1989 kx125 restoration master thread

[queen of spodes]

When you tighten the nut or bolt onto the crank it draws it into the case without putting stress on the crank pin. The plumbing parts and big washers cost me about $6-7 at Ace

Just the workaround I was hoping for.  

And... Awesome job on the restoration! That is a great bike and its nice to see the care and quality that you are putting into the project. What do you plan on doing with it when you are done? 

Thanks!  I will have well over two grand in it by the time its done, maybe closer to 2500 after tires, bars, ect.   I am not going to finish the wheels at this time - had them soda blasted clean but will leave the wheelsets to the next owner.   Hope they remain silver per stock.  

My hope is to sell it to someone who will put it away and not ride it much if at all.   Parts are extremely scarce for this machine.  Would love to see it in a museum eventually.   It won't be museum ready when I'm done but close.

[motojason]

My hope is to sell it to someone who will put it away and not ride it much if at all.  

I would have a hard time parting with it if I had done all that work. I wouldn't be able to keep from riding it either! That is half the fun for me, the building is just the prelude to the riding. Love the character of 80s KXs.

Looking forward to finishing my 85 500 this winter and plan to rebuild my 88 250 sometime next year. Then I might be done for awhile. Well, unless a 79 125 turns up...  

Good luck with finding your 125 a good home.

Please keep posting till it's done, this is a great thread!

[queen of spodes]

Rest assured this bike will be ridden a little if/when I finish with it.   

[queen of spodes]

I've ordered the replacements but am curious to see what others think.  How important is it to replace the shaft snap-rings when disassembling?

[Foxx4Beaver]

How important is it to replace the shaft snap-rings when disassembling?

look at it this way...how are ya gonna feel when you take it for that 1st good ride and it starts jumping outa gears on that 1st good ride...then it's tear the whole thing down again and start from scratch just to replace a $2 snap ring that broke.
For the "pocket change" they cost...replace EVERY one, not just the tranny ones either...all of them.

[sandblaster]

When I bought a donor bike for my SM project, I bought one that 3rd gear was bad in.
When I tore the engine down this is what I found;



As it turns out, all the gears including 3rd were good (Yes, even the dogs).
Lesson learned.... if you are splitting the cases, replace the snap rings...

[queen of spodes]

Even on a shaft I'm not disassembling?  Isn't there more stress put on them during installation than simply letting them remain in place? 

What size tip are you using on your pliers?  

[Foxx4Beaver]

replace them regardless....it's extremely cheap insurance getting new ones, rather than rolling the dice with old ones....unless of course you don't mind yanking out the motor again and starting all over.

[queen of spodes]

What size tips are needed for these snap rings/circlips?  I had a devil of a time getting these off.. ending up mangling a few of them.   The snap ring ends kept popping off the tips.  I tried a smaller diameter pair and those bent. 

[queen of spodes]

First two OEM bearings installed in the left side crank case.   

Still waiting for the tig guy to finish welding the right side case.  Hope to get that next week. 

[queen of spodes]

[motojason]

Frame looks great!

[sandblaster]

What size tips are needed for these snap rings/circlips?  I had a devil of a time getting these off.. ending up mangling a few of them.   The snap ring ends kept popping off the tips.  I tried a smaller diameter pair and those bent.  

Sorry buddy... no idea what size I used... I destroyed some smaller tips and my bigger tips were too big so I ground some big tips till they fit to perfection.
Your chassis is looking great!

[queen of spodes]

[sandblaster]

Makes me want to pull mine apart and start over