The obvious course of action when handicapped by not enough workshop space is to jam another motorcycle in there. The charming little XT225 was rescued from the back of a 20ft container on Saturday morning and offered a new home at Diplo HQ. Missing a battery and suffering from a couple of punctures, the bike seems otherwise pretty sound. It's had the usual minor bumps associated with "field" bike life, nothing too serious and a surge of optimism is pointing us in the direction of applying for a V5 and getting an MOT test done - this little orphan may yet return to the streets.
Knowing the bike to have stood for at least three years with a half tank of av-gas it seemed prudent to whip the carb off and subject it to a thorough de-lousing. The air box is a bugger to get out but I'm very glad we persevered - it is in a shocking state, the filter is long gone, leaving a residue of decomposed crumbly element foam stuck all over the inlet tract. The carb is actually seized solid inside with fuel goo. I don't know whether av-gas deteriorates in a different way to regular un-leaded but I've never seen anything as bad as this before - the dark molasses coloured residue has the consistency of chewing gum and is equally reluctant to let go. The Diplo chemical cupboard has been opened and we've tried cellulose thinners, meths, paraffin, de-greaser, acetone and many more products which will have to remain unidentified. We've made a start on the tank - not so much a rust issue as a goo problem, well goo and rust combo.Let you know how we get on. MORE ETHER !
5 comments:
A great find Diplo. Impressive that all the little plastic bits are still there. Two strokes - Power on every stroke! Bravo.
Mmm, I quite like this. And as Tobe says, those little plastic hand guards are nice. Can I have a go on it when it's finished? I'll bring my chain saw fuel over.
Another one for the donkey sanctuary! I know the feeling having taken pity on a Ner-a-Car, a stinkwheel too.
4 stroke actually Toby - simple little ohc single cylinder, around 15 hp but fun all the same. I think the 225 Serow was a Jap model and not imported ?
I should have noticed the engine has nothing like a two stroke top end...well nothing like my old Bantam anyway. Should be fun.
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