Building a Honda CA95 from Scratch-Where's The Bike Now? - Page 18

Spokes · #**256** 03-08-2012, 07:23 AM

Yes the retangular o ring. Once the cam chain started throwing the oil it fell out of the motor with a stream. The engine ran for 60 seconds and lost 50% of it's oil. What a mess. But soon all fixed and we will pick up where we left off.

Spokes · #**257** 03-11-2012, 04:13 PM

The engine has been reassembled and mounted back into the frame.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP0dK...DBWu_sGwapDEI=

The carb needs tweeking and I will start building a solo seat and install turn signals. Soon I will undertake the Title and Registration task here in Georgia.

ByTheLake · #**258** 03-11-2012, 04:40 PM

Looks and sounds superb. Nice work. Glad the oil evacuation system has been turned off. I can only hope that my engine sounds and runs as nicely.

Spokes · #**259** 03-11-2012, 05:28 PM

Thanks By the Lake.

Here is a video of the 1st ride. My home is on a private lake shared with a few neighbors...my own test oval track around the lake. Sorry for the crappy sound as I was holding my Droid phone with one hand while trying to ride.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tahCn...DBWu_sGwapDEI=

ByTheLake · #**260** 03-12-2012, 06:24 AM

Thanks for posting the video of the ride. Did you mount a seat? I'm guessing so. The engine sounded good. Amazing that you could hold a phone while controlling all that horsepower.

SinjinLe · #**261** 03-17-2012, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spokes

The engine has been reassembled and mounted back into the frame.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP0dK...DBWu_sGwapDEI=

The carb needs tweeking and I will start building a solo seat and install turn signals. Soon I will undertake the Title and Registration task here in Georgia.

NICE...Where did you get the rear turn signals from? I like those!

Spokes · #**262** 03-17-2012, 04:10 PM

I build them myself. Basically they are a bullet light, single filament (you can get them as two filament)

I drill a hole through a stainless carrage bolt and cut the bolt to size just enough to mount on the cover plate. I hollow out the fender trim where the plate cover fits.

I drill and tap the plate mounting holes then install mounting studs. I bolt the signal assembly to the plate and then the plate to the fender trim. I use chrome acorn nuts to finish it off.

The wire from the light is run through the inner fender conduit and out the frame near the battery.

I do the ame thing for the front signals but use a a 3 piece "ricky "B" clamp on the handlebars. I make my own wire conduit and connect to the headlight bucket. I install a 3 way switch, a fuse and a "6V winker to complete the task.

SinjinLe · #**263** 03-17-2012, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spokes

I build them myself. Basically they are a bullet light, single filament (you can get them as two filament)

I drill a hole through a stainless carrage bolt and cut the bolt to size just enough to mount on the cover plate. I hollow out the fender trim where the plate cover fits.

I drill and tap the plate mounting holes then install mounting studs. I bolt the signal assembly to the plate and then the plate to the fender trim. I use chrome acorn nuts to finish it off.

The wire from the light is run through the inner fender conduit and out the frame near the battery.

I do the ame thing for the front signals but use a a 3 piece "ricky "B" clamp on the handlebars. I make my own wire conduit and connect to the headlight bucket. I install a 3 way switch, a fuse and a "6V winker to complete the task.

Wow, sounded like alot of work. I dont know if I am capable of that task. they look good, tho!

Spokes · #**264** 03-31-2012, 06:13 PM

Just an update about the Build From Scratch Project.
Below is a pic of how she stands today

with a close up pic of a self modified badge:

I installed the headlight this evening and should begin the task of building a mounting system for the solo seat. Being that this is a bike built from many bikes I expected some issues when she finally got running (not to mention the cam gasket..duh)

One of the exhaust bolt holes has stripped out. I will put in a heli-coil in it to make it right. I have noticed that the inside of right exhaust pipe is wet with oil. Most likely it is a valve guide, although the engine now runs strong and shifts smooth.

I have developed a MAJOR paint flaw..on the tank no less! Gas vapor has seeped under the fuel cap and has uplifted the paint in a big way. At this point I am guessing that shooting the two part paint in cool weather up north may have been part of the cause. Now that the bike is near complete and 99.8% of the parts are present...I plan on one more teardown. I gotta repaint the bike. Ain't no big deal. I will shoot it when the weather is nice and hot here in Georgia. I did not like the color anyway. So being that the CA160 project is going to be white (Artic White w/ matching Buco Bags) the Build from scratch will be re-shot in the same white. Being that the ultimate destination for this build is for donation, maybe white is best. I plan to put a new valve guide on the exhust side while I'm at it...

Jetblackchemist · #**265** 03-31-2012, 09:38 PM

The badge is a nice fit; in my home town, some Shriners used to ride some old fully dressed Cushman Eagles during parades. My car is an arctic white with a pearlescent flake; I think you are going to end up with two pretty bikes...from what I have seen the white Benly commands higher prices.

ByTheLake · #**266** 04-01-2012, 01:56 AM

Is the Shriner logo upside-down? How did you make the custom tank badge?

Bummer about the paint lifting away. You make it sound like just a minor inconvenience, but that would have devastated me.

I'm interested in following the valve guide replacement, if that's what you decide to do. Please take a few pictures of that procedure.

Spokes · #**267** 04-01-2012, 05:05 AM

The badge came from the 1968 CA160 I restored a couple of years ago. The bike was a retired Shriners bike that was given to me as a birthday gift from a friend. It just happened to fit the large oval tank panel. I have to double check if it's upside down as I just threw them on to fill the void.

Honestly, building or restoring these bikes is all about the journey for me. As I progress, I keep learning new techniques getting new idea's along the way. Case in point, I use a spare test frame to check for leaks in gas tanks....This idea came to me after wasting two engine paint jobs.

I wanted CA92 type straight handlebars. I bought drag bars and salvaged the ends from some wasted CA95 handlebars. I have a fabricator here in GA that will weld the old ends onto the cut new bars. After chrome they will look killer on the CA160. On top of that...I was given a de-burring wheel. The de-burring wheel makes short work of cheaning up rusted parts and saves time when polishing aluminum...I am sculpting the aluminim fender trim for the CA160 to make a way vintage custom mount for the Buco Twinmasters that will be painted and electrified to match....

So tearing down the Build from Scratch is no big deal. It's not like I need to clean every part again and everything is clean.....it's the journey

Oh, speaking of restoration technique. Being that I take on the wasted bikes, The CA160 build will be assembled without painting...kind of "as is" I will make sure to check all of the critical items while assembling. This way I work out the bugs and then do the paint and finesse. The sandblaster will be pleased to get the work...I don't remove the paint...I just do the body work and apply it...LOL

Jetblackchemist · #**268** 04-01-2012, 05:43 PM

Sounds like a good plan, it also sounds like bike building is a hobby you enjoy; It's the same for me. Some people like model planes and ships in bottles; but those you can only look at...

The get it in running condition first, before a tear down and rebuild; is very good advice. I have heard of many people spending countless hours and dollars only to get it together and it not run. Definitely, best to chase out the gremlins first.

I didn't try to get the 454LTD running first; and I have been crossing my fingers for a few months, hoping that it's not going to come back, and bite me in the ass for it.

I like the badge upside down; it gives it a personal touch and isn't immediately identifiable...when I first looked at it; I thought it a Russian or German radiator badge due to the red star.

Spokes · #**269** 04-01-2012, 07:54 PM

I have to admit again that I just threw the badges on the tank to fill the void. Go figure..I put them in upside down. This will be corrected before the garage door goes up next time.

Funny that it does look like a Red Army logo.....

I can appreciate building the 454. My nephew built a real nice Nova SS clone. Spared no cost. Built the 396, punched it out to 427 painted, trimmed in chrome with all the goods and built to the max.

But he has my dumbazz gene...and installed the valley pan wrong. He starts the motor only to fill the oil with antifreeze. Poor boy had a cow..got bent outta shape real bad.....

But got it right and moved on.....

Jetblackchemist · #**270** 04-02-2012, 05:34 PM

The 454 is an interesting one; it has a sport bike power plant, and cruiser styling...many dub it as the ugliest bike ever made. I personally don't like short rear fenders, the rest I like.

If I have a bad day; I go work on my projects to relax. If the bad day continues into the build such as a stripped bolt etc. I'll just quit and come back later, anytime I try to push through it...the relaxation tends to end, frustration sets in and more things are bound to go wrong. Taking away all the fun and enjoyment.

I would hate to spend so much time and effort, only to have it blow up in my face; that's why I agree that it's the journey that makes it worth while. A race to the end, brings short cuts, mistakes not properly dealt with etc. I believe going slow and taking your time and doing it right is a key to mastering anything...you have time to think and really focus on what you are doing.

I learned all this growing up with a dad that rushed doing everything, if you're always the one moving backwards when moving furniture; and getting shoved up or down stairs, because the other person is in a rush...people like that become annoying. Anytime I did rush parts of the CA95 build, mistakes were made...so that old girl helped seal the deal and make it all clear, for all future projects.

Are you still planning on a chopper build after your current ones are finished?