Author Topic: TS185 Restore (Read 1806 times)

jamesv220820 · « **on:** December 01, 2020, 11:37:35 AM »

Hey Guys I needed a fun winter project and people on the forum suggested getting an old 2-stroke. So I found a barn find suzuki ts185 that has been sitting since 85. Looking for parts for it has been a nightmare. I know with our bikes there are tons of websites but for this bike it seems like I am stuck with overpriced OEM from like CMSNL or ebay. Does anyone know any sites that sell aftermarket and original clone parts ?

HondaMan · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2020, 09:01:17 AM »

We sold a few of those at my shop in the early 1970s. It was hard to get parts for them back then! If eBay has them, I'd say that's likely your best bet?

hawaiikid · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2020, 06:53:09 PM »

Good luck finding parts for your TS- !85. It is a great little bike, my first transportation back in 1976 while serving in the Navy in Hawaii. Went all over the island. the only reason i got rid of it was it was part of a trade i made for a 1965 mustang 2+2 fastback. that bike never gave me any trouble. Seeing your picture brought back a lot of memories.

Stev-o · « **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2020, 06:47:36 AM »

What specifically do you need? I have a TS250, currently out of service, but eBay has a lot of parts for these bikes. You can get an entire bike for $500!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-1973-Suzuki-Ts-185-With-Factory-Hop-Up-Kit/373374645305?hash=item56eedcf439:g:l4sAAOSwr8VfvSsB

I just bought tires and a new Mikuni carb for mine, want to get it running for use at my buddies Ranch

05c50 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 07, 2020, 12:56:36 PM »

I restored one of those a couple years ago. The bike was in very poor condition, but it had sentimental value to the fellow and he insisted on restoring it for his father. After two years of searching the world for parts, it came out very nice. It was a great little bike but some parts were hard to find. I see that yours has the "horseshoe headlight", guard it with your life, it's very hard to find replacements. I can't give you any particular sites for parts, but check out Suzuki2stroke forum for help. Good luck

........Paul

dave500 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2020, 03:24:41 AM »

hopefully the crank seals are still ok?once aged these can be a source of hard starting and poor running on two strokes,otherwise theres nothing else to go wrong with two strokes.

jamesv220820 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 01, 2021, 06:58:00 PM »

Thanks for all the replies guys . Yeah the little bike is coming along even thou parts are a nightmare to find

jamesv220820 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 01, 2021, 07:00:38 PM »

Quote from: dave500 on December 11, 2020, 03:24:41 AM

hopefully the crank seals are still ok?once aged these can be a source of hard starting and poor running on two strokes,otherwise theres nothing else to go wrong with two strokes.

Bike has only 1200 miles on it , starts on first kick cold start and runs super strong

dave500 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 01, 2021, 11:59:41 PM »

yay,gonna be a good new year then!!

jamesv220820 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2021, 04:32:30 PM »

Quote from: dave500 on December 11, 2020, 03:24:41 AM

hopefully the crank seals are still ok?once aged these can be a source of hard starting and poor running on two strokes,otherwise theres nothing else to go wrong with two strokes.

So Dave would you suggest I just take care of all the oil seals?

I can pick all of them up for less then 35 bucks for OEM

dave500 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 08, 2021, 02:04:02 AM »

yeah?maybe keep in stock?if it becomes hard to start its most likely crank seals,gotta split the motor to fit em though!if it starts easy reliably over and again i wouldnt worry,if they aint hard to find and can get em in the future i wouldnt worry,lotta two stokes become obscure and those seals become hard to find,they often are an oddball size,dont open the motor up if its running ok though for #$%*s sake!!!

newday777 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 08, 2021, 07:14:34 AM »

Quote from: jamesv220820 on January 01, 2021, 06:58:00 PM

Thanks for all the replies guys . Yeah the little bike is coming along even thou parts are a nightmare to find

It's looking good. Good find at only 1200 miles too!
A friend taught me to ride a clutch on a TS185 in 1972 and had me tend his TS and GT380 while he deployed the next year in the Air Force. I had to ride them both the next 2 years weekly to exercise them...... Both were fun bikes. That was the beginning of my life of riding.

dave500 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 08, 2021, 01:24:08 PM »

i remember gt380s when they were new and thinking wow big bike!!

jamesv220820 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2021, 12:29:54 PM »

Yeah it is nice to restore a bike without 4 of everything for once

It is coming along

Stev-o · « **Reply #14 on:** February 01, 2021, 04:05:23 PM »

Looks good!

I was looking at my TS250 over the weekend and need to service it soon. I have bought new tires and a carb but thats as far as I've gotten.

jamesv220820 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2021, 04:33:51 PM »

Quote from: Stev-o on February 01, 2021, 04:05:23 PM

Looks good!

I was looking at my TS250 over the weekend and need to service it soon. I have bought new tires and a carb but thats as far as I've gotten.

That is awesome! I want to find a TC 120's front grab rail to stick on it, but those parts are even harder to find then ts185 parts

HondaMan · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2021, 06:43:20 PM »

Quote from: dave500 on January 08, 2021, 01:24:08 PM

i remember gt380s when they were new and thinking wow big bike!!

That was my fave of that 3-cylinder series. 6-speed gearbox and all!

grcamna2 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 04, 2021, 09:28:37 PM »

That bike is looking real good.The vintage Suzuki's were built with a quality finish to them.

newday777 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2021, 04:11:31 AM »

Quote from: HondaMan on February 01, 2021, 06:43:20 PM

Quote from: dave500 on January 08, 2021, 01:24:08 PM
i remember gt380s when they were new and thinking wow big bike!!
That was my fave of that 3-cylinder series. 6-speed gearbox and all!

I had a friend that went to Europe for a deployment in 1973 and asked me to exercise his GT380 a couple times a week... I had a blast on it.
When he came back I had to get my own bike as the love of riding was deep. I bought a new 1974 CB450. The 380 was a bike more peppy.... The following year I bought a new 75 CB750 for the fulfillment of the need for speed....

MauiK3 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 08, 2021, 08:01:57 AM »

The 3 cylinder Suzuki bikes were nicely done and ran great.

MauiK3 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 10, 2021, 08:11:11 AM »

I also had a friend with a Titan 500 twin, very good bike. We went coast to coast, no problems. Long days at high speeds, purred like a kitten. I was on my K0 750

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Author Topic: TS185 Restore (Read 1806 times)