And so it begins! By mthomas (Read 3,684 times)

[mthomas]

Well some of you know I also work on mopeds. I have been tinkering with a Tomos that I bought cheap. I then bought another basket case that needed much work. So I was on a moped website and a guy from Youngstown Ohio has an Honda MB5 that he wants to sell. Now, Youngstown is about 30 minutes away and I have always like those bikes so I lowball him. He says,"NO" and he sells it to his friend who sells it to his friend. Long and short of it is I e-mail the guy and tell him I'm interested. We decide to swap bikes, his MB5 for my Tomos moped. Now I was finishing a white step through but find out the bottom of the tank that is part of the frame, rusted through and was leaking gas onto the motor. I can't trade bikes like that because your integrity is very fragile. So I scramble to switch everything over to the blue top tank so I can trade honestly. The guy got here this morning and we traded. Here is what I gave him:
1995 Tomos Targa TTLX with A35 motor runs great. Spent about $150 total

And here is what I got, 1982 Honda MB5. This is a 50 cc street bike with a 5 speed manual transmission. Only imported to the US one year in 1982. This thing tops out about 50 mph at 10,200 rpm. I got a clean title with the bikeand although it is going to take some work, it should be worth almost $1,000 when done. Oh yea, it runs.



I also got an exta wheel set and swingarm I should be able to sell for about $200 to help pay for the restoration.
If all y'all are interested, I will keep updating the thread as I finish.

[ccprof]

Of course we're interested. Keep is posted and have fun!

[jhbietz]

Always interested in a restoration project. Looks like a cool little bike.

[kevinharrell]

Wow. Some luck.

First you get a Tomos at a really good price (of course you put some work into it) and then you flip it for an MB5. I must say I am a bit envious.

Well, I have had my share of good deals before.

Keep us posted, and let us know if you decide to get the 70cc kit for this bike. I hear that it really makes the bike a screamer.

Five minutes later I find a Tomos for just $200.00 without even looking too hard. (Now if I just had the money.)

Looks good if you are not afraid to put the transmission back together.

akroncanton.craigslist.org/mcy/1940061674.html

[mthomas]

Thanks for all the kind words guys. I tell you, Akron seems to be the moped capital of Ohio. I always seem to get good deals. That is a pretty good deal though, and putting a Tomos tranny together is easy, I put one together today. I re-lined the clutches yesterday and ground them down today and assembled the transmission. I could walk you through if you want. Won't stay on the market long though.

[mthomas]

[puddle jumper]

Yes keep us posted one thing I've got to ask is there a manual online somewere that you can download??

[mthomas]

I have searched until I am blue in the face, I cannot find one. If you know of one, I would love it.

[mthomas]

[wolfhound]

I have a Tomos Revival, great bike, modded to 70 cc. Handles most of the hill around here. It
is the motor home bike. That Honda looks like a great project. Keep us informed please.

[4denise]

I would love that, if only I could afford to buy it! I love Hondas anyway. I'm going to watch this one, so keep us updated.

[Alleyoop]

That is a very nice project to work on. Those old honda engines they just run and run. The fenders and tanks may rust out but the engines just keep running, just like the Old VWs.
And by all means keep up posted with pictures and whatnot on how it is coming along. Already it is looking really good, nice job.
Alleyoop

[mthomas]

Thanks everybody,
I have been working on it quite a bit but have also been taking my time. I have resigned myself that I will not have this running or ride it before the snow falls. Overall, it was not too bad but it was the DIRTIEST bike I have ever worked on. The tank was rusted through and the PO tried to patch it with something and it leaked all down the bike and you can see it in the first set of pictures. I bought another tank from a guy in Buffalo that was parting one out. I paid $45 shipped to my house and it was FULL of rust. I bought a bottle of the Works Toilet bowl cleaner and sealed the petcock opening and filled it with water and added one bottle of the Works. Let it sit overnight and viole' no rust. Unfortunately, it also revealed about 15 pinholes underneath. I had to strip it down and solder all the holes shut. I the took it to my local radiator shop and he sealed it for me for $25. I sprayed it primer today and plan on wet sanding it tomorrow and maybe painting it Monday.
I took the front wheel off today and started cleaning and polishing it. I also took the headlight apart because it was blown. On these old Honda's, the battery acts as a voltage regulator and if you start the bike up without a charged battery, you will blow the headlight. Well the PO blew the headlight. It is a sealed beam and since it is very hard to find, I unsoldered the light socket and broke the bulb and pulled out the socket. Now I have to find a comparable halogen that I can solder back in so I have lights.
I took the instrument cluster apart and unfortunately, I discovered that the return spring on both the speedometer and tachometer were both rusted through and fell apart. I am going to be hard pressed to find a tach, but speedos sometimes show up on Ebay. I have been thinking how to replace or repair the spring and I can't figure out how to keep the proper tension so the gauges stay accurate.
I did have to weld the kickstand. Both legs were cracked and bent and the bike would lean and you would have to turn the front forks to keep from falling. I first had to heat the legs and twist them back into shape and then I had to weld the cracks so it would not happen again. I got them welded up and then gave them 4 nice coats of acrylic enamel.
Most everything has cleaned up pretty well and if it didn't, I painted it. I sure have used a ton of paper towels, degreaser, Meguire's car polish, steel wool, sandpaper, Mop and Glo, carb cleaner and elbow grease.
Lots of fun though. I will keep posting.

[mthomas]

Starting to come together



Oh yea, I heard it run today also

[madcollie]

mthomas,

For your next project how about:
ithaca.craigslist.org/mcy/2042941295.html
or
poconos.craigslist.org/mcy/2017517191.html

They shouldn't be to far from you

M/C

P.S. Get in the give away! That last project deserves a reward.