CL175 - first build

iamjjr3

iamjjr3

Active Member
Hey everyone -
I've been following this forum for a few months now and recently found a project.
Here it is when I first bought it. Looks pretty cool, but was really dirty and needed a facelift.
photo-1.jpg



So I took it all apart and found that the forks are pretty bad. Does anyone know of a set up that would work for this from
another bike? I have no idea what to do!
Also the races are stuck in the top and bottom where that red arrow is. Tried pounding it out with a pipe and solvent
but nothing. I'll keep trying.
photo.jpg


This is my first time building a motorcycle. I am pretty lost on where to get things. You guys do such amazing work!
CL175 parts seem hard to come by since its smaller.
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

iamjjr3 said:
Hey everyone -
I've been following this forum for a few months now and recently found a project.
Here it is when I first bought it. Looks pretty cool, but was really dirty and needed a facelift.
photo-1.jpg
Click to expand...


if that is dirty, man i would like to see your version of clean.

other versions of the cl, is the cb,and the enduro sl (that bike is a blast.)
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

Ya, depending on the top clamp and the diameter of the forks. Later model 31mm forks have a pair of pinch mounts on top - the early model tubes use the top bolt to hold it to the clamp.

Basically, if you have a CB200 top clamp, you can get a disc brake front end. Coincidentally, i have a complete front end for sale in my signature.......
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

Thats actually pretty clean start, you're halfway there. Those forks are done, won't pass safety by the looks of them . What to use not? to sure my self.

As for the bearing races by the looks of the forks, they probably are rusted in there. I would heat them red hot then quench them with water. I've found that this will break the seal the rust has created. Then tap from underneath and behind for the top race and from the top and above for the bottom race.

Hope that helps

Jay
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

I really like the look of it. Should be an awesome bike with a little work!
Setup from another bike: cb200 should work indeed, they're basically the same bikes plus you can go with the "disk" brake!
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

Thanks for your quick responses! I PMd you Big Rich. I'd love to buy that front end!

The bike looked awesome but it was rattle can painted so when i took the carbs
off the gas ate all the paint on the engine. Everything deep in the bike was pretty
gross. Kinda like a painting over a disaster waiting to happen.

Engine gonna be cleaned and tuned, new seat, new front tire same size as the back,
wanna chop off the end of the frame and make a U or whatever and have the seat
fit that, LED front light, new rearsets, front end :) .. whatever. It'll come together.

I'm real glad everyone is helpful here though. We all start somewhere!
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

no prob, glad i can help. Check out my thread in the selling section - I would be glad to get rid of any other parts. Clip ons? Got em. CB200 tank? Got that too.
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

Whereabouts on the forks is the corrosion? If it's not in the area that passes the seals, just wire wheel the rust off and they'll be OK.

And the bearing races can take a bit of persuasion to get moving - you need a bigger hammer. Seriously - they just need a harder hit ;)
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

very nice bike, hope Big Rich get's you rolling here soon. Thse pipes on your CL look great. plase post more photos.
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

The rust was covering random spots.. mainly was where the clamp covered but further down too. I didn't want to mess with it. Big Rich is selling me a cb200 front end with disc brakes and all. I think that'll make it look much more modern. I'm really excited about that!

I'll be posting more. Gonna get a bigger hammer and a torch to crack that rust. :) Cleaning and painting the engine this week.

Do you guys know what kind of after market ignition coil would work for this? I may try to salvage my
stock one but I dunno.
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

No problem on the front end. I actually started tearing it apart this morning / last night.

The absolute best is a Dyna......DC2-1 I think? Give Les Barker a call. One of the nicest guys around.
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

been doing a lot of cleaning over the last week or so. i took pictures of the process but it was all so messy looking and pointless that i just have a picture of some of the painted engine parts. going with flat black for the motor. yes those bolts are nasty looking but ill clean them up when i get it all back together!
photo-2-1.jpg


i cut off the back of the frame.. going to weld a U brace in the next week i hope.
photo-1-1.jpg

photo-2.jpg


i've been looking for a few things and am having a lot of trouble.
i need to find bushings for the swingarm if possible... can't find any on ebay or
anywhere else. you guys know of anywhere?
photo-3-1.jpg


progress..
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

Somebody else was looking for that bushing before as well. I think it was Curbcast? Or maybe Rafenonomen?

Whoever it was, they started a thread about it in the 1800 cafe help section and got a lead on it. Try searching for it first - Teazer may have an answer too though.
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

So I took the motor in to a local shop to have them work on it and clean up the insides and all and put it back together.
- Reason for this is 1. because I wouldn't know what I was doing. and 2. I am getting married in a few months and
travel 2 weeks a month for work so time is something I don't have any of.

They said that the valves need to be fixed.. new cam chain, new piston rings, need to send in the head to have it
redone or something.. and then a lot of other stuff I can't remember.
he said parts were about $300 and the head was going to cost around $200.. plus labor
and I was looking at about $900 for a mostly rebuilt motor.

OUCH. Not what I was expecting when I took it in there to have gaskets replaced.

So I am wondering.. When I get it back, instead of bringing it back to them to help me get it running properly,
is there any way I can get some help from you guys? To get the carbs tuned and get things going smoothly?

I have rebuilt the top half of a Plymouth motor but for some reason, this is seeming much more difficult to me!
I'm no mechanic.
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

Get the motor back! There's nothing in there that can't be done yourself (aside from a little boring of the cylinders). The valves may just need adjusted, piston rings can be found on ebay pretty cheap, Les Barker has racing cam chains.

Speaking of Les, here's his site: http://stores.ebay.com/LESVintage-Advantage__W0QQ_sidZ147289658QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em14?_pgn=1

Don't hesitate to call him - he will actually give you a better price than if you bought something on his ebay store.
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

ah okay, I'm going in later today. I'll see what they have on their list that is wrong with it.
I bought my steering bearings from Les too! I'll take a look around.

Thanks Rich!
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

iamjjr3 said:
They said that the valves need to be fixed.. new cam chain, new piston rings, need to send in the head to have it
redone or something.. and then a lot of other stuff I can't remember.
he said parts were about $300 and the head was going to cost around $200.. plus labor
and I was looking at about $900 for a mostly rebuilt motor.
Click to expand...

For that money I'd want a blue printed 100% reconditioned plug and play engine.
period.
I'd shop around. And for that money I'd expect it to be attended to, not strung out either.
Make sure you are not getting suckered as a soft touch. :-\
 
Re: CL175 - first time noob!

CB200 forks are the way to go and if they are late enough, the damping will be much better and could be upgraded with Race-tech emulators.

Just don't tell all teh guys with 175's and 160's . Ssshhh!
 
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