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Mar 18, 2023 11:30:51 GMT
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Apologies if this is in the wrong place...
Wondering if we have an RR contingent at the Practical Classics Restoration Show? I'm heading upon the Friday!
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Mar 17, 2023 23:27:55 GMT
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So some progress has been made! Firstly I have been sorting through the parts that came with the bikes, as well as what I already had. Trying to create a stock of spares for NNR, as well as allocating the bits needed to the prphect bikes. I've also started trying to buy a few more bits. Importantly though, I've also sold ARY on, simply as I didn't have the space to actually work on one with it there. Shame but due to parts allocation, it was only suitable for a cafe racer, and my spine wouldn't cope! Besides I feel a cafe racer that will onlydon60mph rather misses the point a tad... Current focus then has been on restoring RRB, as i want to get it up and nice before also moving that bike on (bit of a wheel and deal this thread all of a sudden!). I will then use what's left over to restore HBF. Eill then either run HBF as a 200, before upgrading to the 250, or buy yet another one (based on convoluted 'logic' and subject to a suitable candidate materialising) and do the same to that. First thing I have done is purchase a NOS chain guard and earlier, chrome indicatored rear light cluster with matching fronts for RRB. Well actually that was the second thing, firstly I went round and tightened up every loose bolt, which was all of them. I then fitted the rear lights, and put the loom in place running it from said lights. Doing so led me to determine that the indicators etc I had purchased were from the CM125, therefore the wiring was slightly shorter, meaning with the loom correctly routed and the reg-rec/cdi etc in the loom wouldn't reach. Have a ppanntonget round this, as the bikes came withna bunch of Chinese indicators, which were going in thr bin anyway but will now serve as wire donors first, to make in effect an extension lead. This CM discovery however also meant that the front indicators wouldn't fit, but unbelievably I had a set of fronts, that matched the chrome and fitted in the stash. Was buzzing to fit them, which during a break in the tedium of work I did. Only to discover a little mistake... the 'ears' that hold the front indicators and the deadlight on look near identical between the earlier 6v and latter 12v bikes, but they're not. Despite now both being 12v, HBF wasn't originally... so yep, both bikes had one of each on meaning I couldn't get a set on either. Both front ends dissembled then! Issue here is, I don't have a lift and ne8ther bike has a centre stand... bit of a faff! Managed it eventually, and left HBF looking a bit more bereft than when i started! Isn't it always the way that a 2 minute job takes an hour? Especially as I hen slipped while fitting the indicators, which use Allen head bolts. Was half in half put, and rounded... argh! Another hour with the molegrips slowly getting the bolt out. In total, my ten minute I'll fit the indicator job, took about 2 hours.... luckily teams calls don't notice when I'm missing! I then decided to swap the handlebars over, as RRB had an older grips, slightly scruffier chrome and I had a new pair of grips... another ten minute job? Nope. The previous owner had put the handlebar clamps on, but with 3 of the 4 bolts loose. The 4th however was as tight as, well, tight. On both bikes. As I was undoing said tight bolt, I realised they were completely threaded, thus not the correct bolts and seemed a bit weak... as I realised this, it snapped. On both bikes. Tantrum ensued. Tried cutting a groove, molegrips etc but no dice. Luckily have one spare top yolk in the stash, so fitted that to RRB. I've ordered another either for stash or HBF as will have a bit more of a go at getting the bolts out.. any wise ideas will be listened to! I had hoped after this debacle to put the loom in the headlight, connect everything up and check for electoral life bit as usual, something else! The correct indicators are earthed using a special nut used to mount the headlight. Fine, I had a set. However the headlights onthe bikes are nit original, meaning I had to send half an hour saefully filing out the groves inside the shell so the nuts would fit in place. Managed this, then went to fit the shell only to realise this meant I needed the bigger bolts to match said nuts, and wherever they are it's somewhere that's else. Decide st this point to go back to work! As for HBF It's forlorn in the corner a bit bereft. I've worked out what bits it's missing, and have ordered another rear light cluster but this time the latter square-indicatored version. Need to find 1 more front ifncator for the set! The thing with this bike however is the mudguards are red plastic, and rubbish, the side panels are cracked and the tank had had some paint soil on it. Goodnfrom far but far from good at best. The bike itself however is very nice, chrome wheels are great, powdercoated frame is obviously lovely and so on. Also, on the v5 ists blue! Obviously the original plan was to make another bike for commuting purposes, so what I'm thhinkingjisnto keep mynetes peeled for a blue CD200, scruffier but with decent enough tank/side panels etc and have a bit if a panel swap. Keep that one, whilst maybe earning a few pennies. This is of course subject to yet another CD200 being done, but as is often wellnoted, I do see, to be able to fimd them! So now it's rummage through every bolt known to human kind to find the correct two then get the wiring sorted. After that it will be time to paint the tank, connect the carb and see if RRB runs!
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Mar 17, 2023 22:36:11 GMT
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Crivens You'll have cornered the market soon lol Interestingly you can buy these twin engines brand new from alibaba and aliexpress in a variety of capacities I have been accused of this before lol
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Think I ight change the title of this thread to 'my Benly shed thread' or something at this rate...
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So I still have made my mind up what to do, but in the meanwhile am trying to make some vague sense out of what is here! The ree bike is now complete,save a chain guard, although only loosely assembled.frame is lovely, but the plastics aren't and the tank (which I had laying around) whilst good and solid isn't the best finished.. I've put this at the back as this one may stay for riding and subsequent conversion, or may go to fund yet another... the indicators are also plastic and curse word. I have however bought it a seat! The bike with the primer tank is complete save chain guard and exhausts, thought the mudguards are metal they aren't the best.. shame as the rest of the bike is lovely! Going to go for a black tan I think, and had some nice original panels laying around. It was missing indicators but have found a good set from a CM which arrived today. Btih this and the red one have no centre stands oddly, I imagine they didn't survive the blasting if the frames! Black bike is perfect for an engine swap though... or a cafe racer. It's mostly there, and I have a 6v 200 engine.., it still, the 250 swap may still be on after all just with ARY! Whilst I don't much like my job, when I work from home I'm I'm he garage, so occasional tinkering can be done! I think space needs organising though, and some bike works cracked on with!
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Anyhow, the Benly situation in my garage has developed somewhat... NNR isn't sure what to make of it all! Long story short, I'm very superstitious and the dead butterflies rather wigged me out. S9 I got talking to a chap with a local bike garage, and he wanted the challenge of getting the above bike going as it was. Given that every bolt I tried to undo, be it exhaust header or otherwise had snapped Ilet hi, take it. So I went onto ebay and saw two incomplete CD200s for sale, looked good so one the pair. Decidedly more than 250 quid mind you! Another issue being they were up in Burton on Trent. Anyway, hired a van and was on my way up there when I spoke to a chap selling a seat, who also turned out to be I'm Burton on trent! Agreed to buy the seat, and off I went. Got the first to fro, a great chap with a agargage or 3 full of triumphs, the frames have been blasted and power coated, forks rebuilt and then6v bike is already converted to 12v! Result. Then went off to get the seat, and the guy had a full rolling frame of another 185 left, so I had to take that too... We I have ended up with 3, and a new plan! I am going to restore one of the frames, probably the X reg one, as nicely as possible and look to rehome it, and make something out of the rolling frame, as I have a couple of spare 200 engines. Then the one that is left inam going to get up and running, and probably use for a bit, then look to convert that into the 250! That's the current plan anyway, next change of pans I'm sure will happen soon! In the meanwhile, I'm going to take NNR out for a ride and fot new tyres, so her nose doesn't get out out of joint! Lots of parts to sort through and organise as well
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Ahhh fond memories of my 200 Benly - bought from a random man in a pub after a Friday night conversation about the RD200 I had parked outside (micron exhausts, K&N od filters and some mild porting to the barrels as well as a very aggressive skim to the heads) that I was running at the time (I'd written of my 550 four hitting a car that was driving on the wrong side of a dual carriageway at night with no lights on so the RD200 was cheap and available and solved a lack of transport issue) but it liked a drink for my weekly commute from Norfolk to Kent although it would happily cruise at 70 plus It was under a tarp in the garden - clearly been there a while and had no MOT or Tax - surprisingly low miles had less than 10,000 miles on it - a bit of fresh fuel, a new battery and a top up of oil and she fired into life - tyres were flat but when inflated held air (cracked all over) local bike shop had a pair of correct size Avon roadrunners so they got fitted. Went straight thro the MOT the following day and having a Norwich Union Rider policy I taxed it at the Post office on the Sat Afternoon The lights were terrible being a 6 volt system - but the economy was a huge improvement on the thirsty RD200 although it was happy at 55mph and not so happy above that. I'm sure I've got some old photos of it somewhere It was not long after learners were restricted to 125's rather than 250's so the bottom fell out of the market for anything between 150 and 250cc's and you could pick all manner of bikes in that range for buttons because lots of people who had been riding for ages on provisional care of a full car licence suddenly couldn't use them any more. They languished in shed and gardens for months till the MOT's ran out and then the owners (without a licence to take it for an MOT) they became almost worthless. Yamaha RD200/250's, X5's (not the BMW SUV's but Suzuki 200 twin) Suzuki X7's, Honda XL185/250 CD185/200, CB200, CJ250T, CB250 dreams and superdreams Kawasaki KH 175, 250 and all the KE185/250 it was a fantastic time for picking up cheap bikes for buttons - none of them would set the world on fire with their performance I was picking these bikes with no MOT out of gardens and shed for peanuts - the owners (or their wives) just wanted them out of the way. I was giving them a light refresh, running them for a few months often till I found another that I could prep for use and then sticking them in MCN classified or the local small ads and making a few quid for very little effort as they all made perfect spring/autumn & winter bikes. Sounds like he good old days! Alas I am a bit young for then, but until recently these weren't to bad. When I wanted to improve the 200 (chromework...) I remember buying a job lot of 3 bikes, 1 co plate 2 nearly, for 250 quid just for the fuel tank cap off of one. I'm not very good at breaking bikes though so ended up flipping the donors! I also know what you mean re the 6v lights... a glowworm in an opaque jam jar.. my 200 originally was a 6v but I converted it to 12v, much better!
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underneath the surface rust the frame in picture doesn't look too bad, the seat base is bringing back memories I'd rather forget The picture below is a CB two fifty I ran for a while, built out of the best bits from two bikes abandoned in an epically overgrown garden, I used a petrol strimer to cut down the brambles to get them out upload online pictureI went through a phase of painting all my bikes orange, you'd think it would make you more visible except for the time someone pulled out on me in a real oh curse word I'm going to hit it situation, after we had all slithered to a stop I found my self alongside the offending vehicle ideally positioned for me to stick my head through the open window and shout at the top my voice 'its bright f ing orange, how the f did you miss this' Yeah the seat base reminds me of old fences on farmland, sharp and rotten! That 250 looks pretty decent, gotta love having to do gardening to get a bike out! Orange paint, I like the thinking. All ,one are usually red and black oddly. Wonders never cease on what people don't see, I swear I get car drivers pull out more information of any large van I drive than my old fiesta. Sounds like you had a lucky, but well choreographed stop there though!
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Jan 27, 2023 16:13:07 GMT
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Whilst I find it hard to comprehend that a T595 isn't still a new bike, it's one heck of a rapid bike to have any bodges like that! Crikey, good job you got to it. Alas not had any real time on this at the moment, plus budget constraints (had to buy the 200 new tyres!) But i have obtained a new tank, which is due to arrive soon. Removed the seat, some leaves and two dead butterflies... I plan to begin the strip down soon, got a box for the useful left overs which I fear may be too big!
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Last Edit: Jan 27, 2023 21:03:30 GMT by s1105117
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Jan 27, 2023 15:26:46 GMT
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Bit of tinkering done on the old girl to try and eradicate a few foibles, bitmore to do but it's cold and I'm a wimp 😋 Replaced aux belt, which was old and holding like a banshee, and glued the seat fabric back down on the drivers seat with spray adhesive (managed to remember not to sit on it straight away 😆), not sure the clampshall seats are the best design... next on the list is to replace the thermostat, as the air only gets lukewarm, and the thermostat sensor as the temp gauge barely moves and the fan doesn't come on. Whilst the engine has the power of a harnessed toddler, I do like how easy it is to get to stuff! However do need to get to the bottom of an occasional cold start issue... as despite being a (barely) fuel injection car, she's acting like sjes got a blocked carb! Starts up fine, and will drive for maybe 100 yards then either cuts out, as if no fuel getting through, or just chugs at barely idle if foot planted. If it cuts out fires right back up (if I plant my foot). Either way after a bit of barely idling the revs increase til it clears it's throat and away we go! Happened maybe 5 times, only from cold start and it's getting more regular in it's happening... both warm and cold days. Majority of the time she's fine mind! On my list of potentially guilty parties are the fuel pump and the fuel pump relay... I've been pointed in the direction of a coolant temp sensor, if I can find that! So shall see, tinkering abound!
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Last Edit: Jan 28, 2023 12:28:44 GMT by s1105117
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Jan 14, 2023 13:06:30 GMT
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Sounds like a plan! Classic motorcycle show at Shepton the day before. Sounds like a good weekend
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Jan 11, 2023 23:36:47 GMT
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As I've mentioned it so much, photo of my beloved 200 Benly for good measure
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Jan 11, 2023 23:33:31 GMT
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I think I read this over Christmas but forgot about it because of brain damage from Covid. This is so amazingly battered. Would look great if you could just re-spoke the wheels, set of grips and keep the rest looking exactly like it is. I know what you mean, more battered than the menu at a Scottish restaurant 😆 (almost my entire family is Scottish, would get a thick ear for that joke!) I love patina but alas this is just that bit too far gone. I am planning on keeping the fork shrouds/ trims as is, and the side panels if I can save them. Tank is way too far gone though sadly, it's like it's made of paper.
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Last Edit: Jan 15, 2023 16:06:53 GMT by s1105117
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Jan 11, 2023 23:29:41 GMT
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Hi, I've had loads of Honda small twins 'back in the day' and while I don't claim to be an expert I have had a lot of experience in these things. The frames on all these Honda twins tend to resist rot quite well but on this one it will obviously need a full strip down to assess, one common rot spot is the underside of the swingarm, often the flat steel brace between the arms rots through and lets water in, sometimes they can just be plated if found in time but if not can result in some spectacular corrosion resulting in needing the swing arm replacing. You will probably struggle to find a non rotten seat base these days so removing the foam and welding is probably your only course of action Personally I wouldn't even try to do anything with your existing tank just replace it I will almost guarantee the forks will need a full rebuild most probably involving replacement stanchions. Re engine swaps, all the little Honda twins of this design (ie cb12t/cd125/125superdream/cm125/cd and cd185/cd and cm200/cd250/cmx250/cb two fifty) are to the best of my recollection bolt in interchangeable. On the 250 bikes some were fitted with twin carbs some with single, however on a bike designed for a single carb like yours the twin carb from other models wont fit through the rear frame loop. You can rejet your original carb to suit or use the manifold and carb from a 250 with single carb - the manifolds interchange just not all fit the frame. The 250 engines are all cdi ignition, yours may be points or cdi, the cdi's all interchange (again to the best of recollection) with the same advance curves - the only one which is slightly different are the ones from the 125 superdream which allow you to rev to 12000 rpm - although this isn't a good idea. Preety impressive knowledge there! Your right 're seat for sure, I have found a better one though so pleased there. They seem to fetch astronomical prices, or thruppense with no reason forbthe difference. Tank is definitely fit only for the bin, I can depress the top with my thumb and hear the rust falling off inside! Forks don't actually seem too bad which I'm surprised about, I suspect the trim must have helped preserve them. Will no doubt rebuild anyway, and annoyingly don't have any spares. Frustrating how many bits I've basically given away! Spot omnre the main rot spot, it seems ok buy I haven't been probing in-depth yet. I do have a spare swinging arm but would rather hang onto it for reserve so fingers crossed. I've had a few rot out at the centre stand itself, but again seems ok.... he says crossing fingers! The only engine I've put in one of these is the 125cc from the CM, which was so similar to he near enough identical. I agree carbs will be fun, I do know you can get twin carbs in as I've seen it done, but don't know the extent of the mods the person did. In an ideal world it will use the set up from the 250u but I think a nighthawk might be more readily available, and as you say can always then swap carbs later. I'm not a great fan of points (hense my efforts on swappingbthebignition over on my 200, thread still to update... 🤦♂️) but mostly due to my own lack of familiarity. Plenty of work to do thats for sure!
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Jan 11, 2023 23:18:06 GMT
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Great little bike are the benlys bomb proof engines .. Bought this with the engine locked up managed to get it up and running and now covered thousands of miles on it . That they certainly are, awesome little bikes. The engine in my 200 is from a field bike and is somewhere around 45k mileage wise. That's a nice example, not seen the seat arrangement before! Nice work freeing it up and getting it going, younij the Benly FB group?
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Dec 24, 2022 17:44:40 GMT
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I think the blog is still good PP, even try and read the ones abput cars i don't like! vlogs are hard work, I tried and was wholly rubbish. I guess they're popular tho and I will admit to enjoying watching them
Know what you mean 're mojo, my brian is wired a bit poorly so sometimes lose all drive. Good this Lexus is giving some mojo fuel, and on which basis I shall keep my opinion of it to myself!
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Dec 14, 2022 20:22:24 GMT
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Sorting the various details for the V5c, bike appears to have been off the road since 1989, so has been parked unoretty much as long as I've been alive!
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Dec 14, 2022 20:20:57 GMT
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I’d pull the plugs & chuck some diesel or similar down the bores as a starting point, if you’re gonna leave it a while. It can be doing it’s thing then Yep certainly. I'm away for Christmas so will be putting some deisel to see if it frees off. It's obviously not too much of a concerns as I won't be using he engine, and have had a few parts requests in the club, but would be handy to be able to get rid of the engine without having to call the scrap man! Was hoping to offset some costs, selling parts etc but that's not really viable.
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Last Edit: Dec 15, 2022 9:19:03 GMT by s1105117
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Dec 14, 2022 16:21:44 GMT
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I've bought some scrap! Now I love the Honda CD200 Benly, my first resto was one. i still have that bike, adore her and will never part with her (thread on here, which i forgot to update as I went along and really need to actually backdate). Thing is, whilst she is oily rag I don't actually want to ruin her by riding her every day in the meh weather/salt etc. Also, in truth the way people drive on the commute really isn't conducive to a safe ride for the little bike with a top speed, after much encouragement, of 67mph. So I've had commuter bikes, but never really bonded with them and ultimately, alas due to standard financial issues, i had to sell them anyway. Now however finances have vaguely un-wobbled (emphasis sadly on the vaguely), and as these frozen eves creep in (and I commute in the fiesta!) I've been thinking of what bike I would like to accompany the Benly in the garage. In my tinkering I was briefly the custodian of a CD250u, a reasonably modern twin carb bike good for around 90mph. Didn't keep it as didn't need it, but always thought the engine could be handy, and They look quite Benly-ish. So recently i thought, why not put the engine, electrics etc off of a 250u or similar into a Benly? Then, of an evening perusing the most dangerous bay of all, I spotted this: Now if it looks bad in the pictures it's worse in reality. Seat is rotten, tank is rotten (and dented) engine is seized, brakes are seized, all the cables are seized, everything has surface corrosion. However, the wheels are ok, the forks are ok, and the frame is ok! (Further probing will occur...) some one evening this week, placed the winning (and far too high) bid on eBay, then traversed down to darkest Dorset to collect it! In the dark. Had a very fun our or so looking around the sellers barns, full of classic cars, trucks and ephemera, then brought it home! It's probably the most knackered bike I've ever seen, bit I think it's perfect for a strip down and conversion to 250cc! Tucked away for now whilst I sort the garage out, but the strip down will commence soon!
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Last Edit: Mar 8, 2023 17:10:44 GMT by s1105117
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I thought it was the idle control valve, but apparently it's been cleaned... I might just chamge it Does it hunt for an idle or just die slowly? It dies slowly, although is would argue it hunts a bit in the way out if that makes sense. I thought it was an air leak initially, but lots of sensors on what to my mind is a modern car!
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