Posts
141
Joined
8/12/2012
Location
Homestead, PA
US
Edited Date/Time
8/2/2024 3:17pm
Well, guys, I found one of these for sale local to me that I'm going to check out tomorrow. The 83 was my very first ever dirt bike I owned and I've wanted another for nostalgia reasons ever since. The bike looks complete and not too rough but I'll see for sure tomorrow. Guy thinks he can get $2,800 for it, unrestored, but I got him down to the $1,300-$1,500 range with the costs of parts, if needed.
I'll post a few pics here for comments. The silencer does seem to be missing unless its a super shorty on there. Overall, not too bad.
Got for $400 out the door, guys! The oil is "milky" so I'm guessing a head gasket is gone. I'm going to just rebuild the whole thing and keep it as a memory of days gone by. This was my very first ever dirt bike back in 1985. Overall, I'd rate the bike a 5 of 10. Nothing is cracked or leaking on the ground. Just really dirty and needs a good cleaning. It brings back a lot of cool memories from days gone by. Too bad the old pals weren't still around to share as well! :-)
Very cool bike, project and story! Good luck with the build and do not forget to enjoy the process. LOL
Congrats every now and then I have a dream my 83 CR125 is still in parents shed.
That looks like one of the best deals I have seen in a very long time. Looks like a very easy restore. For that price I would love to have it myself.
BUT, I would really love to have my 1983 CR125 back..... I would settle for a nice 87. I never seem to see resonable numbers anymore for anything like the bike you bought. Congrats... Great buy.
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
The seller went from 2800 to 400?.
83 YZ100 dream for me !!!
Like close encounters lol !
Here you go !!! Its available. You will never find one cheaper than this !!!
I have a nice one that I am going to restore. This one does not look too bad.
Early 80s Yamaha YZ 125 - Motorcycles & Scooters - Coon Valley, Wisconsin | Facebook Marketplace | Facebook
Do me a favor and turn me on to a nice 1983 CR125 (or an 87).
Good luck, if you get it, send me some picks
You have " Good bones " as they say to work with ill hAve to pass...
But i will kkeep a lookout for your Honda..
Historicaly a month before Christmas is when rhey rreally start showing up on the chopping block
Aprieciate that. Original plastics and seat are getting hard to find.
If all it needs is a Crank (and topend no doubt), with good clean up its seems like a steal.
I am not sure I can break away and make the drive in the next few days, and I cant see it lasting long if he has the complete bike like he says.
Cheers
Yeah, $400!!! I took photos of fully restored 83’s that were selling for less that his asking price then once I started bs’ing him with “it needs this” “it needs that” he broke and said “what do you think it’s worth…” “I just want it gone today..” Ok, great……$300…..I’ll take $400…..deal! Simple as that! Dude was a stoner so probably couldn’t remember what he listed if for! Once he saw the dollars in hand, that sealed it! I couldn’t believe it either!
Ran into the first hangup today on the rebuild. That damn lower steering bearing race! I tried everything but it would not budge. I had to get the Dremel out and actually file down a "divet" in the steering collar metal in order to get a punch on the top of that race. It sat fully flush with the metal with no way to get anything on the top. I tried making my own tool with the 3/4" EMT tubing but it did nothing. Manual said there should be a cutout there but there sure as hell ain't one on mine!
Man was I relieved when it finally popped out! Now I can strip the frame and prepare for painting.
Make sure you check your water pump seal and shaft. My 83 yz obonged the hole through case and wobbled making milkshakes in tranny even with new seals in just a few rides.
Thanks, Halfast816. I do have another bottom end available if something down low is bad. I have a gut feeling on this that you may be correct on this.
Is it possible to extract the studs on the forks that hold the axle plate? I noticed they are kind of stripped out. Anyone know where I could get replacements?
Yes they can be removed but I would not do so on any that do not absolutely require it due to the risk of damaging the threads in the sliders.
Even though the studs were probably zinc or cadmium plated, it is super likely that corrosion has set up and you are likely to damage the aluminum threads.
Any exposed thread damage would be better corrected with a thread file or adjustable die. If a stud must be removed a good machine shop might be your friend.
Just my 2 cents
Guys, does anyone have, or know where to purchase, about five spoke nipples for the 83 front rim? All eBay has is full spoke sets from oversees. All I need is about five nipples to repair my front wheel.
Thanks all!
Cmsnl.com
Give them a try.
Next up, rear shock. Does anyone have a step by step instruction on rebuilding one of these? I have it apart and the oil drained. I need to put a new bump stop on the shaft and want to ensure I do this right. I’m guessing I need to file that nut down in order to remove it??? I’m also a bigger gut. 6’2” 240 and was wondering if I need to change springs and oil weights?
Pit Row
I recently purchased an 83 YZ250 owner's service manual. If you'd like, I could scan and send it to you.
My 83 at COCR.
Madmax, I do have a manual but was looking mostly for experiences others have come across when doing this work. It almost never goes according to the manual, at least for me! :-)
I disassembled the rear shock as well as the front forks today. The previous owner(s) were real pieces of work with having NO OIL in one of the forks, a bunch of spacers and seals not for this model and just pieced together! People like that should be banned from ever owning something mechanical!
By the way, Madmax, got a stock 56mm cylinder lying around????? :-)
Sorry, no cylinders.
The manual I have is the "service" manual and is a little more detailed than the regular manual, or I think so. I haven't even opened it up yet. Just got it from a guy in England a few weeks ago.
If it has some decent pics/info I'll scan them in for you.
Fellas, do the wheel bearings have retainer clips holding them in? I tried removing the front bearings today and couldn’t get them to budge. They look pretty friggin rusted in the hub.
I checked the diagrams and don’t see any retainers but wanted to ask here anyway with hopes of getting some removal advice.
I dont claim to be an expert on that bike, but I dont believe that they had any clips. Just held in with presure. Spray them with penetrating lubricant, and let them sit for a bit.
Has anyone used the ice cube trick? Warm the outside aluminum of the hub, (even in the sun) and then put an ice cube on the bearing. Way back in the day, I had a few that fell out.
Quick few questions on the rear shock setup. Is the reservoir serviceable? Is there a bladder within the reservoir? I’m trying to figure out where the N2 would be added as there is no schrader valve to be found! I pulled the hose off the reservoir and some oil came out but no air pressure. Also, there is a adjustment bolt on top of the actual body that I cannot remove. I believe this is the pre-dampening adjustment. Is this removable? The service manual states nothing about either of these issues. I’d like to rebuild this myself and not have to take it to a shop to pay. Anyone know about this shock setup???
The reservoir uses a piston, thenitrogen fill is a rubber plug that you can either use a needle to fill or replace the plug with a 1/8 NPT schrader valve using a drill and tap.
https://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Old-School-Moto,22/Early-to-Mid-80s-Yamaha-YZ-250-490-IT-200-Rear-Mono-Shock-Rebuild,1336487
https://racetech.com/ip-sk-rebuild-piston-resy/
Last2Stroke, that diagram is exactly what I was looking for, thank you! I searched the racetech site and never saw it! :-)
It looks like racetech sells shock seal heads and bottom-out bumpers...
Just placed an order at Partzilla for the minor parts needed. Have a few additional questions about the rear shock that I'm hoping you fellas can offer help with. First, this "Shock Push Rod" shown in the attached photo, I didn't see one come out of my shock at disassembly. I'm assuming it's located within that shaft? What is the purpose of this rod?
Also, the adjusting knob also highlighted, is this removable to replace? I tried like hell but cannot get it to move. It's rusted in pretty good so I have the PB Blaster soaking overnight. I believe this is the shock rebound adjustment??
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