1974 Yamaha TX-500.....Rebuild time!!

AzHonda

Coast to Coast
I bought this the other day. I was on the hunt for over a year for a TX750 or a XS650. I ended up with a TX-500. Why? Because XS models never show up for sale out here and a TX model well, this was the first I have seen in three years.
It was like it was meant to be. Saterday morning I sold and old rifle to fund a new project bike purchase. I had been hawking Craigslist for weeks in hopes of finding something cool like another CB/CL project. Started looking for a KZ or GS for something different. In my mind I was always keeping an eye out for a TX/XS bike but never found any. So, after selling the gun I went home hopped on Craigslist for a quick look because we had to get ready to go to a B-day party for my little girls friend. Sure enough a TX500 was posted just minutes before I got on. Called the guy immediatly, asked questions, told him I had cash, told wife I had to go, got a the evil eye from her because we had to be to the party in 2 hours, arrived home in 3. Things weren't good here at the homestead for a little bit. BUT...........I have me a bike I wanted!!

So, sorry for the long story. The plans for this bike will be this. No chopping or cutting for the most part. I was going to go that direction at first but have decided to keep it the way I have kept all my bikes. Classic and clean but with a little change. Plus, my welding skills suck.

So far I have found an old rusty nail used as a cotter pin on the front wheel axle, camping mat used as front gas tank cushions and a custom left side cover mounted on with twisted wire and a sheet metal screw. I think they stuffed a pillow under some vinyl and taped it down and called it a seat. :eek:

Stock head light and tail light will be gone. Seat foam will be shaved down, possibly a whole new pan made with a more brat style seat. Tank is going to be a Sage green and frame may be in a cream or gloss black color.....still deciding (look at the NX650 pic. love the colors)

Anyways, Posted is a pic of the day I brought the bike home and where it is as of now.
 

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Re: 1974 Yamaha TX-500

Congrats on the find and there a fun lil bike to work nothing odd. But check the head as some liked to crack in the middle of the head ! Can't wait to see what you do !
 
Re: 1974 Yamaha TX-500

So what did I say..."No chopping or cutting"? Yeah, right. I had to take this rear section off. I took the seat cover off today to see how the pan looked. Rusted to hell. It also looked way to big for the bike. Now the seat will be heading for the Brat look.
Decided to definitly go with gloss black on the frame with a sage green mettalic tank.

I may be using that CB360 rear fender in the picture instead of the stock one. I am also trying to decide if I should weld a loop on the end or weld caps on the end of the tubing. Leaning towards the loop. I think it would look better with the seat. Tell me that origional seat pan doesn't look like shit on the bike.
 

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Re: 1974 Yamaha TX-500

If you go the button route think 7/8 barend caps will work !

Also if you need have a few good parts if needed !
 
Re: 1974 Yamaha TX-500

DreadRock said:
If you go the button route think 7/8 barend caps will work !

Also if you need have a few good parts if needed !

Thank you sir!
Funny you say "bar end caps". I did that on my XL250.
I have been looking at the bike more and more and Im going to have to put the loop on it. The only place I know to get them is DCC. Know of any other sources for them?
Another source of inspiration (pic ture) and I like the whole rear seat loop and the seat.
 

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Re: 1974 Yamaha TX-500

That last picture gives me a chuckle... Looks almost identical to the rear end of my TX at the moment. For a loop, cafegoose has an ad in the "selling" section. I bought one myself, and it matches the frame width exactly.
 
Re: 1974 Yamaha TX-500

Cool, thanks! I will check it out. I was just going to pick a loop up from DCC. Hopefully this guy is a little easier on the pocket book.
 
Re: 1974 Yamaha TX-500

Oh, yeah, I forgot that was the best part! He charged 50 bucks shipped... Quite a savings!
 
Re: 1974 Yamaha TX-500

Yeah, I found his thread and saved it. Definitly will be getting a hold of him here soon for one. Thanks for the info. Just saved me some money.
 
Re: 1974 Yamaha TX-500

Thanks to Cafegoose, I have a new rear loop. Welding it on this weekend. Frame is currently at my blasting guy. I have a BUTTLOAD of parts coming in from DCC, Ebay and Motorcycle SuperStore (good deal on Shinko 705's) There's going to be some brass accents on this bike!

Pictures to follow as the parts come rolling in.

PS.
I'm so damn broke now.....
 
Re: 1974 Yamaha TX-500

More goodies for the build. More to come from Mikes XS and DCC.
 

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Re: 1974 Yamaha TX-500

Yeehaw! UPS just arrived.

The loop I got in from CafeGoose a few days ago.

Sucks I am heading off to COTA (Correctional Officers Training Academy) next week for 7 weeks. Wont be able to get much done.
 

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Re: 1974 Yamaha TX-500

Shinko 705's

Got antsy and wanted to see how the grips would look on the bars. Also got the forks back together with new seals and dust covers (yes, I know there isn't one on one of the forks...it is now). Problem is, now I need to find a big ass allen wrench to take the top caps off to fill the forks with 10w 30. Anyone know what size it is?

Had some rust issues (minor) on the forks where the trees clamp on. Nothing a little Soft Scrub couldn't take out.
 

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Re: 1974 Yamaha TX-500

Also got some blasting done last weekend. Fork tubes painted, wheel hubs and front brake caliper. Both front and rear rims were bent. I couldn't find anything used for a good price so I ended up buying new rims (black) from Mikes XS along with SS spokes.
 

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