Saw a listing on craigslist for a "project bike" for $425 and kinda made an impulse purchase. I was looking for a little project to get me in the garage over the winter and this may be the ticket if the weather stays colder and I don't want to ride my other bike. Its a 1982 Honda CM250C. Seller said he's downsizing his house and wanted to get rid of a few hobby projects, time will tell if he knew something was truly broken and expensive, or telling the truth. Its my first project bike and its older than me so no real electronics to mess with, but its all ancient tech and parts. Seller said eBay (yuck) is flooded with bike specific parts. I already know even in immaculate condition these bikes only sell for $2500, okay driver condition are $1500-2000. I'm not looking for a flip on this, I wanted a project and maybe something to knock around town with its silly 14 horsepower. But if I can stay within a "profit zone" on this bike that wouldn't be so bad.
Not so great:
Came with a rusty unpainted gas tank
New seat but no way to bolt it down
clutch cable detached but NOS Honda part included
Rear tail light is a used LED unattached
Something isn't right with the clutch. I can take the side cover off, but the clutch lever on the case will not move the clutch. I can't even push it in which makes me think something is jammed up.
Tree lock appears to be keyed incorrectly; I took apart the tumbler this evening and 1 or 2 leafs sticks up with the key in. Lock guys will know.
Just rolling it down a ramp, the front brake could slow the tire, but man these drums don't give me confidence yet.
Something isn't right with the carb, but I can't tell what; its my first carb and I know it'll take some effort to make it right again; the linkage brackets just don't seem right.
Kinda crummy rattle can black on the frame and engine fins, who knows if high temp paint was used; it looks oily when clean and dry.
Old plug wires and starter motor wire.
Not so great, but not bad and maybe even good:
All factory wiring is still working: Key on to aftermarket speedo works, headlight and front turn signals work. Horn doesn't for some reason, but there are numerous wires simply disconnected flapping in the breeze. Some other exposed connections, wires, and questionable prior installs would make me panic if there was a quick splash or rain while riding though.
Came with a Haynes manual, so that saves me $40
Starter motor works, engine turns over and it sounds like it has compression.
Tires are fresh, chrome wire spokes look great, headlight is new.
No rear fender and the frame now has a rear "hoop" around the back, no idea if I can still attach a rear fender or what.
New battery with a drain hole I managed to splash on myself already
New side gaskets
Bike even came with some Harbor Freight Bike lift and a weird stand/ramp combo thing that already helped keep me from getting a hernia moving it from my van.
New Chinese chain in box, new sprockets
New NGK spark plugs
Took a few things apart just to spend an hour or two in the garage and so far I've got a bad ground lead, clutch hasn't healed itself but it will shift from 1-n-2 with the engine off, Battery is fresh, tree lock may be deleted, and 95% of the parts are with the bike. Now I just need to install and make it all work!
If anyone has any guidance for the clutch that would be very much apricated. I figure I'd try to get the clutch cable installed and sorted before disassembly of the clutch pack since I have a phobia of springs ejecting themselves from assemblies.
Same with the carburetor; there are multiple blades that seem like they should work together, but maybe theres some vacuum wizardry I'm not familiar with.
Let me know if theres any interest to follow along with the restoration too, no sense in posting for nobody. And yes, I did haul the bike sideways in my minivan with a ramp and jack in there too haha. So much easier than a pickup truck with the lower deck!
Not so great:
Came with a rusty unpainted gas tank
New seat but no way to bolt it down
clutch cable detached but NOS Honda part included
Rear tail light is a used LED unattached
Something isn't right with the clutch. I can take the side cover off, but the clutch lever on the case will not move the clutch. I can't even push it in which makes me think something is jammed up.
Tree lock appears to be keyed incorrectly; I took apart the tumbler this evening and 1 or 2 leafs sticks up with the key in. Lock guys will know.
Just rolling it down a ramp, the front brake could slow the tire, but man these drums don't give me confidence yet.
Something isn't right with the carb, but I can't tell what; its my first carb and I know it'll take some effort to make it right again; the linkage brackets just don't seem right.
Kinda crummy rattle can black on the frame and engine fins, who knows if high temp paint was used; it looks oily when clean and dry.
Old plug wires and starter motor wire.
Not so great, but not bad and maybe even good:
All factory wiring is still working: Key on to aftermarket speedo works, headlight and front turn signals work. Horn doesn't for some reason, but there are numerous wires simply disconnected flapping in the breeze. Some other exposed connections, wires, and questionable prior installs would make me panic if there was a quick splash or rain while riding though.
Came with a Haynes manual, so that saves me $40
Starter motor works, engine turns over and it sounds like it has compression.
Tires are fresh, chrome wire spokes look great, headlight is new.
No rear fender and the frame now has a rear "hoop" around the back, no idea if I can still attach a rear fender or what.
New battery with a drain hole I managed to splash on myself already
New side gaskets
Bike even came with some Harbor Freight Bike lift and a weird stand/ramp combo thing that already helped keep me from getting a hernia moving it from my van.
New Chinese chain in box, new sprockets
New NGK spark plugs
Took a few things apart just to spend an hour or two in the garage and so far I've got a bad ground lead, clutch hasn't healed itself but it will shift from 1-n-2 with the engine off, Battery is fresh, tree lock may be deleted, and 95% of the parts are with the bike. Now I just need to install and make it all work!
If anyone has any guidance for the clutch that would be very much apricated. I figure I'd try to get the clutch cable installed and sorted before disassembly of the clutch pack since I have a phobia of springs ejecting themselves from assemblies.
Same with the carburetor; there are multiple blades that seem like they should work together, but maybe theres some vacuum wizardry I'm not familiar with.
Let me know if theres any interest to follow along with the restoration too, no sense in posting for nobody. And yes, I did haul the bike sideways in my minivan with a ramp and jack in there too haha. So much easier than a pickup truck with the lower deck!