74Dusted

Okay, I figured this one out guys. Years ago, when I was getting this bike ready for the road, Pennsylvania had a law that stated the Headlight had to function without the engine running... A Jumper wire had to be installed between the Parking Light (Tail Light) and Headlight, inside the Headlight Switch, so that the headlight would draw power from the battery, and work without the engine running. After testing, hair pulling, swearing, and threatening the bike, I narrowed it down in a process of elimination that something in the headlight circuit was shorted and drawing down the rest of the system. Then I remembered the Jumper Wire, removed it and everything on the bike is perfect again. Also, Penndot has changed that law in Pennsylvania (so my bike no longer requires that jumper wire). Any bike manufactured before January 1st 1978 does not require the lights to function with the engine off (my DT was built in 1977)

SOLVED - See reply. I think I've got a problem on my '78 DT175 (she started life as a 125, but wears a MX175 Top End). I'll run it by you guys though, to see what you think before I go hair-pulling. Years ago I converted my DT to 12 Volts, using a SH522 Rectifier/Regulator Combo (pretty much the same thing as the SH570 that NEO used on his UK 12 Volt Conversion). Fast forward to this year, I wanted to check to make sure everything was tip-top on the lil DT before I took her in for Inspection (to be road legal). She's only been on the road once in her life, the original owner put 50 miles on her driving it home in 1978. Don't worry, she's got new everything (tires, brakes, cables, lights, battery, etc) So I fire her up and throw a voltmeter on her to make sure she's charging (Was reading 11.2 Volts at the battery). Okay, a couple hours of wire chasing and testing, a wire got disconnected at the regulator. Here's where the problem starts. Turn signals flash, but put a heavy load on the bike (Neutral Indicator flashes dim/bright as the turn signals function). If I turn the headlight on, it kills all the lights on the bike, battery voltage drops to 9 volts and the headlight looks like the end of a cigarette burning at an idle. Rev her up to 4k and the headlight looks like a Zippo Lighter. So I go back and check all the wiring, try another regulator/rectifier (just in case). Same thing. I test the output of the Magneto, she's putting out 21 Volts on the Lighting Coil and 27 Volts on the Charging Coil (disconnected from the regulator/rectifier) at an idle. I go back and check the voltage at the battery, with the engine not running and it's now at 11.8 volts (still below normal charge) Is it possible, that the battery being low (got a battery charger on it right now) would draw so much power from the Magneto on the bike, that there would be no power left to run the Headlight at the same time?

It's about $3.69 a gallon here (for the cheap stuff, Premium/High Octane is a different story), isn't that like 1.50 euros? I feel so bad for you guys over there, i thought fuel prices were out of hand here, it's worse for you I loved my little Diesel pickup, but the engine needed rebuilt after it broke the rings on the #2 Piston (Silent Shaft/Balancing Shaft locked up and starved the engine for oil) The critter was rare here in the states though (only available from 1983 to 1985), so i had to buy 90% of my parts from over in the UK where it was more common. Sadly, Diesels aren't as popular here in the states. Mostly people who want to tow/haul absurd amounts of weight, otherwise most of the people over here just run gasoline engines.

Do you mean a 350 Elcamino? Easy mistake since they're pretty close in size, i hear people do that all the time even around here The 340 is a Chrysler Engine (actually what i'm running in my '74 Duster and a few other vehicles). It's a nasty little small block in sheeps clothing. I know exactly what you mean about the front end, my duster will pull the front wheels up easily. It's pushing a weak 610 horsepower at the moment, aiming for 1,000hp with the help of a Supercharger/Blower & a 150 Shot of Nitrous. I have a little pickup truck with a V8 dropped in it too (most regular size Pickups have V8's from the factory). Actually, the original engine in my Dodge D50 Pickup is something you guys over there should recognize. It's the 2.5L Turbo Diesel, the same one found in the Mitsubishi Pajero/Shogun (i hear they're very popular over there). The Diesel is at the Machine Shop getting bored out and a Sleeve/Liner replaced. So i stuffed a 340 under the hood to run until i rebuild the diesel. Actually, here it is Keep in mind, that pickup truck is from the same family as the Pajero/Shogun/Montero/and other similar Mitsubishis. It just looks much bigger because of the tires. And for good measure, here's one of my many 340's (my favorite engine), this one is in my '74 Duster. Helmets are no longer a requirement by law here in Pennsylvania. But I'm still going to wear one I can't believe some people would want to ride without a helmet (it's the only thing between your brain and the road!), but i see it everyday Sorry about all the car pictures, since it is a motorcycle forum, hope it's ok.

Yep, I fixed a car in trade for the bike. It was about $40 worth of labor & parts (isn't that about 15 euros?). A grand total of $150 by the time i had transferred the Title to my name, Registered the Bike and paid the Notary Fees & Taxes. I am very impressed that you linked the Challenger to the Duster, especially since it is an American Car. Not too many people that i've spoken with from other countries have heard of Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler (Mopar). I'd love to have a '70 340 Pistol Grip 4-Speed Challenger like the one from Vanishing Point (the original, in the remake they say it has a 426 Hemi. For now I have 7 A-Body Cars (A-body is the name given to the Duster/Demon/Dart body style.. Challengers/Cudas are E-Bodies). Challengers/Cudas are far from cheap though (no matter what side of the pond you live on), which is why i went with the A-Body, they're the poor man's muscle car (affordable to buy/modify). I'll upload some more pics of the DT125 this weekend, i just finished Re-Lining the Brake Shoes. Yep, I replaced the lining material on the brake shoes instead of buying new shoes. It's actually quite common on old (usually antique) vehicles. At least that's what my dad and grandfather told me, on the older vehicles you bought lining for the original shoes instead of replacing the shoes. These days it's just used when restoring antique vehicles, or for rare/unusual/out of stock brakes. I'm also going to tear the Carb off again and recheck the float level, something is a little off there, the overflow tube dribbles a little gas(petrol) from time to time. It's nothing substantial (never leaves a puddle), but it bothers me, lol

Here's my '78 DT125 that I'm fixing up to run as a Fuel-Saver / "Around Town" bike Nothing special about it at the moment, converted to 12 Volts, replaced some oil seals, fixed some damage that a friend (now ex-friend) did when he took my bike out for a spin through the forest and dumped it on it's side. He busted off the Tail Light/Brake Light & Right Rear Turn Signal, dented the right side of the fuel tank too. So I resprayed the bike in Electric Blue, with a little bit of the original green to give it some Contrast. (I think it looks halfway decent/presentable). Still have to remove the Front Fender, fix a crack in it (Plastic Welder), smooth it up and paint it in Electric Blue too. And replace the Boots/Dust Covers on the Front Shocks/Forks. Mostly it's just finish work now, bolting parts back on the bike and fixing the last few things on my list. Here's what I'm currently driving... A '74 Plymouth Duster (it's my baby/toy, hence my screen name)

I just noticed that Oberon tube you were talking about, something like that might work pretty nicely. Eh if someone steals my bike they aren't getting much. I tuned up a customer's car (new spark plugs, wires, etc) in trade for the bike So it's quite literally a $40 bike, And a thief wouldn't be able to do much without the Title (do you guys have Titles over there, it's a Deed to your motorized vehicle) I keep the titles for my vehicles in a Fireproof Safe at home. Granted the thief could chop up the bike and sell it off as parts, but even if my cards weren't on it, it's still a possibility. Fortunately i live in a small town where Auto/Bike Theft is nonexistent. Ttaskmaster, my jacket doesn't have any snazzy features like that. Just a couple tiny pockets on the outside big enough for some money and maybe the motorcycle key.

The insurance card is about half the size of a book page, same goes for the registration card. Don't know how long they would survive in my pocket or even my wallet. I like to keep my cards (for each vehicle) in the vehicle. It's easier for me that way. Instead of forgetting to take them with me. I just thought of something though, i could put them in a plastic bag and slide it in beside the battery (behind the side cover EDIT : NEV, we have something similar over here (in some of the states, not all). It's a Safety Inspection, and they apply the sticker (good for 6 months or 1 year, it varies depending on the state) to the Fork or Fender. But at the same time we're required to carry the Registration Card & Insurance Card on the bike too.

How do you guys with the old DT's carry your cards? I've got nowhere to carry my Insurance Card & Registration Card on my 1978 DT125, unless i shove em somewhere the sun don't shine. lol. I kind of wanted to build a tiny Luggage Rack to mount behind the seat, something capable of hauling small items : Roll of Welding Wire (for a MIG Welder), Maybe a box of Spark Plugs for a Car, you know that kind of stuff. If I do that, I'll build a Glovebox under it to hold my cards. But until then, anybody have some suggestions?

Oh it had some go... about a top speed of 3 mile per hour. I could walk faster than it moved

I was a kid and wanted a Go-Kart... Long story short I tried to build a go-kart on a riding mower frame with the stock transaxle (transmission/gearbox) and 5hp engine... Needless to say I was disappointed with my "go-kart". lol.

Is that an old GL550 or GS750 in your signature picture? My grandfather has a '74 GL550 3-Cylinder 2-Stroke 'zuki, awesome bike in my opinion. And my dad had a '77 GS750 4-Cylinder 4-Stroke 'zuki.

Thats what some people on another forum (for 4x4 trucks) told me too. Which is great, because I have an addiction to squeezing more power out of stuff. Mostly Cars/Trucks, the occasional ATV/Fourwheeler, and once upon a time a Riding Mower (lol) I'll have to upload some pics of the bike when i get a chance. I currently have it torn down (body parts/fenders, gas tank & side covers removed) to paint the bike and finish up the 12 Volt Conversion. I'm almost done with the paint, went from the original faded Green to an Electric Blue with the sides of the gas tank (petrol tank) in the original green. It stands out just enough to be cool and look decent.

Mine has 2 male connectors (on the rectifier, the wiring is 2 female connectors). Possibly a difference between the UK & US models? It's a Stanley DE41 Rectifier. I'm installing a SH522b-12 Regulator/Rectifier from a 1986 Honda 125 ATV (one of my ATVs) It wasn't needed anymore since i installed a CB350 Honda Motorcycle engine on the ATV (and used the wiring harness and regulator from the cycle on the atv). There are some differences compared to the howto i found on here, the one in the how-to was using a Honda C90 Regulator which only has 4 Wires instead of 5. EDIT : Just to clear things up, i didn't install a CB350 engine on my DT125. I'm using parts left over from when i installed the CB350 engine on my ATV to finish the 12 Volt Conversion on my yamaha. Lol, just had to mention it, cause i confused myself when i read my own reply.

Thanks for the tip, i'll fix that before i finish the wiring. I'm guessing the previous owner just plugged it into the wrong connector. Fortunately i had it unplugged when i was running the bike (test runs/getting it running ok) and didn't have a battery in the bike.