YDE3

slurpeefied · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:30 am Post subject: YDE3

Hello fellow bikers,

Before I begin I'd like to say that I'm brand new to this form and basically brand new to biker world. I already appreciate this form being that it has already given me so much information and I'm looking forward to learning much more.

I recently got my first motor bike. Funny enough, it was actually given to me and I feel that it is my duty to get this thing back to life. Unfortunately the bike sat in a barn for 10-15 years and will probably need much more work than I'm aware of, but the idea is to get it up and running as soon as possible.

Now, my first question is what exactly am I working on?
...according to the title the bike is a 1969 Yamaha YDE3 and the reason why I ask is because I can't find any information on a model named YDE3. I've boiled it down to the fact that it looks just like the YDS3C which if that's what it is,, its all gravy with me I just dont understand what the difference is between a YDE3 and YDS3C. If anybody has any info and specifics on the bike, your knowledge will be greatly appreciated.

Second, I'm wondering how to approach this project being that I would like to get on it and ride asap. The bike itself is in a somewhat solid condition but I have no idea if it is in any kind of riding condition. As far as I know and according to the previous owner it does not run but the gas tank is clean, as far as I know the hoses are all intact and seem fairly healthy, the transmission seems to be shifting, the brakes seem to be operating, the motor is not seized and it shows signs of good compression, besides some rat nests in the breather box it almost seems as if I could just clean it all up fill it with gas and give it a kick. If only life was that easy lol...what I want to know is if that is a considerable move? Is it smart to go ahead and try starting a bike that has been sitting for that many years or would it be better to strip it all down and slowly build it back up with new gaskets, etc.

For now that's all I can think of to ask, thank you for your time
and hope to hear from you soon.

KZ

MR.CHocko · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:57 am Post subject:

From what you are saying is that it has compression. So without seeing it, what you are going to need to do is clean the carbs, and change the points and get a new battery. Also don't forget that this bike is a two stroke so you will need to put two stroke oil in it as well.

Steve Searles · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 5:13 am Post subject:

Post some detailed pics please Slurpee. (PIcs must be 800 x 640 or smaller) I am starting to get pretty good with the early Yamahas so I might get close. No such thing as a YDE3 and they stopped making the YDS3 in 1967. The YDS3C has the high pipes and is called a Big Bear Scrambler. The E stands for electric start and is a 12 volt battery. The YDS5E was made in 1969 so maybe??? I can help, give me more info like how many cc's, etc. Actually, VIN number on frame and engine. I have a Yamaha Serial Number Reference chart right in front of me.
Also, I specialize in getting old bikes up and running again and I am only 3 hours north of you. Hmmmm....

slurpeefied · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:24 pm Post subject:

Hey thank you all for replies, I really appreciate it.

And this is why everything is so damn confusing, the model fits the description of a YDS3 but the title says its a 69 YDE3 haha I'm guessing its a typo or something. Anyway the previous owner said it was a 250cc but that's about all he was able to tell me about it and he said it doesn't have an electric start, just a kick...however there is a lil button on the left side of the handle bar which looks like a kill switch and under it a push start but I could be mistaking it for a horn or something. It has no turn signals. hmmm the title has a MFR's identification number which im not sure if its gonna be of any help but its 15563 and I only found a number on the front end of the bike and it says Y23C-15563...hopefully these numbers will help if not than i guess i'll have to look harder for some more. I posted some pics with this, they are not all that detailed ( i broke the screen on my camera so i cant tell what im taking a picture of :/ ) hopefully those will help.

thank you again and hope to hear from ya soon.

Steve Searles · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:46 pm Post subject: Big Bear

Simple. I have got you very close and congratulations!!! You have a Big Bear Scrambler 250cc. It is a YDS3C with the high pipes. OK, here goes the year. They started making these in 1965 and made them for several years before bumping up the displacement to 305cc in 196???8. (I am not home to confirm) The VIN's go from Y23-00887-47755 for the frame and D10C-01001-16552 for the engine. Go to: www.http://cyclerestorer.com It looks like you have a mid to late model so.. I would call it a 1966 Yamaha YD3C Big Bear. Maaaybeee...a 1967 if they used the engine VIN on the title. OK, in the early to mid sixties they used the engine serial number on titles and.. dealers titled the bikes when they were sold not when they were manufactured explaining the 1969 title. Way to go Big Bear owner, those a cool machines!

slurpeefied · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 2:06 pm Post subject:

AWESOME!! i'm so stoked. thank you so much for your help. i toke three days to figure out the name of it lol i cant wait to see how long it takes to find parts for it. btw any suggestions on where to find a seat for it...this one feels like you are sitting on bricks lol

slurpeefied · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 2:15 pm Post subject:

quick question: what is the difference between a YDS3 and a YDS3C?

Rizingson · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 3:20 pm Post subject:

Congratulations on a great collectibleYamaha. The differences in the models (YDS3 and YDS3C) is that the YDS3 is strictly a street/highway bike, and the YDS3C is a street/scrambler meaning it could be driven on city streets and some very light offroad or unpaved roads. Differences varied from brand to brand, but the most common differences was 1. Upswept pipes. 2. Handle bar brace. 3. Front tire was not ribbed and rear tire had a hint of knobby. 4. Fender mounts may be more rugged. 5. Engine may have a skid plate or sump protection. 6. Gearing was usually lower. (more RPM's for the same speed) sometimes internally geared different or only sprocket changes. 7. Sometimes the fuel tank capacity is also reduced. Best of all they seem to be more appealing and collectible than their street counterparts. Usually running more than a $1000.00 dollars higher in value, especially the Big Bear versus the Catalina (YDS3) or the TC250 Versus the T20 X-6 Hustler Suzuki's. The Big Bear is definitely on my wish list!!

Steve Searles · Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 4:47 am Post subject: YDS3 Yamaha Series

Rizingson hit it perfectly. Street bike vs. scrambler. I have the YDS3 in street bike form. See YDS3 thread for pic from previous posts or I will post a pic here when I get a chance. The YDS3 series was the first Yamaha 250cc twin to have the Autolube oil injection. The YDS2 did not have oil injection. Keep asking questions. You (and I) and hopefully others are learning alot about the early Yamahas.

slurpeefied · Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:28 am Post subject:

he did hit it right on the money haha. its great, and i feel like i can finally get into tearing it down, now that i know exactly what it is im tearing down Smile

...im thinking today or tomorrow on getting all the debris and rust off of it. probably gonna stop by a local bike shop to see if they have a battery and some other misc parts and than i'm thinking about trying to fire it up this weekend if of course everything goes as planned :/

Steve Searles · Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:35 am Post subject:

Must clean the carbs well of course. New plugs, change oil, etc. Battery is a 6V 6N7.5 something like that. Good luck. Let me know if you need help. Mix the gas & oil together for the first run as the workings of the oil pump are an unknown at this time. Man that kicker is high up and on the left side. Not ergonomic but the Japs didn't know ergonomics was even a word back then.

slurpeefied · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 9:20 pm Post subject:

latest update...the bike is finally running, however not running well. i got it started after cleaning the carbs, changing the plugs and such. it idles without any help now, which to my knowledge is a good sign but something is still not functioning correctly. when running it keeps missing and switching sides.first it will run well on right cylinder and then it will randomly switch to left but it wont consistently run on both. sprays oil out of the exhaust pipe and runs cold on one side. i first ran it with the old spark plugs cause they still looked good with only the left cylinder getting hot and the right staying cold. i switched the plugs and the right side ran hot and left was cold which caused me to go buy new plugs. after installing the new plugs i was back to square one. left side running hot and right side running cold. however when playing with the throttle it will randomly switch sides. a lot of smoke comes out of the left pipe than right back to left and so on. any suggestions? sorry if the explanation isnt all that great.

sesshomaru · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 9:51 pm Post subject:

slurpeefied · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 10:28 pm Post subject:

is there any kind of manual on this bike?...i dont know much about it and without direct instruction im just gonna mess it up more than it already is.

Steve Searles · Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 4:53 am Post subject:

That puppy dog is flooded. Buy more spark plugs, switch out as needed and start revving it up. It will smoke bad but see if it will clear out and become unflooded. Clean the carbs again. There are times I have cleaned the carbs 4-5 times. Check points and timing. Keep plugging away, two strokes are finicky.