Used 1973 Yamaha Other Used

Seller Description

The 1973 Yamaha DT3 is sold with a current clean
Pennsylvania title and is registered and insured in the same state. 1973 was the last year of the steel front and
rear fenders and extensive chrome bracketing.

Also, 1973 was the first year that the 250 and
360 dual sports were sold with 21” front wheels standard. The engine at 246 cc
was factory rated at 24 hp producing just over 18 ft lbs of torque at 6000 rpm
with a redline of 7000 rpm. The factory
specified the bike at dry weight of 258 lbs and with 10.2” ground clearance.
The bike shows just over 1700 miles on the nos gauges
installed on the bike during its restoration. The original dials had just over 4,000 miles
showing before replacement. The bike was purchased by the seller in the fall of
1998 at which time a multi-year restoration was begun.
The bike has been
rebuilt from a total disassembly down to every fastener . From inside out, the rebuild included new old
stock oem parts including bearings, seals, clutch basket and all inner works.
The engine was rebuilt with complete new factory crank assembly, rods and bearings.
While all the replaced parts were still
functional on the original bike, the goal of a factory spec new engine down to
a new old stock cylinder head was the intent. The cases are original with side
cases polished and YAMAHA letters powder coated.
The rebuild included a new autolube pump and lines. The
exhaust is a NOS pipe, stripped and powder coated with a high temperature no
sheen finish, including a nos head shield, screws, fiber washers and mounting
springs.
The suspension was rebuilt with nos factory front inner fork
tubes, seals and the inner springs including new sweeper seals and chrome out
seal protectors. The rear suspension received nos factory KYB shocks that shipped
in genuine Yamaha wrappers. Front and
rear rims remain original but NOS spokes, seals, bearings and axles were
installed. The wheels are shod in period
looking Michelin competition trials tires. While Dunlop trials were oem spec,
none were to be had so the improved Michelins were installed after first trying
some inferior trials tires. Of course
new sprockets, chains, swing arm bushings were also incorporated. The rear sprocket is not genuine as a
suitable nos genuine sprocket was not available.
The handle bars are oem bars as are the grips, grey cables,
new switches left and right. Nos oem
wiring harnesses were installed stem to stern including nos spark coil.
Where correct fasteners like chrome dome bolts were not available, which
were trademarks of early Yamaha enduros, these fasteners were stripped and
re-chromed. Also some fasteners were
stripped and cad plated including the factory tool box tool set included in the
sale. Where possible, stainless steel
nuts and socket bolts completed the build, but mostly oem fasteners were
available and were acquired when possible often at a very high price.
The cylinder is original and was bored believe one oversize
using a Wiesco piston with new bearing and wrist pin. .
The frame and all parts were blasted and repainted black.
The tank, headlight, fork uppers and autolube tank were color matched to a new
old stock fork tube and painted Yamaha competition green candy using available
nos factory decals. The front and rear
fenders were finished in a classic silver which was matched as close as
possible to Yamaha factory silver, except the clear coat has more sheen than
factory. Fender brackets and front and rear blinker assemblies are nos. The right rear blinker has a chrome mar from
the bike being accidentally knocked over ironically while parked at Vintage
Motorcycle days at Mid-Ohio race track.
There is a chip in the paint shown on the head light bucket that was
created by the owner upon re-assembly from an thick pocket of clear fracturing
the candy paint work. Candy is impossible to touch up and the mark has been
left exposed for over 20 years. A small scratch appears under the right front
of the fuel tank also created by the owner in an unloading of the bike one dark night.
The seat is a replicated cover, foam and beautifully
restored seat pan done through coordination with Marble Motors, a vintage
motorcycle restoration company out of Texas.
The carburetor and reed values are nos and the
bike starts from cold on no more than three kicks. The bike has only been run
on 90+ non-ethanol gas. The bike typically has its oil changed twice annually
and is stored when not being ridden in a conditioned environment year round.
The bike has been ridden only on the road for short jaunts with a few 40 plus
mile events.
.