Tune your Honda CT Trail 90 IDLE to PERFECTION!!

[@jonpardue]

Well done going through all the details and steps to make it run just right.

[@sscbkr48]

That's where I'm at.. it was running last night. Then kick kick kicking it this morning and, nope. I think my ct90 has a great sense of humor. Just when you think you're the master, it gives you a swift kick in the nuts. 😄

[@ReMotorcycle]

It’s a great mystery!!

[@XxsteamerxX]

Same for me. I cleaned and rebuilt the carbs on my 2007 Yamaha RSV including a jet kit for the new pipes and filters. Got her back together that night and she purred like an angry kitten. Next morning rode her out to the shop for an inspection to re-up the tags. Ran strong no negative feedback no throttle delay nothing, other than a little backfire. Next morning went to take her to work, started cold, but wouldn't idle once warmed. Been chasing the problem ever since like a crack addict. So frustrating.

[@ReMotorcycle]

The backfire suggests it’s a tiny bit lean. Will it idle on a little choke?

[@XxsteamerxX]

@@ReMotorcycle intermittently. As mentioned, she originally started with no choke after rebuild and re-jet. But once warmed, gets choppy and cuts out. At that point, I can restart a few times with 1/2 to 1/4 choke. Then not at all. That's what's confusing. I went up 2 sizes on the pilot jets. Ran fine but only with 1/4 choke on the original size 15's with fuel mixture screws factory set to 1-1/4 turns. I know that was factory set because I bought her from the OG owner who barely rode it. And I had to pull the EPA caps. Having trouble dialing in on size 20's at 3-1/2 turns (recommended by the jet kit manufacturer).

[@XxsteamerxX]

@@ReMotorcycle I just ordered 17.5 pilot jets. I may order 22.5 as well. Thinking if I need to go even richer, I don't have much room to play with at 3.5 turns.

[@TimsWorkshopTJY]

Hi Mike, good explanation on how to set these Japan carbs. Got mine removed right now to fix a leak and was surprised how heavy they are. I bet more than the Chinese aftermarket ones.

[@KneelMore_CacheTales]

Good information to have as i start my new journey with the CT90. Cool to see you're in Michigan. Maybe we'll cross paths while on our bikes. I ride a 2007 Yamaha V-Star. Farthest north I've gotten is M55. Hoping to ride M119 next summer.

[@ReMotorcycle]

Sounds great!

[@wsbill14224]

It's best to set your idle on a cool day because it will idle faster in warm weather. In this regard air cooled carbureted engines all act the same.

[@Johnny-tc6tz]

Love these bikes, I now have 3 of them and I learn something about them all the time, I had a issue that i chased for weeks, Turned out the wire that runs through the cylinder to the points only had a few strands holding it together and sometimes it would start and run and other times it would not start. Glad you got yours running, Bike looks great.

[@ensidfkgnur]

Thanks for going over that! Your 90 is beautiful, almost too nice to ride. Off-topic: do motorcycles and guitars just automatically come together? Are these common co-morbidities? Subscribed

[@ReMotorcycle]

Art and music always fit!

[@JohnSmith-cx7zt]

Oh ya , that's a sweet sound .

[@Geordo1960]

I have a c 70 and it took a little while to learn what it needs to start and all settings are good. But once there she works great, so it’s one part mechanical and one part settings and one part technique. 13:05

[@ReMotorcycle]

You have a point and I think I know what you mean. You can teach the science but not the art. A lot of it is feel that comes from experience. If you know exactly what to do with the choke if it coughs, I’m afraid that means you’re old 🤣

[@Geordo1960]

@@ReMotorcycle Yep lol! Ask me how I know lol.

[@rogerruvalcaba3653]

The digger buddy good job man

[@briancorcoran]

I've got a 1972 ST90 I've just finished getting back on the road. Shared the same engine, but doesn't have the hi/lo option like the CT. My question for you is about warm up times. I find I've gotta crank the idle up and keep a hand on the throttle for 3-5 minutes when starting cold, otherwise she'll just putter our and die. Are you dealing with similar warm up times for your CT? I don't expect it to be ready to go right after firing, but it seems likes it's taking a couple of minutes longer than it should. For the record, the ambient temperature is around 20 degrees (70ish for all your Fahrenheit savages). Cheers from Toronto!

[@ReMotorcycle]

Hard to tell. It’s definitely at least a minute. If it runs great when warm I’d say be patient. Enjoy!!

[@kennethcolbert2921]

Wish they still made the Honda CT trail 90 I had a 1969 and a 1972 CT trail 90 wish I still had them.

[@ReMotorcycle]

Have you sat on the new 125? It’s a bit heavier and the engine sounds like a generator but it looks and works awesome!!

[@benkanobe7500]

Mike. I need a NEW HONDA CT90 coil assembly as well. Where do I get one? My local HONDA Dealer laughed at me!

[@ReMotorcycle]

Here's the site I use for parts. And yes it's expensive. Cheap ones are not good. Good ones are not cheap! www.dratvinc.com/category/ct90-electrical?page=2

[@robertkucsmas1126]

Very knowledgeable

[@garygullikson6349]

I noticed the neutral indicator light flashed while you were trying to kick start it. Made me think that your battery was weak. Also, I wonder if balky starting may be due to the idle air needle set too far CCW or CW. Then there's that needle in the slide that is adjustable ...........

[@ReMotorcycle]

Good observations. My main issue was that I really don’t need choke when it’s very warm out. As soon as I gave it air she popped. Air screw can be adjusted for every 5° of temp so it’s never really perfect is it?!! Carb life!!! The slide needle is perfect after I’ve tried 3 different settings. I finally got it to jump off idle and pull nice after every stop. That’s really the needle test….does it stumble off idle or not. What a process!!

[@wheater5]

The needle doesn’t actually control the idle, but the mid range towards full throttle (when it’s almost out of the main jet).

[@garygullikson6349]

@@wheater5 Good to know!

[@georgelickemupwarren7639]

Can you tell me more about that ? ​@@wheater5

[@ReMotorcycle]

@@georgelickemupwarren7639 I go into greater detail here. Honda CT90 (Trail 90) CARB Tuning kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIe6aJtnoNKlY9E

[@pugetlexus]

always always always start with ignition. you usually will have to go no further

[@cavekritter1]

These carbs like bieng a touch rich on idle mix.ste them to highest speed idle then screw it out till it drops slightly then screw it back in just a tiny bit.. err on that setti g not other side of in then back out a tiny bit is better. You fiddle and fiddle and...one day its close enuf you just live with it. Never perfect but close unuf.....

[@ReMotorcycle]

Very true. As soon as the temperature outside changes it’s a bit off. So fiddly!

[@Lena3117]

I'm having the same exact issue. As I too did the elimination. Can you help

[@ReMotorcycle]

You mean no condenser? You need to order a new coil with it for sure.

[@Lena3117]

@@ReMotorcycle so, I have an honest worker that is working on my car again. These guys (2nd round of getting it cleaned up) I spent over $600 have screwed me over. So, I have this older man who respects my bike and told me I’ve been unfortunately screwed over badly. (Poor guy didn’t tell me and told his friend not to tell me. As he was working on the bike!) sweet man.

[@Archangelsword]

A CDI has no points 😂😂

[@EthanProko]

Correct, however if you’re referring to the specific bike in this video, it still uses a coil and points system. Nowhere was a CDI even mentioned.

[@wsbill14224]

And you don't want the idle to be super slow because it's not good for the engine, unless making sludge is what you're after.

[@ReMotorcycle]

With a centrifugal clutch you can’t go too fast either otherwise you slam into gear. It’s definitely a balancing act.

[@georgelickemupwarren7639]

The standard rpm is 1300. I believe that's from the Tech Manual, but do check.

[@coolbreezez71]

I have the same shit !!! 1975 ct90! Ran and now doesn’t !!!! I’ve been through it over and over ! Still won’t start !!!! But now wants to start after cleaning the main jet ! But still won’t stay running !!!! And even after a new valve exhaust oil seal !!! Bike blows smoke !!! The piston looks brand new ! My bikes doing the same shit yours is !!!!! Wtf ????? I can’t figure it out !!!!!! It’s killing me !!!!

[@ReMotorcycle]

Time for a new top end? How’s compression?

[@coolbreezez71]

I checked the top end and looked like the piston was new and cylinder was freshly honed . When I put it back together I replaced the oil seal . But I think the small spring washer was missing for the exhaust seal . Maybe that’s the issue for burning oil and smoke ?

[@coolbreezez71]

Also did a compression check with throttle wide open as seen in a video . I got 125! Then I tried with throttle closed and got 85?

[@ReMotorcycle]

@ any missing parts are going to be an issue for sure. If the top end is new it might just be not broken in. It took mine about 30 miles of cruising before it stopped smoking after rebuild.

[@ReMotorcycle]

@ plenty!

[@shamusgonzolez7610]

How about showing which screw does what instead of just talking about them.

[@ReMotorcycle]

Here's the link to the moment I show which screw does what. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4bGc5iMh7Wmn6ssi=5M2I2l9xp9gom-UZ&t=352

[@wesleycardinal8869]

The good thing about this video is you didn't edit out all the false starts etc., Ive got a 1966 C90 and trying at the moment to solve a problem with low speed hesitation. I found this short clip informative kzbin.infoT97eZZiojIY Good to see the old bikes are kept running they're great fun. Is that a P bass body hanging in the shed?

[@ReMotorcycle]

I had low speed stumble too until I moved the needle. P bass? What did you spot?

[@wesleycardinal8869]

@@ReMotorcycle You moved the needle up? It looks like a P bass body in the background. Thanks again.

[@ReMotorcycle]

Oh the guitar! I was so lost! It’s a Gremlin my son restored. Sounds smooth and warm!

[@georgelickemupwarren7639]

​@@ReMotorcycleyou move the idle needle up or down ?

[@ReMotorcycle]

@@georgelickemupwarren7639 you can only guess. If you get it right it will run a LOT better. If you guess wrong it will barely run so you’ll know pretty quick!

[@TwostrokePuchwizard]

ROTFL, NOT STARTING!

[@ReMotorcycle]

The story of carb life!!!

[@iancameron198]

​@@ReMotorcycleI have a 1974 st90 and looking for a original carb for it.anyway you can help me get one thanks