Honda CX500 springtime repairs

It’s time to get the Honda on the road to test it’s systems and enjoy the Spring weather.  I’ve gotten new Michelins installed at a local shop. The shop couldn’t balance the front wheel because the wheel bearings were stiff. Fortunately, they are both easily available and cheap. Seals were included for a cost of $11 per axle.

There’s an O Ring at the rear drive flange to keep dirt from getting into the flange grease. It was broken. I’ve ordered new O Rings and they are on the way. The flange itself was somewhat worn and that’s a concern as all power is transferred through it and they are no longer available from Honda. I did manage to find an excellent used one in Germany for $108, shipped to Texas. I will have to make a list of spares to collect before they become unavailable.

I’ve gotten several inquiries about my New Old Stock CX500 engine. Nope, it’s not for sale, yet. Plans change and there are several projects ahead of the three wheeler build so it’s hard to say I’ll never sell it, but not yet.

DMV try Deux

I gave the DMV a call to see if I could ferret more details on the process of getting a constructed car a new VIN and license. I was quickly transferred to James in inspections, but not the type of inspections I was asking about. James’ department was the Safety Inspection department, apparently not the more through kind of inspection I need to get my car a new VIN.

I’ll have to go early before work to speak in person to the staff at the Kahului office and see it that makes it easier to get to the right department.

The Law

Here is the relevant listing in the Hawaii state laws concerning vehicles such as the one I am wanting to build. Its unclear how the state views three wheeled vehicles such as I’m building with motorcycle beginnings. It’s a good start for what I need to know, but there are many details that need to be filled in. That will come in time.

All this came from here.

§286-26.5 Special interest vehicles. (a) As used in this section:

     "Collector" means an owner of one or more vehicles,
including parts vehicles, who collects, purchases, acquires,
trades, or disposes of a vehicle or its parts, for the
owner's own use, to preserve, restore, and maintain the
vehicle or another vehicle for hobby or historical purposes.
     "Parts vehicle" means a vehicle that is owned by a
collector to furnish parts for the restoration or maintenance
of a special interest vehicle.
     "Street rod replica vehicle" means a vehicle that was
assembled from a manufactured kit, either as:

(1) A complete kit to construct a new vehicle consisting of a prefabricated body and chassis;

(2)  Components manufactured before 1968; or

(3)  Components manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1968;

and that has been modified in its body style or design
through the use of nonoriginal or reproduction components,
such as the frame, engine, drive train, suspension, or
brakes, in a manner that does not adversely affect its safe
performance as a motor vehicle or render the vehicle unlawful
for use on public highways.
     "Street rod vehicle" means a vehicle that was:

(1) Manufactured before 1968; or

(2) Manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1968;

and that has been modified in its body style or design
through the use of nonoriginal or reproduction components,
such as the frame, engine, drive train, suspension, or
brakes, in a manner that does not adversely affect its safe
performance as a motor vehicle or render the vehicle unlawful
for use on public highways.  The term does not include a
motorcycle, an antique vehicle, or a restored vehicle.
    (b)  If a street rod vehicle was manufactured before
1968 and has been modified in body style or design, the make
and year of the vehicle shall be the year the vehicle most
nearly resembles.  If a street rod vehicle was manufactured
after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1968,
the body type of the vehicle shall be street rod vehicle or
"STRD".
     (c)  A state vehicle identification number shall be
issued to a street rod vehicle that was manufactured after
1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1968, when no
vehicle identification number is present on the vehicle; when
more than one vehicle identification number is present on the
vehicle; or when the vehicle identification number is absent
from the body or frame, or both, of the vehicle.  The state
vehicle identification number shall be assigned by the
director of finance of the county in which the vehicle
resides; provided that not more than one hundred vehicle
identification numbers shall be issued annually.
     To obtain a state vehicle identification number under
this subsection, the owner of a street rod vehicle that was
manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured
before 1968 shall provide:

(1) A title of ownership from the previous owner of the vehicle’s body or frame;

(2) A bill of sale or invoices for all major parts used in the modification of the vehicle; and

(3) A weight certificate issued by a state-certified scale for the actual weight of the vehicle.
(d) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary:

(1) Street rod vehicles and street rod replica vehicles shall be equipped with the following equipment:

         (A)  Hydraulic service brakes on all wheels;
         (B)  Sealed beam or halogen headlights;
         (C)  Turn signals and a turn signaling switch;
         (D)  Safety glass or lexan windshield;
         (E)  Electric or vacuum windshield wiper located in
               front of the driver;
         (F)  Standard or DOT/SAE-approved tail lights;
         (G)  A parking brake that operates on at least two
               wheels on the same axle; and
         (H)  Seat belt assembly as provided in section 291-11.6;

(2) Street rod vehicles and street rod replica vehicles shall be equipped in such a manner that no part of a vehicle, other than the vehicle’s tires, will make contact with the surface of a flat highway when the vehicle is operated on the same;

(3) Bumpers, hoods, door handles, and fenders shall be optional equipment on street rod vehicles and street rod replica vehicles; and

(4) Bumpers, hoods, door handles, and fenders shall be optional equipment on vehicles manufactured before 1968, and on vehicles manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1968.

     In the event of a conflict between this subsection and
equipment requirements specified in chapters 286, 291 and
291C, this subsection shall control.
     (e)  If a street rod replica vehicle was assembled from
a manufactured kit as a complete kit to construct a new
vehicle consisting of a prefabricated body and chassis, the
year of the vehicle shall be the year the vehicle resembles
as reflected on the manufacturer's certificate of origin.  If
a street rod replica vehicle was assembled from a
manufactured kit as components manufactured before 1968 or
components manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle
manufactured before 1968, the year of the vehicle shall be
the year the vehicle resembles as reflected on the
manufacturer's certificate of origin.  The certificate of
title for a street rod replica vehicle shall be for the make
and year the vehicle resembles, and the body type of the
vehicle shall be street rod vehicle replica (STRD-RPLC).
     (f)  The state vehicle identification number of a
street rod replica vehicle that was assembled from a manufactured
kit as a complete kit to construct a new vehicle consisting of
a prefabricated body and chassis shall be taken from the
manufacturer's certificate of origin.  The state vehicle
identification number shall be assigned by the director of
finance of the county in which the vehicle resides; provided
that not more than one hundred vehicle identification numbers
shall be issued annually.
     The state vehicle identification number of a street rod
replica vehicle that was assembled from a manufactured kit as
components manufactured before 1968 or components
manufactured after 1967 to resemble a vehicle manufactured
before 1968, shall be taken from the manufacturer's
certificate of origin or provided by the director of finance
of the county in which the vehicle resides.
     To obtain a state vehicle identification number under
this subsection, the owner of a street rod replica vehicle
shall provide:

(1) Ownership documents from the manufacturer of the kit or components;

(2) All shipping and freight documents for the kit or components; and

(3) A weight certificate issued by a state-certified scale for the actual weight of the vehicle.

     (g)  A state vehicle identification number shall be
issued to a street rod replica vehicle when the vehicle
identification number is absent from the body or frame, or
both, of the vehicle; or when the vehicle identification
number is absent from the manufacturer's certificate of
origin.  The state vehicle identification number shall be
assigned by the director of finance of the county in which
the vehicle resides; provided that not more than one hundred
vehicle identification numbers shall be issued annually. [L
1997, c 246, §2; am L 2004, c 126, §2]