1976 Honda C90 Delux
Here is a Honda promotional pamphlet on the C90 Delux - a very smart, spiffy looking unit. After all, you do meet the nicest people on a Honda.
But of course if my new bike (or rather, Basket Case), looked like that, there would be nothing to put on this restoration page. So this is what my bike looks like in reality!!
24 March 2020
I'm not sure when you'll be reading this, but you will no doubt remember the great Toilet Paper rush associated with the Corona Virus - and how it spread to Pasta, and canned foods. People were panic buying everything.
Well I am embarrassed to admit that I got caught up in the stupidity. I have been Panic Buying Honda Cubs.
Apart from the Basket Case you see here - I have boought a 1970 Honda C50, a 1976 Honda C90 and yet another mid 70s Honda C90 Delux. They will all make an appearance here sooner or later - so we have something to thank the COVID-19 virus for.
25 March 2020
I have started trying to organise all the bits and pieces that came with the basket case, and identify things I need to buy.
Obviously its going to need a Leg Shield and a new rear fender extension, so they go top of the list.
Its priving surprisingly difficult to put an exact Year/Model to the bike - and obviously I need to do that to order the bits I need.
The C90 Club is a fantastic source of info (and a great bunch of guys) but unfortunately my bike is an Australian delivery model that was never released in the UK, so they don't have a great deal of knowledge on it. But that's OK - I enjoy researching the bikes almost as much as I do rebuilding them.
31 March 2020
Well work has commenced on the C90 - not much work mind you, but some.
I had to head off for 3 weeks work, so I snuck a few items into my luggage to make use of the time I was away. I took the hinge bracket for the seat, the stand, the plate which covers the petrol tank and the bracket that clamps the petroltank to its cover.
I turned my hotel room into a workshop and got stuck in.
The hinge bracket for the seat was the first item I attacked. It was still covered in black paint, but it had a bit of rust around the inner seams. Nothing too dramatic, but definitely worth getting rid of - as is all rust. Paint stripper, sanding, soaking in vinegar, neutralising in Baking Soda, wire brushing, cleaned with Wax and Grease Remover and it was ready for Etch Primer.
The metal strap that clamps the petrol tank to the petrol tank cover was next. This was in really good condition, but it got pretty much the same treatment as the seat hinge, just in case there was any spots of rust starting around the bolt holes or somewhere else out of sight. So washed, dried, wire brushed, paint stripper, vinegar, baking soda, Wax and Great Remover and thenEtch Primer - and then set aside to dry.
Just because I can't help myself I bought a new cordless Rotary Tool to help cleaning these up. I already have two of them (one still brand new), but they are both corded ones. I must admit to loving the cordess one. It is an el cheapo Ozito one from Bunnings ($49.00) but its got a full 3 year replacement warranty, so how could you go wrong really? The other one I was contemplating was an original cordless Dremel at nearly $200. I am a big advocate of getting the best tools you can afford, but I dunno, for 4 times the price......its hard to justify.
1 April 2020
The other two bits didn't go quite so well. The petrol tank cover was a real bugger to get the paint off. For some reason the same paint stripper I used so sucessfully on the other bits didn't work so well on this bit. Not sure why. After a ton of work I got about 90% of the paint off, which revealed another layer of paint below it, plus a thin layer of filler. I'm not entirely sure why there is filler there, the surface underneath looks pretty good. But after the nightmare with the cover, I didn't even have a go at the centre stand - I just dropped them around to the local sand-blaster. He assured me they would be quick to blast and very cheap.
3 April 2020
So now the tank cover and the seat hinge are well dry - I gave them a bit of a light sanding with Wet and Dry and gave them a coat of Primer Filler. Let them dry and then another coat, and they have both come up very well.
I think I am going to paint this bike up in Army Green to make it likea little Military Bike. I've got a few cans of Rust-O-Leum Army Green back at home but I don't have any here with me, and I'm not sure if any of the local shops have it, so it might have to wait until I get back home for its top coat.
Now just to wait for the other two bits to come back from the Sand Blaster.
4 April 2020
I have found an absolutely brilliant resource for the Engine of the Honda 50, 70 and 90 series Horizontal Engine. If you are interested in rebuilding one of these engines, then this You Tube Channel should be considered mandatory viewing. He has many video, which are clear, and well explained. He has quick versions and long detailed versions - I suggest you watch them all.
YouTuber - Mini Motor Man.
Here is a link to all his videos:
He has a quick over view series (which is still more detailed than anything elseI have seen on the net) on both How to Deisassemble and How to Rebuild the Engine. And he also has a full 9 part series, very detailed series on the Rebuild - about 11 hours of viewing just on the rebuild. I suggest you watch them all.
I have linked to the first video in both the Short Series and the Detailed Series below - you should be able to follow on to subsequent parts after you've finished Part 1. I can't stress enough - watch them - you will learn heaps.