honda CT185

[stevenharmon]

Im buying 2 Honda CT185 one for parts and a good one, whats your thoughts about these bikes?

 

[modelengineer]

If it's anything like the Honda CT110 postie bike then it's a great engine, and very reliable. The 110 has a 4 speed gearbox with an adjustable centrifugal wet clutch, and makes about 7.5hp, wikipedia says the ct185 makes about 13hp.

 

[stevenharmon]

im a bit new to bike mechenics so just woundring how dose this centrifugal wet clutch work?

 

[modelengineer]

It means it has an automatic clutch. You put your foot down on the throttle and it slips the clutch for you. You left off the throttle, change gears, and it slips the clutch for you. You can adjust for the rpm at which it engages. Too low and the clutch will grab at idle, too high and you will need to rev a lot to get off the line. It's very easy to adjust correctly.

You don't have a clutch pedal with this sort of clutch.

 

[stevenharmon]

sounds like a great idea but im not sure if the 5 speed 185 has it or not. are there any draw backs to a wet clutch?

 

[modelengineer]

There aren't really any drawbacks to a wet clutch, other than the fact that you can't use oils with "friction modifiers". That includes most high end car oils, but the cheap stuff should be alright, it's what I'm using in my Suzuki bike engine. All motorbikes (that I can think of) have wet clutches. What makes the CT different is it has a centrifugal clutch rather than a manual multi plate clutch.

 

[sideways]

There aren't really any drawbacks to a wet clutch, other than the fact that you can't use oils with "friction modifiers". That includes most high end car oils, but the cheap stuff should be alright, it's what I'm using in my Suzuki bike engine. All motorbikes (that I can think of) have wet clutches. What makes the CT different is it has a centrifugal clutch rather than a manual multi plate clutch.

Ducatis (generally) have dry clutches but that's it really.

CT engines are indestructible, they were never thrilling motorbikes (infact a CT110 is ridiculously slow, keeping up with traffic is quite difficult on one). The CT185 would go good on a kart though, a friend of mine is building a buggy with a CT200 engine. Should go good.

Does your engine have a high and low gear as well as the normal 4 or 5 speed gearbox?

Hayden

 

[stevenharmon]

Does your engine have a high and low gear as well as the normal 4 or 5 speed gearbox?

not sure if it has or not as i havent bought it yet.... and when u say the ct's r slow how fast do u reckon the 185 would go??

 

[modelengineer]

I think it will be plenty fast enough if you gear it down a bit. Faster than a 13hp industrial engine anyway since it revs higher, has a gearbox and has a bit more power.

 

[brendonv]

probably will go around 120-130km/h top speed.

 

[stevenharmon]

is there many modifications that can be made to motorbike engines for more power or better V.E?

 

[modelengineer]

You could port and polish the head, and use a thinner head gasket (or use liquid gasket), but apart from that you'd need to spend a bit of money to get new cam(s), high compression piston, etc.
Build it first, then modify if you feel you need more power. I think that unless this is a buggy you should gear it for a top speed of around 70-80kph (really, really scarily fast on a gokart), which will give you pretty good acceleration.

 

[brendonv]

There are many mods that can be done. Pod air filters, larger jets, Better carbs, porting and polishing, better pipes, better pistons ect. the mods are endless. Put it on a kart first and feel the power before wasting your money on useless power.