Okay, let me tell you about this old bike I’ve been wrenching on. Found this 1978 Honda, been sitting forever it looked like. Wasn’t sure what I was getting into, but hey, needed a project.
Getting Started – The Cleanup
First thing, had to drag it into the garage. It was covered in dust, cobwebs, you name it. Spent a good chunk of a Saturday just washing it down. Used a ton of degreaser, especially around the engine and chain. Lots of scrubbing. Underneath all that grime, well, there was some rust, more than I hoped, but not a total disaster. The frame seemed solid enough, which was the main thing.
Engine and Carburetor Woes
Next up, I wanted to see if the engine would even turn over. Pulled the plugs, put a bit of oil in the cylinders, let it sit. Turned it over by hand first, felt okay, no horrible noises. Compression felt a bit weak, but maybe usable.
The real fun started with the carburetors. Pulled them off, and man, they were nasty. Varnish and gunk everywhere. Took ’em completely apart. Every little jet, needle, float. It was a mess.
- Soaked everything in carb cleaner for what felt like ages.
- Scrubbed the tiny passages with wire and brushes.
- Got a rebuild kit – new gaskets, o-rings, maybe some jets.
- Put it all back together carefully. This part always makes me nervous.
Getting them back on the bike and connected up was another wrestling match. Those rubber boots were hard as rocks.
Fuel and Spark
Checked the gas tank next. Looked inside with a flashlight… yep, rust. Had to deal with that before putting fresh gas in. Poured in some rust remover, sloshed it around, rinsed it out good. Then used a tank sealer kit. Messy stuff, but better than rust flakes clogging up those clean carbs.
Moved onto the electrics. The battery was obviously dead as a doornail. Got a new one. Checked the wiring harness. Found a few frayed wires, probably mice damage. Patched those up with solder and heat shrink. Cleaned up some corroded connectors too. Tested the basics – headlight, taillight, signals. Some worked, some flickered, some did nothing. Typical old bike stuff. At least I got spark at the plugs after cleaning the points, think it had points, or maybe just cleaned the connections.
Brakes, Oil, and First Fire-Up
Couldn’t forget the brakes. The front brake lever felt mushy, so I bled the line. Got some nasty old fluid out. The rear brake pedal was stiff, probably the cable or pivot point. Lubed everything up, seemed better. Checked the pads and shoes, still had some life left, surprisingly.
Drained the oil. Looked like black tar. Put in a new filter and fresh oil. Basic stuff, but important.
Alright, moment of truth. Put some fresh gas in the tank. Turned the key, hit the starter button. It cranked… and cranked. Choke on, choke off. Gave it a little throttle. More cranking. Then, a sputter! A cough! And then… it actually started! Ran rough as guts, popping and missing, but it was running. Felt pretty good, I gotta say.
What’s Next
Spent some time fiddling with the idle screw and the air/fuel mix screws on the carbs, trying to get it to idle somewhat smoothly. It’s better, but still needs a proper synchronization. Took it for a very short ride up and down the driveway. Everything felt a bit loose and shaky, but it moved under its own power.
So yeah, it runs now. Still a long way to go. Need to sort out the rest of the electrics, properly tune the carbs, probably check the valve clearances, maybe replace the tires. And then decide how much cosmetic work I want to tackle. But for now, getting that old engine breathing again feels like a solid win.
