DirtyDT

XZ550 about 1982. Yuck!

You're welcome!

At £300 I might be interested - That would have to include a good spare engine though. Come on all you who haven't voted yet. Foamy thinks he has won this hands down. Is Grouchy just biding his time for a super knockout sucker punch. He has started a project thread and has made some, almost interested, noises about getting the bike fixed. Is the next YOC meeting at Grouchy's and he is out buying the bacon, rolls and tea? Will Foamy organise a special event T shirt stating I fixed Grouchy's bike (2013 - 2020)? Can't you just feel the tension as these 2 giants of the forum step it up and prepare for battle?

Hi and welcome to the forum.

There is no external linkage. The gear pedal goes straight onto the shaft. I would guess that the first port of call is the gear selector area inside the clutch cover. Cover off and see what you can see. If nothing is apparent, you will need to take the clutch off and have a proper look. Sections 5-47 to 5-49 apply in the SR PDF manual - which I know you now have. With a bit of luck, something here has broken or come adrift. If this is the case, there is no need to split the engine. That is your starter for 10.

Don't forget to vote Tommy.

Hi and welcome to the forum. Nothing wrong with yellow, but I see what you mean. Drewpy has a very nice bike that may give you some ideas. but it is down to personal choice. Good luck on the project and get that angle grinder out!!!

Listen up people. It looks like we have a YOC race on our hands. Grouchy V Foamy............................... the damp squib in the crib!! Will Grouchy have the XT fixed before Foamy finishes his marathon\half marathon?

Have a look here LINKY Tell us a little about you and why the cafe racer etc.

You have a PM from me Grouchy!!

Hi and welcome to the forum. I had a new one back in '94. Great bike.

I thought the XT sold Grouchy! Is the engine the same as the YBR?

That is bad news Jason.

Turning the petcock off (if you can) is always a good idea. I would recheck the carbs for cleanliness and float height. The main reasons this happens is: Too much fuel pressure which pushes the floats open. Float height not set correctly so that the fuel bowel is filling when the needle valves should have closed the flow of fuel. Needle valves not seating properly. This can be due to grit, fitting or badly made.

They come in both 6v and 12v so make sure you got the right ones. A simpler fix is to get a patten headlight that takes a H4 bub. These are available in 6v and 12v too. All you need to do is get the right size and be able to do a little, simple, wiring.

Hi and welcome to the forum Mark. I am not sure that a normal manual is available for this bike but if you have any questions, just post them in the workshop, or other relevant, sections. Feel free to join in. There is a lot to see here.

Sure it's not a single and you were seeing double when you brought it Steve?

Is it a diesel DT50?

LINKY1 - I don't think it is this type. But just in case. LINKY2 - I think it is one of these.

It could be an interesting demographic. Age and gender of the people on the forum. It could tie in with this thread. We tend to communicate with similar people here who share a common interest. Some people are just starting out on bikes and what interests them in biking could be very different to what interests, for example, a born again biker. Some people (I am guessing a lot of us) have had bikes on and off for many years. Once it gets into your blood you are doomed........doomed I say! I fall into the category of the "on and off" biker. Had bikes when circumstances allowed, and often when they did not. I had a full car licence at 17 but brought a bike instead (250 learner rule was still in place then). No history of bike ownership in my family but I guy I worked with had a Suzi GT250 and let me ride it. I actually brought it off him and that was my second bike (an N plate I think - the ramair model). I could easily manage socially without a bike. My car is almost new (had its first service yesterday). My normal work base is only 15 miles away and a decent drive. I can park at work. I wouldn't have to keep work clothes, shoes etc in either of the hospital sites I work at. I wouldn't have to turn up at some meetings wearing my bike trousers and boots carrying a lid and other junk. If i needed to pick something up on my travels i wouldn't have to mess about with kit and where i was going to store the stuff on the rest of the ride. But really, that is missing the point! I rode in this morning, a little cold and damp in the air but much better than sitting in the car listening to Chris Evans on radio 2 or a little ska/Stax on my mp3 dongle thing. I don't have to sit behind idiots who drive at 30 on a national speed limit single lane road. Or behind slow moving tractors and farm vehicles. I can just get on and ride as my mood takes me. Sometimes flowing, sometimes rapid and sometimes mellow. I can nod at other bikers and wonder where they go during the winter. I can pull into a bike bay at work and see the die hard bikers and the ones who only come out in the summer and can't manage to park their bikes prettily. I don't need more than one bike, assuming I even need one. It has never been about just a cheap form of transport to me - and thinking biking is a cheap option is a flawed argument anyway. If I calculated the additional cost of the bike and any "savings" I made in running costs, a bike would never be an option. All that said, biking has gripped me for getting on for 40 years. It is an addiction that I will only give up if I have no other alternatives. End of ramble. Just waiting for someone to cut the crusts of my lunchtime sandwich and liquidise it for me.

I'm out after a high bid like that.

A few years ago the local Women's organised some short talks in the church hall. One week, Hertz Van Rental, a Dutch ex world war two fighter pilot was booked. After the obligatory tea and buns he started his talk. "Good afternoon ladies". "Von day I was flying my spitfire and looked out and saw three fokkers................" At this, a loud gasp went up from some of the old dears, two fainted and there was pandamonium. The vicar quickly got up on the stage and said "Ladies, ladies. The speaker wasn't swearing. The Fokker is the name of a German aircraft manufacturer, so please let him continue". The speaker continued "..............................."as I was saying, I looked out of the cockpit and saw three fokkers, all in Stukas, were alongside me............."

There are some really old blokes on the forum Ian. I'm sure some lie about their age as they look as though they are close to 3 figures but swear that they are in their late 40's/50's (yeh, right!). I won't mention any names but they know who they are..................................

DT is cable front brake and TDR is hydraulic. Is that right? Going make it hard to get the same set up on both. That and the difference in bars etc. Interesting problem though.

So throttle, front brake and clutch all operated with the right hand? That sounds scary. Could you cable the rear brake lever to the front brake and ignore the rear brake?