Honda Trail 90
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1969
Trail 90-K1b
I recently picked this up. It is a CT90-1Kb with 3100 miles. I think this will be fun riding around the back areas. It should also be good experience for my son, Chris.
It is actually fairly complete. The handful of parts that are particular to this year only are in good shape. The compression was low. After cleaning out the tank and carburetor it started with a bit of difficulty. The compression is up now but it smokes like a 2-stroke. It is also slowly draining the oil out at the base of the cylinder.
For now an engine and carburetor rebuild is planed. Also a few other parts needed. New boots for the forks, air filter, battery and battery cover should get it going. My son and I will ride it like that for a while. After I get the CZ Enduro running I plan to take this apart for a more complete restoration.
Update
Early September,03
The engine is now apart and cleaned. It was making 100 pounds on a compression test and smoking when running. I found the top ring broken in two places. The cylinder was not scarred and the clearance is good so it wont be bored. The thing actually was pretty clean inside. The outside sure was a mess. Looked like it had been leaking oil for years.
I found the clutch to be an intriguing design. It was opened up for cleaning. I ended up staring at the parts for quite a while before I finally figured out how it works. Centrifugal engagement, shifting disengages it and one way operation for push starting....an amazing design! Now I just need to save up some in the project piggy bank and get parts on the way.
Update
Early November,03
It Lives!
The engine and carburetor went back together easy enough. New boots on the front suspension, air cleaner, battery cover and a little more cleaning and its looking good, weathered but good.
I can't say enough about Beatrice Cycle (see links). Dealing with them for parts was quick and easy. I ordered two groups of parts, both on a weekend. In both cases I had them in my hands before the next weekend. This was with using standard shipping. The do have faster services available! Nothing was backordered. I would recommend Jack & Claudia at Beatrice to anyone working on a little one lung Honda.
It started with a little difficulty. At times it would run and the next moment it wouldn't. When it did run it wouldn't take much throttle. Sometimes the spark would disappear. I would check things; wiggle things and stair at it and than spark would come back…for a short time. I was still using the spark plug that came with the bike, it seemed clean enough. I finally found it was broken just inside the metal shell. A new plug and its starting on the first kick every time.
The remains of the headlight and taillight have been removed and stored away. Most of the headlight will need to be replaced if I do a restoration later. For that matter almost all of the lighting system will need to be collected to complete the bike. For now it's fine for the trail.
Update
Early December, 05
There has been a little delay but its finally complete. Chris wanted to ride it on the street. We took it apart for a clean and paint. Finally collected the remainder of the lighting parts.
Instead of collecting the correct 1969 headlight parts we used the later, larger unit. I have a early 70's parts bike so it was cheaper and I hope the larger headlight will work better. Once it was decided that it wouldn't stay original time to try something different. I still had some red and white paint left over from the CZ. It was all down hill from then.
Here its all ready to go terrorize the old ladies
Step through or step aside*
*Borrowed from www.postiebikes.com
Check out the racing Posties.
Enough messing around. The bike is now painted the correct shade of yellow. I was going to sell it, something has to go. There is too many bikes around now. I like this too much now. It looks like the ATC110 will be going and this gets the parking space in the shop next to the CZ.
Links
Trail 90 and ATC Parts
Trail 90 History