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736

Vintage Two Strokes / Re: Yamaha SC500 The Great Yellow Beast

« on: May 26, 2011, 01:52:03 PM »

Just general cleanup and them some safety items (like new front bearings and brake shoes). Fox emulsion shocks that came on the back were spewing all their oil and nitrogen. I had some Yamaha 360 enduro shocks and threw them on the back (for now until I can get something better). I also swapped out the fork oil, put new grips on it, etc. You know -- small stuff. The engine was the only difficult part (esp finding a 3rd over piston for it  ).

Its been a fun project.

Good find.
Did you do anything to the rest of the bike as well. Suspension ?

737

Vintage Two Strokes / Re: Yamaha SC500 The Great Yellow Beast

« on: May 26, 2011, 01:50:03 PM »

But Super Hunky says the motor is uncontrollable/explosive. I find it to be nothing of the sort. Pretty mellow down low and then builds with the revs and makes as much as you can stand when on the pipe. Kind of a dual personality but with 500cc and 3.5 inches of shock travel thats a good thing. Keep it lugging most of the time and then let it wind out when the trail opens up and HANG ON!

Super Hunky offers a good write up on the SC500.

738

Vintage Two Strokes / Re: Yamaha SC500 The Great Yellow Beast

« on: May 26, 2011, 01:47:30 PM »

Exploding bearings? yikes. Will have to keep that in mind next time. Thanks!

Something I should mention is that it is a good practice to cover bearings with a rag when a puller is used to remove them.A friend once was pulling a bearing and,before I could warn him,the bearing exploded and a piece cut off the end of his nose - just like a razor blade! 

739

Vintage Two Strokes / Yamaha SC500 The Great Yellow Beast

« on: May 25, 2011, 09:52:13 AM »

A couple of months ago I finished a rebuild of a 1974 Yamaha SC500. I got this bike for free
from a guy around thanksgiving last year. He said the engine blew up in 1985 and just never
got round to restoring it himself.

Anyway, hers is a short video of the project:
http://s610.photobucket.com/albums/tt188/citabjockey/?action=view&current=TheGreatYellowBeast.mp4