1976 175 Cross Country Carb

[niknik]

Hi all,

This has probably been asked before but I couldn't find it with the search engine: I recently purchased a 1976 175 Cross Country on Craigslist (for $300!) that was nearly complete with the exception of cables, air box and filter, and carb. Can anyone tell me which carb was stock on this model (Bing or Lectron), and the model # and size?

I suspect it was a 32mm Bing model 54 based on other research but cant be certain and I'm a bit skeptical because my 1973 Six Day has a 32mm as does my 1976 125 Cross Country, so I'm thinking a 175 would be slightly larger, say a 34mm model. Any help would be appreciated.

[Kip Kern]

Give Al Buehner a shout for a parts book, will show everything in there.  Could have been a Lectron

[brian kirby]

If it came with a Bing it should have been a 32mm Model 84 like the 125. Your 73 125 does not have the stock carb as it would have come with a 27.5mm older style screw on top Bing. As Kip mentioned in 76 it could also have come with a Lectron, no way to know what it came with originally.

Brian

[Daniel Desranleau]

Mine has a Lectron which I believe is original.

[niknik]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess for my purposes then it really wont matter then which make I go with, Bing or Lectron, as long as I get the model and size right. I'm not planning on restoring it to show room condition, just good riding condition, so now I'm thinking a model 84 32mm Bing should do the trick. I guess I'm a little surprised that the 125 and 175 used the same size Carb though. One would think the slightly larger bore would benefit from a slightly larger carb.

Brian, you're right about my 73 Six Day. Someone had put a Mikuni on it and that sure wasn't stock. That was my first bike. Got it for my 14th birthday back in 1978 and never looked back. Just dated myself there.

[G Ellis]

In 76 the 175 had a 36mm carb. Most of the early one's came with a bing. Later 76 with leading edge front forks came with an Lectron 36mm carb.

[tooclose racing]

Wow - you have a 76 125 Cross Country model???  How rare is that item? Does it have the new 125 KTM engine?

Thanks.  Just curious.

[Larry Perkins]

I think he said the 76 was a 175 if so it would have been like a 75 1/2 model.  The new engine for 175 did not happen till 77. I had a 76 125 Cross Country for a bit but it was a dog because we could never get the carb to work right.

Larry P

[454MRW]

76 Cross Countrys' had the old style 7 fin 175, and were available with a new KTM 125. The 76 MC5 was not available with the "too big to fit 7 fin 175", and 77 brought the new 6 fin 175 design, available as an MC5 or GS6. According to what he saidin the 1st post he had a 76 125 Cross Country as well. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1978-1979 MX-6 175 & 250 KTM's
1976-78 125-400 RM's & 79 PE250 Suzuki & 2012 DR650
2007 CR125R Honda
1977 MC250 Maico

[Larry Perkins]

Missed that.  I saw the 73 Six Days but missed the 76 Cross Country.  All those first KTM 125 motors had carb grief that was hard to figure out.  They tried all different size carbs in production and even had a 36 on some of the MC5 mopdels in 77.  I never came across one that ran totally right and as I said the 76 Cross Country I had was very lame.  Worst Penton I ever had.  It was definitely a puzzle that several knowledgeable people tried to fix to no avail.

Larry P

[454MRW]

I have read that the early production 125 KTM engines had some engine case problems as well. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1978-1979 MX-6 175 & 250 KTM's
1976-78 125-400 RM's & 79 PE250 Suzuki & 2012 DR650
2007 CR125R Honda
1977 MC250 Maico

[niknik]

quote:Originally posted by Larry Perkins

I think he said the 76 was a 175 if so it would have been like a 75 1/2 model.  The new engine for 175 did not happen till 77. I had a 76 125 Cross Country for a bit but it was a dog because we could never get the carb to work right.

Larry P

Sorry this is many years late but I just noticed it. I do have a 1976 125 Cross Country as well as a 1976 175 Cross Country. The 125 I purchased off of Ebay (but it was a local pick-up) about 10 years ago for around 600 bucks if my memory is correct. A great deal for a good running Penton in nice shape. The only thing wonky is it looks to have the forks from a Honda (they are red on the bottom) but they work just fine. And yes, it has the KTM motor with the black head and the 125 down the sides of it.

Also of note: it does also have carb problems in one regard: It runs great with no issues, but it's hard as hell to start. I mean a total pain. I've never had a Penton this hard to start. I've recently found that the slide is worn and am looking for a replacement. Not sure if that will help but it can't hurt.

At any rate, thanks for the replies. It looks like the 175 could use a 36mm Bing 84 from what was said here.

I sure do wish we could post pics here.[|)]