New ZB50 Owner. Pictures and Questions.

[tigers486]

Just picked up this ZB50 in Lincoln Park Michigan for $400. It was originally purchased at Siegel's Incorporated in Monroe Michigan (per the original dealer sticker on the tail light lens). It is #483 and as far as I can tell it is 100% complete. Maybe a new tire here and a new bolt there. When I bought it a week ago it really wasn't running (would start up though). The rear brake lever was also seized. I soaked the carb and its internals overnight and also ordered a new o-ring kit. The bike fired right up and ran out strong....though I only rode it for about 5 minutes and I believe the head started to smoke....

Few days later I pulled the cotter pin off of the brake lever in attempt to remove it. I could not for the life of me get the lever off. I decided to coat the crap out of the lever with WD40. It is no longer seized and works like new again. Snaps right back up as it should.

I do have a couple questions though. The wiring was terrible (hack job by previous owner thinking that twisting turn signal to harness wires together and just taping them would suffice.) I redid the wiring and then put a new battery in (thinking these bikes needed a battery for the horn and turn signals to work.) After all my fix up and the new battery the turn signals and horn still do not work. It appears that all the other wires and connections are good to go. I'm wondering if its a switch or relay under the gas tank? Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

I would like to put a bigger engine in this bike. I was thinking a Lifan 140 or so. I have read a little about them on here. Will they clear the front tire with an oil cooler? What would happen if I upsized the tires? Lastly, are they plug and play with these bikes (assuming I have the correct carb and cables and all the basics). This is what I was looking at...LIFAN_140CC_ENGINE OIL_COOLED KICK_IN_GEAR 1D3U MANUAL_CLUTCH 140cc4M_I...Let me know if you suggest something else.

Lastly and maybe most importantly (should be going to the DMV to check for myself though), did these bikes when sold in Michigan only come with a moped registration? That is all the seller had. In Michigan, anything under 50cc is a moped so there really wouldn't be a need for a title. I am in Ohio however, so it is classified as a scooter and would need a title and need to be plated. I wonder if I can get a title made up just by having the registration? Any thoughts?...If not, I will have to get a title made up in Michigan. Not hard, just will add a few steps and money to the process.

Now, Here are some pictures. Thanks for the help in advance. I will try to update the thread as I go along...slowly. Too many projects at the moment.

[PlanetMinis.com]

[tmas]

I'm wondering if its a switch or relay under the gas tank?

There is a turn signal relay under the gas tank mounted on a bracket close to the head tube. Here is a wiring diagram.
tmas

http://planetminis.com/forums/attach...4&d=1327007678

[tigers486]

Would you think that a bad turn signal relay would cause the horn to not work also? Are there any other switches that work with the horn and the turn signals?

[tmas]

Would you think that a bad turn signal relay would cause the horn to not work also? Are there any other switches that work with the horn and the turn signals?

Check for power at your horn when you push the button.. Most times the horn button has been pushed to hard and it breaks inside the handle control. Check all your ground wires.
tmas

[tigers486]

I was out playing with the bike today and took apart the turn signal relay to sand down the contacts. I found out something during this. The relay works when the battery is completely disconnected from the bike. You can see the spark between the contacts, but the turn signals do not work.

When I attached the battery, before I started the engine, I checked to see if the headlight and tailight would come on. They did. When I started the engine I tried to see if the turn signal would work. The relay would not create spark with the battery connected. The contacts would move once and stop. Anyone have any idea why this would happen? The battery is fully charged too.

[tmas]

When you turn the right or left turn signal on do the signals light up but they don't flash?
tmas

[ndubstuntz420]

i have never seen one of those(new to the mini world other than newer crf 50's) were there many of those things made?

[tmas]

i have never seen one of those(new to the mini world other than newer crf 50's) were there many of those things made?

Only made one year.3058 back in 1988. Street legal mini. One of the rarest Honda's made.
tmas

[ndubstuntz420]

damn i really want one of those things! could make such a pimp little mini-moto street legal killer......time to get my search on, what do they sell for usually? i feel like the price he got was the deal of a life time if they are that rare

[tmas]

what do they sell for usually? i feel like the price he got was the deal of a life time if they are that rare

He got a nice deal on that one. You will pay more for one with a title and it depends on the condition and what parts are missing.
tmas

[Z]

Your headlamp should not come in without the motor running. the turns signals will blink and the horn will sound with the key turned on and the motor not running.

Isolate each compenent and check to see if they work.

Horn. remove it from the bike and run some jumper wires to a 12V car battery, or a good ZB50 battery. if it sounds, it's not the horn and you have issues with the contacts inside your left clamshell. As todd pointed out, it's the horn button contacts coming apart.

If your headlamp comes on with the bike not running, you have some backyard wiring to contend with. Have Todd send you the wiring diagrams for your bike and start troubleshooting.

[tigers486]

I just went out and checked the lights again. Turns out it the headlight doesn't come on without the engine running. The taillight and neutral indicator do though. The turn signals do not illuminate at all, even though the turn signal relay sparks (only with no battery hooked up). I will try to get the switch off the left handlebar and see whats going on. Will be a task though (feels like someone used locktite on the screws...) All other wires on the bike appear to be good. I already fixed the hack work at all turn signals.

[tigers486]

It has been awhile, but I figured I would post some updates with this bike. I was able to get a title for it, so now I will be street legal. I got a Lifan 140 engine in it now (havent fired it yet). I have made several custom parts for this bike to get it closer to how I want it to look. I used YSR 50 rear sets bolted to custom brackets. I will be making a custom shifter from a Yamaha R6 soon. Here are some pictures. Last 3 pictures were from yesterday, the other pictures are from the months of custom work.