Way cool. Nice find.

I'm still looking for a good painter to help me finish up my RC51 project. Already have the carbon/kevlar repaired and prepped. Just need a paint touchup on the upper fairing left side. Could use someone to un-ding the tank a bit too.

I was thinking of seeking expert assistance at the Donnie Smith Bike Show (March 29-30) at St. Paul River Center. Ever been to that show? Going this year?

Later,
Kent Larson in Woodbury

 

Way cool. Nice find.

I'm still looking for a good painter to help me finish up my RC51 project. Already have the carbon/kevlar repaired and prepped. Just need a paint touchup on the upper fairing left side. Could use someone to un-ding the tank a bit too.

I was thinking of seeking expert assistance at the Donnie Smith Bike Show (March 29-30) at St. Paul River Center. Ever been to that show? Going this year?

Later,
Kent Larson in Woodbury

View attachment 105392

I got a guy in Duluth that did my triumph reasonably. He has a booth and does mc work in spare time. I'll pm you his number if you want to talk/text

 

FWIW, this won't be a restoration. Wife thinks it is cute and gets to pick color. Guessing it will be baby blue.

 

I used to go to Donnie Smith Bike show all the time when I was I Minneapolis. There will be painters there I'm sure but they will be expensive.

 

Interesting find. Looks like a stellar bargain. Sounds like you’re keeping it/them too.

Here’s a gorgeous Dream I saw at a local car show in 2023.

 

Sorted all the parts and there is enough to build one bike. The loose engine has a cracked case, but between the 2 I think I can make 1. Need to finish up some other stuff before I can dedicate a workbench to stripping engines.

 

This project is superb! It's exciting when you come across a pile of parts like that and can turn it into something great. The Baby Dream parts are a nice find, and it’s cool that you're thinking about building two bikes. I bet that second title will be a little tricky, but worth it. By the way, I’ve been checking out Mike Murphy Ford reviews recently – they’ve got some interesting feedback on their service. Good luck with the build!

 

I love it when I find other like-minded people who have the courage and the dedication required (the sickness, as you called it, Oldjeep) to save these old bikes from the scrap heap.

 

Need something to do in the evenings, only so much beer one can drink

 

Been messing around lacing wheels and tearing into engines the last few days. The good engine seems good except for the cracked off piece of the top case. Bad engine is being a pain - need to get the cylinder off and it is rusted to piston. So have it soaking full of ATF at the moment.

 

If rusty piston, I presume that's a cast iron sleeve?

 

The honda engine is interesting. The head is aluminum, the whole next layer where the bores are is steel/cast and then the case is aluminum.

 

I have a friend who says trueing a spoke wheel is a combo of art and science. And since he can't draw and hated science class he lives withe a wobble.

 

Found that out the hard way. Without even realizing it I practically turned a 27" bicycle wheel into a pretzel. 😣
Bicycle shop looked like they wanted the two seconds it took to lay eyes on it, back.
Another wheel like it, that was both tough and blingy didn't exist.

 

Lost my patience and went full sawzall on the cylinder. Good thing I did - no way it was ever coming off.

 

I have watched a couple videos of lacing wheels which simplifies it. I dunno about the art and science, didn't seem too bad to me... I have an upcoming project, lol.......

 

I just copied one of the other 6 I had. I used to lace and true wheels when I raced BMX until I got smart and switched to skyway mags.

 

Wheels done

 

I have a ca305 engine. Frozen up but free for the taking. S.W.Ohio. A hondacb305 project I picked up.

 

FYI - the whole internet, put engine parts in the dishwasher thing - just results in really warm engine parts even on the steam cycle

 

Can't go too much further on the engine until the gaskets and seals get here from overseas. I think I can at least join the case halves once my HondaBond gets here, but need to make sure I don't have any seals that need to go in with cases split.

 

Done for a few weeks untill parts arrive.

 

Back at it last night since the gaskets and seals showed up. The dynamo was being a pain and not wanting to slide on the key, so decided to leave it for the evening and start again tonight.

 

Many moons since I've tore into them that deep. I'm a sucker for the old Honda's. I use to use Mazda gray for the crankcase and other parts. Looks good.

 

My bad Mazda silver.

 

Not sure if it applied to all, but I think the proper colour is Honda Cloud Silver for engine paint. You can buy it, and Duplicolour DE 1615 is a match. My info from the guys at SOHC4.net

 

FWIW, I find no evidence that anything on the engine was ever painted except the cast cylinder section.

 

Could very well be..... on the SOHC 4's the whole engine block, barrels and valve covers were painted. The side covers were somewhat polished and clearcoated, which eventually deteriorated (got less glossy, darkened, might get streaky).

 

Older Hondas painted outer engine covers.

 

Previous Yami motorcycle had a painted radiator. When the paint on the spigots for the hose connections started degrade, it resulted with black debris/flakes/whatever in the overflow tank. Much later it developed an untraceable slow leak. That bike had a tiny reservoir so it didn't take much to empty it. One day I dismounted at work and saw a puddle beneath the front of the bike. "Great!" I thought... because now the leak would be easy to find. That's when I saw it coming from the hose connection. Sanded off the paint on the rest of the spigots too, as preventative.

Bottom line is, if you radiator is painted, sand it off for your hose connections.

For the next generation, Yami quit painting them.

 

Previous Yami motorcycle had a painted radiator. When the paint on the spigots for the hose connections started degrade, it resulted with black debris/flakes/whatever in the overflow tank. Much later it developed an untraceable slow leak. That bike had a tiny reservoir so it didn't take much to empty it. One day I dismounted at work and saw a puddle beneath the front of the bike. "Great!" I thought... because now the leak would be easy to find. That's when I saw it coming from the hose connection. Sanded off the paint on the rest of the spigots too, as preventative.

Bottom line is, if you radiator is painted, sand it off for your hose connections.

For the next generation, Yami quit painting them.

If I find a radiator on this bike, I will check it carefully 😜