1972 Suzuki TS185: First start after new top end

[@upchuckchops]

Oh wow, using the kick start to slide the piston up into the cylinder is a slick trick. I'll have to file that away in the memory bank. I'm the Dollar Tree version of what you do on here! Another great video.

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks for tuning in! I came up with that on the fly lol

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Just make sure that the rings are completely in the cylinder first. You don't want a stuck ring and be pushing hard on the kick start.

[@Garage2Trail]

Yeah good point! I was very gingerly pushing on the kick starter as I guided the rings and piston in with their other hand. Just go real easy.

[@PongbyAtari]

I use to own the 250cc version same year same color I was 15 at the time 1976. I really liked the bike I bought it from an older brother and road it for 4 or 5 years mainly trails and back roads. Brings backs a lot of great memories thanks for the video 😊

[@Garage2Trail]

That’s awesome, thanks for sharing! I can tell this bike will be fun in the woods. It’s super light and likes to rev from what I can tell already.

[@jeschreindl]

Nice work! I love seeing these classic bikes resurrected. That seems to run nicely. Look forward to seeing it ridden and cleaned up hopefully :)

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks Josh! I’m planning on getting it degreased and power washed today. It’s an unseasonable 60 degrees right now!

[@jeschreindl]

Wow that’s awesome! It’s 33 and snowing like a mother here in north Idaho lol. No more riding for the year so ill just keep plugging away on my XL as i can

[@juliestout4056]

It was me that told you about the 2 head gaskets and you're welcome. Well actually it was my husband and I was just relaying the information. His name is Nathan and we are from West Virginia. Glad to help you out.

[@Garage2Trail]

Well thank you again Julie and let Nathan know I really appreciate the heads up…I probably would have stuck it back together again with two gaskets if he didn’t catch that! 😆

[@matt2133]

Hey G2T, great content. Would you mind updating this vid with where you purchased the parts?

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks! Pretty much all the engine parts were off eBay. NOS stuff searched by part numbers that I look up off CSMNL.com. You can even get some really hard to find parts off there too but it comes from the UK so I only order from them as a last resort. The part numbers are all there so I just take those and search eBay for them. It’s worked really good for me. What are you looking for exactly?

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Your work is pretty much 99% good. Always spin the circlips in their groove with a screwdriver because they can look OK but pop out. The old mechanic/ owner of the Suzuki shop where I worked always talked about the previous apprentice who never did it and had one jump out. I remember always doing it and actually having one pop out when checking it. That other apprentice always forgot to tighten bolts too. I didn't mention the headgasket because I thought that they were copper, but obviously not. That bike is bad ass. My brother had a 125 with knobby tyres.

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks! I appreciate the compliment and I will check those clips next time. I did give a good back and forth push on them from both sides that may not have been on the video. I’ll be sure to spin em in the future! Thanks for the tip 👍

[@k4106dt]

I bought a Suzuki T305 basket case years ago and one of the clips was either left off or was not seated properly and flew off. The wrist pin had moved out of the piston and rubbed against the cylinder wall (across the transfer) for many miles. When I disassembled it, I could see what appeared to be a perfectly machined 56mm long groove in the cylinder wall. It must have been ridden many miles because the groove was about an eighth of an inch deep. I assume the previous owner stopped riding it because as the groove got so deep, combustion gasses blew down the groove and diluted the air/fuel mixture.

[@RicardoValdes-r6w]

Excellent work you performed on this Suzuki to get it road worthy. !

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks man, thanks for watching and the positive feedback!

[@stevekotajarvi9729]

Great Channel! I'm picking up a TS185 in a few days, this and your other videos have been very helpful for things to look for and how to address issues.

[@Garage2Trail]

Awesome, I’m glad to hear they are helpful! What year are you getting? I’m itching to get this back on the trail but the weather has been garbage here. It’s really a fun bike.

[@stevekotajarvi9729]

@@Garage2Trail Mines a 73, it runs so I at least have that going for me. I'm really looking forward to finally seeing it. I'm thinking a compression test and making sure the oil pump is working properly will be first on the list. What are the next steps with yours?

[@Garage2Trail]

Cool, yeah the oil pump is crucial on these as the one line is meant solely for the crank bearings. All that’s really left for mine is getting a tail light mounted. Found a small generic one that should work. This bike had Preston petty plastic fenders so I can’t use a stock one since they are big and heavy. Got new chain and sprockets on ready for a long ride in the woods!

[@stevekotajarvi9729]

@@Garage2Trail I like that plan, those preston petty fenders look great.

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks! I won’t have to worry about bashing in nice chrome fenders in the woods lol

[@user-gq8zo7kf5d]

nice project, although i am surprised you didnt put the rings in the head and check gap

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks! I did put one of the new ones in and eye balled it but since the the bore was reading right at stock numbers (64mm) and the rings were brand new standard sized, I knew it was good to go. I could tell the gap on the one I did was good compared to the one ring I was able to get off of the old piston.

[@thearchitect4726]

I have an 84 model i restored, run around town with it for shits and giggles, love these things, great old school cool !

[@Garage2Trail]

Nice! I didn’t realize they mad them that long!

[@thearchitect4726]

yep, mine is a 1984 model, they made the up till the early 90's, I used the electrics in my resto off a 1992 model to get it back on the road as the original electrics had been removed and the bike used as a farm bike. As the later model ran a full wave rectification regulator and rectifier one of the good things was the 6 v system was immediately converted to 12v. I upgraded all the globes to LED and bobs ur uncle ! Heres a video of mine cruising around : kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHbXgptqrdhqiqc @@Garage2Trail

[@Garage2Trail]

@thearchitect4726 that’s awesome! Very cool

[@Garage2Trail]

@thearchitect4726 I’ve got a blue 1980 TS185 that I’ll be getting to eventually on my channel too…when I saw your bike it has the same gauges as mine. It needs quite a bit of work but it’s pretty complete. I’ll be getting to it probably this winter.

[@thearchitect4726]

good luck with it, they go alright. @@Garage2Trail

[@andyshondaxlsrestorations4733]

Sounds lovely looking forward to seeing it on the Trial.

[@Garage2Trail]

Thank you Andy! 🍻 Weather is turning to crap here so hopefully I can sneak it on the trails soon

[@jeffferguson899]

nice project Ihave always liked the 185s

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks! This bike has grown on me quick too.

[@wattie1050]

Brilliant , great work sounds really sweet running now !I'd keep paintwork as it is the 70s paint and some patina set the bike off looks great.👍👍looking forward to seeing it ripping down the trails 😁👍

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks Wattie! The patina will stay and I have brakes, chain and sprockets coming in this week so hopefully this weekend I can get some more footage.

[@jiro_garage]

nice job ❤

[@Garage2Trail]

Thank you! 👍

[@paulthompson8613]

Always like the tear down just wondering could you fit the barrel or cylinder head in the ultrasonic cleaner since it did such a good job on the piston

[@Garage2Trail]

Yeah I think it would fit! I actually tried it with an XR200 cylinder and it had a hard time getting that thick baked on oil/dirt off. The piston I was able to give it a little scrub with a green 3m scrubby pad to help get that carbon off.

[@paulthompson8613]

Thanks love these old skool 2 strokes @@Garage2Trail

[@Garage2Trail]

@@paulthompson8613 me too! They’ve really grown on me

[@marcnissen578]

I had one of these and I put a upper end ,piston cylinder and head don’t ask why but I just replaced all 3 parts and it cured my problem , I wish I had it back

[@robm3357]

Your lucky, Every tank I cleaned leaked at the seam at the bottom. Ended up using that white sealer in the tank. I know you want to keep the bikes as close to OEM as possible but these bikes you are working on sure would look good with a paint job. Pull the motor paint the frame and tank.

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks, yeah I was fully expecting the tank to leak. I may end up keeping this bike and may go down that rabbit hole of painting the frame and tank, but I kinda like keeping it “not so perfect” so I don’t feel as bad enjoying them on trails.

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

You should always wash the bike before taking the engine apart.

[@KrisRoberts114]

What size and grit ball hone for 56mm same material cylinder, ive googled it but im getting conflicting answers😅

[@Garage2Trail]

Flex-Hone Cylinder Ball-Hone 55-57mm for Kawasaki KX125 1979-1991 a.co/d/cz75L0m This should work even though it says “Kawasaki “

[@Garage2Trail]

I used a 64mm ball hone on this 185 though

[@KrisRoberts114]

@@Garage2Trail 😆 The bikes a 75-76 ke125, so kawasaki should be great but probably three times the price of anything else going by any other oem stuff I've bought from them, thanks for the quick response much appreciated🫡

[@KrisRoberts114]

@@Garage2Trail had a look not oem🤣 should work great thanks man

[@Garage2Trail]

@@KrisRoberts114 nice! Glad to help out

[@Allsportdriver]

Did you do anything to the carb?

[@Garage2Trail]

Just a basic cleaning

[@Allsportdriver]

Honing - how do you know it's ok?

[@Garage2Trail]

I make sure there is good cross hatching. Roughly 45 degree angles. I use a flex home with a drillz

[@juliestout4056]

It was me that told you about the 2 head gaskets and you're welcome. Well actually it was my husband and I was just relaying the information. His name is Nathan and we are from West Virginia. Glad to help you out.

[@Garage2Trail]

Well thank you again Julie and let Nathan know I really appreciate the heads up…I probably would have stuck it back together again with two gaskets if he didn’t catch that! 😆