1973 Suzuki TC100 Losing Power

Buffenmeyer · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:08 pm Post subject: 1973 Suzuki TC100 Losing Power

1973 TC100

I have a vintage TC100 that runs great for the first 5 miles. After about 5 miles of driving, it begins to sputter, lose power, and will occasionally back fire in each gear during high rpm's. Initially I thought it might be a carb problem so I rebuilt the carb. I also installed an in line filter as an extra measure of protection. However, the gas tank is very clean for its age.

After I drive about 5 miles the bike begins to drop out in each successive gear during higher rpm's. After that point, it gets progressively weaker until it finally stalls on me. I have to let the bike sit for awhile and it will start up, but will run at reduced power. After I let the bike sit for a long time and start it up completely cold, I get about 5 miles out of it again until the same problem occurs. Before the problem occurs, it runs great!

My next thought is to replace the condenser, based on some previous advice.

Any other ideas?

Daniel

Blue · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 4:52 pm Post subject: right track

Well for sure not a Suzuki mechanic by any stretch of the imagination, but your shot at the condensor sounds awfully familiar to me. I have had the same trouble with a Honda I had once and the new cond. took care of it, sorry I'm not more help, but a condensor is a cheap place to start........Blue

Russell · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject:

Has your TC100 still got the stock end-piece on the exhaust pipe? I remember them having a very small exit from the tail pipe and a baffle very easily clogged up. A friend had one away back in the late 70's and his would run well on cold start up then quite quickly start to hesitate and eventually die. I can't remember now whether the pipe had a remove-able end section or not but I do recall that when we managed to somehow 'uncork' the exhaust the problem(?) was no longer apparent.

dorT500 · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 6:22 pm Post subject:

Just taking a hit or miss shot here. Not even sure if this was ever a problem on your bike but if you down in that area anyway, might as well check it out. General Bulletin #3

http://www.ozebook.com/compendium/techbuls/SerBulletin%20General%20Index%20plus%201-9.pdf

tcanough · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 6:32 pm Post subject: Hello dorT500 ;

Do you know of a site for bulletins for the 75' Yamaha dt125 ?

dorT500 · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:07 pm Post subject: Re: Hello dorT500 ;

Buffenmeyer · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:16 pm Post subject:

Russell - Actually, I did try running it with the entire end of the tail pipe removed to make sure it had plenty of air. It pretty much did the exact same thing as when the tail pipe was on. After five miles... sputtering. Thanks for the advice, though!

dorT500 - Thanks for the link! There is a ton of helpful stuff in there. I did find one thing that might apply - the points getting stuck after the bike heats up. I have a feeling the problem is somewhere in the magneto. Either points or condenser.

05c50 · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:56 pm Post subject:

I don't know much about anything, and even less about old Suzuki bikes, but could your fuel tank vent be clogged? Happened to me once.

...........Paul

dorT500 · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 7:58 pm Post subject:

No problem and thanks should go to Muzza's site and to DiamondJ for most of the scans. I just wish I could help more but I am afraid I learned everything I know from these characters in the pic below. Crying or Very sad

dorT500 · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

Buffenmeyer · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject:

Paul - Thanks for the tip. Ill definitely check it out!

dorT500- Man, who are those guys below? I would love to get dressed up like one of them and take a spin through town! I bet that would turn some heads! Here's me in my vintage getup! Just having fun.

dorT500 · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:52 pm Post subject:

Uh....well guys,...Here I am....again...back in the Twilight Zone. turbo

At any rate, I have no idea who the characters are in the still shot. I saved it a long time ago and don't even remember if there was a description or caption. Maybe from an old English movie? Idunno

Russell · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 1:02 am Post subject:

Early in our family life my wife and I were without bikes for about a year or so when the first baby arrived and we thought we couldn't afford a car and a motorbike on one wage.
I got hold of a couple of TC125 Suzuki's both of which had been 'written off' by insurance companies when their farmer owners had ridden over the front ends with tractors.In both cases the only real damage was to fork stanchions and mudguards. The stanchions straightened up for no cost in an engineer friends press,and plastic after-market front guards were cheap. Both well used TC's were thrashed around flat-out for two years or so before our money supply began to improve. They were both sold at a profit. Now they fill a place in memory as tough little machines that coped with everything we threw at them and kept us in motorcycling when times were hard.

HAL802 · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:08 am Post subject:

The two "ton-up" boys in the photo are Morecambe & Wise Razz

!

dorT500 · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:33 am Post subject:

I'll be dam***.....Ok!.....Thanks HAL802 ! They were a famous British act ! Radio,Film, television,stage.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRh8d9CWJIo