Project Mutt... 74 ATC90

[kb0nly]

I am affectionately calling this "Project Mutt" as its going to be put together with parts from a few different machines and even models and years!

The start, a 1974 ATC 90.



When i got it home i discovered it would run, but it wouldn't move, the neutral indicator was also in a weird position, so i tore it down and discovered carnage everywhere! It had a chain slap that knocked pieces out of the case and side cover and drove pieces into the transmission where they got gobbled by the gears after the previous owner just tossed the chain back on and rode it some more. This caused a huge BANG i can only assume as it took teeth off the gears, seized parts solid and snapped others off.



So while i wait for a replacement motor from Shortline10, nothing but the recoil and various other bits were good on the one that was on this trike, the rings fell out of the piston in pieces when i tore down the top end to split the cases, the stator and flywheel look like they had something grinding around between them, so it was a total pile... I started working on the rest of it, went through the brakes, new brake cable, new throttle cable and went through the throttle and went through the wiring, which on a points 90 isn't much. Here it is cleaned up.



I have the original fiberglass fenders but i just couldn't pass up a set of nice plastic 79-82 110 fenders, they just needed the mud flaps bolted back on, i had all the parts except the screws so i picked up some nice hardware to reattach them, i had all the backing plates thankfully so it was just a quick bolt on. The seat on this set is nice and comfy and in really good condition. I tossed on a 110 front fender i had in my spare parts, the fender that was on the front of it was destroyed when i got it. All the tires are in great shape except the back left tire has a tube in it thats leaking so i have to split that one and put in a new tube quick but then its all good to go.



Just waiting on the motor to arrive then i will clean that up and get it ready to go, i have a case saver for it, also from Shortline10, and i have a new chain and various other new parts including grips and other cosmetic parts, also the headlight is rebuilt and about to go back on as well. The tail light needs a new bulb and the electrical is done. It's coming along nicely!

[shortline10]

You got that looking way to good for the motor that's coming to you
Looking good !!!!

[kb0nly]

LOL... Well i guess the motor will just have to get some cosmetic work then also!!

Its amazing how much a power washer and some elbow grease can do on a dirty frame, all i did was paint the top where the rubber tank and seat mounts rubbed through the paint. The trike was pretty free of rust other than very light surface rust.

The forks and tank have to get painted yet, but they might have to wait a while until i have more free time. Once the motor gets here i will update this post with some more pictures to keep it all in one spot now as it finishes out.

I only have a few cosmetic things to do and get it all put together, getting excited i might actually get to ride it next week. Put a tube in the left rear tire, the right rear has already been tubed... Nearly new tires, just leaking at that darn center seam where the two halves of the wheel meet. I have managed to seal those up before but a tube is so much easier.

[kb0nly]

Motor has arrived! Excellent condition albeit a bit ugly on the outside, but internally its in perfect working order. I honestly don't think this motor has much run time on it, just looks well weathered from exposure. No sludge buildup in the covers other than the usual very light touch of color on the bottom edges, even under the outer clutch cover its almost clean, normally it takes a screwdriver to scrape all the gunk out, this one just a rag and a blast of carb cleaner!

Gaskets and oil seals coming to freshen it up a bit, covers are getting scrubbed and sanded and they will get a shot of paint to make it look nice. I almost thought about going black like a 110, but the metallic aluminum looks nice also. I don't know, i primed and painted the covers in metallic aluminum for now, if i change my mind they could still easily go black but i am digging it for now.



The left cover has NO sign of chain wear on it at all, its perfect, and the left case doesn't have so much as a scratch from a chain either. So excited to have a good motor! Project Mutt is going again!

[kb0nly]

Motor assembled, new gaskets on both sides, new oil seals on everything on the bottom end, new o-rings on the hi-lo shifter, clutch adjust, and the valve caps. Totally leak free and ready to roll.



Its installed now, and running! Runs perfect, no noise, no smoke, couldn't be happier. New chain, new control cables, new grips on the bars. Got some time driving it around and tweaking the carb. The points were cleaned and adjusted and now it starts on the first or second pull. I will get some more pictures up a bit later today, taking a break and cooling off inside while i work on the headlight.

[kb0nly]

All done and running for now. I will get to some more of the cosmetics as i have time, needs paint, but otherwise for now its all working! The lights are fixed and working as well.

[jeswinehart]

So from 6-27-13 to now the 3rd of July you done all that ~ wow, to me that is thee impressive part !

Well I suppose no matter how long it took you the trike is GREAT ! Nice job Kb.


john

[MojaveRider]

Awesome job, and that was fast!

[kb0nly]

Thanks guys! Yeah it was a lot of long evenings wrenching on it, and a lot of digging for parts. I don't have a ton invested either, everything was cheap, spare parts, etc. The largest cost was replacing the motor with a good runner.

I just replaced the bars today with a set from my shelf, i pulled off the 90 bars which were slightly tweaked and put on a set of 110 bars that have a higher bend in them. Could still stand to be a bit higher but perfect height for my son to ride for now. I got him on it last night, his first time ever on a trike, a little coaching and he did really good.

I took a video of it, but unfortunately i can't post it here... Why? Well he was coming around the side yard and hit a hole where we removed a tree stump last year, him and the trike are fine, but he bounced good his helmet flew off and he nearly lost his glasses, so when he came into camera view no helmet and trying to push glasses back on. And i know how everything harps on helmets in video on here so i will try to get a new video soon. But he was thrilled to ride it around. Started him out in low gear just to get the feel of it, then up to hi, and he was in second gear most of the time. He needs a little more practice on shifting but he got the throttle down good and holds steady speeds despite bumps. Seems to be a natural at it.

I actually started this project mid June i think it was, so its been a little longer, although it did sit for like two weeks just waiting for parts to arrive. Then it took me a few days to put it all back together. I plan on tearing it back down some to repaint the tank and forks, most likely this fall but whenever i get time. All in all i think it turned out pretty good! The DG exhaust i put on it sounds great, not too loud, and its nice that it comes out the side rather than through the frame like the stock exhaust.

Pulled the plug today, running a little rich after tootling around this morning on it. Will make a few more minor carb adjustments and keep reading the plug to get it right.

[kb0nly]

Update...

Got the front end taken apart, sanded, primed, painted, and put back on. The Krylon Red Pepper/Safety Red is a pretty good match, i like it!



For the tank i plan on doing the same thing, remove the decals, sand, prime, paint, and then an added sealer over the paint to harden it to gas spills, and finally some decals. I will probably go with the earlier 110 model stickers that have the large Honda and All Terrain Cycles under it. But i haven't decided yet. I could get a repop of the 74 decals but at this point it surely isn't a true 74, but i still like it!

[kb0nly]

Got the tank done today, to hot to do some other work so i picked a shady spot in the yard and started sanding down the tank. Got it all painted, needs to be wet sanded and polished up a bit yet after it cures a while, too humid here.



Decals yet to come!

[tripledog]

Nice job, kb! That motor looks sweet! What brand of silver paint did you use on the motor, and is it high temp? It looks great, as does the entire machine.

[ScreaminRed]

That's a cool little trike!

[kb0nly]

Thanks again guys! The paint on the motor is a high temp metallic aluminum engine paint i got from the local auto parts store, nothing fancy. Rated to 1200 degrees i think it was, more than sufficient for these Honda's.

Its a cool little trike for sure, i am quite happy with the result. I got some decals coming to finish it off and then the project is done!

[kb0nly]

Final update... Decals!



I know its not all around perfect, but it looks a LOT better and its going to get a lot of use from the kids so why spend a fortune on paint and polish? I just added the decals to make it look good, they were cheap enough to add, had to have Honda proudly displayed on it again!

After getting the decal on the recoil i am glad i went black, its a really nice contrast to the motor and the decals stripes instead of having a silver recoil on a silver engine.