Topic: '68 Suzuki T500.. advice needed!

[quietlikeachurch]

A buddy of mine just picked up a '68 T500 w/ title for next to nothing (in fact, he might have gotten it for free but he wouldn't admit it) and has asked if I would help him get it sorted out in trade for a deep discount on a(nother) 750F. 

The Suzuki looks complete, has good compression, and is in fair cosmetic shape.  A previous owner switched out the stock drum brake front end for a dual-disc setup.. there's no branding on it except for chromed single-piston Tokico calipers?

Anyway, I don't know much about two stroke motors above the moped level.  What do we need to check out before we try to fire this thing up?  Apparently it hasn't been started in years.  I am gonna check out the "posi-force" oiling system tomorrow (no-go for premix on a street bike?), and snatch the carbs and the points plate so I can fix 'em up on my workbench.  Other than that, I'm in the dark!

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

-Ian

[Stev-o]

I'd pull the plugs and squirt a little 2 stroke oil in the cylinders and kick it over a few times to get some lube on the rings.

Good Luck

[dagersh]

The '68 T500 is called the "Cobra", not the "Titan".  It is a fairly rare and valuable motorcycle.  Nice ones trade above $10K.  Does he have the original seat?  They are unabtainium.

Get us some pictures.

Gersh

[my78k]

I would run some mixed gas. Maybe not full mix but atleast some oil in it. Unless you are positive the injection works. Sure it may foul a plug or smoke worse than usual but it beats the alternative! Then once you can confirm the injector is working then drain and refill throwing the mixed gas in your mower or whatever

Dennis

[Hush]

I have owned 2 Titan 500's and it's little brother the T350 Rebel, what the guys have said is good advice for start-up.
My78k's suggestion of some two stroke oil in the tank well mixed before you pour it in is on the money as well.
Top up the two stroke oil tank and then find the "bleed" screw, it's down near the oil pump, loosen this a little until new two stroke oil starts coming out.
If the posi-force oil system fails to kick in then the added oil in the tank should save the motor.
The last of these 500's came out with twin front discs, I think they called them GT500's so maybe they swapped on some of those.
My one great love of these massive two stroke twins is the noise....there is nothing...nothing like the sound of a Titan 500 barrelling down the road, the sound is as unique as any Harley rumble and to my mind far superior.
Oh yeah check out the price for this nice example, it'll make you spill your coffee.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-279464827.htm

[grumburg]

After restoring 2 x6s, found Posi Force is very reliable with a little maintenance. Mix will not lube the main bearings, the oil pump lubes them. Change the trans oil with Suzuki 10-40 engine oil. Trans oil lubes the center bearing. Remove both drain plugs, drains the crankcase and the center bearing. Clean the oil tank, remove the lines from the tank to the pump, and push fresh oil through the line. I use Suzuki 2 cycle oil. Remove the banjo fittings and push some oil through the lines into the crankcase. Be careful that you don't break the plastic banjo fittings. They are hard to find.  When you start it, hold the pump wide open manually for a minute to push the air out. Will smoke like crazy, but should be able to see the oil move through the lines.   

[quietlikeachurch]

Thanks to all!

Good news: I'm pretty sure it's a Cobra (tank w/ chrome panels and knee grips, and what looks like the original seat and exhaust based on pictures from the web.. also, various components are stamped 67). 

Bad news: We discovered that the wiring harness is a little scorched from a short or component failure at some point, so that means alot more work before it is fired up. 

Should have some pictures by tomorrow night.

-Ian

[grumburg]

There is a 68 Cobra on ebay. Currently at $7700 with 30 bids and 3 days to go.   

[bucky katt]

better hope the center crankcase seal is ok, theyre no longer available. thats why my titan is in milkcrates in the garage rafters till it's new owner picks it up

[Carbine]

I have a orange '77 GT500.....one of the last ones made. It's a great bike to ride, light, handles well, and has nice brakes. I was lucky in finding mine, it had only 4300 mikes, and was previously owned by 2 mature and careful owners.  
Hush, your right about the sound they make, nothing like it. I like to get my friends to ride mine around my neighborhood, just so I can hear what everyone else can hear!

Suzuki spent millions upon millions developing and pushing the ill-fated Rotary unto production. Meanwhile, it was the GT750, Titan and other 2-strokes that kept them alive. The Rotary never caught on, and it was the revenue from Water Buffalo and Titan sales that gave them the cash to develop the GS750, and then the superlative GS1000.

Suzuki never really developed the Titan the way it could have. Like our CB750's, they were detuned year after year as well. The T 500 engines were capable of 65 streetable HP, factory racebikes made 85 without trouble as well. Suzuki eventually dealt with inadequate gearbox oil capacity in 73-74, and grudgingly added electronic ignition and a front disc to the GT500's in '76. For reasons only known to themselves, they added a Water Buffalo fuel tank to the '76-'77 GT500's. It looks over sized when you first see a GT500. Many people walk up to my bike and ask if the tank is correct.

And they have the longest chainguard ever put on a bike...the one on my GT500 must be 3 feet long!                                

[grumburg]

There is a 68 Cobra on ebay. Currently at $7700 with 30 bids and 3 days to go.   

Sold for $8750

[Carbine]

There is a 68 Cobra on ebay. Currently at $7700 with 30 bids and 3 days to go.   

Sold for $8750

Incredible! Rare machine for sure however. Never seen one go so high...

[bucky katt]

i wandered out into the shop and looked into all the milk crates and big tupperware containers at my 72 t-500, shook my head then went back in the house. it looks like an impossible project right now.

[Hush]

Biggest let down for the Titan was the 6 speed box which wasn't up to the power output of the big twin.
I only lost one gearbox to this but many of my mates had to redo the gears a few times.

[Carbine]

i wandered out into the shop and looked into all the milk crates and big tupperware containers at my 72 t-500, shook my head then went back in the house. it looks like an impossible project right now.

I know where your coming from BK, getting a project back together when you can get very few parts from the manufacturer is like hitting your head on a brick wall. Not to mention the time!

Ebay is the only source of early T-500 stuff, some used parts on there are very affordable, the NOS stuff is usually the opposite.

There is a guy in my town who has been trying to sell a very clean,  running, complete '71 T500. It's been on the market for 2 years. He was originally asking 1500.00, I think now he is down to 1000.00 with no takers. It just needs some cosmetics, but no one seems to be interested in it.   

     

[zoo mob]

I've got a line on one of these, all original, seems to have everything intact minus the seat. I saw that a mint one can co for huge money, any sense of what one in original condition with a little fade to the paint etc. might fetch?