No Wheelies on my 185S?? HELP!

**thedeatons** · 06-18-2005, 12:49 AM

Hey all,

I am just curious... I remember my 70 and then 110, and my dad's 200S from when I was younger, and when you hit the thumb throttle on those in first gear, they all lurched really well, and if you knew how you could get the front wheel up fairly easily, and get into a good wheelie...
I am restoring a 1981 185S and every once in a while I take it up the street on the pavement (still has old shot tires, will not ruin the new ones this way!). Now, when I hit the thumb throttle in first it just thumps away, nice and slow, with no intent on wheelie-ing at all. My dad said it should jerk the front wheel up pretty easily, being a four stroke 185cc bike... I have recently done the clutch adjustment, consisting of: "loosening the nut on the right side engine cover, turning the flat head screw counter-clockwise until it shows slight resistance, then turning back clockwise 1/4 turn" - as described in a previous thread. I have not ridden it since then as I am restoring the wheels, but when they are done I may see if that made a difference.
Finally the question: I was wondering if you guys thought it would make a difference if I replaced the clutch plates and/or springs on this engine? Does anyone have any feedback on this replacement and what it did for them? Everything on the bike is stock by the way, with low hours put on by the original owner's wife. I am an experienced "one-wheeler", so I know my technique is correct.... Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, James

**BIGCRIP28** · 06-18-2005, 02:33 PM

what about the centrifugal clutch? (how are the shoes?)

**Tri-ZNate** · 06-18-2005, 03:30 PM

does it bog when you hit the gas and then take off or does it rev up and slowly take off?

**RideRed250R** · 06-18-2005, 06:04 PM

put your foot down on the shifter and leave it there dont let it come up.. then give alittle gas and let the lever up... it will "pop" the clutch and you will be on you butt in no time lol
adam

**Mike_Ham_250R** · 06-19-2005, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by RideRed250R

put your foot down on the shifter and leave it there dont let it come up.. then give alittle gas and let the lever up... it will "pop" the clutch and you will be on you butt in no time lol
adam

LMAO, but anyway, im about 180lbs 6'0" and if you get in like the middle of second gear and lean back in pin the throttle it should do a very nice wheelie for you. I can hold them forever, so, I bet there might be something wrong.

**Mike_Ham_250R** · 06-19-2005, 06:26 AM

And long wheelies like the one shown above are supposed to be bad for the engine, so don't hold them as long as I do. LOL

**Mike_Ham_250R** · 06-19-2005, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by honda200s1984

LMAO, but anyway, im about 180lbs 6'0" and if you get in like the middle of second gear and lean back in pin the throttle it should do a very nice wheelie for you. I can hold them forever, so, I bet there might be something wrong.

Wait, don't pin the throttle if you don't wanna end up on your ass. I usually have it a mid throttle, jerk it back while giving it a little bit more throttle and then work from that. Heh

**thedeatons** · 06-19-2005, 11:04 PM

Hey guys...

Let me reiterate... It's not a technique issue... I know and understand how to wheelie up and down the block all day long on a sportbike, mountain bike or just about anything else with two wheels... My issue is that it just pulls away slowly no matter how hard I hit the gas... It doesn't sound like the clutch is slipping when I do it, like I've heard on other bikes in the past... I just need to know what to check when I get the wheels back on... Like I mentioned, I did the clutch adjustment, and am just not sure what to go for after that if it still isn't jerking off the line when I hit the gas. I would imagine it would be either clutch springs or fiber plates. That is what I am questioning: What differences have you guys noticed when you replaced these specific parts???

**83185s** · 06-20-2005, 01:14 AM

is it smoking or anything? you may need to adjust the timing, get a fresh top end rebuild or clean the carb and clean the header out...you can get some pipe cleaner thingies..the big ones..not the little ones and just run them through and youll see all the crap fall out..and clean out the silencer too...it may get a little more power if you just take out the baffle..how long has it been since a top end rebuild?..it may just need freshend up a bit thats all..dont quote me on any of this cause im not sure...but mine never had a problem with doing wheelies..i doubtin its your clutch

**Yamahauler** · 06-20-2005, 01:31 AM

Well, he says it pulls away slowly when he hits the gas, I am assuming it is revving normally when you punch it, but it just doesnt seem to be moving as fast as the motor is going.
From that, I would say that it is you friction plates in your clutch, just take the right case cover off, pull the pressure plate off the clutch and take the springs, friction plates and clutch discs out. Measure the springs and the friction plates and make sure there within spec. chech for warpage of the clutch discs.

**bigredhead** · 06-20-2005, 09:47 AM

Got a compression tester ???.... would give you an idea of the condition of the motor itself. valves.. piston rings. etc.

How's your oil ? changed it lately ? i know my SX has clutch problems with old oil in it. runs much better on a fresh change.

**thedeatons** · 06-20-2005, 02:06 PM

Hey Guys,

Okay, now I feel like we're getting somewhere.... Let me attempt to answer everyone's questions. I have fresh oil in the engine. Non-synthetic, Honda brand, I believe it's 10w30 and I live around San Diego (to give you a temperature idea). I do not have a compression tester. Sears has a nice kit with adapters, but I'm having trouble with the $50 price tag. I do not know what the compression is at this time. I believe there is a note written in the paperwork about head work being done in the early to mid nineties, but I cannot remember right now for sure. I also know the bike has low hours, especially in the last few years.
As far as smoking goes, there is none. The carb was just rebuilt by yours truly, and a new needle and jet were added (OEM Honda, stock size jet), along with all new O rings. It idles okay, but seems to flutter a bit, and sometimes even after it's warmed up it will cut off when idling (in the garage). The exhaust is fine, as it was taken off at the dealer in '81, then when I bought it I reinstalled it.
I may try Yamahauler's idea of taking the right side case cover off next, and checking things out. That will give me an excuse to buy a manual.... If anyone would like to go into detail about removing gthe pressure plate to check the friction plates, that would be great. I've done this job on a couple sportbikes before, and am not sure of the differences. Can anyone describe an easy way to check the timing? There is a possibility that the CDI box may have been turned a bit while I was working on things

So I may need to readjust that. Thanks for the great help so far! James

**bigredhead** · 06-20-2005, 02:13 PM

Hey.. how bout weight on the front end ?.. does your 185 have solid forks or suspension ? what size tire you got ? racks ? gearing changed from stock ?

all these things can make or break a wheelie machine !

**thedeatons** · 06-20-2005, 06:13 PM

Solid forks, no racks, 22x11x8 and stock gearing... pretty much think stock, just old.... compression tester is being borrowed tomorrow... will post more... James

**Tri-ZNate** · 06-20-2005, 09:34 PM

check the splines on your wheels.

if they are getting worn you might have this problem

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No Wheelies on my 185S?? HELP!