Posts
25
Joined
2/12/2012
Location
Solon, OH
US
Edited Date/Time
8/17/2016 9:39am
I have a 1983 CR 125 and the clutch case needs replacing I am trying to avoid the high priced reproductions; but have not seen any on ebay for the past several weeks. Are there any other years that will work for that bike I have only been searching 1983.
I just did a year long, down to the frame and crankshaft rebuild of one. I can tell you there is a very high probability the radiators are also clogged/contaminated with magnesium. Which will again, cause it to overheat and seize.
I put a reproduction cover on mine from Russell in Australia. The one on my bike was also Dremel'd and JB Welded in a piss poor fashion.
Thor Lawson told me he knows how to fix them and hasn't had one fail. Depending upon how far gone yours is you may want to consider sending him pictures and getting his opinion. He has a very detailed process from what he described to me.
As far as the radiators I sent mine to Mylers and they came back looking like new. Another option is ordering a Chinese set from eBay. A guy in our vintage club runs a Chinese set with no issues.
They are great bikes, I wanted one in the worst way in 1983 but the Suzuki dealer gave me a much better deal than Honda would. It was a challenge finding a few of the parts mine needed but frequent eBay searches turned up everything eventually. Good luck on the build, once you rectify the clutch cover issue, (and that really is the main PITA achilles heel issue on these bikes), you should be smooth sailing from there.
Still not sure how I like the shroud decal and seat cover. I may take it back to a totally stock look.
The Shop
1.The biggest mistake I made was assuming it would stay that way without looking at it. At the end of the first year, about the 8th race and multiple practices later, I was riding a GP and the motor seized. Took it apart and the sludge from the JB Weld, radiators maybe?, lodged between the impeller wheel and the cover, seized the impeller and stripped the shaft on the impeller stopping the circulation. If you are going to ride it I would just pop the impeller cover off(lay it on its side so the water doesn't come out) and check it out fairly often.
2.Run Evans waterless coolant - no water=no further corrosion and it keeps engine temp down. The stuff isn't cheap but it works awesome.
3.Your slow turning impeller has me a bit perplexed? Are you saying that is when the cover is on or off the bike? If you have never had it off the bike I would lay it over and pull the cover. When off the impeller comes right out and you should be able to see the shape of the cradle it goes in as well as how it moves free. It should move as fast as your finger can spin it. By all means clean it up accordingly when you have it off. If it is when it is on the bike it would have resistance. I actually don't recall for sure if it moves if it is on the bike but I think so. It does mesh into a gear under the cover though.
4.The 83 is a one off year because it switched to the right so I think you would have a really hard time finding a good cover besides the repop in AU. The 83 250, because it is on the left, can use the 81 aluminum which is what I have now but they still cost $250 if you can find one.
If you don't want to spend the $$'s I would definitely make sure your current one is cleaned up, run Evans, and check it often. Since you live in OH are you going to get that thing up to Delta over Labor Day? Great event if you like racing!
It has a pin that holds the plastic gear in place on the shaft that would appear to be a weak area
Where do you find a new water pump shaft/gear?
My water pump has a bit of resistance as well
Inspection of my water pump gear showed several small cracks will be looking for a new one. Would you advise me not to continue use of this one until I find a new one?
Helped me find an NOS rod for mine at some shop in NJ. Good luck.
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