Hi guys, thanks for the comments! You wanted more so here goes!
The bike was bought in June last year to try and keep me busy during COVID. It had come to the U.K. from the US, sometime earlier in the year and had apparently been stood rusting and gathering dust since 1984.
It came to me in a fairly poor state as a non runner as it was missing the carbs and the air boxes. The tank had rotted through from the inside and looked a bit like tissue paper, however I could see it had some potential as most of the important bits were there.
It was decided that it needed the full works so it was stripped down to the bare bones. Everything that should have been zinc plated, was re plated with the correct zinc, including spokes and nipples. The frame and anything else which should be black was sent to the powder coater for blasting and re finishing.
Thankfully, the seller found the carbs for it but not the air boxes so I sourced the air boxes from the US along with a really great tank still on its original paint!
The carbs were in a shocking condition and had been left full of fuel for years which had corroded one of them really badly and the two float posts had disappeared.
These carbs were hard to find so I set about repairing the badly damaged one by making and fitting new posts which worked our really well! (Served my time as a toolmaker!)
Next the engine needed some TLC. It was nipped up when I got it with standing for so long but it soon freed off and the motor was completely stripped, checked, and rebuild with a hone to the bores and new rings/cam chain etc.
The top end was sent for vapour blasting before being rebuilt with re ground valves etc.
Engine was then totally rebuilt after first having the top half case repainted in silver. Every single gasket and seal was replaced. Starter motor was rebuilt and fitted then motor was ready to go in the frame.
From this point it was fairly plain sailing. Wheels rebuilt with new tyres, clock covers re chromed and it would soon be a rolling chassis.
Here is a photo of every single nut, bolt and washer etc from a TX650 just back from zinc plating!
Now with engine in as a rolling chassis, we’re getting there.
And then, just about finished with a few finishing touches required.
All in all I’m really please with how it turned out. Next winter it will have every chrome item re chromed as the original patina let’s it down a bit. I like it so much that I bit the bullet and bought a new replica exhaust system for it from Mikes XS in the US! Gulp!
I have knee problems so I always lower and move forward the footrests on all my bikes as you can see so I also recently found a longer gear lever for it as well which makes it more comfortable for me to ride with the pegs now 50mm down and 45mm forward.
Here it is after its first 100 mile shakedown run. No problems other than I opted for a different set of disc pads in the front and I may start looking for a second disc and calliper to butch up the brakes a little.
All the blue paint on the bike is original by Yamaha from 1973, never re painted just lovingly cleaned and polished.
I have a number of bikes in the stable but I’m pretty sure this is so good for me it will be keeping the others company for years to come!
I know this is only a brief description of works but it gives you a general idea at least! If you need anymore images of specific things, I have many!
Regards
Pete.