I'm at it again, IT175 J

[one67]

I honestly didn't plan on doing another bike, but this one just threw itself at me.(I think I said that last time)

Anyway, I got home from work a couple of weeks ago ,sat down and started to browse FB marketplace, Straight up there's an ad posted 7 minutes previously, a bike I remember vividly from my youthful past.
I scan the photos, I know there's no way it's running, but it seems to be all together, I make the call, It's still there, as I'm backing out the driveway I call out to the missus (who's mowing) "I'm off to get another bike", she nods showing no surprise(she's a good woman).

After 40 mins of battling peak hour I arrive expecting to be told that it was just sold, but no, I'm in luck. The young lass who posted ad, on behalf of her father who's selling it n behalf of his old mate, says "come and have a look, it's pretty rough".
I pushed the asking price of $100 into her hand. She tells me that she's had a dozen calls since mine. I tell her about the vintage MX and enduro scene.

Anyway, no more rattling on, here it is.





I know it looks like a 50 year old Thai prostitute, But I think it's got a heart of gold.
(I think there's a movie idea in that)

[Johnno_Ipswich]

The K was the last one yeah?

I bought an F new in '79 ^roost

Still have the owners manual and the headlight

[380EXCQLD]

I had a fairly tidy one of these when I was about 15, '82 model I think.
Looking forward to seeing you resurrect this old dog:grinning-

[pk]

A gem of a bike in their day and so much fun to throw around

Really looking forward to watching each update !

*perhaps one day a TS185 will find its way into your workshop (and the memories will come flooding back)

[one67]

The K was the last one yeah?

I bought an F new in '79 ^roost

Still have the owners manual and the headlight

Yeah, the J and the K were pretty much the same bike, last of the 175's
My interest in the 175J is the fact that I never had one, but I remember the first time I saw one.
When I was 15, my mates and I all had old twin shock, second hand bikes. Another fella we knew rocked up one day on a brand spankin 175J that his parents bought him,
And I remember it being the most amazing dirt bike I'd ever seen.
I had a IT250 H a few years after that, It was bags of fun.

[wazza]

Looks good to go as soon as you put some petrol in it.

[one67]

When I picked it up, the back wheel wouldn't turn. I didn't know if the chain was rusted solid or the engine was seized or anything in between.(no kick starter)

So we put the back wheel on a skateboard and wheeled it out to the ute.
When I got home and took the chain off, I realized it was the brake hub.
3 hours of gentle prying, trying not to damage the magnesium brake plate and wondering why it just wouldn't let go, this is what I see.
I've been tearing the linings off the shoes.

[YamaDubR]

Good work, I will be following your project.
I loved my IT175. My Uncle loved the IT's, he had a 175, a 200 & a 250. He never let anyone ride the 200; he probably loved that one the most. He also had two Tenere & an XT660. The 250 was a bit much, I broke a few rear mudguards.
My 175 was worked a bit (porting & expansion pipe extension) & I won a Junior national event on it. It was a bike I could race on Saturdays & trail ride on Sundays.
It also got me into trouble with the cops a few times when riding around town! I remember one particular pursuit when they caught me; they new my Mom & my only concern was that they didn't tell her. The charges were - driving without a licence, driving under age, driving whilst under the influence, resisting arrest, driving without a helmet, driving with a passenger (my brother, who was wearing my helmet - he didn't trust my driving). I blamed him, because if he wasn't with me, they wouldn't have caught me.
A great bike from an even better era.

[one67]

Starting to strip it down to find all the surprises that a mistreated 37 year old bike has to offer.
After paint stripper to get of multiple coats of spray paint off.



Sanding with 4 grades of wet paper and a quick run over with a heat gun.

[one67]

Sandblasting and painting various rusty bits

[Pygmygod]

Nice!

[Battered Sav]

Always love seeing your work, looking forward to watching this one progress.:grinning-

[one67]

Out with the old, in with the new.
Can you believe there's a muffler shop in NZ that produces the bottom section of expansion chambers for old 2T's, how cool is that.

[Tractorman]

Great stuff, love the IT's.

[one67]

Got the frame back from the powder coater.
Got some bearings and seals.
Why is it every time you go to a bearing shop, you tell them what size and they say "that's an odd one,is it for a bike?"
The swing arm and main linkage bearings were going to cost $46 each
I sourced them on Alibaba for 53c each +$25 for DHL postage



Bit more sanding and polishing of the plastics.