1968 Yamaha DT1 Treasure/Trash?

You're a good man with a rebuild/restoration and camera work ! Really enjoying this classic DT1 thread !
Here's hoping some dry warm summer weather, heads your way Valleyrider.

996DL

Just found this thread. Great work!
I'll forever have a soft spot for the old Yamas.

Now that the rain has stopped, for today anyway, I got the opportunity to take the rolling part of the bike outside. Still waiting on some parts for the motor before I can button it up and install it in the frame. It won't be long now... The smell of Castor based racing oil will float through the neighborhood!!

Thank You!! Looks a little better than on the first page...

Thank You!! That's where I started 44 years ago, a YG1...

Looks like something that came from the gulf coast and the BP disaster!! This is the rubber(?) piece that holds the oil lines in the to of the clutch cover. It was badly warped and hard as a rock. I heated it with a heat-gun and got it flat again. Tried JB weld to plug the holes as I took the oil pump off. Terrible mess!! On to "Plan B".



My neighbor volunteered a piece of thick rubber that he had in his junk drawer. A few tries and a couple of failures later, I was able to cut a good replacement with a single edge razor blade. JB weld on the back side to hold it in place as well as plugging the cable hole for the oil pump.




Never noticed this before and don't remember ever seeing any other cylinders marked like this. One more strange thing about this bike!!



Finally have all the parts I need to finish up assembling the motor. Everything coated with Blendzall and my hands smell wonderful!!
Got so stoned on the aroma, I forgot to take pictures of the brand new GYT piston and ring...



These were in my toolbox back in my U.S. Suzuki years. Actually they are as old as the bike!! Very fitting that they are being used on a bike of the same age!!



Can't remember the last time I used a dial indicator and buzz box to set timing...



Motor is back in the frame and now just the small stuff to take care of. Need to have a friend make me up a throttle cable. The tank is going to stay red until I run this thing a couple times. I will be trying to find someone to resurrect the original 1968 tank for show purposes.

Cool build, I bet it feels good to be almost there.

Thanks!! Yeah, but I'm leaving Thurs for a 2 week ride through Utah and Colorado.
With it not being done, all I'm going to think about is what I need to do when I get back.
I'll miss the first shorttrack race in Spokane on the 19th.... Next after that is August 21st. I hop to be more than ready by then!

This is as far as I can go for now. Gotta focus on the trip to Utah.
The waiting is the hardest part. Oh for a head gasket and the top half of the throttle housing!!







Can't wait to fire this "Baby" up!!

Before



After

Before



After



Before



After

Simply awesome !!!

Thanks for that!!

Very nice. The low pipe sure changed the overall appearance. Much "lighter" looking.

Let us know when you ride in Spokane. Some of us are close enough to attend and buy you a beer. Fabulous job... t

Will do... I like beer!!

Got all the cables hooked up and the rubber bits for the petcock.
All I need to do now is mix up some gas and fire this baby off...





I have a stash of old stickers and thought this would be a good place for this classic...

Congratulations Valleyrider ! How about some action shots later in the year,
when you're at a vintage flatrack perhaps...



996DL

The original 1968 tank is at a local "Old School" body and fender guy's shop.
Going to get the massive dent out and paint it Pearl White (as close to original as possible).
The badges that were on the 1970 (red) tank I found at the local salvage yard wre pretty rough, but I refuse to pay $175. for a set of red 1968 badges that the guys on ebay want! Even re-production badges are $80. a pair...
I'm just a Cheap Ass! These will do for a "Vintage Racer".

a virturally new one went begging in Santa Barbara last month for $400...Bruce