ForOffRoadDriving's 94 Ranger Build

[ForOffRoadDriving]

So ive determined that its a 1974 and that the red tank came off from a 1978. i found a guy that can rebuild my ignition/magneto side cover for a fair price (its got a crack across the front and one of the screw bosses is missing) and ive got an air filter and carburetor rebuild kit coming so i should be able to have a good feel for the rest of the bike within the next week or so. heres some pics of what it originally looked like in the honda grey

http://www.bikepics.com/honda/xr75/74/pics.asp

 

[MountainMike]

Cool project man, I love bikepics, probably the best website for finding pictures of ORVs.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

so i went home last night with the urge to tinker with the new toy a bit, but once again i got carried away!

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

I put it back together on my lunch break and then loaded it up and brought it to work so i could tinker with it in the heat.

 

[MountainMike]

Man, you are just motoring along with that bike!

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

IT RUNS! once things slowed down last night, i went back to the shop and changed the oil and put some gas in the tank and after a dozen or so kicks (its such a small kickstarter that the engine only turns over about 3 times per stroke) it fired right up and everything sounded nice and tight. the next items to purchase for it are a chain and sprocket set, new tires and tubes, new handle bars, and a magneto cover (i might make one since theyre hard to find).

 

[mc_muench]

reminds me of my bike...

to bad I cant get it running reliably

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

thats the problem i seem to be having with mine now, it wont start back up now. im going to pick up a pair of tires, a set of aluminum mini handlebars, and a front sprocket on my lunch break, so in the mean time ive got to get on bike bandit and order a fuel tank petcock, sprocket retainer plate and bolts, fork seals, and a carb kit (i cleaned everything up but the float bowl gasket i made doesnt seal too well). ive got a tune up kit for it to install and while im at it ill check the timing to make sure the PO didnt mess around in there. once its running and ive ridden it ill be ordering up some Kold Kutters and then hitting the ice!

so onto the pics, last night i changed the rear shocks out for some larger ones off from a suzuki 90 that i used to have. i also made up new orange panels to give it a finished look and then wrapped the edges of them in door edge guard.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

new parts are on!

i also found the cause of my no start condition, the key way on the flywheel sheered off causing it to go out of time but still produce a strong spark.

 

[TheTopher]

Bike is sick, man.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

so my project for today was going to be to find a keyway for the crank shaft, but then i found another igniton related issue, and that was to figure out why the ignition advance had so much play in it and was not returning to its idle position. after lots of searching on the internet and a trip down to Tech Care suspension to pick their technicians brains i realized that the PO had tried to remove the flywheel previously and obviously didnt have the proper tools (17mm socket and a small engine flywheel puller) and in the process they bent the "wings" that the springs wrap around, essentially relieving the tension on the springs. using a set of calipers i measured the length of the springs and then rounded the measurement up to the next millimeter so that the springs would have a bit of tension on them when closed. then i used the torch to heat up the wings and move them the predetermined distance that i came up with and now its good as new!

Before:

After:

 

[84bluebronco2]

If only you were my neighbor lol. Between my Explorer and 81 Yamaha, I could keep you busy.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

so sunday i took the bike to my buddys place and rode with about half a dozen other guys and i had a blast! if only the rear sprocket could grow a few teeth then id be happy, otherwise it was a sweet ride!

 

[railman]

really turned out nice

l8r, John

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

i had another raptor sighting, this time i was actually able to check it out up close (ive already driven one with the 6.2l but theyre still fun to look at) as it was parked right next to me at work.