86 Tri-Z Project

[gutterworks129]

I'm putting together an 1986 red/white Tri-Z YTZ250 that I've been collecting parts for about 3 months. Well at first I was going to powder coat a 85 1/2 frame and use a 6-speed trans, but the frame I had was a little jacked up and needed some welding and hilla coils installed to bolt the foot pegs on. Well I met "Screwball" on 3WW(the best site) and got a lot of good usable parts like a swing arm, frame, clutch basket, carb, 6 speed main shaft with gears, and shrouds, all 86 stuff. Hella of guy and he loves Tri-Z. Well I got the 86 frame, swing arm, front rim, fender brackets, and stuff powder coated. The motor I found on craigslist in PA, the ad said " complete Tri-Z disassembled with an extra motor". I was happy as all get out to buy this stuff. It was dirty but I knew it had potential, so took it home and started cleaning and dissembling. I used one motor for the yellow and black 85 I just built, it did not need much just cleaning, painting, piston/rings, honing, head decked, shift shaft, water pump seal, and gasket set. The second motor got sand blasted at my shop, 6-speed transmission, shift shaft, complete clutch kit, crank bearings/seals, decked head, cylinder bored, new piston/rings, boost port drilled on right side, and gasket kit.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/0728091148a_508804-1.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/0728091247a_456773.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/0726091758a_432439-1.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/0728091815b_420328-1.jpg

[Kerick]

wow looks great

[jcorkin]

looking like she is going to be a good looking build keep up the good work

[gutterworks129]

Thanks guys, I'll keep the pics coming! Fun stuff lol!

[Yamaha_Rules69]

Have you used the 6 speed transmission beffore? Which do you prefer? I havn't ridden either, but would assume the 5 speed tri z is much like my 1990 YZ 250 tranny with a wider gear ratio, and the 86 Z would be like a banshee I rode, real close together and fast shifting, is this right. Let me know, as I have a chance to pick up an 86 to used instead of my 85 destroyed motor but dont know which is better. Thanks, -- Jon.

[honda250sx]

Don't you just love bolting on shiny new powdered stuff! Looks like its going to be a really nice ride gutter.

I am envious of the 6speed.

[gutterworks129]

Don't you just love bolting on shiny new powdered stuff! Looks like its going to be a really nice ride gutter.

I am envious of the 6speed.
Yes sir, I love the new stuff. You inspired me to use a white swing arm from watching you on your project. Good luck with yours and keep the pics coming dude.

[gutterworks129]

Have you used the 6 speed transmission beffore? Which do you prefer? I havn't ridden either, but would assume the 5 speed tri z is much like my 1990 YZ 250 tranny with a wider gear ratio, and the 86 Z would be like a banshee I rode, real close together and fast shifting, is this right. Let me know, as I have a chance to pick up an 86 to used instead of my 85 destroyed motor but dont know which is better. Thanks, -- Jon.

Hey Jon, yes the 6-speed feels way better to me! I have another 86 and it is a blast to ride. The gears are a little different then the 5-speed. The 5-speed is spaced a little to far a part, the 6-speed is just right. Some trans have a extra gear spaced in to have an extra gear, each gear has a different ratio in the 6-speed. I would for sure buy the 6-speed, any way they are like gold!

[Yamaha_Rules69]

Alright sweet, 6 speed it is! I will be picking it up this weekend. My 85 Z has come a long way since I picked it up a few months back. It had been sitting outside for the last 10 years from the guy who had it, and was a shame to look at. The connecting rod broke in half from him riding it out of time (flywheel key was sheered when I pulled it) and thats what caused it. The broken rod came back up and took out both center cases, and broke off the sleeve on the jug. Right now I am working on putting the front tire/rim from a 83-85 200x on the front to get rid of that really tall tire and rim. I figure I would drop it 3 inches by using this set up. I picked up a good warrior rear shock to use instead of my rusted shafted z shock, along with some center cases. I was thinking about doing the stage 1 yamaha wrench report mods and porting to start off with, then see what happens. I hope to get it up and running real soon. Your progress/restore looks great. Thanks for the advice. Keep the pics of progress coming!!!!!!!!

[gutterworks129]

Well I've been playing with it and added some parts on. I'm waiting on the swing arm bearings to come in. I wanted the plastic bushings but PM the guy on 3WW but no response. That sucks! Its not the end of the world. I can't wait to get that sweet white swing arm on with the axle and black rims.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/Tri-Z132.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/Tri-Z128.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/Tri-Z126-1.jpg

[gutterworks129]

Well the Tri-Z factory was on shut down due to family visiting for the last week lol! But things started going again until I went to do a compression test on the new engine and the kicker would not move! I took off the clutch cover and kicker gear but was still jammed up. I took the engine back out, split cases and found I had one of the shift forks were wrong! I had placed a 5-speed fork in with the other two (crapp)! I replaced it with the right one and started over. That was a whole day wasted but it is right now. I added the swing arm, axle, wheels, and pipe. I'm waiting for chain &front sprocket, washer for clutch basket, some varies bolts to complete this one. I can't wait to ride this machine and feel this engine and trans!http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/Tri-Z140.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/Tri-Z149.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/Tri-Z145.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/Tri-Z138.jpg

[Yamaha_Rules69]

That thing is really coming together and looking awesome! Bummer about the shift fork, but at least you got it right. Is that a DG extreme exhaust pipe? Looks great. Keep us posted, and keep doing what you are doing. Great job!

[gutterworks129]

That thing is really coming together and looking awesome! Bummer about the shift fork, but at least you got it right. Is that a DG extreme exhaust pipe? Looks great. Keep us posted, and keep doing what you are doing. Great job!

Hey man, glad you enjoy it. That is a DG Extreme pipe but it was the third one that was shipped that did not have dents in it. I got it from my local dealer and they are super cool dude. I'm trying to get it done but it takes a lot of time to clean and scrub parts lol!

[gutterworks129]

That thing is really coming together and looking awesome! Bummer about the shift fork, but at least you got it right. Is that a DG extreme exhaust pipe? Looks great. Keep us posted, and keep doing what you are doing. Great job!

Hows your Tri-Z coming a long? Do you have any pics, show us!

[Kerick]

what kind of wheels and tires are on the rear?

[bigjeeper]

looks sweet man

[Yamaha_Rules69]

My tri Z is coming along nicely and finally a roller as of a couple days ago (I've been slacking. I got a yamaha warrior shock for the rear that I put on, and rebuilt the forks, and greased ALL bearrings on the frame. The frame is all painted and done, as are most parts. I will look like the yellow and black colored 85 Z, and must say it is looking good so far... I am working on the front end on my Z, as I am trying to put a 200x front rim,disc,and tire on, but still have to figure out whats going on with that because I had to make the spacers (200x different, and Z spacers too wide for hub.) I wanted a lower tire and rim, like the 250R has, and it should handle a little better than the 25x8-12 oem Z setup. This setup will be 23x8-11, a total of 3 inches lower! All I really have to do is put a motor in it, and get some brake parts or fix what I got. I got the motor I said I was going to, but wasnt as I expected. I didnt know if it was an 86 or not, and the guy sounded like he had one when I talked to him. But it turns out to be an 85 5 speed... The top end was off it, not like the one in the pic, and the clutch cover was barely bolted on, and I couldnt tell if it would shift. The clutch was out of it, so I inspected it and put it back in, and replaced the shift shaft which was badly bent. Had to use my shifter and kicker, and got the bottom end together. I also inspected the jug he gave me, and it had somwhat bad scoring, and has got to be bored to the max. It looks like it is heavily ported, but no extra boost port on the intake.. I measured the ring end gap, and it is out of spec at .023 in. and max in my manual is .020 in. I have another jug on the way, so if I run that, I will most likely have to buy a piston kit, and gasket set, but thats it, and it should be rolling. The lower end seemed fine, so I'll give it a try. Sorry, but I dont have any pics at the moment, and will have to get some. My comp is being wierd when it comes to installing the program for the camera, so I will have to figure that out first. I will try to get some up soon! Once again, great work, looks sweet, and hope I didnt write too much on your post.:)

[JasonB]

Moar Pics!

[gutterworks129]

what kind of wheels and tires are on the rear?

The front is stock and the rears are ITP Baja black 8x8 bolt pattern 4/115 with 18x11x8 Fast Trekker's. Its a good looking wheel combo. I changed the rear sprocket to a 41 from 44 since the 18's kill top end and the engine can pull with the 6-speed. My yellow Tri-z has a 42 sprocket with 18's but 5-speed.

[gutterworks129]

I've been messing around and got the 3 wheeler together, went and broke her in. I'm running a Kehin carb with a 158 main, 62 pilot, clip in middle, open air box, new filter with PJ1 spray oil, DG full exhaust, ported motor, and drilled boost port, 110 mixed with 93, super-M. It seems to run pretty good, but I'm going to gauge it with others at the dirt drag at BUSCO BEACH. Thanks for all your help. With out this site it would have been a lot harder to build! Everything on the forums help.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/Tri-Z160.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/Tri-Z156.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/Tri-Z157.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss227/gutterworks129/Tri-Z155.jpg

[Yamaha_Rules69]

As I've said before, that thing looks totally sick. Great restore, and I hope it is a blast to ride. Kick some of those guys asses in the drag race at the beach. SWEET!

[Tri-Z 700]

Sweet! Let me know when you want to line 'em up!

[tecaterob]

very nice!!!!!!!!!!!

[code200k]

looks great.for some reason i just love the rims and tire set up you got on it

[gutterworks129]

looks great.for some reason i just love the rims and tire set up you got on it

Thanks man, its got that cool look for sure!

[gutterworks129]

Sweet! Let me know when you want to line 'em up!

Haha I like that 3 wheeler rider! Lets go riding man, anytime!