Looking forward to your next trip to Ontario John. Hopefully the stable will still be full of interesting stuff.
I’ve always been fond of the look of the twin leading shoe front brake. I’ll make sure mine will be all cleaned up soon.
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New project : 1975 Suzuki T500 Titan
- Thread starter bosco659
- Start date
Just read this. Interesting. Thx for sharing.
I need to replace fuel and oil lines. Seems Mr Suzuki thought 5.5mm would be better than 1/4” or 3/16”. I usually use Tygon tube but I’m doubting I can find it in 7/32” ID. The beetle also uses 5.5mm and I bought some for that application. The VW stuff is fairly thick rubber with a cloth cover (apoears to be German thing - BMW uses the same. Any recommendations for fuel line sources. I suppose I could try to squeeze down the 1/4” or stretch the 3/16” but would rather find a better fitting solution.
A bit more research and looks like it’s a common size on Honda. I’ve yet to find a domestic source for it though.
A bit more research and looks like it’s a common size on Honda. I’ve yet to find a domestic source for it though.
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I know I said I wasn’t going to work on it until the winter but it kept calling my name. Done today:
- carbs off - actually clean inside but I’ll give them the once over anyway
- repaired RR signal light - wouldn’t tighten in the proper position do I had to disassemble it to fix that. The reflector wasn’t reflecting anymore so a quick clean and spray with chrome in a can made it look better.
- tried cleaning the pipes but I might be stuck with the nastiness. On the way home from the cottage I stopped by to see a guy I know and returned with a couple of pipes with better chrome but more dents.
- replaced the ill fitting oil line - I decided to stretch 3/16 Tygon
- compression test - happy with the results.
- this bike was owned by a mechanic. Lots of shoddy workmanship found a several loose bolts already. A once over is definitely in order.
I’ll try to order some carb bits. Main thing is bowl gaskets. The rest looks good. I like the simplicity of the Mikuni VM slide carbs.
It’s starting to look better already. I’m going to try polishing the top of the tank. It may shine up enough to keep me happy. Fingers crossed.
- carbs off - actually clean inside but I’ll give them the once over anyway
- repaired RR signal light - wouldn’t tighten in the proper position do I had to disassemble it to fix that. The reflector wasn’t reflecting anymore so a quick clean and spray with chrome in a can made it look better.
- tried cleaning the pipes but I might be stuck with the nastiness. On the way home from the cottage I stopped by to see a guy I know and returned with a couple of pipes with better chrome but more dents.
- replaced the ill fitting oil line - I decided to stretch 3/16 Tygon
- compression test - happy with the results.
- this bike was owned by a mechanic. Lots of shoddy workmanship found a several loose bolts already. A once over is definitely in order.
I’ll try to order some carb bits. Main thing is bowl gaskets. The rest looks good. I like the simplicity of the Mikuni VM slide carbs.
It’s starting to look better already. I’m going to try polishing the top of the tank. It may shine up enough to keep me happy. Fingers crossed.
I think this is going to be a great survivor / rider bike. Even with my OCD cleaning and shining compulsion, I think I’d be doing just the same as you. It should be great fun to scoot around on……..mmmmm……I love the smell of Bardahl in the morning! 
Was going to call it a night but thought I’d take a run at cleaning one of the head pipes. Looks good enough for 51 years old!
Try a Brillo or SOS pad on the chrome. I think you'll like the results.
Brillo and SOS are 000 steel wool and soap.
My experience is the soap does a better job than WD40. You get almost no scratching.
Do you get Brasso or Silvo stateside? It's like cotton wadding impregnated with polish - really good at shining up metal, no scratching. Silvo would be the one for chrome. Recommended.
steve zodiac
XS650 Enthusiast
I have owned my 71 T500j for the past 30 years. They are a very good & reliable bike.
With strong torque.
But beware! If your's has been standing idle for any length of time, the crankshaft oil seals will be shot. I have just paid £700. Sterling to have my crankshaft rebuilt.
The centre bearings get their lubrication from the gearbox. So if the seals fail, oil will be sucked from the gearbox destroying 4th & 5th gears.
Good luck with your project.
With strong torque.
But beware! If your's has been standing idle for any length of time, the crankshaft oil seals will be shot. I have just paid £700. Sterling to have my crankshaft rebuilt.
The centre bearings get their lubrication from the gearbox. So if the seals fail, oil will be sucked from the gearbox destroying 4th & 5th gears.
Good luck with your project.
We used to be able to buy both Brasso and Silvio here decades ago for sure - Mom used to use Silvo to shine up her good cutlery. I’ll look to see if it’s still for sale around here. I can still remember the smell.
Edit - both still sold here.
I had a T500 as a 17 year old. It was going through tranny oil. Sold it on with a warning about keeping the tranny oil full. Advice ignored, the tranny ate itself. Didn't know about the devious crank bearing lube scheme.....
I'll just rouse some rabble... ;^)
I rekon the bike would have more grunt to tow the car & trailer..... Just sayin'
Bob Wegman
XS650 Addict
I may be mistaken but, I think a T500 Suzuki ridden by Ron Pierce was the first 2 stroke motorcycle to win a national road race. Maybe at Sears Point.
I met a guy this morning who had first hand knowledge of the mechanical history of my bike. The engine rebuild included new main bearings, new crank seals, nee pistons, rings and rods. Hopefully this will be s good runner! Carb bowl gaskets on their way. I may do the carb refresh over the next couple of days.
Aw, c'mon, you've landed a good un there.
I gave one carb a bath today in the ultrasonic cleaner. When blowing out the passages with compressed air I detected a leak that I need to address. In the attached picture when blowing air into the bottom right hole, the bottom left side hole that’s plugged with a steel ball leaks quite a bit. I’d like to seal it up and wondered what the recommended remedial action would be. Should I try to tap the ball in deeper into the recess or just apply some sealer to the visible gap? If sealer is the chosen fix, what should I use? In the old days we used to seal carbs up with nail polish. Options I can think of are:
- Permatex aviation sealer
- Yamabond
- Krazy glue
- a small blob of JB Weld
- Loctite retaining compound
What would you do?
- Permatex aviation sealer
- Yamabond
- Krazy glue
- a small blob of JB Weld
- Loctite retaining compound
What would you do?
