Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

I have an original kickstart, clamp, bolt and nut, spring, ball, from a 1976 Honda CR125M. Anyone know what I'm doing wrong...When I tighten the bolt just enough for the clamp to hold onto the kick shaft it binds up the kick lever so it wont freely pivot...??? If I loosen it up enough to pivot it's too loose on the shaft...??? Am I missing spacers or somthing??? This is the type that only uses one bolt for both the the pivot point and the clamp...

You have a picture? Mine bolts right on. I even lost the nut and it was still tight to race for the weekend.

Here's a couple of pics...just to be clear, when I tighten up the bolt so it is tight on the shaft it is too tight to pivot around...when I loosen it up so it pivots, it's too loose on the on the shaft and if i leave it like that it could ruin the splines...

https://plus.google.com/photos/111450977826219294999/photo/5794123872263426434
https://plus.google.com/photos/111450977826219294999/photo/5794123266442067314

I was unable to open those photos, but it sounds to me like one or more of the parts are either incorrect or damaged. Here's a diagram, which may or may not open without cutting/pasting:

http://www.babbittsonline.com/honda-mot ... 125M_A_(76)_MOTORCYCLE%2c_JPN%2c_VIN%23_CR125M-3000006_TO_CR125M-3011345/PEDAL_%2b_KICK_STARTER_ARM/CR125M-76-JPN-A/2Y134002F13400213A

Notice that there's no washer on the bolt. I've seen thin washers added in an attempt to tighten up the pivot, but it has to be done correctly or the pivot will bind when tightened.

Ray

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'74 CR125M (175cc), '75 MR175, '82 RM250Z, '08 YZ250F, '14 Zero FX electric, '14 Zero MX electric, '18 Alta MXR electric

I have attached the pics to this post, hopefully they show up now.

Those photos are fine. Here's my thoughts:

1) The bolt is definitely incorrect for that clamp type. From the raised writing I see on the top, it looks like it may have come from a hardware store etc.

2) I can't see enough of the nut to be sure, but if it's not a cylinder with a hex head on one end. it's not the right nut.

3) As mentioned earlier, the washer is not original.

4) There's a possibility the lever is not the correct one for that style of clamp joint. If the pivot holes in the lever are less than 12mm in diameter, it's the MR175 one that uses separate pivot pin and clamp bolt, but otherwise looks identical.

If the lever is the correct big-hole unit for that style clamp, the proper shoulder bolt/barrel nut setup should hook you up. If the lever is NOT correct, you'll need to find the correct lever (you could try an MR175-style clamp, but it may hit the brake pedal when the brake is applied).

Ray

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'74 CR125M (175cc), '75 MR175, '82 RM250Z, '08 YZ250F, '14 Zero FX electric, '14 Zero MX electric, '18 Alta MXR electric

Thanks, I have the correct oem bolt and the nut is also the oem one. I used another bolt because it was longer and I thought it would give the nut more threads to grab than the stock one. I have the same results with the oem bolt. Now, the lever may be possibly wrong...the holes both look like the same size but the top hole is much bigger than either bolt's shank, where as the nut's sleeve fits perfectly in the lower one...sloppy on top but perfect fit on bottom???

What does your OEM bolt look like? The head end should appear nearly identical to the nut (except with no hole, obviously) and the 8mm threaded section should be about 30mm long or so. If the OEM bolt you have is not a stepped shoulder-type bolt and looks basically like a regular bolt, it's not the correct one for this clamp setup. The picture below is pretty close to what the correct bolt should look like:

http://www.polarbearinc.com/PBPC/homepa ... b-1000.gif

If the nut sleeve fits the bottom lever hole and both holes look the same size - you could test-fit the nut in the top hole to be sure - the arm is most likely correct, which is good news.

Ray

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'74 CR125M (175cc), '75 MR175, '82 RM250Z, '08 YZ250F, '14 Zero FX electric, '14 Zero MX electric, '18 Alta MXR electric

This is the bolt I have which according to Honda's parts catalog is correct...The shaft is much thinner than the nuts sleeve that's why it has so much play in the top hole and no shoulder... your's definitely looks like what I need...any idea where I can get one?

Wow, that's an unusual-looking bolt. From what I can tell, it was only used on the very first '74 CR125M's, up to S/N 1002484.

The bolt you want for your setup is P/N 28303-360-010, which was used on most of the CR125M's and MT125's plus the '77 MR175. It looks like you'll have to wait for one to show up on eBay right now, although it was available OEM from Honda as recently as last year.

By the way... the only reason I'm so familiar with all these kickstarters is that I've been helping a buddy of mine find a '76-'78 CR125M unit to put on his MR175 motor. First we looked for a complete NOS unit, and when that failed we tried to piece one together out of NOS parts (also a no-go). Right now he'll be happy to find a good used one.

Ray

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'74 CR125M (175cc), '75 MR175, '82 RM250Z, '08 YZ250F, '14 Zero FX electric, '14 Zero MX electric, '18 Alta MXR electric

Well all I can say is thanks so much!!! I am in the middle of this gound up resto of my 1976 CR125 and will post pics when I'm done...There are a few '76 125 kick levers on ebay with and without the shaft knuckle in case you're interested here's a couple of listings... http://www.ebay.com/itm/170911640229?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 http://www.ebay.com/itm/251153843138?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

OK, cool! - and thanks much for the links.

Ray

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'74 CR125M (175cc), '75 MR175, '82 RM250Z, '08 YZ250F, '14 Zero FX electric, '14 Zero MX electric, '18 Alta MXR electric

Looks like everyone beat me to it. I went racing this weekend. Glad you guys got to the bottom of it. I have a running 78 I might be parting out soon if no one buys it local.

Hi rayivers, does this look like the right bolt?...the guy says its from a 74-75 but it looks similar to what you described and your picture. Thanks.

Yes, that sure looks like it, I saw that kickstarter this morning and immediately thought of you.

Ray

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'74 CR125M (175cc), '75 MR175, '82 RM250Z, '08 YZ250F, '14 Zero FX electric, '14 Zero MX electric, '18 Alta MXR electric