Topic: Okay, This Should Definitely Belong In The "Other Bikes" Forum! Jawa 250

[bill440cars]

      It's about an old mid 60's Jawa 250cc that I picked up on about a couple of years ago, with hopes of building a "Close" copy of a bike that my Dad built back in the early 60's. That bike would give the 500cc Triumphs fits and, when I was in High School, i got to make it "streetable" and was putting down some local Honda CL72 Scramblers with it.

      My Dad took his Jawa and modified the forks and swingarm to accept 19" wheels (it came with 16" wheels) Modified the engine (according to factory specs for a performance engine), sealed the engine to keep water out, added breather tubes that ran up under the gas tank (which was an early BSA Bantam gas tank), a British solo seat of unknown origin, Reworked the exhaust system for maximum  performance and when he got ready to paint it, he found some Purple paint and some metallic and thus the gas tank and fenders were painted metallic purple. I wish I had pictures of that bike, but I haven't been able to find any.

      My own goal is to make this bike as close to what HIS was, as possible. Mine (being a newer model) already has the 19" wheels, so I've got a head start on that part. I don't have to capabilities to make and put pictures on line yet, but will as soon as I can. Hope you can bear with me on that. My intention is to go through the frame, gas tank, fenders, forks, shocks and wheels to get them ready for assembly, put in the newly acquired engine and have it as a running look alike as soon as possible. Then, as time permits, I am going to make enough space to do so and take the other engine apart, determine what parts are needed, try to start scrounging them up and, with my Dad's help, start working on modifying that engine to bring it up to the performance level of the old Purple one. Dad says that we should be able to get this engine to perforn like his did. I sure hope so.

      (just so no one gets the idea that the running Jawa engine that I just manged to score, will be just put aside and not used, don't even get that notion. I happen to have part of an old late 60's or early 70's Jawa Californian frame and odd bits and the 250 engine will bolt right in and a "Hybrid" will be born!

      That's it for now, gotta concetrate on getting that engine here now.
      This is what I'm starting with:     

         

      And here's the engine that I've bought for it. Said to be a great running engine that starts on 1st or 2nd kick.


     

     

         

[bryanj]

Bill, i like youre ideas and what you find, keep hanging in there with youre dad and dont forget you have friends all over this world that will try and get parts you cant.
Regards bryan

[Speed King]

That's cool. A guy over at the Jockey Journel (Dragon) just posted a pic about a week ago of a neat old Jawa he found somewhere.

[Ecosse]

full steam ahead bill! any photos of your dad's jawa?

[bill440cars]

Bill, i like youre ideas and what you find, keep hanging in there with youre dad and dont forget you have friends all over this world that will try and get parts you cant.
Regards bryan

         Well thank you Bryan, I'm a hangin'. Speaking of my Dad, he is scheduled to get out of Rehab this weekend and his case manager is going to get in touch with Golden Years Village Retirement Home and recommend my Dad to them as a resident there (instead of a Nursing Home). I am very thankful for All those friends "All Over The World" too. You all are the BEST!

[scunny]

good luck with your Dad Bill, and we can surely find someone to pick up that motor for you, then plan on getting it to you. there are a lot of people on this site so I can't imagine it's impossible

[bill440cars]

That's cool. A guy over at the Jockey Journel (Dragon) just posted a pic about a week ago of a neat old Jawa he found somewhere.

        I went over there for a little bit and didn't see it, but I might not have been looking in the right place. I'll check it again later. I always like to see the old stuff.

[bill440cars]

good luck with your Dad Bill, and we can surely find someone to pick up that motor for you, then plan on getting it to you. there are a lot of people on this site so I can't imagine it's impossible

       Thank you scunny, things seem to be going quite well at the present time.   It would be nice if I could make arrangements with one or more folks who might be able to help get this engine over here for me. For a spell now, I've thought it would be cool if something could be worked out on a deal like this, for ANYONE. As said, we've got loads of members and at any given time, any one of us could benefit from that kind of operation and save that particular member some money that might could be more wisely invested in the bike itself.

        But, if, in this particular case there is no one going to Daytona (from somewhere not too far from me, then that's the way it is. Too bad it wasn't near the Barber Museum and around the time of that event. That's MY kind of usual luck.

                             Take care all,  Bill    

[bill440cars]

full steam ahead bill! any photos of your dad's jawa?

          Bill, sadly enough, I don't know of any photos of the old Purple Jawa. I can not believe that I had not taken some of my Dad's bikes. If I happen to find any, I'll be sure to post them as soon as I am able to (my printer is down and I can't scan any photos anyway).   In fact, I'm going to have to try to remember the color of Purple, from memory (and that isn't going to be easy). Fortunately, I remember most all of the details of that Jawa pretty well.   

[Ecosse]

full steam ahead bill! any photos of your dad's jawa?

          Bill, sadly enough, I don't know of any photos of the old Purple Jawa. I can not believe that I had not taken some of my Dad's bikes. If I happen to find any, I'll be sure to post them as soon as I am able to (my printer is down and I can't scan any photos anyway).   In fact, I'm going to have to try to remember the color of Purple, from memory (and that isn't going to be easy). Fortunately, I remember most all of the details of that Jawa pretty well.   

by any chance was it a factory color? sorry if that sounds like a dumb question; i know nothing about jawas.

maybe when the time comes you can enlist your dads help. even if he can't recall the exact hue he can choose one if you come up with  some samples/ potential choices.

[bill440cars]

full steam ahead bill! any photos of your dad's jawa?

          Bill, sadly enough, I don't know of any photos of the old Purple Jawa. I can not believe that I had not taken some of my Dad's bikes. If I happen to find any, I'll be sure to post them as soon as I am able to (my printer is down and I can't scan any photos anyway).   In fact, I'm going to have to try to remember the color of Purple, from memory (and that isn't going to be easy). Fortunately, I remember most all of the details of that Jawa pretty well.   

by any chance was it a factory color? sorry if that sounds like a dumb question; i know nothing about jawas.

maybe when the time comes you can enlist your dads help. even if he can't recall the exact hue he can choose one if you come up with  some samples/ potential choices.

          No, it wasn't a factory color by any means. Back then, in Pulaski County (in Arkansas where we lived) the County Judge was Arch Cambell and Every County Vehicle was painted a particular shade of Purple and somehow, my Dad had a small can of that very color on a shelf with some other cans of paint. For some unknown reason, he pulled that can off of the shelf, decided to use it on that Jawa that he'd just about finished building, added some metallic he also had and painted the old Jawa Black except for the gas tank and fenders and those items were painted that Purple! I am beginning to think that he used that color so that when he blew the wheels off of a bike, the owner would remember the bike because of that color. Just a thought, he probably has no real idea why he used that color. Originally that 250 Jawa had about 12hp. But, when he got through with it ( I can't seem to find anything that tells the actual hp AFTER the mods), that sucker would run like a "Scalded Dog!" . There was information from the factory that gave detailed instructions on reworking the entire internals of the engine. Even included specs to build an insert to go between the flywheels of the crankshaft (allowed enough room for the big end of the rod to move around and that was it) to "raise the compression" in the crankcase. There were also drawings of each portion of the engine (with measurements) that was to be modified AND drawings also, of the exhaust system to build (what we now call) expansion chambers. I can tell you all of this because I have in my possession, those factory books that have all those drawings and measurements for the 50cc, 125 & 175cc, 250cc and the 350cc twin. I also have separate drawings with measurements that were used in building my Dad's Jawa back then. As a kid, I got tired of hearing the average 2-stroke sound, but when that old Jawa fired up and the throttle was opened up to get on down the road, it had quite a different sound. Hopefully, that same sound and power can be made to come out of this 250 Jawa engine.    

[Ecosse]

pretty neat stuff. i like that factory 'upgrade' technical tips. kinda reminds me of the direct connection chassis and engine books (i still have) which would help ya beat the pants off of the brand x cars more than usual.  have to respect jawa for encouraging speed.

wonder if ya contacted county pulaski county records and request any available pix. lots of towns, cities, counties have historical images of even mundane utility vehicles. maybe even in color. maybe some old timer there could be of some help. a long shot maybe but could be a fun bit of detective work.

of course i'm full of suggestions while siting here drinking coffee and watching dvd's of the beverly hillbillies.

love that ellie may.

[bill440cars]

good luck with your Dad Bill, and we can surely find someone to pick up that motor for you, then plan on getting it to you. there are a lot of people on this site so I can't imagine it's impossible

       Well folks, that 250 Jawa engine has been picked up by Kirk (kirkn) who lives just 25 miles from the seller and it's ticked away in Kirk's garage, til I can get some kind of arrangements to get it closer to Arkansas. Just have to see what I can come up with.

[bill440cars]

       I've got part of one of these  Jawa 350 Californians, but not enough to build one. And everytime I see parts on ebay, that I could use, they act like they are made of GOLD!

       

       Found one seller on ebay that had lots of the part needed, but he wanted $149 for nearly everything he had listed! Plus he puller the cylinders & heads so he could listed them separately and expensively!

       I think they are a pretty decent looking bike. Plus, I have the specs and info (Factory Info at that) to make that sucker really move!

[Ecosse]

       I've got part of one of these  Jawa 350 Californians, but not enough to build one. And everytime I see parts on ebay, that I could use, they act like they are made of GOLD!

       

       Found one seller on ebay that had lots of the part needed, but he wanted $149 for nearly everything he had listed! Plus he puller the cylinders & heads so he could listed them separately and expensively!

       I think they are a pretty decent looking bike. Plus, I have the specs and info (Factory Info at that) to make that sucker really move!

Can't fault a guy for trying to make a buck but I have no patience for gougers or people with inflated sense of worth- either personal or otherwise.

Maybe reality with smack him upside the head and adjust the price when he gets no takers.

[bill440cars]

       I've got part of one of these  Jawa 350 Californians, but not enough to build one. And everytime I see parts on ebay, that I could use, they act like they are made of GOLD!

       

       Found one seller on ebay that had lots of the part needed, but he wanted $149 for nearly everything he had listed! Plus he puller the cylinders & heads so he could listed them separately and expensively!

       I think they are a pretty decent looking bike. Plus, I have the specs and info (Factory Info at that) to make that sucker really move!

Can't fault a guy for trying to make a buck but I have no patience for gougers or people with inflated sense of worth- either personal or otherwise.

Maybe reality with smack him upside the head and adjust the price when he gets no takers.

        I put a "Watch" on some of his stuff and will see how it goes. If he has some things run out of time, I'll see what, if anything, he might be willing to do. We'll see.