Topic: CT90 Resurection

[Stretch]

This isn't something I went looking for but it found me. My wife's cousin was given a 1967/68 CT90 and he wanted me to see if I could get it running and safe for his son to putt around on. Back in the spring her cousin went to look at this bike with the intention of paying up to $500 for this thing. The owner said it hadn't run in probably 30 years. My wife's cousin said he and is 15 year old son visited with the old man that was selling and they made such an impression that he gave it to them. Then I came to mind. Hum, maybe Bill can get it running.

The first issue it had was it had zero compression. I pulled the head and the piston and cylinder were all scored up. I ordered an oversized piston and sent the head out to be bored. A few weeks passed and I got the parts back and realized I needed a couple gaskets so I ordered a kit and replaced all the gaskets from the cylinder to the valve cover.

Oil change - check

Carb cleaning and rebuild - check

I kept smelling gas so I took the tank off to find it had been leaking for a long, long time.  A little JB Weld and some new fuel lines and its working like a charm.

I had to relearn how to set the timing on something so I did some research and got what I needed. I wired a light to let me know when the points opened.

I kicked it over a bunch of times and finally it came alive. I adjusted the carb and it began running pretty good. I shut it down and put it back in the shop for the night. Next morning, F'n oil leaks.

New front tire - check

Removed the wheels and the brake shoes looked good so just cleaning the dust out was all that was necessary.

I tightened things up and fired it up again. This time I rode it around the neighborhood a few times. Runs pretty good but still leaking.

The flange on the exhaust pipe was bent and cracked at the head. Hammer and JB Weld and looks like it might just hold.

New headlight - check  one of the biggest dirt dobber nests I've seen in the headlight bucket. Almost half of the bucket was full of dirt.

Another attempt at seeing if I fixed the leak, second kick the kick start lever broke.

New kick start lever - check

I don't know why but one of the gaskets wouldn't stop leaking so a little gasket maker. Wait another day to be sure the gasket maker had time to set up.  Two kicks and she fired right off. Run for about 15 minutes and Bingo, No leaks! I got in about 10 miles and its still running good. It rained the next couple days so not being able to ride it I decided to do a little cleaning. I only did one side because I wanted my nephew to do the side with the chrome on it. I figured once he starts seeing some shine he'll do the rest himself.

Two kicks tonight and it's doing great. A little playing with the carb and its running as good as it ever will. NO LEAKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Called the cousin tonight and told him that it was ready. I could hear the smile on his face.

[Old Scrambler]

Not exactly a CT90...........but more interesting...........take a look at the cover of the HONDA ID Guide.......

[Stretch]

Not exactly a CT90...........but more interesting...........take a look at the cover of the HONDA ID Guide.......

I'm not exactly sure what you mean. What are you thinking it is? Do you have a link to the Honda ID Guide so I'll know what you're looking at?

[b52bombardier1]

Looks like a 1965 "Trail 90".

http://ct90-ct110.com/1965454545Trail4590.html

Rick

[Stretch]

Going by the VIN number it shows its a late '67-68 model. https://www.hondashop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Honda-Motorcycle-Model-ID-Chart.pdf , go down to page 17.

There are differences between the 65 and this one. This one has the dual range transmission and no fancy sprocket thing, the spark plug is on the opposite sides, the timing cover for the points is on the left of this. The air funnel and carbs are different. Other than that they look just about the same.

[Stretch]

I guess its time for closure on this thread.

The morning he came to pick it up I walked out into the garage and smelled gas, lots of it. I walked over to the bikes and saw a trail of fuel on the floor under the CT. I got to looking around and found that one of the pressed in nipples on the carb was leaking. I wiggled it and the damn thing came out. GREAT!!! He's supposed to be here in a couple hours. He was on his way to my house so I figured I'd call him and talk about it. I was going to suggest that I keep it a little longer. Well he really wanted to pick up the bike so I told him I'd see if I could patch it up before he got there. The only thing I had and could do in that time was JB Weld. Low and behold it seemed to have worked. I told him I'd let is set that day and not to run it yet. I also told him it was a real ghetto fix and it probably wouldn't hold forever.

That next weekend he texted me and said him and his son had put about 20 miles and it was running great and still not leaking. Thumbs up! I got a call one of those relatively warm days in January and they had ridden it all over their area for those couple days and loved it.

During those times when I couldn't work on it for some reason, I cleaned one side of the bike. I only did one side because I wanted his son to see what it could look like and to give him some pride in making the rest of the faded paint shine.

Last I told them was if/when it starts leaking again just let me know and I'll fix it permanently.

Another happy "customer". This was a freebie to him. My cousin-in-law did pay for the parts and the cylinder work for a total of about $150 total invested in on this bike. My pay was a happy young man on a bike he can learn to ride on.

[jgger]

It don't get much better than that!

[Kelly E]

Nice job. 

[MoMo]

Cool story.  Sweet little bike...Larry