1972 Suzuki TS185: Will it start?

[@juliestout4056]

I specialize in these bikes. These are my favorite. I have had hundreds of them. The head gasket was not missing. It is inside the head, I saw it. It must be dug out with a knife or screwdriver. So right now it has 2 head gaskets. 65 PSI is plenty for a TS185 to run.....not like new but plenty to run. If there are no marks on top of the piston it is stock. Yes stock rings will help a lot. The rubber o-ring in the bottom of the carburetor that you said was hard needs replaced with a new one. If it doesn't seal it will run very rich. Now use full choke and no throttle and that bike will absolutely start. If there's a lot of white smoke the right side crank seal is bad. That is an inside seal, and the cases would need split. Also, that bike does not need a battery to run. Do not unhook the oil pump because the left bearing will go dry. Hope this helps.

[@Garage2Trail]

Thank you for all of that information, it’s very much appreciated! I thought that ring may have been pressed into the head but I couldn’t find an edge to pry on. I’ll take another look at it when I get home. So this one has the internal crank seal too…like the MT250 I just got done splitting…wonderful lol. The rings are completely stuck on this TS so I’m hoping new ones and a hone will do the trick.

[@Garage2Trail]

I wanted to let you know you were dead on in regards to seeing the original head gasket ring. It was there and after I picked at the carbon a bit I was able to pull it off. Thank you again for pointing that out!

[@aarongoodreau9818]

Hey there! I just bought one of these as a little project. Is it possible I could message you or something? I have a few questions and I am pretty new to the bike 😊

[@Garage2Trail]

Sure thing, you can email me at [e-mail]

[@richardmassey2699]

Best part bustin that bowl.🧐👍

[@redtobertshateshandles]

The spark plug might be breaking down with the pressure of fuel, oil and compression. Knock the gap down a bit smaller. Like half. A Suzuki mechanic trick.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Make sure when you're kicking these early Suzuki's that you engage the kick-start before kicking. Some have a weak pawl which chips the engagement surface and then the kick-start slips. It's a tear down the crankcase job to fix and I doubt you'll find a pawl these days.

[@Garage2Trail]

Good to know, thank you for the heads up. My 1974 XL175 is the same way…need to be ginger with the kicker cause those shafts are weak.

[@jeffferguson899]

great video. Pro tip: if you use an air chuck that has a rubber tip it works much better for blowing through carb passages

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks Jeff! Good idea…I’ll have to find one of those for the air gun.

[@jeffreysenior]

Back in my days of riding the TS 185 was in great bike great power.

[@Garage2Trail]

Nice, I can’t wait to get this top end back together and fire this up!

[@roberthocking4221]

I used to run one of these in the 80s, and if memory serves, the head gasket is an aluminium washer that fits in the head recess.

[@Garage2Trail]

Yup thank you , I do get one installed and realize that little gap is actually normal after hearing from other guys online that have the same bike. I learn something new on every bike I guess!

[@wattie1050]

Looks another great wee project , bit cruddy but seems decent under it all 👍 hopefully those crank seals aren't too much hassle to do like the Honda was! If they need doing 😮 a pity it didn't fire up at all.!look forward to it sparking into life 👍 great work and filming as per usual.👍😁 defo getting to the time of year for the heating going on in the house again !!! Minus 4 here this morning 🙁🙁 👍

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks Wattie! I’m really hoping the crank seals are ok because this one requires the engine to be split just like the MT250 for the one seal. I think I’m up for the task it it does come to that though!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

1972 is 51 years ago. It's in great condition. I predict that it will run until it gets hot, then run rich and foul the plug. But the leaky crank seals sucking air might balance this out. Great buy.

[@Garage2Trail]

Thank you! The rings are either stuck or just worn because there is very low compression. My guess is it’s the original top end in it.

[@redtobertshateshandles]

​@Garage2Trail they don't have a lot of compression. The dynamics of running increase the compression. Old race tuners tried increasing compression but often created over compression problems.

[@Garage2Trail]

My compression tester was only reading 50psi without adding oil to the cylinder. When I did that it bumped up to 65-70psi

[@redtobertshateshandles]

@@Garage2Trail I worked in a Suzuki shop 40 years ago and these things were 10 years old then . Now it's 40 years later you're trying to get it going. Im really enjoying seeing inside the old bike. Thanks

[@Garage2Trail]

@@redtobertshateshandles very cool, glad to be able to share this with you! What kind of psi would you think I should be getting with this bike with a healthy top end?

[@ralfr.5974]

Nice old two Stroke Bike🤩👍🏻

[@Garage2Trail]

I agree! Really cool little bike…super lightweight too for the era. Can’t wait to get it running and take it for a rip in the woods.

[@carbonjelloid8045]

A friend of mine had the 100cc version, he let me ride it once, I was only 13.

[@peterlobb6456]

In the video the spark looked a bit intermittent, maybe you could trace that back? Cool looking bike, can't wait to hear her running!

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks Peter! I think the video doesn’t always pick it up. I did turn the key in the off position to make sure it killed spark too. Maybe it was while I had it off.

[@paulthompson8613]

Its midnight is England watch the rest later the xl 175 looking good

[@Garage2Trail]

Thank you Paul!

[@dennissmith6783]

Nice!

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks!

[@alanziolkowski9314]

Does your compression tester have a schrader valve at the end of the hose as well as at the gauge? If only at the gauge, the additional volume of the hose will cause lower readings in small volume cylinders like motorcycles.

[@Garage2Trail]

Ahhh ok it does not so that explains the lower readings! Thank you!

[@paulthompson8613]

No need to go to the gym or buy a peloton exercise bike just get an old two stroke dirt bike and it is way more fun

[@Garage2Trail]

Lol especially when they don’t start! 😂

[@aimansyafiq9098]

Why use throttle when you put choke on

[@Garage2Trail]

I was trying anything and everything at that point lol

[@aimansyafiq9098]

@@Garage2Trail try change to new spark plug and add some fuel into that combustion chamber.sometimes it will help

[@Garage2Trail]

@@aimansyafiq9098 thanks but yeah I did try that too…no dice. The new piston and rings is almost ready to go back in so hopefully soon we will see it light up!

[@leebenson4874]

LOL dude You had her flooded by the 4th kick. 1st. If you doubt, stop and check. Hey buddy can I use you compression tester to compare please. Once I had a eng. sitting for 3 yrs. because the Shop Manual said this is the firing order. Finally went down and looked at the neighbors car. 10 mins and she was running. LOL Just because its new does not make it good. New and not good 4 times in a row. S 1.99 Nylon bolt in a aircraft Gyro in an 6.9m helicopter. NFAA!!

[@Garage2Trail]

Yeah I hear ya…probably doesn’t help that I got the tester cheap off Amazon lol. I have a gut feeling it’s the rings though.

[@christophemaxilari7678]

Nice job

[@Garage2Trail]

Thank you!

[@christophemaxilari7678]

I have the same Bike but 1976, I live in France @@Garage2Trail