Honda CB250K something - very very long term project...

[pdg]

Part 1.

Will it run?

https://i.imgur.com/1GA2FHp.jpeg

Might need a bit of redex.

That beautiful hunk of scrap formerly identified as a 1970-'72 CB250 engine.

It was actually worse than that, I'd already 'cleaned' some of it before I thought to take a pic.

Unfortunately for it, I'm sometimes a twat and I left it out in the rain for approximately one decade, give or take 0.2 decades or so. In my defence (not that I deserve it) it really wasn't that much better beforehand.

I did however have the foresight to put the head, rocker box and other associated gubbins in a box in the shed, so they've got nothing more than patchy surface rust in a few places. Pretty sure I even have a camshaft somewhere too.

I got the block off after draining a few litres of water out of the cases and that's as far as I've got...

I also have the bottom end and gearbox of a slightly later one, it was sat outside next to this one. It's even less complete, but some internals may or may not be interchangeable.


So yeah, I have no idea when or even if any progress will be made, but I thought I'd bung it in here anyway - it might be fun to see what happens.
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Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[stinkwheel]

I suppose it'll mainly come down to if you have a viable crank and cam. I'd imagine most of the other bits are available out there because they are raced a lot in classic racing on account of them being flying machines.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[WD Forte]

Boat anchor
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bikers smell of wee

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Update the first. This post contains good news and less good news (it's not bad until I say it is).

I popped off the side covers and discovered very little in the way of rust. I proceeded to remove the clutch plates to separate diagnostics of the engine and gearbox.

Less good news, so we can end on a high:

The crank is stuck in the mains , the conrods are stuck on the big ends, the gudgeon pins are however free with little to no play. To be determined is how stuck and why.


Gooder news:

The starter motor turns and the starter clutch appears to operate. I didn't apply power so I don't know if the starter actually works, but it turns by hand.

The kick starter works (on these engines the kick operates on the gearbox side of the clutch).

All gears can be selected and the gearbox turns freely and smoothly in all of them - it was superficially stuck initially but it's likely that was dry greasy oil in the bearings and/or gunk around the clutch basket.



I think splitting the cases is next on the agenda - it'll be way easier and more mechanically sympathetic to assess and hopefully make good the crank that way.



Interim thoughts - I'm not unhappy.
____________________
Any and all advice given should not be followed - if you have to ask it means you don't know so get a man in to do it for you.

[blurredman]

Looking forward to it. I like rags to riches stories on bikes!
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 17k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 9k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 38k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 49k.

[jeremyr62]

By the time that ever runs again, petrol stations will be long distant memories.
But best of luck with it, and rather you than me.

[pdg]