Couple of things, automatic chokes and rusty fuel tanks

[gmanxiii]

Hey guys, I don't know if anyone can help here. I've just bought a Honda ND50 Melody Deluxe and a Honda NC50 Express with the view to use them in the Moped Madness event some members from the forum have just participated in. They both kind of run but only with a bit of fettling of the automatic choke (requires pulling the vacuum pipe off it and playing about with it, blocking it up etc). Im just wondering if anyone had any experience of how they work and if at all they are repairable/salvageable. Im guessing because they are vacuum operated they should be fairly simple in operation.

The second thing is the Tank on the NS50 is just full of rust and replacement tanks seem to be pretty scarce for them. Has anyone had any experience with salvaging rusty tanks? How would be the best way to do it? The tank is also missing the fuel tap, which seem to again be unavailable anywhere, is there such a thing maybe as a Universal fuel tap I could bodge/get welded onto the tank?

Thanks.

G.
____________________
I kills hondas

VFR400NC30 > ZZR600 > CBR600FX > CBR1000rr

[Robby]

If there is a way to disable/disconnect the auto choke then do that. It will only be used for 2 minutes on the day, and you can just sit revving it instead. Less to go wrong is better. Be sure to get the carb off and give it a really good clean, seeing as the tank is rusty.

Now a rusty tank is a horrible thing, I've tried lots and lots of things to (cheaply) fix the problem, and they haven't worked.

Here are a few methods. You can try a conbination of them.
1. Put a handful of nuts in the tank, threaded onto a string if the tank neck protudes in and makes getting them out hard. Fuel cap on, shake the tank until your arms hurt, rest, shake it some more. This should scrape all the rust off the inside, in reality I never have much luck with it.

2. Electrolysis. I did an electrolysis howto in the sticky at the top of this forum. I didn't have much luck with doing it to a fuel tank - filling the tank with electrolyte and poking the sacrificial electrode in the top.

3. Petseal or POR15. This is the way to do it properly, not that cheap though. I fitted one of my other (good) fuel tanks instead.


You should be able to fit a fuel tap from another model. Post the thread size on here and someone will know. A C90 one will probably fit.

Concentrate on getting one of them running well, and using the other one for parts. If the engines are the same. Being 2-stroke isn't so great for moped madness, at the last event a lot of 2 strokes died. The C90s just kept on going, with the occasional application of a hammer.

[gmanxiii]

Cheers Robby, I'll see if i can bypass the autochoke. Yeah i was a little concerned whether a two stroke would survive and was hoping to get a c90. But practically all are just too nice to rip apart for this and I'd just want to restore it/keep it shiny. Seems there isn't many "field" ones about.
____________________
I kills hondas

VFR400NC30 > ZZR600 > CBR600FX > CBR1000rr

[Robby]

This is true, many of the "field" ones have been snapped up for moped mayhem.

Seeing as you're sticking with 2t, keep it standard. If the engines are the same, take the engine out of the one you won't be using so it's ready to be slotted into the good bike.

The NC50 looks like a better bike to use for the job, a little more ground clearance, tougher (for crashing) and simple. Tall narrow wheels are preferable too.

The next event is at Benson, and it's all tarmac, so don't go buying tyres unless the existing ones are totally knackered. You don't need good tyres on hot tarmac at sub-30mph. The Benson one also appears to be "non-competitive", so good for a shakedown and fancy dress. Make sure you have a team, 30 minutes is the longest you really want to be on track at a time.

[gmanxiii]

Thanks again.

I was originally going to use the Melody and david silvers has managed to find me an autochoke but i think you're right that the NC50 will be better as it appears to be simpler. Unfortunately they run different engines but im thinking that I might just get these two running properly then flog them and keep on the lookout for a c90.
____________________
I kills hondas

VFR400NC30 > ZZR600 > CBR600FX > CBR1000rr