New Honda CA77 Owner

[DreamsAreCool(1964)]

I just recently bought a 1964 Honda Dream 305 CA77 motorcycle, which I think is an awesome looking bike with neat history, but know pretty much nothing in terms of how to keep them running.

I bought it off of an older man who was selling the bike for his buddy who can't work on it anymore due to health problems, and the last time anyone touched it was 20 odd years ago. The story goes it was drove to his house, him and his buddy talked for two hours, and when he went to leave the bike was just dead. They did carb and electrical work to it, but again that was 20 odd years ago. I've been trying to figure this thing out in a million different ways and I've been using this website for a bunch of knowledge already but I can't find everything.

My current problem that I'm stuck on is I have no spark, at all. Power leaves the battery, and all I can say for sure is the rectifire has power, the lights and horn have power, but there is no spark, which is my immediate problem.

My overall to-do list is:
Fix the electrical
Hook up a switch to the starter (they removed it)
Tighten the drive chain (loose)
Add blinkers (it is the model without "winkers")
Re-Attach the exhaust pipes
Do overall maintenance and minor things(Oil change, add in a fuel filter between the gas tank and the carburetor, etc.)

I honestly really want to get this bike running again and take good care of it, I've always liked older vehicles, including bikes, and finally have one of my own. Any help in figuring out how to get it to kick back to life after sitting and waiting for so many odd years would be really awesome and appreciated.

[sky.fred]

I've just finished my 1963 C72, which hadn't been driven for at least thirty years, so I can give you a few tips.
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=7643370
To ensure a reliable restart, and I think you also need to at least :
- check the oil pump. It's easily accessible.
- Of course, change the engine oil, but above all, clean the rotor filter.
- If the timing chain tensioner pin doesn't protrude much from the rear of the tensioner, the chain probably needs changing. The guide roller may also need replacing, as it is made of plastic and will deteriorate over time.
- Clean the carburettor and replace the seals.
If there's no spark, the condenser may be defective.

[Geoff Hastings]

Are you getting 12volts to the points when they are open? If yes, then bridge the gap with a thin bladed screw driver a few times and see if you get a spark at the plugs. If no 12 volts then when they removed the starter solenoid they probably disconnected the feed to the rest of the system which usually comes off the solenoid. This is not the thick starter cable but a thinner cable that usually has a connector that will be clamped by the solenoid nut on the supply side.

[danielzink]

There's also a couple of different key positions - one position will crank the engine with no spark.

Have you tried cranking in other key positions ?

[DreamsAreCool(1964)]

I've just finished my 1963 C72, which hadn't been driven for at least thirty years, so I can give you a few tips.
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=7643370
To ensure a reliable restart, and I think you also need to at least :
- check the oil pump. It's easily accessible.
- Of course, change the engine oil, but above all, clean the rotor filter.
- If the timing chain tensioner pin doesn't protrude much from the rear of the tensioner, the chain probably needs changing. The guide roller may also need replacing, as it is made of plastic and will deteriorate over time.
- Clean the carburettor and replace the seals.
If there's no spark, the condenser may be defective.

There is no spark, so I will need to check and see if the condenser is working.
I'll let you know what I find, and thank you.

[DreamsAreCool(1964)]

Are you getting 12volts to the points when they are open? If yes, then bridge the gap with a thin bladed screw driver a few times and see if you get a spark at the plugs. If no 12 volts then when they removed the starter solenoid they probably disconnected the feed to the rest of the system which usually comes off the solenoid. This is not the thick starter cable but a thinner cable that usually has a connector that will be clamped by the solenoid nut on the supply side.

I was showing my buddy my bike and he said I should probably just get a replacement starter solenoid, but yeah, no spark, no 12v. I'll see what the starter solenoid says when I check it out, and I'll let you know. Thank you.

[DreamsAreCool(1964)]

There's also a couple of different key positions - one position will crank the engine with no spark.

Have you tried cranking in other key positions ?

The engine has compression and is cranking, and it has 5 key positions (one is off, and 4 actually do things), and I've tried to see what'll do in each. What else should I check next? And thank you.