Okay, folks, let’s dive into my little project with the Elsinore Honda 125. I’ve always been a hands-on kind of guy, and vintage bikes? They just have a certain charm.
So, I started by, well, finding one. It wasn’t pretty. This Elsinore had been sitting in a barn, probably for decades. Covered in dust, rust, you name it. The first step was a good, thorough cleaning. I mean, I hosed it down, scrubbed it with soapy water, and really got into every nook and cranny. You wouldn’t believe the gunk that came off!
Tear Down Time
Next up, the tear-down. I took the whole thing apart. Engine, wheels, forks, everything. I laid it all out on my workbench, like a giant, greasy jigsaw puzzle. This is where things got interesting. Some parts were surprisingly good, others… not so much.
- The piston was stuck, like really stuck. Took me a good hour of wiggling and tapping with a rubber mallet to finally free it.
- The carburetor was a mess. Full of old, varnished gasoline. I soaked it in carb cleaner overnight, and it looked almost new the next day.
- The gas value get stuck,I soaking it and tapping.
- The tires were completely shot, dry-rotted and cracked. Definitely needed replacing.
- The seat was ripped and torn, the foam was crumbling. Another thing on the “to-replace” list.
Putting It Back Together
Once everything was clean and I’d sourced some replacement parts (which took a while, let me tell you!), it was time for reassembly. I started with the engine, carefully putting the piston back in, installing new rings, and bolting everything back together. It’s slow work, but so satisfying when you see it all coming together.
Then came the wheels. I replaced the old tires with some new ones, and cleaned up the rims as best I could. I even managed to get most of the rust off! The forks were next, and thankfully they were in decent shape. Just needed some fresh oil and seals.
Finally, I reinstalled the engine, hooked up the carburetor and exhaust, and added some fresh gas. The moment of truth…
First Start!
I kicked it over… and it sputtered! A few more kicks, and it roared to life! Okay, “roared” might be a strong word, it was more of a gentle purr, but still! After all that work, hearing that little engine run was music to my ears. I took it for a short spin around the block, and it felt great. There’s still some fine-tuning to do, but for now, I’m calling it a win. It’s amazing what a little elbow grease and patience can achieve!
