My First Spree Swap (Aero NH125)

[benji]

Nice work, this should be a hot rod! Question: I've recently bought the same ct chrome mani fold and noticed mine wasn't quite flat on the bottom, specifically around the mounting bolt holes. It looks like a mold eff-up that hasn't been machined flat after casting. Looking at the naruku ($$$) manifold on sss and it looks like it's been machined flat. I've also heard about people having the ct manifolds leak. I'm wonderin if I should file the bottom down to make it even? Or should I just not worry and hope some honda bond will fill in the gaps?

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

Tape a sheet of sandpaper to a pane of glass or other flat surface. Then "Ouija-Board" the manifold base over the sandpaper until you see no high or low spots. This might take a while, depending on the degree of deformity. Wash well and install with regular gaskets, grease-coated for instant seal and easier future removal.

[benji]

Thank you, wheelman. That's what I was thinking (or close) but didn't want to haul off and ruin something w/o some advice. It comes w a paper gasket. Just use that and some grease? Any preference on what kind of grease?

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

Grease is grease, mostly. I have used Harley all-purpose hi-temp for a long time because it's handy, bought for my Sportster in 2001. Still works...

[Rip_City_Spree]

My ct was leaking just about everywhere it could. I ended up honda bonding the living bejesus out as a stop gap till I could get a better one. About 30 hours with it like this no leaks no problems. Granted I still should get a better one but for this winter I'll just run it.

[motormike]

The CT chrome intake that I used on Aero 125 fit perfectly.
No air leaks of any kind. No "fill-gaps" needed...and keep in mind, an adapter was also used.
Homemade gaskets and grease...
3 years and 9,000 miles later, it was fitted to another engine, and continues tight sealing...

[benji]

"Homemade" like cut from the felpro blue paper universal gasket sheet? What did you use to make your gasket,motormike? 9000 miles seems like long enough to me haha. After that I'll by a naruku,if need haha.

[Tyler VR]

Well here's my intake adapter, it's not perfect but should do the job.

[Tyler VR]

Here's a view from top and botton with half the intake bolted up.

[Tyler VR]

After checking my CT intake flange I also see mine is not flat.

This pic is without a gasket, I stuck a flashlight down the intake and there's light shining through the flange surfaces. So I all ready sanded it down evenly with sandpaper wrapped around a flat bar. After a retest with the flashlight it should be fine with a gasket.

[benji]

Ya that's what mine looks like. I think I'll send it to a machine shop since I gotta get a wheel redrilled anyway. Either that or just sand it like you guys.

[bonesv]

Ya that's what mine looks like. I think I'll send it to a machine shop since I gotta get a wheel redrilled anyway. Either that or just sand it like you guys.

Go to a tile/stone flooring showroom or granite counter top store and see if they have any discontinued marble/granite samples and use that to sand on. It's flat. All you need is a 1 foot square. Use 320 wet/dry and then 500 will get it done nicely. Do all the mating surfaces like that.

[Tyler VR]

I installed the intake and carb, got it fired up too. I haven't road tested it yet, weather sucks. It will take some time to tune, might have to wait until spring.

[motormike]

Do you still need vacuum to operate the petcock ?
I see the oil line into the nipple on the intake.
I don't see the vacuum line...

[benji]

And what reeds you using? I'm planning on using a kx65 reed block and some boyesen reeds. I sanded my ct mani today oh man my arms hurt! But looks way better now.