Messages

Just got the Still Keeping Track issue in the mail. Was sad to see that John Greenrose had passed away. I've been to his shop many times back in the day. I actually got my first Penton there, I traded one of the sales guys a Yamaha DT1 for an early '72 Six Days. I saw Johnny at the local release of the John Penton movie years ago. He was a hell of a rider and a nice guy too.

I don't post very often but I do look at the POG website every other day. I routinely check here for parts for sale and tech info from previous posts. It's nice to find remedies, or at least troubleshooting techniques, for issues that I run into from time to time. Increase of dues is fine by me if needed.

Hi Mike,
I don't know if you are still looking for a decompressor for your 400 but there is one on EBAY. It is installed in a used cylinder. You might be able to talk the guy out of it separately.  It is listed as "1976 KTM MC5 400 GS AHRMA Vintage Cylinder Head Barrel JUG". It is a little rusty but it probably could be cleaned up. I lapped mine with fine lapping paste and it came out good. These things don't come up very often!
Good Luck,
Keith

Mike, the decompressor body is rigid mounted to the cylinder, it screws in to threads with a copper seal ring. What is swiveling is the actuator part. The cable attaches to the actuator and pushes the center "valve" inwards off the seat, very similar to a valve on a four stroke head. There is a spring that reseats the valve when the cable is released. Without seeing what you have it's difficult to determine what you may have for cable attachment. Try to visualize how a cable can be attached to push in on that decompressor actuator. Sorry I can't send you a picture of mine as I'm out of town and won't be home for several weeks. Maybe someone else can find a pic to help out.
The decompressor body is screwed in to the back of the cylinder with the hex head near the base of the decompressor body, pretty difficult to access.

Andreas,

I've had pretty good luck removing old vinyl striping, graphics, and paint from fiberglass boats with Easy-Off oven cleaner. It will remove paint so if the tank has been painted...BEWARE! It doesn't seem to hurt the gelcoat. If you go that route please try it on a spot out of sight under the tank just to be safe. Once removed the gelcoat should buff out. I haven't tried Zip Strip or similar paint removers but that may be an option too.
Good luck.

Keith

I visited the Owls Head Transportation Museum this past week. Unfortunately for me, I had to leave the area and return home to Louisville, Ky. before the vintage motorcycle exhibit started. We bought a summer cottage near by in Ocean Point near Boothbay Harbor, Maine and took our guests to the museum. For those of you that have not heard of the museum, it's fantastic! It is a first class museum, not at all what I had expected before my first visit and I've been there a couple of times. Antique cars, planes, motorcycles, bicycles, mechanical oddities, and even an industrial steam engine are on display. There is a garage area for restorations in progress as well as a hanger for airplane restorations and maintenance, both areas are accessible for visitors.
On my first visit there, a nice gentleman behind the info desk/ticket counter said "Everything in this museum either drives or flies". This was apparent as they were shuffling exhibits around after the vintage airplane show and a beautiful '57 T-bird was driven to a new location across the museum.
I'm quite sure the vintage motorcycle exhibit will be a first class showing just like everything they do there. I'm very disappointed that I can't be there to see the exhibit and visit with fellow POG members.

Keith

Hi Patrick,

My Six Days had similar problems with the carb. Turned out to be a plugged pilot jet. It had plenty of gas in the bowl but still would run out of gas. I cleaned the jet (very tiny hole) with a single bristle from a wire brush and problems all gone! Be very careful not to damage the pilot jet. Runs like a champ. Good luck.

Keith
Louisville, Ky

I've got the straight one on a '77 400GS. I installed a KTM factory decompressor and had to use a Dremel tool to make a slight relief in the engine stay. I did pick up a curved stay on Ebay but have not installed yet. I suspect my clearance problems with the decompressor will be solved but it'll probably make getting to the carb even more fun!
Keith

This may be a little late as Larry has already replied. I purchased some Sachs gaskets from Larry off Ebay not too long ago. The transaction went well and I waited the usual time for delivery....no gaskets. I sent the customary query through Ebay as to not receiving the parts. In very short order I got a reply from Larry stating that he had gone through some wholesale changes in his life and that he would get the parts out soon. I told him I was in no hurry as these parts were for future teardowns anyway. My parts came within a couple of weeks just as he said. No problem.
I've purchased from Larry before and have always received what was described and in a timely manner. I'd purchase from him again if he were selling what I needed.
Larry, If you're reading this, you've always done right by me. Good luck to you.
Keith May

Paul,
I just replaced one in a 250 motor (I think they are the same part). Mine had a bent shaft from a spill but the quadrant looked pretty good. I'm going out of town for a week or so on vacation in just a few hours and haven't packed yet. As you can guess I'm running behind. If you haven't had any luck in finding one by then, get back with me. I'll dig it out of the garage and verify its condition. You're welcome to it.
Keith

Dave,
I went through open-heart surgery for a triple bypass on Jan 26th. Believe me....IT DOES GET BETTER. I'm in rehab now, three days a week, and hopefully will return to work in two weeks. My surgeon says I'll be able to get back on my bikes once I build my strength and stamina up. I would not have believed that at first but now I feel certain I'll be back in the not too distant future!
My point is that all that talk I heard before and shortly after my surgery wasn't just a bunch of hooey. I'm feeling better and stronger every day. If I can do it I know you can too. Hang in there and keep your chin up.
Good Luck, Keith

Nice bike Rob. I've got one just like it with minimum mileage (speedo missing when I bought it). I'm missing the horn but haven't really looked for one either. Mine has the MC exhaust tip and a Lectron carb. I added a decompressor. The bars were tweaked and the right side foot peg bent. I suspect the owner let this beast get away from him and he parked it for purposes of self preservation. It's a HOOT when I take it out to the club I belong to, the younger guys don't know what it is and the older guys just stand there with their mouths open remembering the good old days. I get the same response when I take my '72 Six Days (it's in great, original shape also).
Keith

Hi Chris,
The punch I used was homemade. I used a piece of allthread (1/2" best I remember). I turned down several washers to the size needed to fit through the swing arm tube and still catch the bearing race. I stacked the washers together to give enough rigidity, jam-nutted them in place, and punched through from the opposite side. It wasn't easy but it did work. Good luck, Keith.

Hi Chris,
I had the same problem with my '76 250. What worked for me was to add heat and penetrating oil. I used a hot air gun that you would strip paint with (Sears/Craftsman). I would alternately heat and apply penetrating oil while hot. The oil would sizzle and maybe sink in a little deeper each time. After many reps I then tried to drive out the bearing from the opposite side with a good sized punch. It took  most of two evenings but I did get the old bearings out. The good thing was the heat gun got hot enough to do the job but didn't scorch the paint on the swing arm. Good luck.
Keith

Hi Tom. Got the decompressor in the mail today. It looks really good. I fit it into the cylinder and it's a tight fit with the right side motor support bracket. I think it'll be fine. The parts manual shows an alternate right side motor support bracket with a dog-leg in it. That dog-leg may have been to give clearance for the decompressor. Thanks for the decompressor assy. It looks like just what I needed. Keith