New Fatcat Owner

[MojaveRider]

Everyone needs a Fatcat!! I found this on Craigslist only some 10 miles from my house. It looks better in pictures than in real life, but it runs OK and it is mostly complete. It needs a headlight shroud, fork seals, a rear brake cable, battery, and some paint on lots of small parts. The previous owner put what I think is a China carb on it, and the pilot circuit is WAY too lean. It won't idle at all until it's very warm, and there is a lot of popping on decel. I got the original carb, so I might try to clean it and reinstall, or swap jets if needed. I also got the stock handlebars, which I think are straight but need some paint before they can go back on.

Does anyone know of an off the shelf spray paint that is a very close match for the Shasta white?

201670 201671

[YTZ drew]

I always liked those. Never noticed until now, though, that the "A" in the logo looks like, well, the end of a cat you don't really want to look at...

[atc007]

Yes,she needs some tlc,,but man,, that is a great grab!! I would go with good ol Rust Oleum paint for $3.50 a can and never look back.. I can't remember if anyone has repopped the headlight?? I know they have most of plastic on these..

[MojaveRider]

I always liked those. Never noticed until now, though, that the "A" in the logo looks like, well, the end of a cat you don't really want to look at...

Lol, I never noticed but now that can't be unseen lol.


Yes,she needs some tlc,,but man,, that is a great grab!! I would go with good ol Rust Oleum paint for $3.50 a can and never look back.. I can't remember if anyone has repopped the headlight?? I know they have most of plastic on these..

Yeah I definitely want to paint some parts, but I'm not sure if I want to pay Colorite extortion prices for the proper paint or try to find a match in something cheaper. There are repro headlights available.

I put a China carb from ebay on it, and right out of the box with the included jets it runs perfect. Strong idle, easy to start, no popping on decel, and runs good at all throttle positions. The OEM handlebars are slightly bent, so I'm going to try to bend them back to straight, nothing to lose. I ordered fork seals, brake lever, battery, and a few other odds and ends.

[kiser]

Nice find! I want a Fat Cat! A buddy of mine has one and I dig it! They ride great!

[redsox]

i had nothing but frustration with the chinese carb. cleaned the stocker out and she ran beautifully.

[Marty]

Just to let anyone know any OEM plastics, feders, covers, shrouds, OEM stickers, OEM tires are all discontinued from Honda. That is a good find good for you she is complete, enjoy and take good care of it.

[MojaveRider]

Just to let anyone know any OEM plastics, feders, covers, shrouds, OEM stickers, OEM tires are all discontinued from Honda. That is a good find good for you she is complete, enjoy and take good care of it.

All I'm really missing that is obvious is the headlight shroud. I'll probably buy a reproduction one. I've added a few small missing items, like the battery hold-down and tool box cover. One thing I can't find is a proper replacement left brake lever. I bought a new right lever but the left is discontinued.

[Doink]

If you're looking to paint metal parts white, Dover White is the closest off-the-shelf color in a rattle can. Plastics can be painted with "Fusion" plastic specific paint, again, in a rattle can.
Most of the plastics are repro - I like to shop them at DC Plastics. They borrowed a set of mine (and other owners) to make injection molds for them. Since they're not vacuum molded, you probably will never see side covers that attach to the bike properly (especially the tank). I love restoring these things. You can see my videos on YouTube (doinker72). For some odd reason, my most popular vid is the CAMOCat, which I thought was the ugliest one I've ever owned.

[MojaveRider]

If you're looking to paint metal parts white, Dover White is the closest off-the-shelf color in a rattle can. Plastics can be painted with "Fusion" plastic specific paint, again, in a rattle can.
Most of the plastics are repro - I like to shop them at DC Plastics. They borrowed a set of mine (and other owners) to make injection molds for them. Since they're not vacuum molded, you probably will never see side covers that attach to the bike properly (especially the tank). I love restoring these things. You can see my videos on YouTube (doinker72). For some odd reason, my most popular vid is the CAMOCat, which I thought was the ugliest one I've ever owned.

Thanks for the paint info!! How close is Dover White to the real deal? This bike will never be a museum piece but I do want it to look mostly original.

I've installed a DC headlight cover. It looks way better, but as you said not quite an exactly match for the original.

[Doink]

The Dover White will be hard to notice against original Honda paint. It takes an unusually keen eye to tell the difference. And I should note that if you're going to repaint the plastic, chemical stripper should be used even if the parts weren't repainted by a PO. It gives you a perfectly clean, slightly tacky surface to apply new paint onto. 1-2 dust coats, 2 full coats, and then 2 clear coats with a compatible clear. If you take your time and work in a clean ventilated area, your results will exceed the OEM finish.
If you're recovering the seat, go to a shop that will apply the three Honda logos. I use Cosmic Quads and their results are second to none. In fact, they can do FatCat seats and BW350 seats because of me :D
+Doink

[MojaveRider]

What's your opinion of the ebay fork boots? My bike is missing them, and I'd like to put some back on after I replace the fork seals.

[Doink]

Almost every set of "blue" fork boots will be disappointing. The blue leans too much toward electric blue and IMHO clashes with the other correct blues on the bike. I think you'd be better off with black or white, and you can plastic paint the white boots to blue for a stock look. If you're lucky and wealthy, as et of NOS boots come on eBay once in a blue moon (no pun intended. The last pair I saw was almost 2 years ago when I was selling an extra pair of mine :D

[MojaveRider]

This bike certainly isn't nice enough to be a collector, just a clean-ish stock looking rider, so I'm not sure it's worth the cost for OEM boots. I will keep my eyes out though and maybe I'll get lucky.

[Doink]

Oh, and by the way, I remembered you were looking for levers for the handlebars, right? You will benefit greatly replacing with longer levers, especially if you brake a lot with them. when I swapped my rear drum for a disc, I bought Honda quad perches and levers ( I needed the master cylinder). I am hoping to do a front disc soon, but those parts are getting expensive.

[cap]

Nice Fat Cat there! I really enjoy ours and this winter will tear it down for a refresh. I will be going with DC plastics as all of the originals are trashed, for now I figure I will leave them on because my boys are riding it often and well you know boys.

I did replace the seat cover but it only has the Honda on the sides, did the original have it on the back also?

[Doink]

It didn't have it on the back. I forgot, the rear tapers too thinly. Also, I have a line on some FatCat side plastics, front fender, and a cracked headlight shroud for $200. Any takers? PM me to set up price and shipping.

[MojaveRider]

Oh, and by the way, I remembered you were looking for levers for the handlebars, right? You will benefit greatly replacing with longer levers, especially if you brake a lot with them. when I swapped my rear drum for a disc, I bought Honda quad perches and levers ( I needed the master cylinder). I am hoping to do a front disc soon, but those parts are getting expensive.

I was able to buy an OEM front brake lever, but the rear is discontinued. I wonder if the right would work on the left side flipped upside down.

[Doink]

The wrong-side flip will work. I have seen it before. Start checking your part numbers for cross-references. Remember, Honda was making these using a lot of the overproduced 3-wheeler parts. You will be much happier with correct parts and they will function better, too. And as I said before, it is only the perches and levers that have to work together. The existing cable will still route correctly.

[Doink]

By the way, for those of you who actually have cash after xmas, I have some cool Fat Cat plastics and other assorted gear if you need it. Side plastics, front/rear fenders, 24.5" front tire, and more. PM if you are interested. Merry Xmas!