Latest Score: '73 Suzuki TC100

[Doc Sprocket]

Here's what I dragged home tonight. I don't know much about it yet. It's a 1973 Suzuki TC100. I hooked my wife's best friend's husband up with some scrap metal and welded an exhaust patch for him, and he repaid me with this bike. I would love to get this thing running- looks like it would be a great lightweight trail pig. Here's what I know about it:

*100cc oil-injected, rotary valve 2-stroke
*4x2 manual tranny (4 speed, high/low selectable)

At a glance, here's what's wrong with it:

*no start, hasn't run in years
*most wiring has been ripped out (jerk!)
*missing rear brake pedal
*missing ignition switch
*kick start lever engages "sometimes"

If any of you folks know anything about these, have any experience or tips or anecdotes, lay 'em on me!

Gawd I love free stuff!!!

 

[r97]

Looks awesome! I really like the look of the 70's dirtbikes. I recently picked up a motorcycle (more information on that in maybe a couple days ) and the wiring has been jerry rigged a few times, but at least it appears to work!

Would love to see some new life put into this thing (doesn't look half bad as is). some cleaning, paint, and what not can go a loooooooong way!

 

[bighead]

Does it have electric start? Looks like fair amount of parts for this model on Ebay. great score. Those original turn singles are not cheap. This bike looks amazing for it's age. How many miles?

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...C100+73&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-Suzuki...Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item35a9b65201

 

[Doc Sprocket]

2086 miles, kickstart only. Physically, it's not horrible. Rust is minimal, the tank's got a couple dings in it, the seat is pristine. The left side cover is smashed to ratspit and held together with tape. It'll take me a bit to get into it, but I hope to get 'er going. Normally, I'd look at something and say, "What can I build with it?". Not this time. I'd like to keep this one intact.

Forgot to mention- Kevin *might* be able to lay hands on a parts bike for this. Let's hope!

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Little update for y'all-

I guess when the P.O (not my friend) tore the ignition switch and wiring out of it, he wired the ignition up directly. I noticed a kill button (non-stock) on the right handlebar. I pulled a plug and did a spark check and it was good! The carb's clearly clogged, but force-feeding her netted me a few seconds of running! From what I can tell, the oil pump's working, too. Bonus!

I'll have to make up a whole new wiring harness if I want a key switch and lighting (which I do), but that part's child's play. I'm just glad the basics are intact...

 

[bighead]

I would look for a cheap used harness and just plug everything in. But I hate wiring problems so I look for the easy way out.

 

[TeamCheap]

Thats a nice little bike.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Minor update-

I took some time to fiddle with this today after doing some last-minute shopping. I couldn't get it to start naturally, so I pulled the fuel line off the tank, and the brown goo that oozed out of the line was just nauseating. I hooked up a test tank and got nowhere- no surprise. I figured the carb was full of the same goo. I hauled the carb off and opened 'er up. You would NOT believe the condition it was in! AAAAUUGGHH!!! I dunno what kind of evil snark that was in there, but at least some of it used to be water.

Also- one of the floats had detached from the arm (Mikuni VM19, two floats) and at some point in the past, somebody had GLUED it back to the arm! Needless to say, the float was off and the glue was goo.

So I gave it the qwiki-kleen- didn't spend a lot of time on it, just got the goo out and opened up whatever passages I could get at easily.

I tossed it back together (minus the one float, fully expecting it to flood) and popped it back on the engine. One good kick and it lit! I warmed it up and let off the choke. It idled kind of high and dripped, drooled, and flooded- but it ran nonetheless.

I tried to take it for a run, but had a few problems. First, the carb's still buggered (no surprise), so I stalled it a couple times trying to take off. No power to speak of. I didn't want to rev the wee out of it and slip the clutch into 2012, so I basically gave up on riding it. No rear brake pedal anyhow.

Also, I gotta open the 'case. After the first start, I had the worst time trying to start it again, the kick was just refusing to engage. I tried to roll-start it a few times, but the snow made that pretty pointless. I also blocked up the bike and started it a couple times by squatting behind the bike and spinning the wheel by hand.

So the test ride didn't really happen, but at least I know the engine is fundamentally okay. I just have to get a carb kit, clean the fuel tank, and rip into the kickstart mechanism. Merry Christmas!

 

[Bluethunder3320]

that is a cool bike. i would not paint it or anything, it looks almost brand new. check up on the value!

 

[dave1701]

Very Cool. I'd fix it then sell it or ride it around town. It looks like it is worth keeping in good condition.

 

[r97]

Is that thing street legal!? I really want one now!

 

[Doc Sprocket]

It could be. It's a true dual-purpose bike. Long-travel (for 1973) suspension, knobby but still somewhat streetable tires, lightweight two-stroke, lights, horn, mirrors, license plate bracket etc, and dual range (high and low) transmission. For the commuter into taking SERIOUS shortcuts!

 

[dave1701]

My grampa had an old Honda of similar type. I rode it around once. Looks like a nice thing to make excuses to ride around.