My first bike was a 1976 MT125 Honda Elsinore. My dad got it for $50. It had a soup can for a spark arrestor. It was so much fun when it was running. Thanks for making your video. Brought back good memories for me
Wow! The first of your videos I watched was the Suzuki 185 build. You have learned A LOT since then!! Impressive. I can help you out a lot. A few things come to mind right away. 1. You need a vacuum/pressure gauge setup. MANY of the vintage two strokes have bad crank seals as you just found out. They will NEVER run right that way. You can easily make a tester that will work on any two stroke. Buy a combination pressure/vacuum pump gauge. About 25 bucks on Amazon. It must be a combo pressure/vacuum pump, not just a vacuum pump. Then knock all the porcelain guts and electrode out of an old spark plug. Then solder a hose barb fitting into it that accepts 1/4" vacuum or fuel hose. Now all you need is some automotive expandable rubber freeze plugs. Use the adjustable freeze plugs to completely plug off the intake and exhaust ports. Screw your modified spark plug into the head, and hook up your vacuum/pressure gauge. Start with the pump set to "pressure", and pump it up to SEVEN pounds. [Any more can blow out seals or gaskets!!] If it passes this test, then do the same, only with vacuum. Ideally, it should hold either the vacuum or pressure for 10 minutes. Use soapy water to look for leaks. If you can't find any, then the crank seals are junk. A completely air tight engine is CRITICAL to a two stroke engine's performance. I do this test on every two stroke I work on, from weedeaters to 500cc two strokes. 2. A tuning trick. The motorcycles don't have a "choke". They have a "Cold Start Enrichment" circuit in the carb. This "choke" provides ADDITIONAL FUEL at ALL throttle settings. So if you're not sure if the engine is rich or lean, just hit the "choke"! If it runs better, it was lean. If it runs worse, or stays the same, it's rich. This is a GREAT and useful tuning trick, that can be used while riding/testing. Then remember: 0 to 1/4 throttle = Pilot Jet 1/4 to 3/4 throttle = Needle and Needle jet Full throttle = Main jet only. (Needle has NO effect here.) Always go rich on the main jet until it "blubbers" and won't clear out. Then work down from there. LEAN TWO STROKES BLOW UP!!! Other important: Compression must always be MINIMUM 100 psi, or hopefully more. Lastly, we have a saying: "Every two stroke needs a NEW spark plug; even a NEW one!! Good luck. and keep up the good work!
You're welcome! I consider that vacuum/pressure test gauge to be my most important tool in my box for working on two strokes, yet some people put off or delay making one. But think of all the trouble shooting time it can save, and the mental pondering/questioning when an engine won't start or won't run right! The crankcase area and it's sealing in a two stroke is actually called "primary compression." You wouldn't bother going any further with an engine that had very poor cylinder compression--> the same is true of two stroke "primary compression". It's crucial. So don't delay, order that gauge and spend 10 minutes making the testing rig. Your viewers will be impressed too. Side note: You can take heart in knowing not ALL two strokes have to have the cases split to change both crank seals. A lot of the vintage Yamahas can have both seals changed from the outside. Crap, one more thing: crank seals do sometimes just blow out of the case. Yamaha had such a problem with this that they retro-fit special seal retainers. I always clean everything with acetone, and install my seals with a very thin layer of RTV on the O.D. to help hold them in. NEVER try to pressure test with air from a compressor!! You'll blow the seals right out!! Have at it Gold Guy!
Awesome job with this! I’m in Western MD and have a garage find exactly like this with 1200 miles on it. Let me know if you’re interested in buying it to restore another. I don’t have the time to do it justice like you did with this beautiful one!!
I was given the opportunity to be able to buy one of these bikes the MT 250 Elslnore however I need to do some work to it. Is there an opportunity where I could pick your brain to get some help doing that you obviously know what you're doing, I am mechanically inclined. I've owned the same Harley for 25 years, but this was one of my first bikes, so would it be possible to talk with you when I do get the bike?.
My first bike was a 1976 MT125 Honda Elsinore. My dad got it for $50. It had a soup can for a spark arrestor. It was so much fun when it was running. Thanks for making your video. Brought back good memories for me
Hahaha the ol soup can spark arrestor
Great job, I hope you do another one. I had so much fun watching your bike come back to life.
Thanks pug! I will definitely do another one, it's already in my garage waiting for me!
You did amazingly great with the Honda and your perseverance speaks high volumes for it. 👍
Well done Gold Guy!! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Steve!
Nice work! Appreciate you sharing the info.
Thank you for the summary video. I enjoy that type a lot. Great job on being able to make some profit on this!
Damn, I would’ve paid you five. Thanks for working on that old bike and making it go again.
Good job
Wow! The first of your videos I watched was the Suzuki 185 build. You have learned A LOT since then!! Impressive.
I can help you out a lot. A few things come to mind right away.
1. You need a vacuum/pressure gauge setup. MANY of the vintage two strokes have bad crank seals as you just found out. They will NEVER run right that way. You can easily make a tester that will work on any two stroke.
Buy a combination pressure/vacuum pump gauge. About 25 bucks on Amazon. It must be a combo pressure/vacuum pump, not just a vacuum pump.
Then knock all the porcelain guts and electrode out of an old spark plug. Then solder a hose barb fitting into it that accepts 1/4" vacuum or fuel hose. Now all you need is some automotive expandable rubber freeze plugs.
Use the adjustable freeze plugs to completely plug off the intake and exhaust ports. Screw your modified spark plug into the head, and hook up your vacuum/pressure gauge. Start with the pump set to "pressure", and pump it up to SEVEN pounds. [Any more can blow out seals or gaskets!!]
If it passes this test, then do the same, only with vacuum. Ideally, it should hold either the vacuum or pressure for 10 minutes. Use soapy water to look for leaks. If you can't find any, then the crank seals are junk.
A completely air tight engine is CRITICAL to a two stroke engine's performance. I do this test on every two stroke I work on, from weedeaters to 500cc two strokes.
2. A tuning trick. The motorcycles don't have a "choke". They have a "Cold Start Enrichment" circuit in the carb. This "choke" provides ADDITIONAL FUEL at ALL throttle settings. So if you're not sure if the engine is rich or lean, just hit the "choke"! If it runs better, it was lean. If it runs worse, or stays the same, it's rich. This is a GREAT and useful tuning trick, that can be used while riding/testing.
Then remember:
0 to 1/4 throttle = Pilot Jet
1/4 to 3/4 throttle = Needle and Needle jet
Full throttle = Main jet only. (Needle has NO effect here.)
Always go rich on the main jet until it "blubbers" and won't clear out. Then work down from there. LEAN TWO STROKES BLOW UP!!!
Other important: Compression must always be MINIMUM 100 psi, or hopefully more.
Lastly, we have a saying: "Every two stroke needs a NEW spark plug; even a NEW one!!
Good luck. and keep up the good work!
Wow! A lot of great tips here. Thank you!
You're welcome! I consider that vacuum/pressure test gauge to be my most important tool in my box for working on two strokes, yet some people put off or delay making one. But think of all the trouble shooting time it can save, and the mental pondering/questioning when an engine won't start or won't run right!
The crankcase area and it's sealing in a two stroke is actually called "primary compression." You wouldn't bother going any further with an engine that had very poor cylinder compression--> the same is true of two stroke "primary compression". It's crucial.
So don't delay, order that gauge and spend 10 minutes making the testing rig. Your viewers will be impressed too.
Side note:
You can take heart in knowing not ALL two strokes have to have the cases split to change both crank seals. A lot of the vintage Yamahas can have both seals changed from the outside.
Crap, one more thing: crank seals do sometimes just blow out of the case. Yamaha had such a problem with this that they retro-fit special seal retainers. I always clean everything with acetone, and install my seals with a very thin layer of RTV on the O.D. to help hold them in.
NEVER try to pressure test with air from a compressor!! You'll blow the seals right out!!
Have at it Gold Guy!
Congrats!
That whole restauration had been a very entertaining story with a great result in the end. Thanks also for sharing a summary.
AYYYYYY BROOO!!!
THIS IS SUCH A GORGEOUS RESTORATION!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!
Sweet bike.
Good job!
It was a great series!!
Thanks dude!
good job, its cool to see how you do it and solve the problems...thanks
Awesome job with this! I’m in Western MD and have a garage find exactly like this with 1200 miles on it. Let me know if you’re interested in buying it to restore another. I don’t have the time to do it justice like you did with this beautiful one!!
I had a 125 Honda Elsinore
So did I, wish I still had it
Brill job brill vid do another
Nice job. I have same bike even the same color I'm thinking about restoration
You did well but I wish you had put a CR250 top end on that bike. It's what they always needed. ( ps... the engine should have been brown )
Yo can we get an update video on the T100? Subbed! Great content
Im hoping that you will buy another vintage bike and restore it
Should be an '86 Gold Wing
Great video series sad to see it go but what are you going to build next for us? Looking forward to a new build…
@@roderickmoyer9851 I've got one new restoration project and one new secret build coming very soon.
Man I should have bought it.
What a steal at $3,000, some guy is also selling a restored one on an auction site here in New Zealand For $20,000 or $10,000 US
They are definitely not worth that much in the US. I should have sold it to someone in New Zealand 🥺
gotta help me with mine! 74’ Honda xl250
I was given the opportunity to be able to buy one of these bikes the MT 250 Elslnore however I need to do some work to it. Is there an opportunity where I could pick your brain to get some help doing that you obviously know what you're doing, I am mechanically inclined. I've owned the same Harley for 25 years, but this was one of my first bikes, so would it be possible to talk with you when I do get the bike?.
Funfact: Pennsylvania is an international laughing stock because Fettermann.
😂
Yes.
They actually voted for him.
😂
...better than the Weirdo from Oz who didn't even live there.