Newbie in NE Ohio - XL175

CBJKing

CBJKing

New Member
Hey guys. I've been lurking now for a month or so but never bucked up to register since I didn't have a bike yet. Well, that changed as of last night when my brother dropped off my dad's old 1975 Honda XL175. He's had it since it was brand new and treated it great. I still remember when I was little (ages 4-6) my brothers and I would run out into the garage when we heard him start it up just to watch him drive down the driveway and down the street.

Unfortunately, 1995 was the last time it was registered and I'm pretty sure it hasn't been started since '94. It was not properly prepared to sit for any extended period of time either so needless to say it needs some work. Aside from the sitting, it is in great shape (i.e. cosmetically, and 100% complete) so I"m hoping it won't be that hard to get working again.

The problem is I am a complete newb. I have never ridden a motorcycle before. The closest i've come is a 125cc scooter my wife and I rented on our honeymoon in Costa Rica. So needless to say, I haven't the slightest idea of what I need to do to get it running or where to even start.

So instructions, suggestions, criticism, hazing, and help are all appreciated! My goal is to get it running first, learn how to ride it, and then possibly get started on customizing it. So, Where do I start?
 
I'm unfamiliar with the XL models, so take it with a grain of salt:

Get a factory service manual first and foremost. The wear items should be replaced before attempting to ride it- tires, brakes, oil, any filters, etc.. The entire fuel system will need cleaned to near perfection - gas tank, petcock, and carbs. And the electrical system will need a good clean up as well.
 
Thanks Rich. I should have stated originally that I do have a Clymer for the bike and I am relatively mechanically inclined. My downfall comes from having zero experience or knowledge about bikes in particular but I'm eager to learn! Things like tires and brakes will wait until I can get the engine running.

What do you recommend to clean the fuel system? Gas tank in particular - I've heard of several ways to clean a gas tank including throwing some bolts in with a cleaning solution and shaking it for a while, or some kind of electrolosis. What have you found that works best?
 
That depends how bad it actually is in there. If it's rusted badly with some soft spots, I would just replace the tank. But if it's just some surface rust, the CLR and some nuts and bolts will work fine too.
 
Thanks for the advice Rich. I'll post a couple quick pictures of the bike here tonight just for shits and giggles.
 
Took me a while, but I got pictures of the bike yesterday. Here she is before doing any work to her. She's a little dirty but really in good shape considering the age and that my dad did in fact use her full dual sport functionality.
DSC_0842.jpg


I didn't do much work, just took the seat and tank off to get a better look at how she is doing.

DSC_0840.jpg


I'm working on cleaning the tank now. After that, I will clean up the petcock and then move to the carb. The good news is that the engine will turn over with the kickstarter. I will try to keep this updated.

One question though. Do I need to use anything after cleaning the tank with CLR? I know with certain chemicals you have to use a second liquid to neutralize the cleaning agent. Thanks for any advice on this.
 
Took apart the petcock today and found out why I wasn't getting any gas to flow from the tank. The two tubes that stick up into the tank were completely gone and had rusted over the holes. So, I'm on the hunt for a new petcock assembly. Can I buy a universal one or should I buy one that is specifically for the XL175?
 
If you browse around on eBay, there's a seller that lists all the dimensions for his fuel valves. I've gotten a couple ones from him - no complaints.
 
Perfect first bike!
Both to learn to ride and to wrench. I wish I had another one, that brings back fond memories. You will find that a rolled-up sleeping bag fits perfectly between the seat and taillight. ;)
 
Big Rich said:
If you browse around on eBay, there's a seller that lists all the dimensions for his fuel valves. I've gotten a couple ones from him - no complaints.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I found some NOS ones online but they're in Europe and the shipping and Euro/$ conversion made it way to expensive. Plus, it's just a petcock (I giggle a little every time I type that word. Can't help it!). There were bunch of "replica" petcocks on Ebay but I wasn't sure if they were reliable. Glad to hear you haven't had a problem with them.

Now that I need to wait for the assembly to come in, I'm starting on the carbs. Going to try the old lemon juice trick.

4eyes said:
Perfect first bike!
Both to learn to ride and to wrench. I wish I had another one, that brings back fond memories. You will find that a rolled-up sleeping bag fits perfectly between the seat and taillight. ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks! It seems like a pretty simple bike which is great for me. I'm learning a lot already. Plus, it only has 5,000 miles on it and my dad is generally pretty OCD about vehicle maintenance so I shouldn't have to do anything to labor instensive to get it up and running (knock on wood).
 
I've been dealing with electrical issues lately. No spark. I replaced the plug and swapped out the coil. Also cleaned up and gapped the points but still nothing. Anyone got some advice for chasing down electrical gremlins? All lights and signals work, but no spark.
 
Welcome to the DTT man! I'm new myself, but as a born-and-bred NE Ohioan, I figured I'd send along the salutation.
 
Kleebs said:
I've been dealing with electrical issues lately. No spark. I replaced the plug and swapped out the coil. Also cleaned up and gapped the points but still nothing. Anyone got some advice for chasing down electrical gremlins? All lights and signals work, but no spark.
Click to expand...

Plug wire & cap should be next on your list. If it's got the resistor cap/wire end usually these can be disassembled and cleaned up- tend to corrode as they are exposed to the weather and engine heat. The plug wire is beyond it's useful age anyway.
 
Good point I didn't think about replacing the wire and cap. Aside from the length of the wire, does anything else vary from bike to bike or are they pretty much universal?
 
Not sure about the XL series but on the CBs and CLs the wire and cap isn't a plug and play deal - it's mounted and sealed inside the coil. IIRC, wire size and cap size should be pretty universal though for these bikes. Your electrical gremlin could be from a bad ground also. I'd go through the wiring and make sure you have good, clean connections on everything before replacing something else. I'd also check the points to make sure they are getting spark.

P.S. I'm another NE Ohioan :)
 
Sounds like I just need to learn how to use my multimeter and isolate the problem parts. Easier said than done though :).
 
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