Re: Old bike, new member, new project - PROGRESS!
Unseasonably warm weather today (like September, not Mid-November) so I went out to my dad's place today to give my mom some computer help and do some CL175-fixin.
Installed the exhaust pipes with the repaired cylinder head exhaust port flange on the left pipe.
Popped the tops off the carbs and switched throttle slides - because the bevel side goes TOWARDS the air cleaner if you want it to idle.
Installed the JB-welded float bowl (WHY do these things get holes in them?) on the right side carb.
Installed battery.
Added some gas until both pipes were flowing.
Fired it up - whoo! it idles now! (more or less). And there's no exhaust leak! Coughing blue smoke though.
But wait - only the left side pipe is warm. Only running on one cylinder. WTF. Recheck right side. Compression yes, plug is wet so it's getting gas, and we have spark, but doesn't run on that side. Pull the valve caps off, yes the valves appear to be operating. Hmmm. Put it back together and start it again. Still only runs on left side. What the heck - it runs smooth and idles, at least I have a 90cc bike. Let's ride around the block....
About halfway around - pop..... pop..... BANG. Suddenly it wants to idle at 5000 rpm. Get back home - NOW it's running on both sides. And it's not smoking so hard. Okay, something started working.
So tweak up the carbs till we have about 1500 rpm idle, adjust some brakes, go for a ride. A long around-the-block on 1987 plates... a mile or so of gravel, a quarter mile of highway (pulls hard to 50 mph and sounds sweet) then a mile of city street back to the house. No more blue smoke and it revs strong.
Drain the gas, pull the battery, put it away for winter.
I Have A Motorcycle.
Time to start ordering stuff for spring - tires, new float bowl to replace the JB welded one, and a new seat cover. Then I can ride to work next summer.