Can I get this FREE Abandoned 2-Stroke Suzuki Running?

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2024
  • We Found a really cool 2 Stroke street Bike but its totally rusted out and it Has sat for the last 37 years, can we get this thing running.
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    Can I get this FREE Abandoned 2-Stroke Bike Running?

ความคิดเห็น • 1.9K

  • @roxieloot
    @roxieloot ปีที่แล้ว +598

    Anyone who has worked on old junk and spent hours trying to get it started, and when it finally fires for the first time can 100% relate to how you felt then. Good job. Respect!

    • @Doomstrader
      @Doomstrader ปีที่แล้ว +17

      Lol the most addictive feeling! I started with mini bikes went to dirt bikes etc. didn’t have any money so I ended up with stuff like this. Now I have money and I look for stuff like this, go figure..
      I have a rusted magna sitting in the back yard, must get it started.

    • @billybgamer5205
      @billybgamer5205 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I took hours trying to get mine started when it was New Junk!

    • @thearchitect4726
      @thearchitect4726 ปีที่แล้ว

      Junk ? are you mental ? its one of the most sort after bikes of the 80's, would take one in a heart beat.

    • @leifvejby8023
      @leifvejby8023 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Absolutely!!

    • @PhilipKerry
      @PhilipKerry ปีที่แล้ว +5

      A classic bike is NOT old junk mind your language please ...........

  • @kevingill648
    @kevingill648 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    Abandoning these fabulous 2 strokes was criminal, loved 70s/80s Japanese bikes.

  • @davedeja
    @davedeja ปีที่แล้ว +176

    Everybody needs a Craig in their life. So dang good with the mechanicals and so entertaining to watch. Undaunted by the reality of a seemingly insurmountable situation, he pushes forward, tackling one problem at a time until... Success!
    I think there is a life lesson hidden somewhere in his work ethic...

    • @Beethovenvirus
      @Beethovenvirus ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Craig's videos are so educational with situations you never want to cross with, take care of your bikes, even if you don't use them! This channel rocks!

    • @BruceForster-k9n
      @BruceForster-k9n ปีที่แล้ว

      A Craig for your car, along with a Sven for your house, LOL! Remember those old ads?

    • @masonhill4065
      @masonhill4065 ปีที่แล้ว

      Normal people just say, "Good watch"

    • @anthonyhumbert8787
      @anthonyhumbert8787 ปีที่แล้ว

      ​@@masonhill4065I've never seen someone post "good watch" so not normal.

    • @sargera1
      @sargera1 ปีที่แล้ว

      esp that cleaner kit with vibration ones,up till now never saw someone doing bike stuff with that thing lol

  • @wrstew1272
    @wrstew1272 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    Started turning wrenches in 1958, and haven’t stopped. And you impressed me with your field inventiveness. That is really great problem solving. Which is what a resourceful mechanic does. Two Thumbs Up!

    • @MrMambott
      @MrMambott ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Always going for my two large round biscuit tins of bits and pieces that get me out of trouble. Before throwing anything away I pull it apart taking every useful object off it cause it will be used in an emergency one day for sure 😁

  • @nikolas7030
    @nikolas7030 ปีที่แล้ว +492

    this might honestly be one of my favorite moto youtube channels great to see you prosper craig!

    • @throttletherapyisneeded
      @throttletherapyisneeded ปีที่แล้ว +8

      What you said !

    • @Doomstrader
      @Doomstrader ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Craig is the bomb!

    • @johnstephen7557
      @johnstephen7557 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yep. I got numbers too.... don't know why?

    • @Frank-Thoresen
      @Frank-Thoresen ปีที่แล้ว

      How many videos has Craig uploaded? I only see 4 videos and 7 shorts 🤔 Not possible to ha 80K+ followers with 4 videos.

    • @nikolas7030
      @nikolas7030 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@frankblackcrow8772 TH-cam put those numbers there, my username is Nikolas and TH-cam adds numbers to differentiate me from a potential other Nikolas, that way everybody gets to have their own username

  • @ramishrambarran3998
    @ramishrambarran3998 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    I am 67 years old. In 1975 I bought a used GT550.
    It is good to see Craig resurrecting this machine.
    Keep going.
    Trinidad & Tobago.
    West Indies.

    • @michaelmonicatti3163
      @michaelmonicatti3163 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I’m 68. Bought mine in 74. Just got out of high school. Ran Klotz oil. Great smell! Put on chambers like this bike. Lost some low end and was real peaky on the powerband. Like a light switch.

  • @Doublequarterpoundcake
    @Doublequarterpoundcake ปีที่แล้ว +61

    I felt this one in my soul, the look on Craig’s face said it all, he was absolutely electric. I’ve personally had this exact experience with so many abandoned, previously flooded projects. There is nothing like hearing a hunk of junk you’ve invested too much time, energy and pain into fire up against all odds. By far my favorite video from you guys !

    • @wanderheuvelman1449
      @wanderheuvelman1449 ปีที่แล้ว

      there's no such thing as spending to much time, energy or money in a bike you love (maybe theres a point to make for the money). But if you like the bike, go fix it up and ride it there's no such feeling in the world after you've resurrected an old smoker by yourself and are able to ride it. the satisfaction is just not there if you bought it running or buy a new bike. (ofcourse you could choose a 4 stroke)

  • @averymanning2419
    @averymanning2419 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I had a GT550 back in the 70s, took it cross country and everywhere else. Best bike I have ever owned.

  • @chrisnichiolas76
    @chrisnichiolas76 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    Man, you can tell how passionate Craig is about motorcycles! Seeing how excited he was when it started running put a smile on mine and everyone else's face!

    • @Tolbat
      @Tolbat ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Same he was the heart of Bikes and Beards

  • @DanielWhite80
    @DanielWhite80 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    I'm watching this video on a Friday, this has been a very stressful week for me on my job, but all the joy and happiness that happens at 20 minutes mark made my whole week freaking better; I was laughing with Craig and Dan. Many thanks, guys, for this channel; this is awesome.

    • @adsinit
      @adsinit ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Totaly relate to that

  • @michaelpiekarski3929
    @michaelpiekarski3929 ปีที่แล้ว +109

    Good job on getting the bike running! I've been working on Suzuki two strokes for 50 years. Apparently, one or more of the CCI check valves stuck open causing the contents of the oil injection tank to fill the crankcase. This will happen again if the problem isn't fixed. The "Oil Bath" sitting in the crankcase might have saved the crank seals and bearings from deterioration over the years. However, the seals might fail in several hundred miles after sitting for 30 years, but they might be OK. I've had both scenarios happen! Incidentally, don't disconnect the CCI system and run pre-mix only. The oil guide plates in the crank are designed to feed oil from the main ball bearings into the hollow crank pins. The oil guide plates will keep the bearings from being lubricated properly if the CCI system is disconnected and pre- mix is run. I recommend replacing the CCI oil line assembly.

    • @LSD97123
      @LSD97123 ปีที่แล้ว

      What if we take the engine apart and remove those oil guide plates? Then we'll be able to run pre mix, right?

    • @paulluce2557
      @paulluce2557 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@LSD97123 The whole point of CCI is (was) to overcome and improve the short comings and inconvenience of pre-mix in what would have been a high performance two stroke engine in the day. You could remove the CCI (and presumably there would be ports you would need to blank off) or leave the hardware in and just run pre-mix.. HOWEVER in both scenarios you will not get the benefits of the CCI system and run the risk of engine damage etc. You wouldnt want to be going down the road of a crank bearing and seal rebuild on a multi cylinder two stoke due to the way the engines are built.

  • @tg8150
    @tg8150 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I have the lil brother to this, a ‘76 Gt185. Runs like a top, just need a fuel tank which for these bikes are virtually non existent. Some of the best motorcycles produced in the 70’s.

  • @rustbucket9318
    @rustbucket9318 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    That first smokey fire-up is always the best feeling. Bikes, cars, heck, even lawnmowers.

  • @carmelpule8493
    @carmelpule8493 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    A brilliant gentleman. Turning the bike upside down, shows his true greatness.

  • @HunGopher
    @HunGopher ปีที่แล้ว +37

    This video made me legitimately happy to see all that smoke and the reactions that entailed.

  • @trondsjli3435
    @trondsjli3435 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Trond from Norway here.
    I have been watching your videos for about a week..
    A lot of them!!!
    I have enjoyed it A LOT!!😅
    And you have inspired me to finally start working on my 1978 Yamaha XS 650 who haven't been started in about 20 years...
    I bought it for about 15 years ago, and dreamed of buying a café racer, but as I always had other bikes that have been running, and jobs and so on....

  • @tobyyork9502
    @tobyyork9502 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    I owned a 1974 GT550 in 1975 until the summer of 1977. One of the sweetest and fastest bikes I ever rode. If you can get that bike running correctly, you will be amazed. Nice work.

    • @Justa_Dood
      @Justa_Dood ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Mine was a 76. Great bike

    • @nigelbaldwin752
      @nigelbaldwin752 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Mine was a 74 that ipurchased in 77. Agree super sweet engine with such adictive power delivery, fantastic bike with great memories.

    • @dutchsailor6620
      @dutchsailor6620 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I had one of the first series with front drum brake, it was my first legal (agewise) road bike. Decent power but mediocre handling. It ended up me crashing it into a ditch and totaling it. After that episode I decided to scale up to something more sensible and got me a ported Kawasaki 750 h2. Ahhh, the things we did when we were young and foolish...

    • @strangeuniverse1199
      @strangeuniverse1199 ปีที่แล้ว

      The bike won a middle weight motorcycle shoot out in the late 70's in Cycle World magazine. They said the bike was fast in a roll on, the fastest of all the bikes tested. The RD 400 was fastest in the quarter however at 14.1 seconds.

    • @richardraby6266
      @richardraby6266 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@dutchsailor6620 I had a CB500 four in 1976, I was flat out on a motorway when the cops clocked me... 102.5 mph. Rather disgusted with to top speed I got rid of it very shortly afterwards and bought... A Kawasaki KH500 triple.

  • @JoelKline-xw7co
    @JoelKline-xw7co 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    "...once we have it started we'll worry about keeping it started...they call that running..." Love the way you adapt and interject humor. Greetings from the other side of the county, Palmyra.

  • @YeahWhateva
    @YeahWhateva ปีที่แล้ว +24

    I took my basic rider course on one of those but a 250. Instructor told us to pick the style of bike we're interested in. Once I got on two wheels I just could not stop smiling under my helmet. Love the content!

    • @JohnKentSV
      @JohnKentSV ปีที่แล้ว

      That is the sensation every biker feels, ride to be free, free to ride!

    • @TotemoGaijin
      @TotemoGaijin ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah, until like halfway through when your butt feels like you've been sitting on a brick all day, lol. Just finished my first range day on a TU250 as well.

  • @johanvonshitzengiggles9046
    @johanvonshitzengiggles9046 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That’s so cool. I was born the year this Bike was made. 😊
    Sweet!!
    I also always clean up the carbs first whenever I start a rebuild or a project.
    Way to go Dude.

  • @ConConReeves
    @ConConReeves ปีที่แล้ว +25

    So happy to see Craig’s channel growing as quickly as it is! I was part of the first 1,000 subscribers, and seeing it rapidly closing in to almost 100,000 makes me happy! Well deserved!

    • @joshuasmith4184
      @joshuasmith4184 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Same. I love Sean and all...but to see Craig do his own thing and watch it take off is amazing. I'm looking forward to the cross-over videos they do together, hoping Sean gets more videos out soon, etc.
      I've *never* been into the whole 'like/subscribe/notify' thing, normally don't have time for that crap...but then I found Bikes & Beards, and now I'm hooked on these two fellers. :-)

  • @AlexJohnson-un5mb
    @AlexJohnson-un5mb 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    watching Craig work on these abandoned and broken bikes and get them running or almost running in just a few hours makes me wanna go work on my own bike ... then i look at the pile of bits and come to my senses.

  • @JaredUnashamed
    @JaredUnashamed ปีที่แล้ว +10

    For not being a motorcycle guy I love watching your videos. Your wit and enthusiasm are what draw people to your content. Keep it up!!

  • @simonfowler7561
    @simonfowler7561 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    The GT550 and her big brother the 750 kettle were my dream bikes when I was a kid. Love yer work Craig!

  • @susansmith-franks684
    @susansmith-franks684 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    The shock & pure joy on Craigs face when the engine first lights up - beautiful!

  • @x66Hawk66x
    @x66Hawk66x 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I have done this many times, and it never gets old. I can relate to the feeling you had when she finally started. I pretty much had the same feeling, and i am sitting over 3000 miles away in the UK.

  • @BruceForster-k9n
    @BruceForster-k9n ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I had a 1975 GT380. There is a special place in my Heart for these old Suzuki Triples!

    • @RonaldDaub-xi5jz
      @RonaldDaub-xi5jz 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I was lucky enough to get a job at wfo Suzuki in Paducah Kentucky and I sold them and I was the parts man and the mechanic at one point

  • @MrBilldo426
    @MrBilldo426 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Love seeing old bikes come back to life. When I was 14 I had a 78’ Honda SL70 that I bought at a yard sale for $80. It had a busted clutch lever, broken throttle cable, warped rims, bad tires, locked up brakes, and a rusted out tank. Within a month I had it restored and was banging through all 3 gears having the time of my life. I sold it a few months later for $2,500. I didn’t know it was collectible I was just having fun lol.

    • @RonaldDaub-xi5jz
      @RonaldDaub-xi5jz 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      You should have had one more gear on the SL that's what I liked about the SL and the CL they were four speeds. The CT70 was a three-speed but wow you should have had another gear

  • @SuburbanSurron
    @SuburbanSurron ปีที่แล้ว +33

    watching Craig get so excited made my day haha

  • @tmber01
    @tmber01 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My dad bought a '73 model about a year after I graduated from high school. He let both my brother and me use it for the next couple of years except when he rode it to work. Due to the oil injection system causing a considerable amount of exhaust smoke, we called it the Mosquito Exterminator. I had a good many thousands of miles of fun on that bike. Then it sat in the old shed out back for about 20 years until I sold it to a guy who was restoring an identical bike but needed a parts bike. He used many of the parts from that old M.E. and is still riding it around today, so the old girl lives on, at least in part.

  • @darksylvain1150
    @darksylvain1150 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    Man I am a long time bikes and beards subscriber but the bearded mechanic is pretty awesome. I love the new direction and content. Thanks Craig

  • @hancholito4478
    @hancholito4478 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    good thing it started. I love the reaction. I kinda squirm tho when you flipped the bike. Every time i get working on a two stroke bike with separate greasing system and sitting for too long, i remove three things : Carbs, airbox and more importantly : Exhaust. there is always either old juice sitting there (water, oil and gasoline most of the time) crank the bike a few time, rince the cylinder by putting some gas through the sparkplug hole, empty the exhaust, put everything back together and provided you have a spark, it'll start at the first cranks

  • @theshedMTB
    @theshedMTB ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I love them old Triple Two Strokes! You really fortunate that the crankcase filled up with oil because if it didn't the crank seals probably would have dried out and been bad

    • @nitrorc4life1
      @nitrorc4life1 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Had an old kawasaki two stroke three cylinder, was a very quick.

  • @joemoore4027
    @joemoore4027 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I've been a motorhead for 60 years and still to this day my heart skips a beat when that one cylinder fires for the first time ! Outstanding videos !

  • @walterthome1121
    @walterthome1121 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Totally informative and entertaining. Craig uses humor and skill with interchangeable success.

  • @piccalillipit9211
    @piccalillipit9211 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    *I HAD ONE OF THESE AS A KID* for riding around the quarries at the back of the house... with the "RAM AIR" system LOL
    Mine didn't have that carb setup - it had a 1 into 3 cable splitter and a cable to each pot.

  • @philbaker6837
    @philbaker6837 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Tell you what Craig, that was brilliant. The best motorcycle video ever! Thats exactly how I feel everytime I get a bike going. You're the Top Man. Be lucky, from England...

  • @josephlarsen
    @josephlarsen 23 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I would love to see a super long set of videos where you just go through the whole process of rebuilding it back to good enough to drive daily, explaining things along the way, why you're doing what you are, etc. Something like that would be so awesome

  • @IkerConner
    @IkerConner ปีที่แล้ว +16

    watching Craig get so excited made my day haha. Totally informative and entertaining. Craig uses humor and skill with interchangeable success..

  • @albertpeugh9367
    @albertpeugh9367 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I was 13 when my Dad bought a GT750 and that’s what I learned to ride on the street with. These were extremely fast for their time 12.6 second quarter mile in the late 70’s was amazingly fast. They were great in a straight line, but they didn’t exactly corner well, especially using the tires Suzuki put on them

  • @moto_jojo
    @moto_jojo ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I love your channel already. I am working on my 3rd bike revival. First as a 1997 Vulcan, an 1982 XS400, and currently a 1976 GL1000. The whole "parts in labled bags" and "cardboard bolt layouts" is my style. But this video really resonated with me. I love that as someone who isn't a mechanic on the daily, I could related to your personal passion here. I could follow what you were doing and told a great story too.
    Can't wait for more!

  • @ouethojlkjn
    @ouethojlkjn ปีที่แล้ว

    I love the smell of two stroke in the morning - smells like . . . victory. The Suzuki GT 2 strokes were great bikes and probably worth more thank you might think. This video reminds me of when I noticed a neighbour had an old Suzuki 125 2 stroke twin languishing in the back of his garage. He said it belonged to a lodger who rode it once, crashed it and never touched it again. The lodger moved on years before but left the bike. I was able to resurrect it ( mostly basic stuff) and the only big problem was running a cable to the back light to get it to work - I could not find where the break was in the loom. My younger brother used it for two years to go to and from college.

  • @ianbedwell4871
    @ianbedwell4871 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I rode a 2 stroke 750 water cooled version of this in NZ, even sounded the same! Was a brute, only kick start with a vicious habit of kicking back if you didn’t do it right. Cool to see you get it running, I dont think I would have thought to turn it upside down

    • @ahobimo732
      @ahobimo732 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      That must have been an insane bike to ride. I love 2 strokes.

    • @sargera1
      @sargera1 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@ahobimo732 a single 250 can do as much as 30bhp with a tuned carb' TPI kit let alone 3cyl ( 350 twin yamaha pulling 50ponies on a watercooled YPVS)

    • @sargera1
      @sargera1 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      its a 750 , u rlucky its a 2t(low comp) other wise its same as 250 twins w/o decomp start (Honda IGS system), even a tuned 150 can kick u up good( been there before on a suzuki 150 sport cub tuned ones)

    • @ahobimo732
      @ahobimo732 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@sargera1 I've got a 700 triple in my Yamaha snowmobile (2003 SX Viper). It's got about 120hp. It's the most exciting thing I've ever driven. I'll never part with it, unless it dies on me, which is unlikely because it runs like a Swiss watch.

  • @marden888
    @marden888 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    giving life to this old bike & making it run is amazing! doing it on a driveway is mindblowing.

  • @keithlenahan6080
    @keithlenahan6080 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    That was one of the best motorcycle videos I've seen. When it fired up, I got as excited as you all. It's definitely one of the best mc channels on TH-cam. Keep up the great work, guys!

  • @JB-ro3sz
    @JB-ro3sz ปีที่แล้ว

    i bought a Honda CB 350 that had sat for a while, the carbs looked worse than those. after a few hours with a wire wheel and a Dremmel tool, i got them apart opened all the jets and freed up the floats on the float pins. i didn't think the bike would ever run again but it did and it ran really well. Great job on this one.

  • @trekkin_fpv5272
    @trekkin_fpv5272 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Love how Craig is so excited when he finally got it running!

  • @oseusa3063
    @oseusa3063 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    2 stroke suziki 750 the quickest street bike at the time, love it

  • @TheCovertOperation90
    @TheCovertOperation90 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Good work! I bet the torque of that 2 stroke would be a blast on the road. I bought my first bike, a 2001 1400cc suzuki intruder, non running for dirt cheap. Ended up cleaning the carbs and finding a bad pickup coil for the rear cylinder, which was the no spark issue it had. Replaced the clutch springs as well. I'm still riding that bike after 2 years and almost 10k miles!

    • @Toxic2T
      @Toxic2T ปีที่แล้ว

      as long as the rings hold on or the cylinders arent too worn or rusted. itll be a blast to ride

  • @beaverbushcraft2962
    @beaverbushcraft2962 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I just got a 1974 ct70 going after sitting 35 years. Wasn't too easy but not too bad. The reward was priceless.

  • @wswan81
    @wswan81 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The reaction was gold. And its absolutely the reason why do this.

  • @adammcallister2260
    @adammcallister2260 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Really awesome channel, Craig. Loving this content.
    Missed a joke with the bikes at the start. Should’ve turned around to look at the bicycle 😂
    Don’t ever think your work is boring, either. Lots of people would love extended cut videos of you working on carbs and what not

  • @_zaxpayne
    @_zaxpayne ปีที่แล้ว

    I’m glad Craig got his channel giving him his spot light I don’t watch bikes and beards much no more Craig’s the goat of the show needed him talking more

  • @PeterTheBeard
    @PeterTheBeard ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Great episode Craig! I love the combination of humor, history, and mechanic'ing. Keep up the great content! Question though, do you pre-arrange with the owner to be able to get the bike running?

  • @Gingerbread_Guy
    @Gingerbread_Guy 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    First saw Craig on Bikes and Beards my fave TH-cam channel. Loved his and Sean’s interactions with each other, reminds me of my friend Bret and me. Then I found Craig’s channel and fell even more in love with his channel! Craig you’re freaking awesome and entertaining to watch!

  • @imbradandyouarenot
    @imbradandyouarenot ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This channel is fantastic. Maybe Craig was the star of the show this whole time?

  • @perustc9158
    @perustc9158 ปีที่แล้ว

    I had a 1973 version in 1977 that I bought with 6" over tubes on it and a useless sissy bar. Getting the tubes back to stock was easy. Getting the wiring that had been extended in ALL RED WIRES not so much. The throttle cables weren't a barrel of laughs either but I got it done. I had that thing for a few years and loved every minute of it.

  • @denox420
    @denox420 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    its fun watching your skills as a narrator / content creator improve with each video. keep up the great work! i love the content!

  • @larsbliss2728
    @larsbliss2728 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I had one given to me as a project. I got it running and loved that bike. After getting sick I had to sell off a bunch of stuff and the 550 was sold. I miss that bike....

  • @vinylexperience77
    @vinylexperience77 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    FYI the center spark plug is not the same as the outer ones. The center cylinder runs hotter that the outside cylinders. If you do not put a cooler spark plug in the center cylinder you can burn a hole in the piston.

    • @noxious89123
      @noxious89123 ปีที่แล้ว

      A cooler spark plug is just to make the *plug* run cooler, nothing else. With the wrong heat range plug, the plug would overheat and get burned up, which could drop the tip into the cylinder and damge the piston, head and cylinder. It won't just burn a hole in a piston like running it lean would.

    • @vinylexperience77
      @vinylexperience77 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@noxious89123 NO. The cooler plug in the center cylinder is because it runs hotter. I know this first had because I owned the same bike. In fact I had two of them.

  • @mikejones9080
    @mikejones9080 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    In the 80s, I bought an early gt380 with a stuck engine. Pulled the head, stuck a hunk of wood on top of the middle piston. A couple shots with a hammer, an unstuck. Put the head back on, made sure the points were OK, put gas in the gas tank, kicked it over, and rode it for a couple years. Then I got a 73 gt750 that took me about 4 hours and a new battery, and rode it for almost 4 years. That water Buffalo was the best bike I ever owned, and I owned a bunch. Now, a few months south of 80, and I'd give anything to ride one again.

  • @davidmoore5822
    @davidmoore5822 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I had one of these in the 70's, ported and polished motor, gusseted frame and a 3 into 1 Bromlech exhaust. A wonderful bike.

  • @timudell3080
    @timudell3080 ปีที่แล้ว

    This makes me so happy! Bearded mechanic Craig for the win! Awesome to see dan on the opposite side of the Camara as well!

  • @timdavanzati7510
    @timdavanzati7510 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I’m only 20 or so mins from Pittsburgh and I’ve only just started watching your videos but I appreciate the good information and lessons to learn while keeping it interesting and fun

  • @paulhulbert5327
    @paulhulbert5327 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Absolutely love your content and constantly watching your videos from a man in the UK. It's so strange that bike, even if it was being sold as a import from the USA to England. That bike could be a $2500 $3,000 purchase for someone in the UK to do up , I've rebuilt four motorcycle so far and the only envious bit is how much you can buy them for when, how much we have to buy them for. But keep making your videos. They are really good content

  • @derekstudt
    @derekstudt ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I’ve got a ‘72 GT550. These bikes are a ton of fun! I smiled real big when he finally got it running because I know the feeling!

  • @carlosanzola2938
    @carlosanzola2938 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have a 1972 GT550 and a 1972 GT250. Had a 1973 GT750, but I sold it to pay for my daughters college tuition. Great bikes, a blast to ride.

  • @robotpizza
    @robotpizza ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I took your advice and found a bike to fix. Worked great, found another one and so on, so on! Today, I have 74 bikes in my yard and 1 less wife! Thank you Bearded Mehanic for all your life advice! 😳

  • @MichaelDanelleKinslow
    @MichaelDanelleKinslow ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for the way you put together your videos without swearing. It is nice to be able to watch the videos with my son.

  • @PawAshtraysMatter
    @PawAshtraysMatter ปีที่แล้ว

    5:59 am on an Sunday and I'm totally ready for the week just looking at how happy Craig got when it started

  • @dannysdailys
    @dannysdailys 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I had the same bike, only full dress. I went coast to coast 6 times with it and never had a breakdown. Finally I bought a Goldwing when it had 63,000 miles on it and had never been apart. Suzuki OWNED the triple two strokes in 75/76. You wouldn't have done that with a Kawasaki Mark IV H-2. Those would've even had the swing arm bushings rotted out. Nice to see you Craig.

  • @Cr125stin
    @Cr125stin ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My dad had one of these that he built into a cafe racer!! He had a custom aluminum seat made and lower bars. I remember he machined vents into the brake drums and put these little screens in the vents. It was such a cool bike, I wish he still had it!

  • @lreyn2130
    @lreyn2130 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I just found a 1976 KZ400, been sitting for 20 years. I just started my busted knuckle journey! - Girl #2

  • @Whistler42
    @Whistler42 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    When he gets it running is the whole reason I’ve binged all of his videos

  • @stephengibson2869
    @stephengibson2869 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My oldest brother used to have an early 70s Kawasaki 350 triple 2 stroke. It was a good machine.

  • @d.b.1858
    @d.b.1858 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    One of the most enjoyable parts of this video. Was the fact that you were immersed in multiple chemicals. And I was on my couch eating a few spoonfuls of natural peanut butter and my fingernails were perfectly clean.

  • @lennygermany1507
    @lennygermany1507 ปีที่แล้ว

    The Thumbnail got me straight away ,,, My first motorcycle was a Suzuki GT 250 , and just the image took me back decades :)

  • @brikfiend
    @brikfiend ปีที่แล้ว

    I used to have a 550 when I was younger in 78' .How I loved that bike !

  • @l0rdcom
    @l0rdcom 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    You Should have silver soldered the float. Best way to fix them. Learned that from a 72 year old mechanic in the late 80's. He got me started working on bikes.

  • @byronmorales4706
    @byronmorales4706 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I celebrate your victories with you, I think I feel as happy as you do when I see you turn on an old bike

  • @humanitech
    @humanitech ปีที่แล้ว

    Oh the memories ....as the GT550 was my first real resto bike project back in the 80's ....which I found rusting away in someones yard in the UK!
    I paid $150 and pushed it home 😂 and armed with a manual I stripped it down, cleaned and fettled and tuned up the motor,... braced up the frame and steering head, got a box section swinging arm., some secondhand racing expansion pipes , GS 550 mag wheels and double disc brakes and flat bars . sprayed everything up black and red ... like new! and enjoyed every moment on this crazy bike although it really annoyed the neighbours ....as those racing pipes were loud as hell and kept setting of their car alarms.
    But hey it was fun and was pretty reliable after sorting a few of the usual two stroke issues

  • @mikethedigitaldoctorjarvis
    @mikethedigitaldoctorjarvis 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I made a new friend a while ago,he had a Yamaha RXS100 energy induction bike in his garage,i went i had one of those when i was 17 (in the UK) he said he couldn't get it running,i said give me a day with it,i got it running fine ! it was only a single cylinder 2 stroke,but i knew them like the back of my hand ! but getting anything started like that is a buzz and a real good .My Dad was a mechanic,so he taught me a lot also.

  • @ZombiePotatoSalad
    @ZombiePotatoSalad ปีที่แล้ว

    Out of the 7 bikes I've owned, I've gotten 5 bikes working from a non-running state (two were perfectly able to run). I'm a 32 year old autistic guy, and it started in 2020 when I didn't even know how to ride a motorcycle, let alone work on them. I hadn't gotten my license then (due to driving a car being mentally overwhelming). So I paid for the MSF course, and my wife bought me a $200 1980 Suzuki GS550E. Working on it in the backyard on and off, I finally got it running. I was able to ride it, get used to the road, and this encouraged me to go back and try for my license. Now I'm licensed for car and motorcycle. After being told "you can't" for much of my life due to autism (and feeling it too), the feeling of restoring something, of bringing life to what was lifeless is incomparable.
    I have a current project, a 1977 BMW R100S that I got for free. It can run, there's just an issue with wiring. When I pull the clutch lever, the blinker module activates. The front blinkers are dim, the back ones are bright. I'm told it's a bad ground. The problem is finding it.

  • @TaylorHomeCare
    @TaylorHomeCare ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm happy for Sean but glad my fellow pa boys are still here. Only a couple hours away in the poconos

  • @NukeBreath
    @NukeBreath 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    You are absolutely amazing. Taking that carb apart at putting all those little pieces together and JB Welding that float. Skills my friend, awesome skills. Made for some great content.

  • @dabradguy
    @dabradguy ปีที่แล้ว

    Love it. I could watch these all day. Reminds me of when roadkill would save Junkyard cars just enough to do burnouts.

  • @todorow22
    @todorow22 ปีที่แล้ว

    Getting an old clapped out bike running is one of the best feelings in the world. Craig's a GD legend. This is one of my favorites, 3 cyl 2 stroke. LFG!

  • @toddcolinfew
    @toddcolinfew 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I have been binge watching and really enjoy your channel. Also wanted to mention that the “family friendly” language is noted and appreciated. Awesome job!

  • @Sinultimata
    @Sinultimata ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The GT550's were a great bike, miss mine, all I have left is photo's. Then again mine wasn't quite stock, it had a GT380 disk front end (stopped better than the twin leading shoe front drum brake), shortened pistons, Dunstall tank, TZ700 seat and rear sets - damn thing went like stink and with minor mods you could get them to handle too.
    Keep the vid's coming @The_Bearded_Mechanic great way for us oldies to get our kicks on stuff we no longer see.

  • @haroldbell213
    @haroldbell213 ปีที่แล้ว

    I remember the RAM Air two stroke bikes. From the 250 and up. They were great bikes. We use to tease one customer . We called him Ram Air. The 380 is my favorite of them all.

  • @Alexandrepgagnon
    @Alexandrepgagnon 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    That smoke was a thing of beauty!

  • @QBandBookingKC
    @QBandBookingKC ปีที่แล้ว

    Had a 76 GT 380, very fun bike. Was fun watching this video, brought back good memories.

  • @johnlockwood9267
    @johnlockwood9267 ปีที่แล้ว

    Man I can relate to that feeling working on old messed up gummed up stuff and it runs and it runs well such a good feeling

  • @shawnhulke7385
    @shawnhulke7385 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That’s nice. I haven’t seen that much smoke since I walked in to willie Nelson’s bus. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

  • @vegasxrs9401
    @vegasxrs9401 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Just had the same oil problem with my 76’ Kawasaki kh 500. Drained a 1/2 Qt. Of oil from the bottom end before it would run. Loved your video.

  • @scottcol23
    @scottcol23 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I had that exact same bike when I was in high school . Picked it up off ebay back in 1999 for $200. Took it down to the frame and rebuilt it. The oil injection system was a nightmare on mine. Once I got it to run it was a great bike. Wish I still had it. But I traded it for a 1984 Suzuki Tempter GR650 which I still have 20 years later. This was a fun episode.

  • @scottcates
    @scottcates ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice to see that JIS impact screwdriver get a workout. Neat old carbs -- fairly simple.

  • @bodeans59
    @bodeans59 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You can't help but to laugh and smile when he gets this running!

  • @TinyPaperClip
    @TinyPaperClip ปีที่แล้ว +1

    as a fellow mechanic i can feel the joy when it finally started, craig never stop wrenching!

  • @charlieclement4685
    @charlieclement4685 ปีที่แล้ว

    I had a 77 model GT550. Bought it brand new. Had a lot of fun with that bike.