Here's my MT500

[jungleMTbiker]

Does anybody recognise this one? It's been sitting in a shed in High Wycombe for 10 years. Previous keeper says he bought it at from a dealer in London. He's the one who painted it black, (I have mixed feelings about that--don't be surprised if it turns green again one day), and put the street tyres on it (another thing I want to change).



On the other side you can see that I have already installed one of George's excellent stainless steel brake rods:



as it's been sitting I need to clean out the carb (Mikuni) before I can really run it, though I have had it running enough to know that it will run. It needs to be run.

[mississippimadman]

Looks cool

[surfermick]

nice one jungle, just need to get some paint out now sort it out a bit

[jungleMTbiker]

It's not black, it's covert.

[surfermick]

oh sorry hopei havnt blown your cover

[jungleMTbiker]

The more I think about it the more I want to paint it green again. First things first, get the carby cleaned out!

[jungleMTbiker]

It runs! I haven't figured out where to get carburettor cleaner or a fine flat-bladed screwdriver yet, so I had to go old-school and boiled the carb (with all the soft parts removed) in soapy water. That got most of the gum out of the passages. The low speed jet was still stubborn however, so I ended up holding the carb with the spigot pointing down (air filter side pointing up) and held lit matches under the area where the low speed jet screws in. Eventually I heard the gum melt out of the jet and burn up. Then it was just a matter of blowing through the jet until most of the crap drifted out. It all took less time than it sounds like it did.

Anyway, put the carb back together and installed, started it up. At least now it would run with the choke off for a little while. The road in front of the house where I am living is a private one and I had already been invited to do my test riding there, so I dropped it into gear and rode back and forth a few times--when I got back it was running ever so much better. It ticks over just fine now. Now to get that blasted paperwork sorted so I can go for a proper ride!

[Derrick]

Excellent news, hope you have an easy time with the paperwork.

[surfermick]

good luck Jungle, hope that paperwork flows OK.