In this video I introduce a new project bike I just picked up. 1972 Suzuki TS250. I do a general overview of the machine. Show how I repaired the front fender, and diagnois a fuel delivery problem.
A really nice old bike Dale & with very low miles, it's good that these bikes are preserved & kept usable. Well spotted on the air fliter. Glad to know I'm not the only one with an affinity for these old bikes.
Wow, this one takes me back. First dirt bike I had when I was about 20 (1970) was a little TS-90 I picked up from the son of one of my Dad's co-workers. He wrecked it, running in to a car. Bent the forks, his knee crushed the gas tank. I bought it for $50 , replaced the forks, put a big sprocket on the back, and rode that thing in the woods for years. I bounced that bike and myself off pretty much every rock, boulder, and tree, and fell into most every creek in Limestone County Alabama before I retired it. I don't think it would do more than 45 mph,, down hill, with a tail wind, but it would pull a stump out of the ground and climb a tree. I loved that little thing. I learned about rotary valves working on that bike, by snipping off the tip end of my middle finger, left hand, spinning it over with that finger down the air port.
Ouch!!! a rotary valve finger cutter, I always think about that when I near that puppy. Great story of the TS90 and you. I think many of us can relate to a similar experience. Those were great bikes and greater times, I'm there with you buddy.
I have no doubts that you will have it looking like new in no time. Looking forward to seeing your work on this project. Have a great weekend and stay safe.
Thanks Dave, I really have to finish some other projects first, but I don't what to, I want to jump in headfirst on this new bike. Decisions, decisions!
Hi Dale, Thanks for another enjoyable video! It feels great when we finally discover what the problem is. I guess you can call it the thrill of the hunt. I had an issue with my DT125A around 1980 where the engine would just die out and shut down. I thought it was fuel starvation. It turned out to be the ignition coil. After the bike ran for a while, the coil would slowly fail and shut the motor off. Once I installed the new coil the problem disappeared. I thought once a coil was faulty the engine wouldn't run at all. Your video reminded me of that time.
Hey Ron, I think your exactly right, there is a bit of excitement to finally solving a problem, especially if it was beating you up bad. I have run into coil issues like that too. Thanks for hanging out with me in the shop.
1972 is correct. Looks similar to my first bike when I turned 16 -- a TS-125. Same color & stripe although the exhaust pipe is different. Those bikes were a blast.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I watched this video today, and the backstory. Been messing with this DT400 for quite some time, long enough that it's embarrasing! And wouldn't you know, leaning it out didn't work, got all the way to a 150 main jet before I realized it was struggling to get AIR!!! I did the dilligent thing and replaced the air filter with a brand spanking new Uni with oil but not too much. And when I finally decided to run it without the filter I was just blown away! Yep, same thing. The Uni filter is two wraps of filter material and it starves the bike of air at high revs. Can't believe I messed with this thing that long before trying the air filter gig. But I'm thinking it was a pretty good test of the crank seals and any other avenues of air getting in! Now after a couple of days of tuning it's running really nice! Thanks Dale for your expertise! I wish I'd have seen this video weeks, yes, weeks ago! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Wow Erik, I certainly know your pain, this one was a lesson in doing the easiest thing first. The guy I bought it from had messed with it for a long time. Then he paid a motorcycle shop to fix it, they couldn't either. It was just by chance that I tried running it without the filter. The silver lining was I got it cheaper because he couldn't fix it. Nice to hear you got yours going and now tuning. Nice work my friend.
Hi, you are correct that the foam goes on the outside of the frame, however the foam does indeed have a closed end and indeed it does go to the bottom. You will note on the lid it has a round section that goes in the open end of the filter.... cheers.
A good fix Dale, what a cracking bike. It's always the last thing on the list. It was probably wise to go through the carb anyway as you found non factory settings. Great video as usual. Best wishes, Dean.
Thanks Dean, yes I still believe the pilot circuit was plugged somewhere. After cleaning it did transition better, just would not rev out under load. But it is the simple things for sure, I almost overlooked the air cleaner.
Another great project! Great tips on O-rings, jet removal and more. The O-ring on the bottom main jet is notorious for causing issues. Amazing how far you got with just a carb clean. And even more amazing how much changed with fixing the air cleaner.
Thanks, yes these are great bikes with impeccable styling. Love the duck bill rear fenders, nothing like it. Thanks for hanging out in the shop with me.
I had a solid orange TS 400 rode it to school and back from football practice, sold it and got an 83 XL 600 I liked the XL 600 better smoother ride less vibration.
Thanks Dale! What an inspiration you are. Love your videos. Have several old dirt bikes in my barn leftover from my kids. Guess it's time to revive em.
Thanks again Don, glad to have you on board, and it's great to see another person out there that is saving and restoring these old machines. Sounds like you have plenty to pick from, the only question is .......which one first. Thanks again for spending time in the shop, it's a safe, fun, and sometimes informative place to be. I am always open to new ways of doing things so if you see something that I may do different or any ideas. Please pass them on.
Bought one brand new in 71 and then son #1 came along and I had to sell it. I just bought the plastic welding kit like the one you have. Haven't used it yet. Good score.
Hey Jack, that is a sad story, but a very well-known one. It's just life. Yes, the plastic welder works great, especially the little stich fasteners. Very solid repair.
That was a really great film Dale, I enjoyed it very much. Even a layman like me could tell the difference when you removed the air filter. It sounded like a totally different machine!
I bought one of these new in about 1974 for £330 sterling. I traded a CZ 175 for it , which was shite. The TS was great, my first Japanese bike and a revelation. I would love to have another but lots of money in the UK these days.
Hi there, yes they are great bikes for sure. I am sure looking forward to working on this one. I have to tell you 15 years ago these bikes were cheap or free in some instances, now they are expensive, and the parts are also, guess its just the sign of the times.
These old suzukis are indestructible.yours is a 72.they came in strip orange and daytona blue in 72. I have a blue 72 25o.i also have a ts90,a tc125 and a ts185.all 72s.😊
Hello Dale from Downunder. My first bike was a second hand 1972 TS 250 which I worked in the first McDonalds in Australia to afford. Absolutely loved my Savage and it took me everywhere and my pillion too. I really would love another even though I have an awesome Yamaha FZ6S S2 Fazer which I'll never part with. I'm retired and a project like yours would bring much pleasure. Keen to follow your progress on the Suzy!
Hey Peter, these are great bikes, and it sounds like you have plenty memories of yours. I just by chance came across this one, had to pay more than I wanted but one of my viewers came up with most of the parts I was missing, at a good price. So, I should be getting back on this one soon with some updates. My wish is that you can find another one to restore and have fun with your retirement. I am sure enjoying my retirement doing what was my first real job, and now I get to do it all again everyday if I want.
@@montana2strokeracer Hello again, Dale. I do indeed have many memories of my first powered form of transport. I rode it to High School in Year 11 in 1975 and pillioned one of my friends who recalled many years later that there was this one corner on the way home that I tried to lean the bike, with my friend on the seat behind me gripping on tenaciously, a little more each day. I had Yokohama rubber on the hoops which were pretty woeful compared to today's offerings. I took the baffles out to make it louder and my girlfriend at the time provided the turn signals with her outstretched arms when I tapped her knees, as I had no blinkers when I purchased the bike from a friend. She also always leaned in the wrong direction as I rode around corners. I took a day off school too, to ride on a vacant bike track and ended up in an empty creek bed with the bike on top of me. So fortunate I wasn't injured. Also recall my first attempt to lift the front wheel over a jump and fell backwards hitting the back of my (borrowed) helmet and cracking it. Yes fun days indeed. I even rode my bike to University and loved riding and working on it constantly. Would love to secure a good example but.....
Have you ever tried Time sert for spark plug threads? It's pricey, but it works fantastic. They have specific spark plug kits. I love the new bike videos. I have a 73 Pine green. It's my favorite. I dirt bike it. I took the taillight off. I think I still have it. It wasn't pretty but it was there. I didn't want to destroy any furter it if I wasn't using it.
Hi there, I have not tried the Timeserts, I am already set up for Heli-coils so that is the best route for me. But I'm sure there are some better methods out there. I really like this 72, I also have the 75 and just like the earlier ones better.... eye candy, I guess. Think this is going to be a nice project, can't wait to get started on it. Thanks for spending your time in the shop with me.
Hi Daniel, this one has a seam on top of the tank, but it has the 72 stripes, it was made 10/71. Think it's the end of the year left over parts bike. LOL
@@montana2strokeracer sure does, my race bike was the 1969 ts-250 with lots of speed mods. have to love the big old 2 strokers. soft spot for the monsters 400cc and up widow makers. Maico,CZ, Huskys.
Thanks to that air cleaner problem, you now have a very clean carburetor. As you said, probably a combo. Enjoyed the video. How do you clean the carburetor so well?
Yes, Mark thinks you are right, it was a combination of the two problems. Sure, didn't hurt anything. I use an ultra-sonic cleaner with Simple green Pro. If I need a harsher cleaner, I simply put it in a peanut butter jar with the parts to be cleaned and put it in the water and simple green pro solution. Works great and you don't have to change solutions back and forth, unless of course you can get your part in that small container. Hey thanks for spending time in the shop with me.
Yeh" thats a 1972 TS250J - The side panel is a badge type, with checkered backdrop. the rear light is the big double bubble type, with reflectors on the side ,[ rare,],
Thank you for your response, this is all great stuff to know. I am trying to find parts I need but think it will be a hard row to hoe. I do have a taillight of a RV90, it looks like what you described but it only has one bulb but has the two reflectors on the sides. Problem is I don't have the correct bracket to mount it. I have found a side cover and will look for the emblem. Thanks again lots of help.
got a confusing problem, I bought a 1974 suzuki ts250 stock main jet is a 160,but it will only run good with a 110,bigger then a 120 it won't, plug looks nice and tan with the 110 jet,any ideas thanks
Hey Jim, wow that is a perplexing issue, just looked up your model, if you have the TS250 A (standard round slide Carb) 180 is the standard main jet. If yours is the TS250K (push pull carb) 160 is standard. Two things come to mind first, is it the correct carb for the bike, or has someone installed a larger carb on it. Next what is your altitude? The higher the smaller jet required. If all that is correct then my next thing to look at would be your exhaust, if it is plugged up then the engine knows it can't get rid of all that extra burned fuel, so it just boggs or dies. The first thing I would do is pull the baffle and spark arrestor, then see if it will run with the proper main jet, if not go further and burn out the pipe to clear it of whatever is in there. Hope this gives you something to try and a solution. Let me know what you find. Thanks for watching the channel.
Dale, I believe it to be a 71. I had a well used 71 TS 2250 when I was very young. Mine was green with black tank striping. It was one of the greatest machines I ever owned. Unfortunately mine was taken to the dump shortly after I left home, I never saw it again. The TS 250 is great content for future videos, we look forward to watching you fix it all up when you get to it. Thanks again for sharing, you keep all our old memories alive!
Jeff......that's a sad story man. Took it to the dump!!! I think it will make a good project also. The tag on the steering neck says it was built 10/71. So, I believe you are correct. Jap bikes in my experience start their new build year on January 1st. Not like American cars that start in October.
I'm a 65 year old Kiwi and had a TS250 when I was 16. I still ride and that Suzie was one of the best fun bikes I have ever owned. I used to be able to wheelstand it in 3rd gear for 100 metres or more - way more on a beach. Rode in on road, dirt, sand, in forests. Brilliant machine. Mine was red. I think someone had repainted it with a paintbrush! No badges. Huge knobblies. I thought I was VERY cool. Started 2nd kick every time. Never 1st, but never 3rd. I miss 2 strokes. Maybe I should start looking before the green police shut us down.
Man, it just takes so long to get a video up these days. I started uploading at 5pm and it wasn't up till 1030pm. Thats nuts. Have you noticed the same?
