I'm happy to say I may be picking one up.  I enjoy the challenge of bringing these old Yamaha's back to life and discussing. I'm also ready to let a few go. Some get used, some not.  That said, if my living room were bigger...oh boy.

Anyway, tell me about your DT3.  Show a video or pic if you feel like it.  This is DT3 week and probably month for me.  All things DT3. 

I'll wait till deal goes through to post, but tank has zero dents that I could see and original paint.  Not sure if I should do nothing or clear it.

I'll do a comparison of my DT1 and DT3 once my DT1 is up to speed. 

Was just too good a deal to pass up. owner stated carb wasn't clean and would not run. When I got there,
found clean fuel tank, great compression, clean full oil, and a bike in good condition.

The owner was a heck of a nice guy, a retired upholsterer. asked if I wanted to see his work. proceeded to show me a 66 Charger, 68 Camaro and 64 Impala 2 door, T Bird, all with his custom interiors. To top it off, looked at a 74 Honda XL 250, mint condition.

In any case, bike had no spark when I got it:

RT325 going to enjoy this post. It had a loose nut on flywheel (no lock washer), sheered key, 100% worn out pitted points and carb float that was way off.

Added a set of points, new key, established spark, then worked over the carb in ultrasonic and cleaned it . Tried adjusting carb floats to book, and no fuel would flow in. Took it back apart, set tang level to surface, that did it. Would be curious how others set theirs for this carb. Oil pump was not used. I serviced it best I could by putting oil through it. It appears to be working, but added 32: 1 in tank for now.

No time on bike yet, but I did get it to run. This is one of the best running Yamaha's I have had to date. This engine is smooth and sounds like its going to be a powerful performer.







youtube.com/shorts/k1Tx9qqR6yI?si=VDmP_Ssy1WWS-3Ez

Nice find!
Can’t wait to see you work your magic on this one.

I'm going to start w/the mechanical items. It needs tires/tubes, maybe pads, cleanup. Trying to remember if 73 was first year for turn signal requirement. I'll probably have to track some turn signals down to make it fully street legit.

If the front, handlebar mounted indicators prove to be too elusive/expensive, then rear style ones can be fitted to the fork ears, just like on the road bikes.

'71 was the first year in the US for turn signals.
I have several NOS and early take off turn signals and flashers as well as many other parts.
Send me a PM if interested.
The '73 DT3 is my favorite rider. I have 3 of them, original, unrestored and complete.

California law goes by production date and "date first sold" for turn signals on motorcycles.  The title will have the year first sold on it.  If title say first sold in 1972, you're good without signals. 

If it's "off the books" they might insist on the new title stating it's a 1972 model because of the production date.  I've have to deal with this and learned to bring as much official Yamaha VIN data as I can to the DMV and then the CHP if they require a CHP inspection.  It can be legal without signals and still be a 1973 model. 

Very few states "require" turn signals earlier than a bike produced 1-1-73 as that is the Federal Law date requiring motorcycle turn signals.  

1971DT250 is correct that Yamaha did install signals starting with the 1971 model year.

california.public.law/codes/vehicle_code_section_24951
 

Just an observation here, and that is in the Japanese promo video that Mako posted (see link), the bike a) had indicators and b) front ones were mounted on the fork ears.

Cool old Japanese promo video - Vintage Enduro Discussions

Obviously different requirements for different markets. 

thanks for the link. bike was mfg: 7/72, first registration date: 0000 per curr registration form. Need to get my title back and cross check it. I'll print those links out and put them in the tool box of bike for now for backup.

Have owner's manual in what looks to be the original Yamaha packaging and can you believe the original toolkit still in box on bike.

Watch for a video soon. Need to get the brake light working first.

USA law at the time stated that front turn signals needed to be mounted as wide as possible/practical on a motorcycle.  That's why the US Enduro models had the signals on the handlebars.  

Street bikes often had narrower handlebars so stalks on the headlight placed the signals just as wide and/or there wasn't enough room on the bars.