1986 YZ125 - Bringing her back

Brian_Bowles
Edited Date/Time 1/15/2019 7:07pm
I got a 1986 YZ125 and a 1986 CR125 recently for free. They were dying in a backyard. The owner told me if I wanted them I could have them. After cleaning out the carb on both bikes and putting in new gas they both run. Here is the photos on the YZ125:


I took her home and put some soft scrub on the molded plastic:




I then used some magic eraser on the fork boots:


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Brian_Bowles 12/29/2018 3:15pm
12/29/2018 3:15pm
Unfortunately the Kickstarter bolt was sheared off I side the shaft. I had to buy a new Kickstarter and a new shaft. It looked like someone tried to get the bolt out with an easy out and then broke it off in the shaft. While the side cover was off I replaced the seals for the crankshaft, Kickstarter, clutch arm, and the gasket for the power valve.






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Brian_Bowles 12/29/2018 3:18pm
12/29/2018 3:18pm
I painted the handlebars, replaced the grips, throttle cable, throttle cable cap, and throttle cable holder under the grip.

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The Shop

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Brian_Bowles 12/29/2018 3:24pm
12/29/2018 3:24pm
The first ride at Durhamtown was a success. She ran great all day.



toomey706
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toomey706 12/29/2018 7:25pm
12/29/2018 7:25pm Edited Date/Time 12/29/2018 7:27pm
I restored this bike last year, also a 1986 YZ 125. If you don't have a filter cage, good luck finding one. I had to make one out of aluminum and it was a pain in the ass. Love the motor but the suspension I needed some real love.

I stripped the stock pipe with a wire wheel and polished it, and was lucky to find a brand new DG silencer. Really fun bike to ride though.


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Brian_Bowles 12/29/2018 8:37pm
12/29/2018 8:37pm
Nice job Toomey. I have all the parts. The bike runs great it just needs some love. The little bracket that holds the pipe on the frame broke. They are available but about $30 to replace. Has anyone ever had luck making one? I have a decal package on the way.

Toomey is your gas tank original? Mine has a lot of yellowing. The only option seems to be replacing it with a Clark tank.
Ove
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Ove 12/30/2018 5:46am
12/30/2018 5:46am
Looks good already Brian!
And good to see it's getting used!
toomey706
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toomey706 12/30/2018 6:34am
12/30/2018 6:34am
Brian_Bowles wrote:
Nice job Toomey. I have all the parts. The bike runs great it just needs some love. The little bracket that holds the pipe on the...
Nice job Toomey. I have all the parts. The bike runs great it just needs some love. The little bracket that holds the pipe on the frame broke. They are available but about $30 to replace. Has anyone ever had luck making one? I have a decal package on the way.

Toomey is your gas tank original? Mine has a lot of yellowing. The only option seems to be replacing it with a Clark tank.
The bracket on mine was broken also, just had it welded. That's where I got that done, I had about five different variations of a better bracket I would have used instead. The tank was yellowed pretty bad due to fuel sitting in it and soaking through. It was a pretty long process but scrape the outside layer with razor blades and then used a headlight sanding kit 2 bring the polished surface back. I never got completely White but when I started it was almost brown. Thought about replacing it with car tank but they don't look quite the same.

Good luck.
Brian_Bowles 12/30/2018 10:35am
12/30/2018 10:35am
The bike is running great! It starts on usually the first kick when it is cold even without the choke on. Once it is warm it seems like the idle is just a little low and sometimes it quits. I assume the screw on the side of the carburetor adjusts this but it is turned all the way in. Any suggestions? I am running 91 octane at 32:1 ratio. Thanks for your help!
Mark_Lynch
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Mark_Lynch 12/30/2018 7:57pm
12/30/2018 7:57pm
Brian_Bowles wrote:
I got a 1986 YZ125 and a 1986 CR125 recently for free. They were dying in a backyard. The owner told me if I wanted them...
I got a 1986 YZ125 and a 1986 CR125 recently for free. They were dying in a backyard. The owner told me if I wanted them I could have them. After cleaning out the carb on both bikes and putting in new gas they both run. Here is the photos on the YZ125:


I took her home and put some soft scrub on the molded plastic:




I then used some magic eraser on the fork boots:


Wow....magic eraser! Works good it looks like
Mark_Lynch
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Allen, TX US
Mark_Lynch 12/30/2018 8:05pm
12/30/2018 8:05pm
Brian_Bowles wrote:
Nice job Toomey. I have all the parts. The bike runs great it just needs some love. The little bracket that holds the pipe on the...
Nice job Toomey. I have all the parts. The bike runs great it just needs some love. The little bracket that holds the pipe on the frame broke. They are available but about $30 to replace. Has anyone ever had luck making one? I have a decal package on the way.

Toomey is your gas tank original? Mine has a lot of yellowing. The only option seems to be replacing it with a Clark tank.
Good work Brian.... I’ve always hated the way the tank yellows though. My friend restored an old Husky...beautiful restore, but still had a yellow tank. There are some guys that paint them, and I’ve seen some beautiful painted tanks. But I guess they aren’t ever the same. Seems tanks are the one thing you want to start with a good one. I’ve spent hours and hours on mine so far
Brian_Bowles 12/30/2018 9:26pm
12/30/2018 9:26pm
I might just get a Clarke tank. I know they are not the exact shade of white but they are way more white than I would ever get this one.
Brian_Bowles 1/14/2019 8:44pm
1/14/2019 8:44pm
I got new Yamaha fenders and a Clark gas tank. I have started on the stickers too.
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Mark_Lynch
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Mark_Lynch 1/15/2019 5:34pm
1/15/2019 5:34pm
Brian_Bowles wrote:
I got new Yamaha fenders and a Clark gas tank. I have started on the stickers too. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/01/14/318110/s1200_358033B7_4E04_4547_9809_D0AE0A5D2249.jpg[/img]
I got new Yamaha fenders and a Clark gas tank. I have started on the stickers too.
Looking good Brian ! I’ve always liked that red/white combination on the older Yamaha’s
1
bonseff
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bonseff 1/15/2019 6:02pm
1/15/2019 6:02pm
You've been busy, mister. These are looking great!

Pit Row

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Brian_Bowles 2/5/2019 6:33pm
2/5/2019 6:33pm
Your bike looks great. I see the 250 in the background. You are lucky to have the pair!

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