Project The Neglected Honda project...

Try Dubbin neutral, recommended by our good Dr. Murdo.
It also works a treat on faded plastics on your bike..........Highly recommend

 

I'll give that a shot. It's like the top surface is flaking off a bit, the vinyl isn't cracked but it's definitely been sun exposed.

 

I gave an old vinyl seat a good scrub with hot water and plain old dish washing liquid, then gave it a rub with autoglym Vinyl&rubber care once a day for about a week, and its come up nice and moist and soft, but not greasy.

 

Just a thought maybe try rubbing in some lithium grease, let it sit for a few minutes then wipe back off. It seems to work for old switch blocks etc

 

I did get an interesting result with tyre shine. see how long it lasts haha

 

I'd be more worried about how long you would be sitting on the seat for

 

Any tips for removing reinstalling the cam chain tensioner?

 

Yep, it's easy. Undo the middle bolt to take the spring tension out. Remember how it came out so it can go back in. Unbolt the two on either side and pull it out. Look for how far out the arm is extended, if it's fully out your cam chain is probably stuffed. If it's not then you're in luck.

Just don't turn the engine over or try to start it when it's out or you'll mess up your timing because you'll start skipping teeth on internal sprockets where you don't want to skip teeth.

 

When you say cam chain do you mean chain or CCT?

If its the chain i will need to disassemble the whole cylinder, wont i?

 

The cam chain seemed plenty tight when i handled it.. If i insert a screw driver into the screw hole and turn i can get the bolt thing to retract and i can feel the spring is strong.

 

To determine if your chain is stretched, it's how far out the lever arm is protruded once you remove the tension and pull it out (with no spring it shouldn't push out any further). If it's extended to it's limit (or close to it) the cam chain is probably gone.

No you don't necessarily have to disassemble the whole engine, just get to the camshafts which is basically the valve cover only but it's a job you need to be careful with (you need to understand timing, how to feed the chain through, have a chain breaker etc etc.