Lets see those winter projects!

[DohcBikes]

Working on this dx. Top end rebuild, plastic polish, new custom graphics etc.

. Attachment 184237

[Chopsaw]

This thing is like a bad penny , I traded it off 3 times , now its back again . Not sure what I'm gonna do but it is callin my name .

[swat253]

I've got an '83 200E I'm bringing back to life. Owned it about 12 years and been sitting for awhile. Need to recover seat and rebuild carb. Pics to follow.

[CodyRosa]

chopsaw.. how on earth did you get it back 3 times? haha was it to a friend or something?

Swat.. yes please upload some pics! Would love to see it.

[Chopsaw]

chopsaw.. how on earth did you get it back 3 times? haha was it to a friend or something?.

I bought it for $150 with a blown top end because it had a new knobby front tire that I used on my 200es . I then traded it to a guy for SX parts . He ended up bringing it back . So I gave it to a buddy that had a running SX engine . A year later he decides he wants to buy one running , so its back again . I have a SX engine , geuss I'll throw it in .

[Dave_D]

Scooped another project. This one will be taking priority over the YTM this ones closer to being complete

[swat253]

Finally got to spend a couple of hours on the Big Red. Took the gas tank off and found the cap was rusted shut... and could hear lots of rust particles inside. With a lot of twisting and prying, I got the cap off - it was in a crusty state.
I took it to the blasting cabinet and it came out pretty clean. Lots of pitting but solid and functional.


I dumped a FEW OUNCES of rust flakes out of the tank and could see a lot of pitting and holes as a result. I'll have to patch the holes before I continue with a rust removal project.

I took the petcock out for inspection. It was working well and didn't have any damage, but while I had it off, I taped up the ports and gave it a blasting to clean the outside. Pretty clean outcome - I can read the valve positions now...


I'll have to re-cover the seat, and while I was removing the remnants of the original cover, I noticed the tab on the tool compartment was rusted out and not holding in the slot. When I tried to unscrew the wing nut, I sheared the bolt off almost flush with the seat base. I ended up having to drill out the broken bolt and replace a piece of the sheet metal with a threaded nut underneath to accept a new thumb bolt. I also cut off the rusted tab and welded on a new tab to fit into the slot.


There's much more work ahead. I've never done a restore project, so I'm learning as I go. I'll try to document the progress in this thread.

[swat253]

I'm thinking about the "cider vinegar" technique for stripping the rust from the tank. Anyone ever use this method - or have another method that works well?

I've used electrolysis for removing outer rust and it works well - just never used that method for an interior job.

[cap]

I think that tank is toast, look for another one or go plastic.

[swat253]

Yeah cap, I've got a couple of used tanks spotted, but like all Big Red parts these days, they're wanting an arm and BOTH legs for 'em!
With the holes being on the bottom, I'm gonna beef it up and seal it with JB Weld or Bondo. Once it's solid again, I'll fabricate some kind of roller and rattle some pistol brass in it to knock off more rust, then follow up with the vinegar wash and/or electrolysis.

[CodyRosa]

wow that tank is ridiculous.. i cleaned mine with "the works" and it left pin holes on the edges of the tank. I put JB weld putty along the holes and it worked great.

wish i had a bead blaster.. your very lucky haha

[jim v]

thanks for this post
James Valencia

[jim v]

just keep at it.......
the prize is worth all the time input!!!!

[jim v]

so to be at the FRONT of the PACK

[Dual z guy]

I have been doing a Tri Z missile build, and should be complete in the next few weeks. Built from mostly extra parts and a yz engine