1974 Suzuki TS185 enduro

[interceptor]

Just picked one up last night after work. All original, all there except the blinkers. It is in very good condition for a 38 year old bike. Seller said he would even deliver it. He pointed out to me that the head had two spark plugs on top. When one fouled out, just change the wire to the other one. Thought that was a pretty good idea. Don't really know what I'm going to do with it other than get it running properly. I don't dare rip it apart because my other project took me 2 years to put back together and I really want to ride this next year. I really like the looks of it the way it is, used but not abused.

(This is not a picture of my bike, but just a picture of what it looks like)

Anybody ever have or work on one? What did you like or dislike about this bike?

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

I had one when it was a NEW bike. <G>

That second hole in the head is not for a spark plug. It is for a compression release. The depth of the hole is different.

Never once did I foul a plug on my TS185. It was stone reliable. Great bike for doing wheelies. Very flat powerband.

 

[interceptor]

Thanks for that. Thats the first thing on my list of things to take care of I guess

 

[rabbit_CL350K4]

We have two sitting in the back of the barn now. same year and model. one is called "The Pride and Joy" because my moms boyfriend had restored it and the other is called "The Ghetto BuSa" because its dirty and bent up, but it runs like a champ if you can manage with the broken kicker arm! Here are some picks of our trip up north last summer. My Best friend Brandon is riding it. i also have a short film i put together....

 

[rabbit_CL350K4]

Here is the Video. Its on Facebook, so i dont know if you can view it....
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1922645230817

 

[interceptor]

when you said 'up north' I knew you were feom Michigan. Me too! Where you at hommie?

 

[Whitey80]

This is a jump...

Dirt track at Berthoud, one of dozens within a very short drive....Love Colorado

 

[interceptor]

Its been awhile, but I think I use to go there(Berthoud)when I lived in Colorado (Highlands Ranch). Do you head west out of Sadalia?

 

[AzHonda]

I just missed out on buying a TS185 a month ago. I love those bikes. I also think they make cool looking trackers.

 

[interceptor]

About Berthoud, never mind. I just looked it up and it's not where I thought it was. I use to go to Rampart Range: http://www.rampartrange.org/ This is a great place to go if you've never been

AZHonda, It seems to be a pretty popular bike with a good fanbase. Here are some pics I took today. Still in the process of cleaning it up, but so far it's turning out to be in pretty good shape. I think the years of oil and dirt have preserved it

The chrome is turning out to be pretty much in perfect condition. All I've done is hit it with an SOS pad. While I was at it, I touched up the frame (where I saw rust spots) with some Rust Oleum brush on oil based paint. We use alot of this on our grounds maintenance machines and it holds up very well to wear. After I come back from my vacation, I plan on tearing into the carb and cleaning the inside of the gas tank. Hopefully have it started before the new year. Well, thats the plan. We'll see how that goes.

 

[Whitey80]

About Berthoud, never mind. I just looked it up and it's not where I thought it was. I use to go to Rampart Range)
.

Thought you might have been off, it's a bit of a haul from that far south. I get over to Thunder Valley in Lakewood more often anymore. Rampart is fun, but I'm not a big trail rider. Also hit IMI a lot, as they have tracks for the 3 types of bikes I have.....a solid MX track + 3 more easy ones and open riding areas, really good road-racing track, and a flat-track dirt ring. Am not recalling the name at the moment, but one out on east Colfax, past Aurora is really good as well.

 

[interceptor]

Watkins?

 

[interceptor]

Had a little time and took the carb off. It was spotless inside. The petcock needs to be replaced, so I just made a temporary gas tank. Put it all together and it started on the 5th kick. It idles and when I crack the throttle, it revs accordingly. I didn't want to go too long as I don't know if the oil injection works, but it smelled like it. Anways, happy I got it started, and can't wait to get at it after my vacation.

 

[interceptor]

Ordered parts for the old TS. Nice thing about this bike is that the parts that I needed were real cheap. Tires seem to be newer and are holding air, chain needs to be cleaned and shortened (no more adjustment, can it really stretch that much)? I think I have a chain from the CB200 I had, I'll see if it works or I'll just shorten the one thats on there. Now I'm on the look out for a rear rack. If anybody has one that you are not using (or any rack for that matter, I can make it work) let me know. I'll be glad to send you some beer money .
I'm on the lookout for a manual, but until then, does anybody know if the chain has an auto lube system? I read in a post for a CB750 (I believe) that they are auto lubed with engine oil. I ask because the chain is real oily. If it doesn't, then I possibly have a seal failure behind the small spocket.

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

No auto oiler.

That's great news that it started and seem to run well.

If the chain is that stretched, make sure it isn't worn out. If it is worn, the pitch of the chain will not match the pitch of the sprockets, and you will see on the rear where the chain will climb up on the teeth. A worn chain is hard on your sprockets, and a failed chain can bust the engine case.

 

[interceptor]

I'm sure it is original, so I will have to probably replace all. Thanks for the info.

 

[peteGSX]

Man that's in good condition! Tagging along to see what you do with her coz she looks like a sweet little ride

 

[interceptor]

Thanks all for the encouraging words and helpful info.
A small update: I contacted a local guy who has a tank for sale. Comes with gas cap and working petcock. He only wants $20 for it ;D. I'll have to srip and paint it because he said it looks horrible. (Tank on mine has to much rust to use). I'm sure a new petcock alone is probably that much or more. Plus my gas cap does not work properly. Had to take the pivot pin out just to get it off. When I took it off I found out what 5 years old gas smells like.

 

[interceptor]

The tank that I was going to buy didn't work out. So, I cleaned the inside of mine with a bunch of screws and diesel. Then I rinsed/washed it out with gasoline.
Think I'm going to have to think about how I'm going to get the rust out of mine. Probably going to try the vinegar trick somebody just wrote about on here.
Anways, I cleaned my petcock and put that back together and it flows great. Got some new fuel line with a new inline fuel filter. Runs good, but I think it needs
the new air filter coming from Bike Bandit. But it does start with just one kick now. Installed my new 6V battery. The headlight, brake light and running lights work.
I thought the brake light was a little dim, so I popped the cover off and PO installed a 12V bulb, so I changed that out and it's much better. Working on some blinkers
right now, pictures to come.
I was trying to find a rear rack, but had no luck. So I made my own. Had two weed trimmer drive shafts laying around, so I cut and bent to length and then welded them all
together. What do you think? Concerns?

 

[peteGSX]

If you've got all the chunky rust bits out of the tank and there are no holes, then do some more banging around with screws etc. again and get all the flaky stuff out you can.

Then get yourself the POR 15 tank repair kit and do it properly, you won't regret it.

Once you've got the bulk of the rust out, the Marine Clean they give you in the kit will get any residue of fuel, diesel, or whatever out of there and then the Metal Ready will convert any remaining rust and give the metal a really nicely etched finish to take the liner.

Follow the instructions to the letter and make sure 100% guaranteed there is no moisture left before lining. I duct taped an old hair drier in the filler hole off and on for an hour and a half or so to make sure it was dry as a bone.

Leave it as long as you can before putting fuel in it...

As for the rack... some grinding on those welds to smooth them out and a lick of paint and that rack'll be great

Looks like I have to do something similar for my 450 as I can't source the optional genuine sports rack anywhere. I'm aiming to find a stock grab rail from a wrecker or eBay and will weld on an old rack I have here so it resembles the stock option.