Another Thundercat Another Project Thundercat....

Hey everyone!

So its been a couple of years since i sold my last Thundercat and the new owner made a mess of it... Bad times...

Heres the link to the build thread incase anyone cares: https://www.yamaha-thundercats.org/t5014-project-thundercat

Ive had a few bikes since but sold my R1 and NC30 last year and recently started looking at cats again to use to get me to work and back, after an impulse purchase on the ebay i collected another cat a week or so ago... and here's how it looked when i bought it...







Not the best example ill concede, but hopefully when im finished it'll be a little more desirable!

So i rode the bike for a week to see what it would need doing and find out if there were any issues i needed to address sooner rather than later, the list is pretty much endless....

The clutch was slipping quite badly (but the seller "never noticed") so i ordered a new clutch set and some springs
The rear caliper was sticking and pads were useless so ordered some new ones
Ordered an oil and filter because basics.
ordered a fuel filter because it was black and crumby...

so i took it to the workshop on bank holiday monday so i could spend the day working on it tuesday, on the way there the bike refused to run right, not only was the clutch slipping but the bike was struggling to run at all... i made it to the workshop and prepared myself for a long day tuesday!

I cant really remember what order i did things in because i had to keep waiting for parts and moving between jobs, but the bike has probably had the best service its ever had after i spent around 11 hours working on it!

I removed a horrible rats nets of alarm wiring (why do people do it?) and fixed some seriously dodgy soldering.

I stripped cleaned and rebuilt the rear caliper and treated it to the new pads

Changed the clutch friction plates and springs and the properly adjusted the cable at both ends and it works a treat now, the EBC clutch is a little heavier and bites a little harder but i think i prefer it over the mish mash of friction plates that were fitted!

Changed the oil and filter

Cleaned and oiled the chain and then adjusted it properly

Checked all the carb diaphragms and balanced the carbs

Removed the plugs to find they were a likely cause of the rough running, they were all odd and all old! put in a new set and it runs like a dream now!

This was after i had a little tidy up and a sausage sandwich!



I did a bunch of other stuff but it doesnt make for interesting reading, sorry for the lack of pictures but i was so dirty i didnt want to touch my phone!

So i plan on using this bike a little more than my last cat however over winter im going to have to get rid of the yellow and silver - its my least favourite colour combo - sorry to everyone with the same colours!

Even thought this one is going to be used more i cant seem to stop myself buying shiny new things.... Fitted the new exhaust this evening and wow it sound soooo much better than the daft thing that was on it, not sure about the long ass link pipe thought, might need to chop it down a little?!

is the rd in the pic's a 125 or 200, nice cat that. ENJOY

yamrdtez wrote:is the rd in the pic's a 125 or 200, nice cat that. ENJOY

I think it was a 250 if i remember correctly, it was a bit of a wreck and he assured me he had bought it to restore but seemed to have very little knowledge about what he needed to do, i can see it wasting away in his garage like the cat was!

it's deffo a 125/200. will he sell it

i enjoyed the read regards the service of the bike, the old saying look after your bike and it will look after you
i have the same clutch fitted and yes it will snatch from time to time so be aware but they are a great clutch and very light, it's just a flick of the clutch to change gear.

Nice to see another slightly unloved cat being brought back to life.

I see you work for BMW, where abouts? I'm at jct600 in Bradford. Worked there 16 years for my sins.

Paul

yamrdtez wrote:it's deffo a 125/200. will he sell it

I have no idea mate, he didnt seem like he wanted to sell it, but anything is for sale for the right price i suppose, he lives somewhere in sheffield if thats any help?

yamahamad wrote:Nice to see another slightly unloved cat being brought back to life.

I see you work for BMW, where abouts? I'm at jct600 in Bradford. Worked there 16 years for my sins.

Paul

I works for BMWMAN, authorised BMW specialist just outside Derby. 16 years, that means you worked on the cars when BMW used to put decent engines in them?!

Haha yes mate when they were reliable!

Paul