I suppose at some stage we've all taken the 'jap-crap' attitude.....
i know i did, without ever having ridden or worked on anything from the land of the rising sun.
until... in 1970, a mate told me he had just slung his bike in the hedge as it kept seizing up, and he'd had enough of it.
well, i'm for any bike if it's free !, and whats so difficult about a seizing 50cc 2 stroke ?
it took me 2 months to trace the problem (no doubt a competent engineer would have taken 2 days)
but in that time i got to know every nut and bolt on that little Yamaha YF1 (bit like a fizzie, without the pedals).
problem was, someone had mucked about with the float & needle, consequently the fuel level in the bowl was JUST enough to fire it up, but far too weak a mixture and consequent overheating.
once sorted i treated it to a new barrel & piston.... and what a fantastic piece of machinery it was, disc valve induction, beautifully engineered... i commuted 40 miles a day for 5 years (sometimes 2 up !) and never let me down once.....
been a big fan ever since.
pip pip
