[cspcrx]

A bit over a week ago I picket up this 1972 Z50 that just so happens to be my birth year. I have been watching for one for a while to use as a pit bike. I have a 1986 CRX that I race and I figured what better way to get around then on a classic Honda.
Untitled by Victor M, on Flickr
MayPIR_zpsb556d3be by Victor M, on Flickr

I realized before buying it a few things were off like the paint color, which the seller had matched to his 32 Ford, removed headlight and tail light, wrong chain guard and painted wheels. It was not running the best so I cleaned the carb and that really helped a lot but it was while digging in I found the other issues like a unique way to keep water out of the wheels. This explains why the front wheel wobbled.
Untitled by Victor M, on Flickr
Untitled by Victor M, on Flickr

As I dug further I found other things like the wrong throttle, all the electrical is gone only one wire going to the coil and using the headlight switch as a kill switch. Lots of little things that have been fixed incorrectly over the years to keep it running. I also found this little bike is a very early production of the first year to have rear suspension. It's vin is 1000355, so the 355 bike made. I was concerned that the motor was not original as the serial number is Z50AE-359420. I then saw a post from a member in April of 2016 asking about his 72 that has vin 1000344 and motor Z50AE-359418. I was shocked to see his bike was made eleven before mine and his motor was two before mine.

I am so happy to see there are places like CHP, DRATV and lots on EBAY for these bikes. Also a great source of information like this web forum. I went all the way back to 2014 threads in my quest for knowledge. Been buying lots of parts to get it functioning correctly and safely. After that is done I will work on making it look nicer. Eventually I will put all the wiring back and I will have to source new forks as the ears were chopped off of mine.

One thing I can't seem to find in reproduction for the K3-78 is the muffler stinger. Mine does not have one, the screwed a thing piece of chrome pipe to the end to extend it past the shock. I see the the earlier bikes have reproductions of this part but not the K3 and up. Does anyone know of someone who sells these?

Thanks and sorry for the long introduction, I could share more, EXCITED if you can't tell, but I would bore you I am sure. i am sure I will post progress and questions as I go on the rehab journey.

 

[TankTheory]

Awesome CRX, welcome to Planetminis!

Those are some RAGGED out wheels dude. Also check out PhatMX, TboltUSA, TBParts. The Z50 restoration community raves about PhatMX but I've personally never used it. The owner seems like a super down to earth guy. He just hand made a bunch of awesome bike stands which I think is rad.

 

[dirtbkr188]

Keith owns PhatMX which is located in Canada. Mike (the owner) and Dalton are both at TB Parts, they are located in Southeast PA. Vince owns TBolt USA and is also located in Southeast PA. As stated above, all three are great companies to do business with, and have been strong supporters of the sport/hobby for many years.

 

[cspcrx]

Thanks guys. I have those on my list. Day I got it I built a list of sites that I found parts on, think I have about a dozen and those you mentioned are in my list.

When I get to stage of making her look pretty I am for sure hitting up some of those you mentioned as they seem to have paint sets. I have no idea what color it was originally but I like the candy gold they came in and that screams 70s to me.

 

[tmas]

I have no idea what color it was originally but I like the candy gold they came in and that screams 70s to me.

The 1972 came in candy gold and light ruby red.
tmas

Click here

 

[cspcrx]

Thanks,

One thing I have run into is the gasket between the carb and intake manifold. There was one there when I took the carb off but it was damage. I made my own for now. I can only find the two gaskets that how down by the isolator buy it appears they are larger. I don’t even see any listed in parts diagrams. I know the later models had an o-ring system. Any help is greatly appreciate.

 

[tmas]

Here is a pic for you. Click here.
tmas

 

[cspcrx]

Thanks I have been using those a lot to figure out what is missing or not correct on this bike. If you look the gasket seems to be in the photo, by bolt #15 but there is not # for it. There is #8 down by the isolator but those are larger. Also the carb illustration doesn’t show one either.

Mine had one there and it seems you would need one there. At the illustration above seems to depict one but I see no part number or reference for it.

has anyone from the US ordered from them? They seem to have lots of stuff.

 

[TankTheory]

I have personally not ordered from them but that's because we have too many great options here in the US. When in doubt, I always try Dr. ATV as well. The Dr legend in the vintage community. If he doesn't have it and the other aforementioned sites don't, then I would consider CMSNL. I heard shipping takes a while and can be pricey but they have plenty of parts.

 

[kirrbby]

I think the early Z's use a o-ring between the carb and intake...no gasket. Look to see if your carb has a groove in the mounting flange for a o-ring.

 

[cspcrx]

That’s what I noticed in some of the pictures as well but mine has no groove. The intake pipe and carb both have flat surfaces. I just picked up some gasket material and made my own. I appreciate the help.

I also just ordered materials to build my own stinger pipe. Going to be a bit larger than the stock tail pipe section but should replicate it enough to work. Muffler opening is so small finding materials was not as easy as regular exhaust materials but I found some. 15/16ID pipe to slide in then some some 1 1/8 OD to slide over than to get it to about the same OD as the section coming out of the muffler. Then some 1 1/4 to slide over that section and complete the tip to past the shock. Looks like it will need a slight bend based on the pictures I have seen. I will post up when I build that.

 

[kirrbby]

Some of the kits may come with those gaskets. I'll look to see if I can find one at my house...if I do, I could put one in the mail to you.

 

[cspcrx]

Thanks very nice of you.

found a new issue. Went to pull the flywheel, have the special puller tool, and found the first series of threads are stripped out so it won’t thread on. Then I noticed someone drilled and tapped two holes in the flywheel For a puller I am guessing.

If this was a car flywheel I would be very worried that the balance is now messed up. Should I be? seems like this is not a part you can just buy either.

appreciate the help.

 

[allenp42]

The gasket you need between the manifold and carb is 16201-165-950. It is not shown in any softail parts manual I have seen. I have 4 soft tails and a gasket was used on all, although about 3 of them needed to be replaced.

This part is NLA from Honda, but Northeast Vintage Honda has them in stock.

Intake Manifold Gasket Honda Carburetor Z50R OEM - Northeast Vintage Cycle

www.hondanuts.com

 

[cspcrx]

Thanks, I knew there had to be one there It just makes sense.

i found a flywheel on eBay that appears to be in great condition so ordered that.

 

[cspcrx]

After much fighting and the use of a steering wheel puller I got the flywheel off. Discover a few things are missing, as I anticipated based on the fact the wiring harness has been stripped from the bike. Points actually look very new.

Untitled by Victor M, on Flickr

The only thing I see of concern is the lower screw hole for the coil that is missing looks like it experienced some damage. Looking inside I see threads. I also see a mark on the inside of the flywheel which has me asking if the screw fell out and the coil or screw impacted the flywheel at some point. Perhaps why it was removed. Since I am just trying to get it running well at this point I will leave it like this until I replace the harness and lights, that are all missing.

I also found that cover on the left side of the bike was cut. Those of you with more knowledge probably picked up on that in the original picture. I discovered this taking it off and finding rough edges. So I asked myself why. Well the chain adjusters are maxed out to the rear and the chain has soooo much slack. It appears they changed the chain and sprocket at some point and decided making the chain the correct length was more work that cutting the cover. AMAZING! When I see stuff like this, on anything I just don't get it.

Waiting on a stack of parts right now to fix some of what I have found.

 

[cspcrx]

Seems like one step forward one step back right now with this thing.

Got the, new to me, flywheel. One thing that stood out was just how badly beaten the one was on my bike. It didn't even have a full key, as you can just see in the picture below.
Untitled by Victor M, on Flickr

Replacement has some surface rust so spent some time with EvapoRust removing that on the magneto surface and the surface the points ride on. Put the new flywheel on bike fired right up and idled fine. Took it for a ride and about 40 feet from the house it just slowly died like it ran out of fuel, which I did not put much in. Pushed her back added more and it wont start. Found I had no spark! Check the points and found that now the .3mm feeler has to be forced in between the points, actually lifts them. I realized from the picture above they were already maxed out so the small difference in flywheels has now caused a no spark issue. So my assessment of the points looking new was way off! Still learning!

New points are ordered and should have them next week. Also installed the correct throttle assembly, that was a fun learning experience to get things to line up. I do need to adjust the carb needle. I put a K&N filter on the bike and while I had it running I noticed it would not rev fully. With some choke it would so I will lower the needle to see if that fixes the lean condition. Installed new front wheels, tube and tire as well so feel like the front death trap has been repaired correctly.

Lots of other small things like replacing nuts and bolts with proper hardware and what not. Fun little project.

 

[nielspbr]

Your stator plate is missing the lighting coil. Only the ignition coil is present.

 

[cspcrx]

i noticed that too. They removed all of the wiring from the bike. they also wired the headlight switch as the kill switch. once I get it running better I will get a new harness and stator kit since it’s missing. i will also need to get the tail light assembly along with a new front fork and headlight assembly. They also cut the headlight ears off. This poor bike was abused over the years.

 

[cspcrx]

in the process of working on the bike I found another issue. The threads on the right side rear lower shock mount is completely stripped. I noticed it was moving as I was tightening the rear axle.

I do not see a replacement for this. It appears to be welded to the frame. other than trying to rethread it, which will result in a smaller nut being used. Is there a know repair?

thanks