UNHAPPY HONDA

Roger from Guildford is about to start work on his Honda CD200T Benly; it has seized after standing for eight years under a cover. He also asks if it will need rewiring and what to do with stale petrol.

Engine combustion creates two undesirable things internally: moisture and acid, making the oil corrosive. Regular use and oil changes prevent trouble, but standing unused (especially in fluctuating outdoor temperatures) can lead to static seizure, where the piston rings and bore begin rusting together.

With luck, it will be a dusting that will free easily with a bit of thin oil or diesel down the plug holes, but if the rings corrode into the bore a ridge is created that will catch and break the rings. It may not only be the bore – valves can stick in their guides, and on a twin one valve will always be open leading to seat corrosion so a top-end strip is advisable. Failing that, plenty of oil down the bore and on an ohc engine like the Honda, I would remove the rocker cover (the rubber gasket is reusable) and squirt oil over the cams, bearings and valves, too.

Honda electrics were very good, but although I’d say the wiring is unlikely to have deteriorated in eight years, the CD200 is now a 40-year-old bike with 40-year-old wiring so don’t be surprised if problems occur. As to the stale fuel, I guess the stock line is ‘take to a recycling centre’ but don’t be surprised if they say: ‘Whaddya want me to do with this?’!