QuestionI recently bought a CA77 honda dream 305. The clutch cable goes directly down from under the tank unto the crankcase cover, however, I noticed that on the cover there's a part that were the clutch cable can slip out of. I think the previous owner just drilled the hole were the clutch cable is now. I checked pictures of other CA77s and saw that there were two types, some clutch cables would come from under the tank and others would come from where the side covers are. How do I determine which one mine is suppose to have? And what are the cable's length for both.
AnswerA.C.
Honda 250-305 Dreams did go through numerous mods through the years.
If you look at the illustrations here: http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-ca77-dream-touring-305-usa_model992/partslist/E08.htm... you will see that there were three different covers for the kickstarter mechanism. First change was just to add in an inspection hole where the cable attaches, so that you could possibly change the cable without having to remove the muffler, footpeg and side cover to access the components. The last change at CA78-1003392 was where they changed the cable entry point.
You can actually upgrade the early parts to the later style if you use all of the components that were changed.
22870-272-010 is the part number for the last generation clutch cable (short one).
This paragraph is from an old VJMC story I wrote back in 1997.
C/CA 72/77 Dreams: There are at least three handlebar configurations and two kickstart covers to consider with the Dreams. Domestic bikes, occasionally seen here in the US, have “flat” sheet metal handlebars, somewhat like the Honda Cubs. These require shorter cables than the US-version CA(A as in America)72-77s, which used high-rise chromed, tubular steel bars. Early model CAs used the “Type 1” handlebars, which featured a twist-throttle and “star” shaped cable adjusters. These cables did not have the curved, chrome cable sleeves of the later series machines, but will be found with a small chromed spiral spring wound around the lever end which supplies tension for the “star” adjusters. The early “long” clutch cables reached down through the frame; exited the electrical box cover on the right side and then entered the kickstart cover at a 45 degree angle. In early 1965, the kickstart cover was redesigned to bring the cable down at a vertical angle, thus bypassing the “through the frame” routing of the early versions. This required a new cable joint to secure the cable, as well. The later cable is about 10” shorter than the originals and continued to feature the chromed sleeve at the handlebar end. The first series CAs had only three cables (-262-000, except the throttle was superseded to CE71 part -257-010), while the second series (-271-000 except the later -010 clutch cable) had two clutch and one each throttle and brake cable.
I have a couple of new late model cables here, with the chromed sleeves, and they are 46.25" housing length and about 52" inner length. Early cables, as noted above, are about 10" longer for both dimensions.
Early bikes had slots in the right side cover for the cables to exit from the frame and into the k/s cover.
I offer comprehensive restoration guide CDs for these bikes, if you want to become an expert and need all the info available in one place. CA77 Restoration CDs have over 1200 pages of info stored in them.
Bill Silver
www.vintagehonda.com
