Cycles 1988 TW200 - Anybody familiar with them?

T

tinfoil

Senior Member
Bought a new to me toy this month, a 1988 Yamaha TW200. My first bike and I’m excited to start learning to ride it. I’ve ridden on the back, and started it once myself with the kickstarter about 1.5 weeks ago, so far.

It was warm out today, almost 40F, so I thought to spend a little time getting more comfortable with it. Perhaps something really bold such as starting it and sitting on it for a little while . Worked up a good sweat, and got very comfortable standing on the foot pegs, but could not get it to fire up. Fuel petcock is open, choke pulled out, key on, run switch is on. I really feel like it should have at least started...

(FWIW, I’m fairly well versed in cars, and older crabby cars at that. My current car fleet ranges from 1973 w/ manual choke to ‘03 with fuel injection) I’ll be honest though, I’m totally new to bikes and am a bit intimidated by the two wheels. I’ll deal with that and work through it like anything else. I more don’t want to accidentally be abusive to the bike - hopefully that makes sense.)

Thoughts anyone?
 
hiwall

hiwall

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I had the same bike but mine was a 2010 I think. The newer ones like I had did not have a kick starter- only electric start.
Mine was pretty cold-blooded and I always had to use the the choke to start it. Never tried it as cold as you did though. Mine was a very good starter. And it was a very fun bike for on/off road that sat much lower than most such bikes. Bike is solid, you can't hurt it.
Yours looks like this, right?
7-29- 021.JPG
 
T

tinfoil

Senior Member
hiwall said:
You'll like it. Its a great small bike.
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I already like it a lot. Messed with it some more today and found that the fuel in it is some of the stalest I’ve ever seen or smelled. Picked up a little hand siphon in town today and will suck out all the stale fuel I can tomorrow, then dose it with Chemtool and fresh fuel and get some more practice with the kick starter.
 
T

tinfoil

Senior Member
Fresh fuel and Sta-Bil added yesterday. Still no start. Sounded a bit more willing. Next will be a new spark plug.

I am not a patient person. This has been a really good exercise for me on that front.
 
Millwright

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
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West said:
Why I'm still on the hunt for some of those hand operated micro drill bits.
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Search "pin vise and bits"

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T

tinfoil

Senior Member
Millwright said:
Chances are, the carb will have to come off.

There are some itty-bitty passages that probably won't clear without direct squirts of carb cleaner.
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That’s what I’m thinking. Trying real hard to not throw 500 things at it at once and then be left wondering what it was that fixed it. (Reference that patience thing above )

If/when I do pull the carb, I’m guessing I should throw a rebuild kit in there while I’m at it and have it apart? Or would that be another place for patience, to pull it, spray it with carb cleaner and reinstall it first?
 
Millwright

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
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tinfoil said:
That’s what I’m thinking. Trying real hard to not throw 500 things at it at once and then be left wondering what it was that fixed it. (Reference that patience thing above )

If/when I do pull the carb, I’m guessing I should throw a rebuild kit in there while I’m at it and have it apart? Or would that be another place for patience, to pull it, spray it with carb cleaner and reinstall it first?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't order a kit without giving it a try.

There really isn't much to the ones I've been into, but motor-sickle carbs aren't my thing either.

Chances are it's boogage in the float/needle valve and the idle passage.

I'd also price a whole carb, it may be cheeper...or cheep enough to be worth having a spare.
 
Millwright

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
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hiwall said:
One has to use extreme care using those because it is remarkably easy to enlarge the holes in aluminum and brass. I use just the bits in my fingers.
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Yup

Often, the actual jet is a removable brass piece, with the passage being quite a bit larger.

I strip a piece of stranded electrical wire to poke through them.

Copper being softer than brass and all that.
 
T

tinfoil

Senior Member
hiwall said:
I have cleaned carbs in several cycles. Seldom did I have a "kit".
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Am totally new to motorcycles, this is good info to have. Was having a hard time finding a rebuild kit via google yesterday. Perhaps there is no such thing for bikes? Or most bikes. I’d be ok with that.
 
Millwright

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
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I have a cheep chicom 4-wheeler....no-name brand.

It sat for a long time and the carb needed de-goobered.

Managed to really muck it up in disassembly, crap pot metal.

10371398854_8d4b656a9c_z.jpg


After some rooting around in the scrap bucket, I ugly-fabbed this fix.

10371403094_4067c4093b.jpg


10371530015_5aed7ece78.jpg
 
ComCamGuy

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
true, but you can get a second carb and install, then take your time rebuilding the first one so you have it ready for swapping in when the replacement needs rebuilt.
 
C

Czechsix

Contributing Member
Change the main jet, more than likely. Stock they run lean as heck. Emissions, dontcha know...

I have a 2015, fun little bikes.
 
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