Chris Sounds like a Sweet Deal.It's Possible I have a Few Parts.May Take a While to sort them out though.
The Can Am wiouldbe Hard to get parts for but not Completely Impossible.Try http://www.vintagemx.us/swapmeet They should be able to Help on a Lot of stuff.
The TS's are nearly identical, pointless electronic ignition, no battery needed to run. Probably can clean the carb and it will run if it has spark. The Can-Am may have a Bombardier engine, they used them for years and the early ATK bikes used about the same 250 motor, lot's of them around at one time.
I've torn down both TS250s to sort out the bits for rebuilding. I think I'm going to put the '73 model back together using its orginal parts and substituting in parts from the '74 where they're needed. The '74 (which incidientally looks like it has the '73 head on it) was running at the time of tear down with 130 psi (cold) compression. The '73 engine was stuck solid, but I managed to free it with some Liquid Wrench and a BFH after the engine was pulled. I have a wanted post in the wanted section and would appreciate any help you guys could provide. If I can find enough parts, I'd like to rebuild the '74 as well, but as a custom street tracker.
The original owner told me that the Can-am was an '81 model year, but a simple check of the VIN sticker shows that its a '75 Can-am T'NT 125. Unfortunately it didn't come with a title. Fortunately, its only missing a few parts...unfortunately they're pretty critical, like the kick starter and the gear shifter. Also, it's stuck solid...but I've got penentrant soaking on the piston top and hopefully will be able to free it. Not sure what I'm going to do with it. I'm not big into off-road riding and not having a title prevents me from riding on the street...may have to ship it off to ebay...?
Anyway, I'd appreciate any help you guys could provide in the way of advice and/or spare parts.
Yep, both Suzuki and brand y offered a whole series of performance kits for their dual purpose bikes in the early years. Evidently this was a stopgap until they started building serious motocrossers for public consumption.
The strangest one of these was a 175cc kit for the TS185 so you could compete in the 175cc motocross class. Came with a barrel, head, piston, rings, expansion chamber, different carb and air cleaner and a dinky little injector tank about the size of an aspirin bottle. Sure perked the 185 up though, even with 10cc less displacement. I had a kit like that on my 185 for ice racing for a couple of seasons. A total laff-riot.....
If they're nearly the same year, they should interchange. I know for sure that the early TM400s and TS400s would interchange. Most of the internal parts are also the same.
While at Willow Springs this weekend I picked up a '74 TS250 that actually runs!!! Imagine buying a bike that runs and doesn't need a ton of work?
I have a question about the two spark plugs in the head, what are two needed for when there is only one plug lead? I'm assuming the spark plug at the head center would be primary, but what is the other for, a spare?
Two uses, as stated, spare plug, and no, theyn usually didn't foul until theym were in use, and for a handlebar lever operated compression release, a JakeBrake of sorts, released the little compression braking they had, making for a real fun ride down a steep hill.
I saw that bike, it hurt my eyes, Ralph. Oh, the humanities, oh, the.........
I know I'll be needing seats, side covers and gas tanks (and probably plenty more)...
