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Author Topic: "barn find"  (Read 15011 times)

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Offline Rgconner

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"barn find"
« on: October 27, 2011, 09:14:45 pm »
Alright, it was in a garage...

Nice old man walks past my house all the time. Loves to ask about the 550 but also the Vespa.

Turns out he has a 78 P200 in the garage, taking up space. It is a little rough and has some strange stuff on it, like a Harley style fairing and a top box the size of a small cooler. 197cc two stroke, 240lbs, goes like hell.

Aside from the damage of sitting around with gas in the carb and a broken clutch cable, it appears pretty solid. Some mild damage for an old bike, nothing some new trim and a little buffing can't handle.

Bike is to fixed up by me and a couple of Bastards to be raffled off at our annual scooter rally. Last time we had a scoot to raffle it brought in some serious bucks!


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1975 CB550K aka "Grease Monkey"

Offline FuZZie

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2011, 04:41:08 am »
PICTURES PLEASE !!!  ;D
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Offline Johnie

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2011, 07:32:48 am »
Pics....
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1970 CB750K0 - Candy Ruby Red
1973 CB750K3 - Candy Bacchus Olive or Sunflake Orange
1970 Chevy Chevelle SS396 - Cortez Silver
1976 GL1000 Sulphur Yellow

Oshkosh, WI  USA

Offline Rgconner

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2011, 09:27:08 pm »
Lol. Let me find them.

Wait till you see the "bling"
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1975 CB550K aka "Grease Monkey"

Offline Rgconner

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2011, 09:33:49 pm »
Here you go...

And yes, that is 98K miles on the speedo.





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1975 CB550K aka "Grease Monkey"

Offline Johnie

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2011, 04:27:42 am »
Thanks for the pics. Seriously, 98,000 on the speedo? Man, this is insane miles on that little bike. What do you think top speed is on that? Any idea how many owners?
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1970 CB750K0 - Candy Ruby Red
1973 CB750K3 - Candy Bacchus Olive or Sunflake Orange
1970 Chevy Chevelle SS396 - Cortez Silver
1976 GL1000 Sulphur Yellow

Oshkosh, WI  USA

Offline FuZZie

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2011, 06:30:12 am »
98k...  one tough little survivor you scored, wonder if the motor is all original?
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Offline Rgconner

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2011, 07:06:07 am »
Quote from: Johnie on October 31, 2011, 04:27:42 am
Thanks for the pics. Seriously, 98,000 on the speedo? Man, this is insane miles on that little bike. What do you think top speed is on that? Any idea how many owners?

One owner. Top speed is about 65 to 70. He regularly rode it down to the SF bay area on the interstate 80.

I have to ask him about the engine, he did not mention an engine swap. Replacement parts are still very available, including entire engines. Technically the bike is still in production in several countries under other badges.

I am very very temped to just keep it, but the wife would have a fit.

Now, if I can win it back at the raffle... Maybe that would work!

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Offline FuZZie

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2011, 07:41:18 am »
Quote from: Rgconner on October 31, 2011, 07:06:07 am
I am very very temped to just keep it, but the wife would have a fit.

Now, if I can win it back at the raffle... Maybe that would work!


Quote from: Rgconner on October 27, 2011, 09:14:45 pm
Last time we had a scoot to raffle it brought in some serious bucks!

Well that explains a lot....   ;D
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Offline Rgconner

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2011, 07:45:31 am »
Quote from: FuZZie on October 31, 2011, 07:41:18 am
Quote from: Rgconner on October 31, 2011, 07:06:07 am
I am very very temped to just keep it, but the wife would have a fit.

Now, if I can win it back at the raffle... Maybe that would work!


Quote from: Rgconner on October 27, 2011, 09:14:45 pm
Last time we had a scoot to raffle it brought in some serious bucks!

Well that explains a lot....   ;D

I know!

But, honey.... it followed me home...  ;D
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Offline grcamna2

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #10 on: November 28, 2011, 06:24:43 am »
How did the raffle work out ?
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75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Rgconner

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #11 on: November 28, 2011, 07:11:42 am »
Raffle was scheduled for next May, but the club decided to hold off as we do not think we can get enough people to the "in town" rally vrs the 3 Day rally we normally do.

2012 we are giving up our normal 3-day slot to the Sonoma chapter of the club so they can hold the national rally.

So it is gonna sit for a while, and we are going to get it running take it to other rallies to promote the club/raffle over the next year or so.
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Offline heffay

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #12 on: November 28, 2011, 11:57:54 am »
This thread was very useless without pictures... now its just ridiculous with them!   ;D 
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Today: '73 cb350f, '96 Ducati 900 Supersport
Past Rides: '72 tc125, '94 cbr600f2, '76 rd400, '89 ex500, '93 KTM-125exc, '92 zx7r, '93 Banshee, '83 ATC250R, 77/75 cb400f

Offline esquire

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #13 on: November 28, 2011, 12:23:42 pm »
My 79 p200 was a trooper  I'm sad I let it go. My cb almost fills the gap but I would love to get another p.
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Offline Rgconner

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2011, 01:04:36 pm »
Quote from: heffay on November 28, 2011, 11:57:54 am
This thread was very useless without pictures... now its just ridiculous with them!   ;D

Nothing done yet! It is still just sitting in the garage awaiting time and materials to work on it.

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Offline grcamna2

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #15 on: December 02, 2011, 04:03:40 am »
Rgconner,
                 It's nice to see you & the club have long range plans for that nice scooter & it sounds like you want to do a great restoration job to make it a dependable daily driver.
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75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Rgconner

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #16 on: January 02, 2012, 03:21:11 pm »
So, started on some minor things with the bike. First, a look at the carb.

Tales of horrid goopy varnish in the carb danced in my head as I took it apart. The gas had been left in the tank, and petcock was leaky, so when I pulled the fuel line it had to be capped off so it would not dump everywhere.

I pulled the carb off to find it completely full of oil...

Yep, it is a two stroke after all, with a separate oil tank and an oil mixer down at the carb. No pre-mix

Seems the oil leaked out, completely packing the carb and intake with oil. Which kept out the gas and a quick squirt of the carb cleaner cleaned it up. All the gaskets look good too, as they are totally soaked in oil.

No trouble getting the various jets out either, all nicely packed in oil and easy to blow clear.

Engine had nice compression as turned over by the kick starter.

Pulled the battery and threw it on the charger for a couple of days. Aside from new water, it seems to be holding a charge despite being 12 years old. I would not trust it, but it is enough to give me spark while working on it.

New spark plug, old one was pretty far gone when he put it away. Was several in the box of spares.

Need to clean the tank out a little, fresh fuel, and maybe I can get it  running.
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Offline grcamna2

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #17 on: January 02, 2012, 03:53:01 pm »
That is encouraging news on the "oil storage".
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75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Rgconner

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #18 on: January 14, 2012, 04:18:35 pm »
Fresh fuel and 2 stroke oil...

Spare battery that works...

Kick... kick...

#$%*, forgot it has a manual choke under the seat.

Kick...

VROOM!!!

Runs real nice. Needs to run some more to clear out the crud of sitting for 10 years, but hey, one step at time!

Stopped and started it half a dozen times. So long as I got a solid kick, it started right up.

Clutch cable replaced, but clutch still does not work. Pulled off the housing (hidden behind the drive wheel, buggers)  and the plunger fell out in 3 pieces.

Well, that's yer problem, right there!

Replacement on order. I hope it fixes it, because changing the clutch plates absolutely sucks on this bike.
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Offline grcamna2

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #19 on: January 14, 2012, 08:47:21 pm »
You got her running nice...and when your clutch is "clutching" again she'll be ready for a ride to "blow it out" ;);more power to you and I hope you "win it" at the raffle you'll have this year.It sure is true that somebody enjoyed that solid machine w/ such nice mileage on it :);it was meant to be a full time runner.
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75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Rgconner

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #20 on: January 14, 2012, 10:00:42 pm »
The club is not holding the rally so I may keep it.

It might also turn out to be a historical bike. It appears to be the first one of its kind.

I sent the VIN, VX1T-1100 to Piaggio to see what they say.
 According to the online records, the range is 1101 and up.

1100 should be a different model, with points and no battery and no nuetral light.

Clutch is a little different too, which is how I stumbled on it. More plates to handle the power of the engine.

Or it could be lazy record keeping... Hard to say.
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Offline grcamna2

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #21 on: January 15, 2012, 06:31:08 am »
Either way you've got yourself a sweet ride ;),and now that you're completely going through it from top to bottom you'll have solid "get you down any little alley or byway" transportation.I remember you said before that parts are very available?? That will sure help w/ your restoration to give it a new "lease on life". rg, do you think you'll keep it for years? or sell it ?
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75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Rgconner

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #22 on: January 15, 2012, 11:25:32 am »
I would keep it for years, if the wife lets me keep it. It does, after all, overlap with the Vespa GTS250.

I would be hard pressed to decide to sell it, although such a sale would let me completely restore my CB550. In top running condition and cleaned up, I could expect $2500 to $3500.

The P200 body/engine is still in production today around the world, last one was imported to the US from LML India in 2009, but emissions prevent the 2T from being imported.

You can still buy it in a 4T model as the Stella, from Genuine Buddy. Nice bike, very refined, but not nearly the power or mileage of the 2T. Amazingly, it costs just a little more than the resale value of the original, despite having better brakes (disk in front) and being more smooth running and reliable engine.


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Offline Rgconner

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #23 on: January 20, 2012, 10:09:57 pm »
Parts arrived by UPS today, got them in and spent a good half hour adjusting the clutch cable. With no "third hand" and being a novice with this bike it was a bit of a bugger.

Took both wheels off and put "new" tires on. Despite sitting around for a few years, they appear in good shape, no cracks. Changing tires is a snap with split rims!

Checked the brake shoes, they got plenty of wear left. Tightened the cable a bit on the front one. Lubed the front bearing, the rear one he had replaced with a sealed bearing.

Readjusted the carb. When left idling it started to run up in speed as it cleared out the crud and got back into running condition. Checked the plug. Fuel looks ok, but running rich on oil. To be expected, as the manual says to add 1% oil to the fuel for the first tank if you have worked on the oil feeder. No way to prime it, so it has lots of air bubbles.

She should be ready for a test run around the block if the rain lets up. Putting around on old tires, dried up brakes, leaf filled streets and a questionable clutch in the rain sounds like trouble...



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Offline grcamna2

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Re: "barn find"
« Reply #24 on: January 21, 2012, 05:39:05 pm »
Rg,
      How is your clutch working :) ?
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75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.
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