1978 HONDA CD185 Twin

1978 HONDA CD185 Twin

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FlashJordan

Original Poster:

6 posts

34 months

Sunday 13th June 2021
quotequote all
I've recently become the owner of a 1978 HONDA CD185 Twin. I'll be honest, I've not owned a bike since I was a about 10! So my knowledge on bikes is slim to none.

I got the bike and realised the battery was dead, so picked up a new 6V battery just in case, and made sure it was fully charged. Even whilst connected to the charger I can get no spark from the plugs.
The rear light is the only light that comes on, the horn, headlight and indicators all are not working.
I've cleaned the spark plugs and the connections and still no joy.

Does anyone have any idea what it could be? What connections I should check or parts that may need replacing?

Thanks in advance.

NMNeil

5,860 posts

50 months

Sunday 13th June 2021
quotequote all
Get the wiring diagram and a multi-meter and start checking voltages.
The bike is over 40 years old, so it could be anything.

FlashJordan

Original Poster:

6 posts

34 months

Sunday 13th June 2021
quotequote all
Ok, thanks for the reply!

A500leroy

5,125 posts

118 months

Sunday 13th June 2021
quotequote all
You will almost certainly need to clean off all the connectors, Any pictures?

FlashJordan

Original Poster:

6 posts

34 months

Sunday 13th June 2021
quotequote all

FlashJordan

Original Poster:

6 posts

34 months

Sunday 13th June 2021
quotequote all

NMNeil

5,860 posts

50 months

Sunday 13th June 2021
quotequote all
Seems to be in nice condition.
Are the points opening when you kick it over?

FlashJordan

Original Poster:

6 posts

34 months

Sunday 13th June 2021
quotequote all

A500leroy

5,125 posts

118 months

Sunday 13th June 2021
quotequote all
Regulator issue?

ssray

1,101 posts

225 months

Sunday 13th June 2021
quotequote all
Get some contact cleaner and undo every plug etc(one at a time) give them a quick spray and plug the back in, the disconnecting of the plugs will help if you don't have contact cleaner,

FlashJordan

Original Poster:

6 posts

34 months

Tuesday 15th June 2021
quotequote all
Hi All

Thanks for your response's and input. I tried replying but I'd only just set my account up so they only allowed me 5 replies, which was taken up by my photographs.

Good news is, I have the bike starting! Have been flying up and down the back road of my house, until I get it fit for MOT.

I undid the headlight to get at all the cables to start checking all the electrics with a multi meter. As I did the headlight came on! Which according to my neighbour who'd checked the wiring diagrams, meant that the starter should also now work. It did! It started to turn over, and I got a bit over zealous with the kick start and ended up snapping it off before actually getting it running. You can imagine my frustration haha

I then went out into the lane and managed to get it going with a bump start! I was ecstatic! Took me back to being a teenager, with the strong smell of petrol the wind in your face.
However it was still kind of coughing and spluttering and was bogging down in 2nd and third was very difficult to get going at all. After about half an hour I put it back in the shed and one tail pipe was roasting and the other dead cool, so I realised it wasn't firing on both cylinders.

The next morning I cleaner all the points and plugs as advised by you guys and hey presto, she burst into life!

Apart from the fuel line coming off, leaking over the shed floor and a bit of oil leaking, she is running beautifully! Thank you all for you recommendations and advice it really was the difference in getting Anna back up and running. (The registration plate is ANA I'm not being soft haha)

ssray

1,101 posts

225 months

Tuesday 15th June 2021
quotequote all
Cool, well done