Honda SS50

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mecheng46
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 11:46 am
Rides:: SS50
Location: Yorkshire

Honda SS50

Post by mecheng46 » Mon Nov 11, 2019 12:18 pm

Hello all, I am not sure if this the right place for me but I recently got my hand on an SS50 that I will be tinkering with. Anybody else with an SS50 in here?

I will be rebuilding the engine soon and I am thinking upgrading the bore with some other engine mods. I am not sure if it's a 5 speed or 4 speed. i will post a picture of the engine in the next few days

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onittino3
Posts: 952
Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:52 pm
Rides:: Honda C90, Honda Cb500x
Location: Merstham Surrey

Re: Honda SS50

Post by onittino3 » Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:10 pm

Hi and welcome, I don't know much about the ss50, but most 5 speed bikes had a black frame and a front disc brake.

Terry.

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wightegi
Posts: 9710
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:23 pm
Rides:: 12v 1988 e start C90,Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
Location: Isle of Wight

Re: Honda SS50

Post by wightegi » Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:11 pm

Hi welcome to the madhouse...club :lol: the engines share a lot with the cubs and the 5 speed box came out later what year is your bike stick it in your details .

That Terry was quick off the mark ..

mecheng46
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 11:46 am
Rides:: SS50
Location: Yorkshire

Re: Honda SS50

Post by mecheng46 » Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:12 pm

thanks terry, at the moment i only have the engine in my hands. From what i remember the 5 speed engines had an aluminium bore and engine number starts with 1? Mine it has a steel bore and engine number starts with 2. Possibly it's a 4 speed but you never know these days

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Bogger
Maintenance Stasi
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Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:40 pm
Rides:: 3 x C90,BMW R1200st, BMW R80RT, Honda Mode , Super Cub C125A, Yamaha Majesty 250
Location: Warrington

Re: Honda SS50

Post by Bogger » Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:57 pm

Get a 70 barrel on it ;) .

Bogger

mecheng46
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 11:46 am
Rides:: SS50
Location: Yorkshire

Re: Honda SS50

Post by mecheng46 » Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:59 pm

Will a c70 engine barrel fit? Do i need the head from the same engine too? Can this engine be converted to 12v? I prefer sticking to genuine honda parts if possible.

Also, will the gearbox from this engine fit on a C90 12v engine (HA02)?

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onittino3
Posts: 952
Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:52 pm
Rides:: Honda C90, Honda Cb500x
Location: Merstham Surrey

Re: Honda SS50

Post by onittino3 » Mon Nov 11, 2019 2:58 pm

The short answer is yes although, the 12v C90 engine has 2 different types of gearbox bearings, 1984-1996 generally have needle roller bearings and post 1996 have ball race bearings, so as ive never taken apart an ss50 engine i don't know what bearings they have, most likely it will be ball race bearings like the early C70 engines, then you will need a post 1996 C90 engine, you will also need swap the kick start gear from the ss50 to the C90 shaft as these differ in size.

I have tried and failed to fit a Takegawa 5 speed in a post 1996 C90 engine the gearbox was made for a C50, the gearbox fitted fine and I had to change the kick start gear for a 21t C70 one, it all work well until I seclected 5th gear and the selector fork would rub 5th gear after 9 engine rebuilds trying diferent shims i gave up....might have another go one day.

mecheng46
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 11:46 am
Rides:: SS50
Location: Yorkshire

Re: Honda SS50

Post by mecheng46 » Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:26 pm

Oh right, it sounds a bit of trial and error but thanks for sharing your experience.

Without knowing the year of a C90 12V engine how can i tell if it's pre 1996 or after?

Do you have any parts for sale? is this 5 speed gearbox for sale?

I am looking to tinker with this engine and possibly try and build something out it. I like the idea of a 5 speed engine but i have the feeling my engine is the 4 speed model

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steveST100
Posts: 1888
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2011 3:04 pm
Rides:: 1983 C50LAC 1976 ST100 1980 ST70
Location: Clitheroe Lancs

Re: Honda SS50

Post by steveST100 » Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:53 pm

The SS50 4 speed with fit in the 12v C90 cases,only the early ones with the 2 roller and 2 needle roller bearings.
Needs the quill removing on the layshaft end in the case.

Some of the SS50/CT70H 4 speed boxes i have fitted in my C90 engine Dax over the years.

Image

Image

Image

Will only use the ATC70 4 speed box now in my builds fitted with the right number of teeth kickstart.

Never had a 5 speed box to play with,but talking to a few of the monkeybike lads that have used them most say the gears are too thin and strip the teeth off for fun with big bore engines.
Also think to fit the 5 speed you need to grind abit of the case away for the gear to clear.

steve g

mecheng46
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 11:46 am
Rides:: SS50
Location: Yorkshire

Re: Honda SS50

Post by mecheng46 » Mon Nov 11, 2019 4:09 pm

steveST100 wrote:
Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:53 pm
The SS50 4 speed with fit in the 12v C90 cases,only the early ones with the 2 roller and 2 needle roller bearings.
Needs the quill removing on the layshaft end in the case.

Some of the SS50/CT70H 4 speed boxes i have fitted in my C90 engine Dax over the years.

Image

Image

Image

Will only use the ATC70 4 speed box now in my builds fitted with the right number of teeth kickstart.

Never had a 5 speed box to play with,but talking to a few of the monkeybike lads that have used them most say the gears are too thin and strip the teeth off for fun with big bore engines.
Also think to fit the 5 speed you need to grind abit of the case away for the gear to clear.

steve g
thanks Steve, i found one of your threads with lots of information about these gearboxes and the different engines. i am going thought it now, it sounds like it's better to leave this ss50 as it is and tune a c90 engine with an ATC70 4 speed gearbox.

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