New battery for the Yamaha

[billcu]

I hope to try to try to start it tomorrow. It's a 350cc 2 stroke 2 cylinder. It's the R5 model.

I've had it since the 70's when I stopped riding it.

It looks better in the photo, it's very rusty on top of the gas tank and everywhere. A genuine survivor.

 

[steve]

That guy Frank from the show American pickers will give you $250 for it

 

[billcu]

That guy Frank from the show American pickers will give you $250 for it

Yeah probably, they need to make a profit.

I read that they go for 1-2 thousand for a nice one.

I paid 300 for it back in the 70's.

 

[steve]

If it starts he may go to $300, LOL

 

[billcu]

It's alive!:thumbsup:

I cleaned out the gas tank, sanded and set the dual points, cleaned the plugs, and kicked the kick starter until my foot hurts, and it finally started.

I rode it down the road a bit, it seems to run fine, but it still needs a lot of work and cleaning.

I put some extra oil in the gas, so it smokes a lot, but it starts on the first kick now.

 

[billcu]

I cleaned it up some and took a video of it idling today.

https://youtu.be/LTB0lTTJ0_M

 

[sam60]

What a sweet bike! :thumbsup:

 

[steve]

Sounds like an old farm hit-and-miss engine lol

 

[billcu]

Thanks guys.

Having 2 cylinders, it does idle different than a single cylinder, 2 stroke engine, but it's always been a smooth running engine.

A hit-and-miss engine in a motorcycle sounds like a great idea, those are great engines.

I cleaned the binnacle today.

 

[tixer]

Looks great, Bill.

Keep scrubbing.. WD-40 is surprisingly good at removing light rust from chrome..

 

[billcu]

I almost forgot how much chrome this bike has.

Another before and after.

 

[tixer]

Yes!

Now /that/ is a satisfying kind of clean... Excellent work there, Bill.

 

[billcu]

Thanks Mike. It looks better in the photos, it's pretty much all pitted.

I'm working on getting the carbs off now, the float valves are leaking pretty bad.

 

[tixer]

Hopefully those carb kits are available, and cheap.

That's a great little bike. It's easy to imagine myself cruising around town on something like that.

 

[billcu]

Finally made it back to this project. I bought new tires, I didn't trust the 30+year old tires.

Had to buy another battery, and I got new plates for it yesterday.

 

[tixer]

Good call on the new tires. Did you go with the "V" rated?


I assume those aren't real expensive, anyway?

 

[mag]

Good call on the new tires. Did you go with the "V" rated?


I assume those aren't real expensive, anyway?

I don't believe that bike will doing 149 MPH unless Bill has a little Evel Knievel in him.

 

[germansheperd]

My son rides a Yamaha as well

 

[tixer]

That thing looks pretty wicked!

 

[billcu]

The kid looks pretty wicked too.:thumbsup:

I forgot to post, I replaced the float valves in the carbs last fall, and it's been running great since. Here's a pic of the carbs once I got them off.