It's ALIIIVE! (old school bike)

[Crunkrich]

I've had this bike for about 2 years now, bought it from my neighbor for $125. 1974 Yamaha MX175



I had ridden it before the previous summer and it ran great, but when he sold it to me the bike didn't have any spark. So began the process of figuring out wtf was the problem.

First I replaced the ignition coil, nothing happen. Put the old coil back on, and it fired up So I was pretty pumped about that, I guess? Then a few days later it wouldn't start, lost the spark again.

This time I pulled the magneto cover off and inspected the pulsar which was a bit corroded so I tried to clean it up and still nothing. Bike went into the barn not to come out for a whiiile.

Fast forward two years (last week) and I decided to screw with it again. This time I took a dremel to the contacts on the pulsar, carefully taking off the corrosion til it was clean metal. Put it back together, and we had ignition!!!



Next day, no spark. f*ck.

Tinkered with the pulsar again, changed the spark plug, ignition!!!!!

Next day, no spark.

At this point I was getting pretty pissed off that I couldn't figure out the problem, and I knew it had to be something on the pulsar, so earlier today I dug out the rtv crap covering the two wire connections on the pulsar.... low and behold there were only TWO STRANDS of one wire still connected. So whenever I pretty much touched the wires, it connected/disconnected/connected whatever.



So I busted out the soldering iron, redid both connections, and whah-la! I got spark

Hopefully I got the problem completely solved now, knock on wood.

test run through the backyard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_O4W5t88ms

[Otto.]

Looks like a fun bike for an excellent price. Glad you got it running again.

[seang]

Cool looking old bike. It kind of reminds me of this '73 DT 175 Enduro that I saw on Craigslist the other day, they were asking $700. I was drooling, and thought it would be a good beginner bike for short road trips and minor off road stuff, but I was only Joe-Dirting it by looking because I don't have $700 or even the $600 that I would probably have tried to offer him.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Very cool!

Weird timing for this thread, too. I was just about to post a thread asking if anyone knows where we can find rear shocks (or a place that'll rebuild the shocks) for my dad's '73 Yamaha 250 enduro.

Is the 175 self-mixing like the 250?

[Crunkrich]

Call Speed and Sport in Pennsylvania, they deal with new parts for vintage yamaha bikes. I was going to get a pulsar from there if I couldn't fix mine. 866-455-6831

Thanks! and yeah the 175 is self mixing, you have any pics of your dad's enduro?

[Crunkrich]

http://www.starmotorcycles.com....aspx

for finding exact part numbers

[MaximA32]

I need to figure out wtf is going on with mine/my brother R6. I'm pretty sure the ignition is messed up and a good chance the fuel pump is done as well.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Call Speed and Sport in Pennsylvania, they deal with new parts for vintage yamaha bikes. I was going to get a pulsar from there if I couldn't fix mine. 866-455-6831

Thanks! and yeah the 175 is self mixing, you have any pics of your dad's enduro?

I think I have some at home...if not I'll grab some the next time we take it out (might be a while considering it's snowing right now ). It still runs BEAUTIFULLY. Starts on the first kick every year. Smokes for a couple minutes and then cleans right up. Only things that don't work are the speedo, tach, and rear shocks.

I'll definitely check that place out. Riding on harsh/uneven terrain can get pretty spooky with no rear shocks.

[numbnuts240]

I pulled the magneto cover off and inspected the pulsar

just because nissan doesn't make bikes doesn't mean we're moto-ignorant. you know you made that s*** up

[Crunkrich]

just because nissan doesn't make bikes doesn't mean we're moto-ignorant. you know you made that s*** up

huh? crankcase cover, where the magneto and pulsar are. happy now?

[Crunkrich]

I think I have some at home...if not I'll grab some the next time we take it out (might be a while considering it's snowing right now ). It still runs BEAUTIFULLY. Starts on the first kick every year. Smokes for a couple minutes and then cleans right up. Only things that don't work are the speedo, tach, and rear shocks.

I'll definitely check that place out. Riding on harsh/uneven terrain can get pretty spooky with no rear shocks.

Hell yeah, and who needs a speedo lol.

I've wanted a 70's DT400 for a long time, i'd have the best combo of old school bikes

[numbnuts240]

huh? crankcase cover, where the magneto and pulsar are. happy now?

that's more like it

good deal getting it going, i love when annoying problems turn out to be easy, and free, fixes.

[Crunkrich]

Yeah I'm psyched about it, enough to make the lady problems not so important haha.

I just pissed off my first neighbor its a wee bit loud, eh?

[r34 gtr]

That is really cool. You would have to be crazy not to buy that for $125. I'll bet its fast as hell, right?

I have a 1980 Yamaha YZ50 I picked up from a fellow NICO member. Its so much damn fun.

[hatedinthemind]

Thats awesome