Getting My Hands Dirty with an Old F3 Honda
So, I got this idea in my head, you know? I wanted a project, something to tinker with. Stumbled upon this old Honda F3, a CBR600F3 to be exact, sitting under a tarp in someone’s backyard. Looked pretty sad, honestly. Covered in dust, flat tires, just looked forgotten.
Against my better judgment maybe, I struck a deal. Didn’t pay much, thankfully. Got it loaded up and dragged it back to my garage. First thing was just staring at it. Figuring out where to even begin. It was definitely gonna be a job.
The Clean Up and Teardown
First step, always, is cleaning. You can’t see what you’re working with under all that grime. Spent a good afternoon just scrubbing years of dirt and cobwebs off it. Found some cracked fairings hidden under the dirt, but the frame looked straight, which was good news.
Then I started taking things apart. Carefully. Pulled the seat, the tank, the airbox. Wanted to get a good look at the engine and especially those carbs. Old bikes that sit? Carbs are almost always gummed up.
Engine and Fuel Woes
Sure enough, pulled the carb rack off. What a mess. Took them completely apart on the bench. Every single jet was clogged solid with old, varnishy gas. Spent hours soaking them, cleaning them with tiny wires and carb cleaner. That was a real test of patience. Put them back together hoping I got it right.
While the carbs were off, I checked other stuff:
- Drained the nasty old oil. Looked like sludge.
- Put in a new oil filter and fresh oil.
- Checked the spark plugs. They looked fouled, so I swapped in new ones.
- Checked for spark – thankfully, we had it! One less thing to worry about.
- The battery was totally dead, no surprise there. Ordered a new one.
Also drained the old fuel from the tank. Smelled awful. Rinsed the tank out best I could to get rid of any rust or gunk.
Putting it Back Together (Mostly)
Once the new battery arrived and the carbs were back on, it was time. Put some fresh gas in the tank. Connected the battery. Took a deep breath and hit the starter button.
It turned over… and over… nothing. Choke on, tried again. A sputter! Then another! Felt a bit of hope then. Gave it a little throttle and bam! It coughed, sputtered some more, and then roared to life. Loud, too, the exhaust was probably not perfect.
Let it warm up, listening to the engine. Sounded okay, actually. No horrible noises. Success!
Finishing Touches and First Ride
Okay, so it ran. But it wasn’t ready for the road. Had to deal with:
- The brakes: flushed the old fluid, bled the lines. Checked the pads, they were thin but usable for now.
- The chain: cleaned off rust and old lube, adjusted the tension.
- Tires: Pumped them up. They held air, but they were old. Definitely need replacing soon for real riding.
- Lights: Checked headlights, taillights, signals. Had a bulb out in the back, easy fix.
Didn’t bother too much with the cracked fairings yet. Just wanted it running and rideable. Cleaned up the controls, checked the cables.
Finally, rolled it out of the garage. Geared up. Felt a bit nervous, honestly. Threw a leg over, started it up again. Clicked it into first gear and eased out the clutch. Took it easy around the block first. Everything felt… alright. Shifted okay, brakes worked. Took it a bit further. Opened it up a little on a straight road. Man, even this old F3 still pulls! It felt good. Really good, bringing something back like that. Still needs work, proper tires, maybe fix those plastics later. But for now? It runs. And that feels like a win.
