Newbie

[allkidd]

Hi, I'm newly retired and purchased a retirement project...1974 TS250. This will be my first rebuild as I've always performed all the maintenance on my more modern dirt bikes but never an old bike. I'm already discovering that rebuilding an old bike is considerably different than maintaining a modern bike and that I have a lot to learn! For one, I can't just run down to the local bike shop for parts. For another, there aren't an abundance of you tube videos to guide me on first time repairs!

I've enjoyed reading discussion threads on this board and think it will be very helpful! My project hasn't been run for 25 years but seems complete and in decent shape. Having never done a rebuild, I'm not sure where to start. I was thinking of getting it running and then take it apart and clean and work on the individual components. It has a good spark so I was thinking I would take apart the carb and petcock. I guess there aren't complete rebuild kits for these old carburetors? I'm guessing that after this many years, every seal will need to be replaced?

Once I get fuel in place, would it be foolish for me to try starting the engine without checking the cylinder?

For those of you with more rebuild experience than myself, which I guess is everybody, how would you start on a rebuild like this?

Any help, comments, knowledge is greatly appreciated!!

[AndyP66]

Welcome to the site from a fellow newbie. You do have more experience than me, as at the age of 55 I have just brought a 1979 TS125. Which was running when brought it, now it’s a bloody nightmare.
There is plenty of threads for the TS250 so you should get some help.

[Andy_C]

Welcome - guess that an MZ is pretty rare in your neck of the woods.

I am on my 3rd MZ, and what I have did with the first 2 was follow my instincts - sounds like you know your way around an engine and probably know what to look for.

My current MZ took a little more work to get going, but cracked it in the end.

The worst thing that can go wrong is that the crank seals fail - but no problem these can be easily replaced without splitting the cases.

If I were you I would probbaly just clean out the fuel tank, filter and tap, then pull the carb off, dismantle / clean / check fuel height. Drain / replace gearbox oil. Check that the air filter is clean and dry.

Check timing is correct, and fit a new spark plug, if it has decent compression it will most likley fire up.

Good luck and keep us posted.

P.S. Carb is simple and contains very few seals, best place for MZ spares is the MZ Shop based in the UK - Just Google MZ SHOP, pretty sure that he exports as well. Also if you dont have a workshop manual you should be able to find one in PDF format on line.

[allkidd]

MZ's are very rare around here. The one I purchased is the only one I've ever seen. None of my motorcycle friends have heard of MZ. Nice to have a one of a kind bike!

Thanks for the information about MZ shop. I've looked them up and have a list of parts I'm working on. Thanks!

[DAVID THOMPSON]

good one to restore unlike a Japanese bike
this one you can find parts for

have fun
dave

watch the rear wheel the axle is 2 parts
and one side supports the chain sprocket the cover and brake drum
then the wheel fits on and is held by the axle and shoes

bit different than any thing i have ever worked on
Honda dream maybe not to common where i live

[Blurredman]

Ah, another '74 TS250 - they're really appearing a lot lately over there..


If it's one thing we love here on this forum however.. It's a picture build/development thread! So don't forget those!


I'm still working my way through my '74 ES250/2. After 4 and a half months I might soon be able to ride it with earnest! Though from the look of most '74 TS250's in the States, they always look like they're at least good condition aesthetically..

[Puffs]

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[allkidd]

Welcome - guess that an MZ is pretty rare in your neck of the woods.

I am on my 3rd MZ, and what I have did with the first 2 was follow my instincts - sounds like you know your way around an engine and probably know what to look for.

My current MZ took a little more work to get going, but cracked it in the end.

The worst thing that can go wrong is that the crank seals fail - but no problem these can be easily replaced without splitting the cases.

If I were you I would probbaly just clean out the fuel tank, filter and tap, then pull the carb off, dismantle / clean / check fuel height. Drain / replace gearbox oil. Check that the air filter is clean and dry.

Check timing is correct, and fit a new spark plug, if it has decent compression it will most likley fire up.

Good luck and keep us posted.

MZ shop appears to be the best source of parts. I was about to order a list of parts when I realized there wasn't an option to ship out of UK. I emailed MZ shop and they said that they don't ship to US. Anybody know of a mailbox service in UK where I could have the parts shipped to their location then they would ship to US?

I've researched Gusi for parts but even when I convert to English the parts fiche is still in German. Makes it hard to know what I'm ordering. I also checked ebay and there doesn't seem to be many MZ parts on ebay.

P.S. Carb is simple and contains very few seals, best place for MZ spares is the MZ Shop based in the UK - Just Google MZ SHOP, pretty sure that he exports as well. Also if you dont have a workshop manual you should be able to find one in PDF format on line.

[allkidd]

MZ shop appears to be the best source of parts. I was about to order a list of parts when I realized there wasn't an option to ship out of UK. I emailed MZ shop and they said that they don't ship to US. Anybody know of a mailbox service in UK where I could have the parts shipped to their location then they would ship to US?

I've researched Gusi for parts but even when I convert to English the parts fiche is still in German. Makes it hard to know what I'm ordering. I also checked ebay and there doesn't seem to be many MZ parts on ebay.

[dirtsurfer]

MZ shop appears to be the best source of parts. I was about to order a list of parts when I realized there wasn't an option to ship out of UK. I emailed MZ shop and they said that they don't ship to US. Anybody know of a mailbox service in UK where I could have the parts shipped to their location then they would ship to US?

I've researched Gusi for parts but even when I convert to English the parts fiche is still in German. Makes it hard to know what I'm ordering. I also checked ebay and there doesn't seem to be many MZ parts on ebay.

You can get parts from Miami https://mzpartsmiami.com/

[Puffs]

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