Basket Cases

Need help finding information or parts for that old machine in your shed? Someone in here will know!

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TriCub
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Re: Basket Cases

Post by TriCub »

Greg Harding wrote:
Jordy, somehow missed that the TL250 swingarm was 6 inches longer, what were they doing to warrant such a long length?


Greg, Jordy.
From what a friend once told me he used a TL250 frame with a lentghened swingarm for a dirt track racer back in the 70's.
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Re: Basket Cases

Post by David Lahey »

Greg Harding wrote:David, Wondering what era your frame was made as the motor is lifted quite high like bikes in the mid 80's?

Judging from photos taken when they were new, pretty sure it is late 1970s early 1980s. Am in process of getting accurate dating from contacts in the UK (to prove it is pre-86).
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GHRC
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Re: Basket Cases

Post by GHRC »

We think that the swing arm was extended because of a side car, the frame has the mounts to show ,thats what we thing Greg. Allso wanting to know TriCub did this mate of yours ever run a side car?
Jordy G
TriCub
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Re: Basket Cases

Post by TriCub »

GHRC wrote:We think that the swing arm was extended because of a side car, the frame has the mounts to show ,thats what we thing Greg. Allso wanting to know TriCub did this mate of yours ever run a side car?

No to the sidecar. The TL frame was better suited to dirt track racing than the heavy XL frames of the day mainly because of the head angle being steeper which helped them turn better. If yours had of been used for that it's motor would have been modified quite a bit as well. You will have to post some photo's so we can all have a look at what you have ahead of you.
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NonstopRoss
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Re: Basket Cases

Post by NonstopRoss »

"The HEAVY XL frames of the day". lol.
While the TL frame geometry may have been different the steel is the same Titanic-grade as the XL.
I cut the seat bracket off my TL250 frame last week and there was so many sparks it was like a scene from Flashdance (showing my age)!
It all started with a KT250 that was so light that it once floated away during an ambitious river crossing.
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NonstopRoss
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Re: Basket Cases

Post by NonstopRoss »

Image

Here's the RS250 seat base that I'm fitting to my TL. Seat base has been cut in half length-wise and now needs a 25mm insert from nose to tail to fit the piggier TL frame. Photo is before I cut the seat bracket cross-bar from the frame. Now that its gone, the seat sits flat, ie the seat is parallel with the frame. Haven't decided if I will/can build the seat base forward to meet the tank and make the bike look more like an RTL of the '80s. Or leave it looking mean and light (figuratively speaking) with the RS shape.
It all started with a KT250 that was so light that it once floated away during an ambitious river crossing.
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Tioli
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Re: Basket Cases

Post by Tioli »

Hi Greg
I just bought this for $400 should I be pleased?

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It comes with lots of new in the box unopened parts like piston kits, air filters, gaskets, The motor seems ok and it has a good low mileage piston in it.
From what I’m told I’m now the 3rd owner as it the original owner used to live in Toowooba used it in comps moved to TAS had some accident and smashed his knee then striped it to rebuild with his son who lost interest. The second owner bought it with a ty175 1978 in really good condition but didn’t do any thing with it either.
I don’t know any thing about Trials competitions but it comes with a range of front sprockets starting at 12T, 9 sparkplugs new and old, 2 carbs, handle bars, leavers, throttles, 2 bash plates one fibreglass, lights and switches removed and in a separate bag in good nic .The tank and covers are painted in this thick white or now mat cream paint?


1st question. What confuses me is the frame is black and there is no sign that it ever used to be silver. The swing arm is silver, the motor is silver with black cases both sides. The motor and frame have matching numbers?


2nd question. I have a mint TY175JC that I’m to worried about to ride. I can give this one a degrease, scrub and major service. But do I spray it with silicon to protect it, clear or repaint and have another molested bike I cant ride?
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Eric
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Re: Basket Cases

Post by Jon V8 »

Ride It ! =D>
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Greg Harding
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Re: Basket Cases

Post by Greg Harding »

Hi Everyone,

Ross, the TL is looking good! Your lightweight seat is consistent with the lightweight tank Honda fitted. Often wondered if it was a too little too late effort to keep the bike under 100kg?

Eric, definitely should be happy with your investment, $400.00 does not buy much anymore! Because you have such a nice TY175JC, I can understand why you are hessitant to ride it. The fibreglass bashplate might be off a TY250A? With the frame being black, check the frame number, should be 525 or 1N4?

Why don't you get the Basket Case going and have a go at riding trials? If you leave all the roadgear off and focus on function and not appearance, you may find it liberating. Lowering the care factor and not worrying about damage can make it more enjoyable.

Jon, as you have probably worked out, all of my bikes get ridden and not hidden, that is what they were made for.

Chippy, Fred has sent over some more KT parts, we now have exhaust collets and inlet manifold gaskets. Even a sprocket cover, who said they were hard to get? All you need to do is ask the right person the right question at the right time, simple!
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Re: Basket Cases

Post by chippy »

Greg,

Thats great that you got a front sprocket cover. Yes they are very hard to get. Thats also good that you got us some exhaust collets and the gasket for the inlet manifold. I have a inlet manifold rubber on order from Mikuni Australia in Townsville, so all I need now is the heat shield piece now that protects the inlet manifold rubber and I can fire it up.

As you know already Greg, I have another complete basket case but I won't submit anything here until I know the motor runs OK. I'd really like to get this bike to Conondale this year if possible!!!

I've been doing some "sorting" with my TY in readiness for the TY Challenge... So I'll be a bit better prepared this year. Will see you at the "Challenge".


Chippy
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