Hawk is here, yay!

[Megadan]

The only advantage of the ebay system would be a small weight reduction, but that stock muffler is probably a big part of that, and that it is stainless steel..

As far as the max advance, I would be surprised it it was much above 30btdc at 4000rpm.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Megadan

As far as the max advance, I would be surprised it it was much above 30btdc at 4000rpm.

That is what I'm thinking it is. Only reason I haven't messed with it besides finding the time to do it is that I would like to have a new gasket handy just in case the original gasket gets ripped or messed up. I don't like the Hawk being down for any period of time. Like to drove me nuts the last time I had to wait for parts. lol Especially when you've done some kind of performance mod.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

That is what I'm thinking it is. Only reason I haven't messed with it besides finding the time to do it is that I would like to have a new gasket handy just in case the original gasket gets ripped or messed up. I don't like the Hawk being down for any period of time. Like to drove me nuts the last time I had to wait for parts. lol Especially when you've done some kind of performance mod.

I have a whole gasket kit that I bought for the head gasket. I figured it was a good idea to have the rest sitting around.

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Megadan

I have a whole gasket kit that I bought for the head gasket. I figured it was a good idea to have the rest sitting around.

Where did you get the gasket set from?

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Where did you get the gasket set from?

I ordered the full gasket kit for motorparts max. It was 2.95, so kind of hard to pass up. Less than 8 bucks shipped. I figured that even if the rest of the gaskets somehow didn't line up, I still saved over just buying a head gasket.

http://www.motopartsmax.com/index.ph...roducts_id/630

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Megadan

I ordered the full gasket kit for motorparts max. It was 2.95, so kind of hard to pass up. Less than 8 bucks shipped. http://www.motopartsmax.com/index.ph...roducts_id/630

I looked at that set. Just wasn't sure if the case cover gaskets were the same as the Hawk. I assumed you did all the measurements to verify lol

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

I looked at that set. Just wasn't sure if the case cover gaskets were the same as the Hawk. I assumed you did all the measurements to verify lol

For 8 bucks shipped I figured I would just find out the hard way. The head gaskets work, so if the rest do, then it is a bonus. I am pretty confident the rest of them will line up fine, but who knows. Most of these gaskets seem to be pretty universal on the CG250's, with the only differences being the counterbalanced and non counter balanced engine case gaskets.

[Megadan]

Squeaked in a little tinkering tonight before calling it a night.

Started with the Horn. My stock one has slowly been dying a slow and terrible sounding death. I can't even describe the sound, but a rodent being blended alive would probably sound similar.

So I decided to get something a tad louder and a bit deeper in tone so people will actually hear me. Enter the Wolo 300-2T Low tone horn. Best 9 bucks I have spent in a while. It is definitely nice and loud.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The diameter is the same as the stock horn, but it is a little bit bigger in depth. I transferred it over to the stock horn bracket from the one it came with. The mounting bolt is a bit smaller, but a thin washer I had sitting around helped take up the gap and it worked perfectly. I did have to slightly bend the bracket to stop it rubbing a little bit on the fender with the bars turned right, but that was no big deal really.




Next up was to finally install the TT250 rear brake lever I bought after the bikes first crash. The second crash that killed the front wheel did more damage, and this time it was enough that on my last ride I felt a weld break on the pedal. I tried to get a picture, but it is kind of hard to see.


Anyway, I already knew of one difference with the TT250 pedal vs. the Hawk unit. The TT250 unit doesn't have the small hole for the brake light switch spring. There are 2 other differences that are very slight, and do not affect the ability to use it on the Hawk.

First difference, the TT250 pedal clevis hole is just a little bit higher in relation to the main pivot point . I had to turn my master cylinder clevis adjustment all the way in and turn in the pedal stock/adjuster a bit in order to get the pedal adjusted correctly. Second is the location of the pedal return spring hole, which is about half an inch to an inch further back on the TT250 pedal, again, not really a problem, just an observation. (Hawk pedal top, TT250 bottom).

[Megadan]

I took the more expensive route in order to solve the brake light switch situation and decided to eliminate the mechanical rear brake switch from the bike. To me, this is an upgrade. I hate mechanical brake switches for numerous reasons.

Anyway, I used a Goodrich M10x1.25 Banjo Bolt pressure switch. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It does come with new copper crush washers if you are thinking of ordering one. The listing didn't specify but I am glad I didn't go buy more.

There is one catch to this switch though, the wiring is not quite long enough to try and re-pin with the stock connector. I got around this by simply cutting off part of the stock switch wiring and the connector and then soldered it on to the Goodrich wires. A nice little bonus is that the cap for the stock switch wiring is a nice fit to cover the top of the Goodrich switch as well, so I transferred it and the plastic sheathing over to the banjo switch.

Also, as a side note, the Goodrich switch has 2 red wires. There is no dedicated power or ground, so it doesn't matter what wire you solder to, it will work either direction.



Definitely makes for a much cleaner looking install.


After it was all said and done I went ahead and re-filled the system and gave it a bleed. As a side note, I tried my cheap little fluid vacuum pump that came with a brake bleeding hose. Works damn good. I went from no fluid to rock solid pedal within less than 5 minutes. I kind of did a mix of hand pumping until I started getting a little pressure in the pedal, and then just continuously drained with the vacuum pump while keeping the reservoir full. Did a few old fashioned pump and bleeds, then a couple more vacuum pump bleeds. No mush.
Vacuum pump extractor thingymajig. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Then, as a reward to myself and the bike I went and took it for a quick wash at the local pay and spray to get the grit and grime off.
Puuuuuurty.

[JerryHawk250]

I like the new brake switch. Just added it to my wish list. I've been wanting to change mine out.

[Lit Hawk]

Originally Posted by Megadan

I ordered the full gasket kit for motorparts max. It was 2.95, so kind of hard to pass up. Less than 8 bucks shipped. I figured that even if the rest of the gaskets somehow didn't line up, I still saved over just buying a head gasket.

http://www.motopartsmax.com/index.ph...roducts_id/630

I don’t think this head gasket works if I remember. it was really tight seemed to be small and ripped on me. It also didn’t have the larger hole around one of the cylinder head bolt for the o-ring. Thanks to Silva for the eBay link

https://www.ebay.com/itm/222260062961

This is the correct one

[JerryHawk250]

Originally Posted by Lit Hawk

I don’t think this head gasket works if I remember. it was really tight seemed to be small and ripped on me. It also didn’t have the larger hole around one of the cylinder head bolt for the o-ring. Thanks to Silva for the eBay link

https://www.ebay.com/itm/222260062961

This is the correct one

That's the one I used. Same as Silva. Perfect fit.

[Weldangrind]

I should get around to installing my banjo bolt brake switch one of these days.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by Lit Hawk

I don’t think this head gasket works if I remember. it was really tight seemed to be small and ripped on me. It also didn’t have the larger hole around one of the cylinder head bolt for the o-ring. Thanks to Silva for the eBay link

https://www.ebay.com/itm/222260062961

This is the correct one

Thanks for the heads up. I went ahead and ordered one of those. I can do a side by side comparison. Maybe it is possible to use the other one with a little trimming.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

I like the new brake switch. Just added it to my wish list. I've been wanting to change mine out.

It is a nice easy little project to do, and in my opinion a much better option for a bike that will possibly get wet. My mechanical switch was starting to squeak and the rod was showing signs of rust.

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

I should get around to installing my banjo bolt brake switch one of these days.

It's one of those easy 15-20 minute projects that you have to motivate yourself to do because it requires draining the brake fluid.