Here is the picture you referenced. It is a 1975 tank. There is no wedge tank for the big bores. The shape of 75/76 big bore tanks are identical. Only the color and graphics are different.
Intresting mystery. Could it have been something as simple as cold climate. Now that it is indoors, in a warm climate, it rolls with ease. I had a bike that had a chain rusted solid. I had to remove the chain, to get it to roll. You said you have condensation, and it had been sitting for extended period of time, but now rolls freely, It might have been something like the axle shafts / wheel bearings stuck, or brake linkage adjustment. I hope your brake pads did not delaminate from condensation.
I just ordered a new rear tire for the bike, so when I remove the wheel I will do an inspection of the brakes, but I put new shoes on all my bikes as part of their initial refurbishing. Several of them opened up to find delaminated linings.
Good point about the brake being stuck. Next time, if there is a next time, I will check the lever arm on the wheel hub and see if it is stuck engaged.
I just went out to the barn to bring this 250 into my heated garage so that I can give it a once over cleaning and inspection because barn life is hard on my bikes. I have a gravel floor and condensation from temperature changes is brutal. For some reason the rear tire would not roll. Acted as if it was in gear. So I clicked the shifter and made sure it was in neutral, but the rear tire still dragged. Pulled in the clutch and still the tire dragged. So I climbed on and kicked it over several times with no unusual resistance. It eventually freed up and I got it in the garage and up on the lift. With the rear tire elevated I can now spin it with ease. Any ideas on what caused that initial resistance to roll in extreme cold?
I am not there to see the bike, but I suspect your clutch plates were sticking, and you were able to shock them free from attempting to roll it. In extreme cases, you have to zip tie the clutch lever overnight and rock it back and forth to eventually free it up.
I didn't realize that would come into play if the bike was in neutral. Many of my bikes have that issue where I have to roll them forward before I click them into gear because the clutch plates will stick from sitting so long. A simple blip of the throttle a couple times frees it up and all is good. I'm going to get some Velcro straps that I can use and reuse on my clutch levers.
.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)
.png)
.png)
.png)
Ha. My 250B made the closing photo of your tribute video.
Thanks!
I also noticed that you slipped in a 250C being the partial image of the bike in the snow. At least it looks like the more wedge shaped tank from 76.
Always enjoy your tribute videos. Well done!
Intresting mystery. Could it have been something as simple as cold climate. Now that it is indoors, in a warm climate, it rolls with ease. I had a bike that had a chain rusted solid. I had to remove the chain, to get it to roll. You said you have condensation, and it had been sitting for extended period of time, but now rolls freely, It might have been something like the axle shafts / wheel bearings stuck, or brake linkage adjustment. I hope your brake pads did not delaminate from condensation.
Good point about the brake being stuck. Next time, if there is a next time, I will check the lever arm on the wheel hub and see if it is stuck engaged.
I just went out to the barn to bring this 250 into my heated garage so that I can give it a once over cleaning and inspection because barn life is hard on my bikes. I have a gravel floor and condensation from temperature changes is brutal. For some reason the rear tire would not roll. Acted as if it was in gear. So I clicked the shifter and made sure it was in neutral, but the rear tire still dragged. Pulled in the clutch and still the tire dragged. So I climbed on and kicked it over several times with no unusual resistance. It eventually freed up and I got it in the garage and up on the lift. With the rear tire elevated I can now spin it with ease. Any ideas on what caused that initial resistance to roll in extreme cold?