A week ago I made a couple hour trip to look at a basket case Hodaka that turned out a bust. Nice fellow, and as we talked I told him about the site. As luck would have it, he said those famous last words . . . "I have a Yamaha out in the barn. I think it is a 77 175"

After we rolled it back a bit, I could see it was a blue 75 DT175. Missing a headlight, but pretty complete. Actually in decent condition under the dust. Said he had a title in his name and was planning on getting it running for his wife. (It had been parked in the barn for ro ably 5 years un ridden!)

We chatted and he didn't want to sell it so I said keep me in mind.

Last night I got an e-mail offering to sell me the bike! A deal has been struck, and I should be seeing it on my trailer later this week!

Film at 11:00

Sometimes barn lighting could be better!

It is worse than I thought, but I already have most of the needed parts in inventory!

More when I get room on the workbench.




Posted from my iPhone from the Wild!

The 1975's are my favorite non-badge bike color scheme!

Can't wait to see what you can do with that one. Looks like a good fit for your boy!

I had the 1975 MX175 brand new outa the box.
Great bike with reverse color scheme, white base & blue decals.
My favorite color combo for these bikes.
Great find, watching to see what it becomes.

Great find. One of the best Yamaha's ever made.

What a score! Can't wait to see what becomes of it in your hands.
How do you guys keep up with the OHV stickers for all the bikes, do you just register the ones you ride that summer and keep the rest un tagged?

Nice, very nice!

- The bigger issue is insurance for the tagged ones

Seriously, I only HOV the ones I need to take on public lands on trips. I don't need tags on the family farm. Most of the street tagged ones except for my Monoshock have vintage collector plates, so they are tagged one time and are good for life. That streetable tag lets me take them off road so it is good. I am limited to "4) A collector vehicle registered under this section may only be used for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and occasional pleasure driving."

That last little phrase covers my riding. With enough bikes you only ride each one occasionally I did ride my TAT DT400 all the way across the country on the Trans Am Trail and was never questioned by any law enforcement about my plate.

So in between way too many other projects, we stared looking at and evaluating this project. I want to hear the motors run before getting in too deep.

The tank was a lot dirtier inside than expected, so two days with Metal Rescue yielded a decent tank. Add a new &17 OEM petcock, and we have fuel flow!



The carb was - SERIOUSLY - the nastiest I have experienced. And that is saying a lot. 1/4" if nasty sludge in the bowl. Slide stuck needing PB Blaster to get free! Almost a week in the Berryman's and even the paint came off! Ordered new jets, gaskets & an "o" ring and the carb looked good.

New plugs and we got spark. I don't know about the oil pump so premix to start with,

A dozen kicks, a squirt of starting fluid, and it lights off!

Woo Hoo we have a winner! Not much rattle, seems to idle with assembly settings, responds well to throttle and all heard turn the sprocket with no odd noises! After it warmed up it starts on first kick!

Tomorrow we will spoon on a tire that holds air and a chain and a backyard road test will be in order!

I will get a short start video posted shortly!


Posted from my iPhone from the Wild!