Can I Get This Pile of Parts Running in One Day? 

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This will probably get lost in the comments, but I wanted to thank Dan for asking Craig questions. As a hobby mechanic, it helps me learn. I’m so thankful for Craig and his projects!

The thing I love about Craig is he’s not just a part swapper. He doesn’t buy a bunch of new parts and just replace things. He understands how bikes work and is able to make it work with what he’s got. Hats off!

You're not an idiot, Craig. Watching you figure out the puzzle IS the draw. If you had everything you needed all tidy and laid out it'd be a bunch less fun. These "challenge" videos are great BECAUSE of the unknowns involved. Seeing you MacGyver your way through turning a box of regret into a runner is SOOooo awesome.

Damn, I bet Craig would be a KILLER teacher. I know NOTHING about motorcycles or cars yet I can’t stop watching these videos. Craig and Dan’s chemistry is amazing and I feel like, even though I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about motorcycles, I am learning something. I am mostly entertained but it feels like I am subconsciously learning. Like one day I am gonna over hear people talking about not know what’s wrong with their bike and something will click in my brain and I’ll know how to help. 🤷🏻‍♂️

I bought a year old Kawasaki 250 in 1976. After a minor crash, I took off most of the metal parts and replaced them with Preston Petty stuff. I lowered the rear shocks a bit, and increased the fork travel with a kit. I went with a size over piston because the injector for the oil died which scarred the cylinder. So, I just started premixing the gas. I rode it all over the hills of San Diego when I was in the USN when I wasn’t on duty. I finally took it to the family NC farm and left it there around ‘78. On my yearly or so vacations to visit the folks, I would pull it out of the barn, pour in some chain saw mixed gas, and within three kicks, it would start. I had to clean the mice nests out of the air cleaner usually! The old two strokes were simple and fun. Thanks for the memories!

This is AAA gearhead porn! Sooo satisfying to see it go from a decades old abandoned exposed lower end in a frame, to roller, to smoker. All in one video with good people turning the wrench and camera! Love this channel, Craig and Dan. You guys are awesome. Don't change a thing!

Buddy an old trick we used to do back in the day is if it had a copper gasket heat it up over a flame as soon as it turned a copper reddish colour quench it strait away in water and walla it can be compressed.perfectly again .. Regards from Dublin Ireland 😁👍

I'm working on my 1977 IT175 today. That bike is so much fun. I'd definitely watch a video of you restoring and racing that 79'

Craig. These early Yamahas were the essence of simplicity. The electrics were basic. One coil in the magneto was the ignition source coil. The other with about three tappings, was for charging the battery via a rectifier and provide lighting. The first models did not even have turn signals ! I believe that the one you have is the DT2, as it carries a reed-valve. The first model, the DT1 had none, and was piston-ported. Sounds the same though. In the early 70s I had a CT1, 175cc similar, but smaller of course. Now you can do some serious work on it, to make it rideable. Great ! Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.

To see this bike go from a pile of boxes and a frame to a “running” bike is awesome. Would like to see this bike completed and even raced. Maybe just a good days ride on some trails.

always good to see a old bike fire up when everyone would have thought it was going to the scrap yard .

this is the content i love to see, because i also love to find a big cheap pile of parts thats supposed to be a motorcycle, and putting it back together is the most fun part. i have a 1969 yamaha ycs1c that i got in similar condition and is almost fully back together now.

Absolutely love those old bikes Craig. You are correct late 70's to mid 80's were great DT bikes that were built like tanks. Me being 56 years Young couldn't agree more. Great content and editing as usual. Have a great weekend!

Great haircut Craig. I also have a 1974 Yamaha that I'm fixing, but mine is a GT80. Fun to wrench on since they are simple.

Another great one. I do love vintage Yamaha. Currently have a Wave Raider 701 on my bench. Pulled out of the weeds on a beach, changed the fuel and she fires up! Working on changing all the fuel and water hoses now, and rebuilding or replacing the carbs.

Yes we want to see you restore the 175! Please show us some race footage too! Your content is great. Keep it up as I'm always waiting for the next one.

I have all the confidence in you. If Dr. Frankenstein could build a good working humanoid, out of leftovers and a corpse I know you........ 💀 Disregard this was a really bad example!

These were the bikes of my high-school days. They were everywhere. My buddy had one of these that he often took dirt-biking with me while I rode an early yz. Yes. Easy to work on. Top end overhaul not much harder than changing a tire so not a big deal. At least - that's how we saw it. I so miss two stroke bikes. Even the smell of my weed whacker often brings back memories of two stroke ridding fun. Another good one. Hope you find it a good home after fixing it up - or keep it. Cheers. 👍

Definitely need to see a full race prep and race weekend video of the IT175. Building bikes is fun but racing them is a different kind of fun and more people need to see how accessible and fun racing is.

Pretty awesome of you guys letting Carolyn use the Sherf bike! You kids rock!

We absolutely want to see a rebuild of the 175! What an awesome future build. Loving the new channel Brother.

Nice job. It’s a great feeling when the bike springs to life again.

Great video Craig (& Dan, the man), you guys are an entertaining duo, with loads of 'how to' &, 'how no to' info on rebuilding or just getting old bike parts thrown together to work, after years of abandonment. I absolutely love, &, live for this stuff. I do my fair share of getting old bikes (or motors) running again. The excitement of hearing it fire up again after many years is what it's all about

Always a great start to the day when you get to watch Craig do stuff...

Great video guys, what a smell that must have been! A million thumbs up, can't wait to see it complete

AWESOME video Craig and Dan, great to hear that old DT250 running again, hope to see you finish the bike and do a bit of off roading on it, all the best guys 👍👍

Similar to your tape to get the nut down where your fingers don't reach is to magnetise your Longreach socket by winding some copper wire around it & running a quick "zap" of current from a battery through it. This will hold the nut inside the socket so you can get it started. Another little trick for those impossible to reach spark plugs is to cut a piece of garden hose, or plastic tube, to the length required & push the plug into it. If you need to you can soften the end of the hose( or plastic tube) with some hot water so that it fits over the "nut" portion of the plug to get it started & screwed in finger tight so you can then get your socket onto it.😁.

Never knew about the piston ring gap. Thank you for that information.

Epic! My first bike was a '72 DT250 when I was 12. Thank you for this, Craig!

Wow, nice work getting the bike rebuilt and running.

YES, i would like to see you work on the IT175! I bought a brand new '79 when i was 14 with my newspaper - gas station money, and I have an '82 IT250 now that I'm 59, that's pretty worn out. That's something we have in common i guess lol.

You are a lucky guy Craig. Getting an old motorcycle to start gets you screaming and laughing like a five year old on Christmas morning! Simple pleasures are a great thing.

Thank you for doing this, old yamaha's never truly die. God bless the US of A and this bearded mechanic. Keep em comming. ❤🙏🇺🇲🏍

“Let’s get it running nothing else matters.” Craig says. I give you credit! My problem is I take them complete apart, clean everything up, repaint then start putting it back together. I need to start doing it your way so I can enjoy them a little first!

Brings back so many memories around my only brand new bike. Bought that 250 in 1975 from Dahlgren Yamaha in Abilene, Texas. I would remove the lights and speedometer for dirt riding, then put it back together and drive it to work. I put a little over 15,000 miles on it before I sold it to a local college student in 1979. Great machine!

These restoration/rebuild videos are my favorite

I always wonder what I love about these videos so much, and its the pure joy from in front and behind the camera when it finally fires. Hits different.

Amazing that you were able to put together that box of parts. Great video

I basically whelp every time you post. I love seeing old PA shed bikes get revived. I'm in NW PA but I grew up more towards your end and it's awesome to see you cruise the fields once they're up and running.

Craig with a fresh cut and TWO carburetors!! What a world to be living in. 😂

Craig, please get this thing correct, in time. I'm old and remember those old DT250's. They were really awesome bikes. Love what you're doing. Keep it up...

"I'll be dipped." Just too adorable.

Yah, at least one of us watching this channel 😁

You made it look easy

This took me back to when I first learned to wrench on a 1972 Yamaha CT-2. Good work Craig!

My brother had one of those (DT250A) in the same colour and I bought a later model of the same bike (DT250E) as my first 'road' bike after I got my licence. Great bikes! BTW I vote for a restore of the IT. I had an IT425G that I traded my DT for way back then and recently traded my IT490K for a boat because I have bad knees and had trouble starting the 490.

I'm in Philly with an XS650 chopper with an electrical problem. I'll buy you guys all cheesesteaks if you come and help me get it running!

Congrats Greg on getting that pile to work a sign of a true motorcycle mechanic.

I’d love to see a restoration on the 175

Craig, Dan you guys are awesome. I'm tickled, motivated, and educated all at once. When I get my 98 Softail running (been in the elements dead in the water for three years, it was a gift). I really like this bike and would really love to ride it REALLY.

The answer is YES! yes we want to see you rebuild the race bike.

Of course, I wanna see you getting the dirt bike working and going for a ride, bro. 👍🏼

I love your channel Craig! You are a true mechanic🤘🏻Your thought process, sense of humor and passion for fixing the stuff that other so called mechanics scoff at or make up excuses as to why they can't fix is awesome. We're definitely cut from the same cloth my brother 😂 Thanks for doing what you do. 👍🏻 Love your IT 175. I have a soft spot for the IT's too. My last project was an 1980 IT 425. Talk about a beast 😂

Craig has brought back memories from 1974 when I bought a brand new YAMAHA DT175 trail bike, as where I lived at the time could cut through a forest and then fields on my way to work on better days, it was not a lot quicker route but so much more fun way to go to and from work. Always had a "soft spot" for older trail bikes YAMAHAS. Now many years later with old age I buy Motor Scooters to restore as I am 75 and disabled but tell folks If I can ride on my disabled buggy I can ride on modern automatic motor Scooters - LOL but always have at least one folding walking stick with me. 2 wheeling never goes away, you just adapt and still enjoy. Thanks for the video. Ian - England UK

Craig and Dan make an awesome team!

Freaking awesome, love seeing other people who love the joy of getting old 2 smokers going again!

Yes to the IT175 would love it!!

Craig, you can tell you really enjoy your work, love your videos, man keep it up

Nice work Craig I love seeing these older bikes going from random part boxes transform into a working running bike.

It always makes my day seem Craig and Dan making a bike start. Keep up the good work, fellas!

Great work looks like it came together easy. Now to totally rebuild it. I would love to see a vid start to finish rebuild of the entire bike.

I restored a 1978 GT80 that my former boss has. It was his first motorcycle as a kid. Loved the experience and it pushed my skills as it required the case to be split and replaced.

So happy to have started the RU-vid journey with him. First time waiting for another video :)

Watched since bikes & beards Craig, my father, a navy veteran, got diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014 and stopped riding his bike. Has been sitting. Ever since He just passed away last month, I received his motorcycle a 2012 roadglide.I have MS, but I think I could turn it into a trike. So I could ride it any suggestions or advice from you. Would be priceless. Thanks & keep your knees in the breeze.

"and girl. I think there's one of you that watches this channel." I feel called out.❤❤❤

Much respect for bringing another 2 stroke back to life.

Watching you work is an absolute treat Craig!!!! Love your content ❤

Hi Craig and Dan, Man y’all really make a Great Team. I have learned Tons from watching you work on Bikes Craig. That’s amazing putting a Parts Bike together and having it Running in 2-3 Hours. That would make a Great complete Restore Bike. I really appreciate the way you explain everything as you’re doing it. Dan is really learning also. Thanks for making these Videos, and I always look forward to the next one.👍👍

You guys are fun to watch. Lots of good comments and humor.

Subbed. Anyone who can put one of these together out a box of parts deserves mores sub's. Love that era of bikes, the ones I grew up with. As you pointed out their so simple to work on and very basic, but that's makes them so bullet proof and will outlast an old fella like me. Well done Graig, hats off to you 👍🏼🇦🇺

Got a 78' Dt250 with the mono shock last year, upgraded it to a vape ignition and some fiberglass reeds and it really woke the bike up. Super fun bike to rip around on the street or trails, now that I'm talking about it I kind of want to take it out on a ride lol! p.s. I know you know this but @10:51 Compression, Fuel, Spark and the less commonly mentioned proper Timing 😉

I love seeing old motorcycles, even more than cars and trucks, being brough back to life. Great content Craig.

I love those old bikes...I grew up riding something similar....I loved riding in the woods behind my house...the sad thing is all the woods are gone.

My fav video by far. The technical stuff with the old timers warms my heart and gets my brain mooooving.

Quick tip, when I put 2 strokes together Iike to put 1 wrist pin clip in before i install the piston so only have to do one at an awkward angle.

I really enjoy your content, i ride and wrench. so seeing these old, neglected bikes being brought back to life is awesome!

Yes please! Bring the old dirtbike videos!

Long live project bikes!!!!!!😅

Please finish this bike as well, such a great starting point!!

after finding this channel i finally felt confident enough to get a project bike, picked up a 97 yamaha virago a few weeks ago haha a non runner and been wrenching on it when i get a chance and finally last week i brought it back to life., it shall see the road again soon

This reminds me of a Michael Sabo video. Where someone has donated an ATV in buckets and he rebuilds it. Some of my favorite types of videos

Somebody on another channel called "bikes and beards" is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on motorbikes whereas you re just keeping it real and I love your channel for that LOL 😊😊

Loving the 2-stroke content man!🎉

And 2 years from now, "remember that bike we got running a couple of years ago, here's part 2."

Tape in the socket, never thought of it! Thanks for sharing!

I don’t comment often on YT, I kept getting recommended another channel and apparently there’s a parent YT channel. No disrespect but I will have to say this channel is a gem, and I prefer it over the parent YT channel. Thanks for sharing.

Been loving this channel. Would love to start becoming more knowledgeable with how motorcycles work. It would be great if he has a series that thought you about how bikes work from top to bottom.

This reminded me when i decided to restore my uncle's 1987 Honda XR 250R. Thing had been collecting dust in the same spot for 22 years but after a fluid change and refill of gas that MF started right up with less than 4 kicks. That made me realise that old school japanesse bikes are on another level of longevity .

Did you find this in Bridgeport Ohio? A local Legend Chris Bommer had one of these i almost bought years ago sitting in his shed. He passed away a few years ago. He used to race for years. The story lines up perfect and its the exact same color!

Its great to see an old bike back running again

The Bear Mech returns with another victorious win! Gooooo Craig! And Cameraman Dan! He's so cool. I think you have what it takes to become a revolutionary!

Yes please IT restoration and all the classic dirt bikes you can find. Thanks for the videos.

Definitely my favcourite channel. Love it, love the interaction and enthusiasm....learning is fun!

Don't know if anyone else mentioned it, but a few videos back you were complaining about the flashlight not having a magnet on the bottom. Harbor Freight sells them and I've been happy with mine for a year or two. Plus the price is right!

I love watching your channel called the bearded maniac

It just never gets old, does it? When that old barn find engine comes to life again against all odds; if 40 weight runs through your veins its like winning the Super Bowl!

Way to be Craig. Glad to find your energy on your own RU-vid channel & it's better to see YOU NOT GETTING RIPPED ON CONSTANTLY .

Never had a doubt in your skill Craig.

My favorite bike is the 74 DT 250. Craig you are the man. Also had a 78. DT is my favorite bikes wish I had one