tt500 build : part 9

The right side of the frame is almost done, needing only one gusset added to the lower part of the triangle. Luckily I cut two brackets at the same time, so the left side should go a tad quicker other than careful measuring to make things symmetrical.

Derrick

tt500 build : part 8

I have wanted to relocate the upper shock mount, and replace all the ugliness in the stock frame junction at the seat sub-frame since I first acquired the bike. After staring at it for a year, I decided it would be best to cut it all out and start from scratch.



Does this make it a chopper now?





Zip tie suspension in full effect.





Much better already.



I still need to get the shock mount in place and drill some more rosette welds at the joint. Hopefully I can have this side wrapped up before next week.

Derrick

tt500 build : part 7

Just to make my build that much more complicated and tight on budget, I decided to switch up the front end once more. This time I am using tx750 forks and axle with an xs650 front wheel and rotor. Unfortunately the xs650 caliper I got won't fit the fork legs I have, so I will have to adapt something to work or find one that fits the same fork lug pattern. Luckily the forks for the tx750 and tt500 are 36mm sharing the same axle width. In other words it's all bolt in.













It's not quite there yet, but all the parts so far for this swap total less than $100 due to some amazing deals. Thanks for the wheel, tire, caliper, and rotor Daniel, you really bent over backwards on this one!

Derrick

tt500 build : part 6

I am way behind on updates lately, so I guess it's time to start catching up.

After getting the bike running crappy at best, I decided to pull the carb apart and clean everything. I don't see how a spring and an o-ring could occupy the same space on this needle, but they are "supposed" to.







Cleaned and somewhat functional, I threw the carb back on. I could get it to idle decent, but there was smoke coming from the header flange. Unfortunately it appears what should have been the only good thread on the exhaust stripped out. Instead of trying to get this head welded up and new studs put on, I snatched a used one off ebay.

While waiting for the new head to come in, I decided to play dress up with the rear fender and seat sub-frame. The fender I'm using is a stock rear from an xs650 project years ago. I cut a chunk out, and hammered a slight curve into a duckbill. The seam still needs welded, but it's close to what I had envisioned. As for the sub-frame hoop, it is pieced together from an old xr80 frame from another project I got for free.













I've got some more stuff in the works that I will post up in the next day or two.

Derrick