cam.

 It is a common problem, and you will find other, it has happened to.
 There is a little rubber teardrop piece that sometimes does not get assembled that can cause oil starving, that causes it sometimes..

 If you have someone handy with a lathe & mill, it can be fixed, but its about 3 hrs of work. In your case you will need a cam , or have to make a sleeve to repair it.

 I can explain it  a bit better if needed..

[Rich361]

Well that not good for a Monday morning!!!!   

 

[Alan F.]

Your head and cam look buggered, look at the end of the cam.

Yuck, good eye 754!

[Rich361]

I knew when I got this motor, it was never going to be a good runner... far from it... look at the state of the frame!!   

The main reason for getting it was to get some experience working on motorbike engines, taking them apart, following manual/service instructions, putting it all back together and hopefully getting it running again.. even if it fills my garage full on smoke or rattles it's self to death!!    Some people out there might think it's a waste of time, but I’m enjoying it and learning a lot!!  The guy said it was running before the kick starter shaft broke, motor could be used in a Go Kart for the kids??  See how it runs??

I'm not going to waste any money getting parts for it... Kick Starter Shaft...  Rang/Emailed quite a few wreckers around the place and no joy...  Not going to take this any further... I'll probably weld up the old one... or even leave it off and bump start it.

I had a look over the frame in the weekend and I'll be able to use some parts off it... Triple tree is in good nic, no cracks,  Forks are straight and no pitting in the chrome, wheels are true, spokes are a bit rusty but all OK condition.  Tank is a bit dented but useable.

It has a Honda LH handle bar switch, that’s in better condition than the one on my CB400F... So I'll be using that!!

Cheers

Rich

[Alan F.]

Cool with that! There's no point to a project you don't enjoy.  You could probably have a sleeve made up for that cam and a plug for the kicker shaft, Bumpstarting a 175 single can't be too hard.
Cheers.

[scunny]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Parts-for-sale/Other/auction-330842283.htm
might be worth a call about the spare head.