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Intro - Rich from Libertyville IL.. close to Chicago. Long time lurker.. had a few bikes.. this is the biggest project.
CA95 restoration.. I just picked this thing up from up in WI and started to mess with it. Cleaned the carbs, put new plugs in, changed oil and slapped a new battery on and she fires right up.. but looks like she might have a bad piston ring on the right side (shoots oil out of a hole in the exhaust).
Looking to start a build thread... on my first top end rebuild. would LOVE some assistance and advice from those that have done it before. Dropping engine tomorrow night (hopefully).
Welcome! As it happens I'm in the middle of a CA95 (C95 in Canada) full on restoration, that is going REALLY slowly.
I did a full engine tear-down and am just putting it back together. Had my red parts painted white and am assembling the bike as well - all in my home office on the 2nd floor of my house
Bike looks pretty good - the front turn signals are not original. The US version of the bike didn't have any signals, so ditch them. Lots of 'new' parts available from Thailand, some of which are actually pretty decent.
Now, oil out of the exhaust could be a worn valve guide too. Do a compression test before you assume anything, but doing a top end rebuild isn't a bad idea. The head on these bikes is a little odd, with a tiny camshaft and awkward cam chain arrangement.
I have the full set of manuals in PDF that I'll upload and post a link to. If I forget just shoot me a message.
Nice. It's an early one too. There are a few differences between the 63 and earlier and the post 63. The gas tank and the aluminum braces on the rear are the biggest.
Your front fender has been cut. It took me a few years to find one for my project that hadn't been cut and wasn't too badly damaged. I haven't started working on mine besides tearing the top end down, but I've done a bit of research and have most of the parts I'll need.
I guess I am just looking for a list of things to replace while I am in there. Gaskets, valve guides, rings.. etc. Probably a tensioner for the cam chain? anything I am missing?
Ok.. am I doing something wrong here? I picked up a basic compression tester.. and one side measures 60 (after furious amounts of kick starting) and the other side measured 35 (with less furious due to me exhausting myself).. yet she still runs... service manual says 120 psi.... I had the throttle open when testing as well.. Any ideas from anyone?
Any different if you pour some oil down the plug holes?
How many miles does it have?
I generally don't replace anything unless it actually needs it. If everything is within spec, I just clean it up and button everything back up with new gaskets and seals.
This is the current state of mine. My wife likes it so much it's likely going to live in my living room (no space in the garage anyhow - have 3 motorcycles, a scooter and my car in the 12x20 'one car' garage along with bicycles etc.).
If you're looking to sell it, invest some time in cleaning it up, waxing the paint, and learning a bit more about the 'earlier' model you have, which might draw a bit more interest than the later years. Are the mufflers in good shape? Originals in nice condition are hard to find. Does it have both chain covers? (the entire chain is enclosed, top and bottom - the bottom cover often collected moisture and rotted out)
All parts are here. the chain cover is complete.. I think I am just missing a bolt for the engine mount... the problem is convincing the wife to let me keep it. :-D
Did you get your side covers rechromed or did you buy NOS?
All parts are here. the chain cover is complete.. I think I am just missing a bolt for the engine mount... the problem is convincing the wife to let me keep it. :-D
Did you get your side covers rechromed or did you buy NOS?
Or disassemble it really quick, then it's harder to sell.
Those look NOS with the old sticker on them. You're going to have a much harder time finding good tank chrome for the 63 and will probably have to have them rechromed. I got a lot of my CA95 parts from www.ohiocycle.com. They had a lot of NOS stuff too when I was looking several years ago.
ok.. Thats brilliant. It sounds like a great plan.. ill just drop a wheel for starters and then tell her I have to polish it first.
Ohiocycle does have a lot of stuff.. its just a pain to fill out an order form and mail it in with a check/money order... be part of the internet damn it! Once I dig into the engine I am sure I will be ordering the gasket set and (hopefully not) piston rings from there.
Got around to dropping the engine tonight. Starting dismantling.. everything gets its own labeled baggie for putting back together later.
at the point where I disconnect the cam and split the cam chain... little nervous about it.. I assume I line up the registration mark with the crank shaft.. just cant find it.. was hoping I could do this without taking off the points.
Just get to the point where you can get to the removable link. When you put it back together, you'll be able to fine the correct locations based on the service manual.
Remove the left side cover (leave the point in the cover), and alternator. Remove the bolts holding the cam sprocket. Remove the head nuts and the top will lift off. I may have a parts list here somewhere but I don't think I have a shop manual for you to borrow.
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