Thanks darinm for the approximate dimensions.

Lights:

My state (Oklahoma) as well as just across the line from us (Arkansas), where we'll be riding 99.9% of the time, are "Lights On" states for motorcycles. Thus, no lights, no can ride'em on the roads. If we can't ride our bikes on roads account of non-functional lights, then dual sporting is out of the question. Even though we'll be on back roads, forest roads, county roads, town roads, and such in the daylight... the lights will have to be on. Heaven forbid we ever have to actually USE the headlights (after dark) to get back to the truck or to get home! Neither of us like riding at night.

Anyway, once I have the bike here so I can take the headlamp out, I will start at the automotive stores to see what's available and work out from there. I'll figure something out. (I always do.)

ALL:

We've committed to the purchase. We'll be leaving next Tuesday to meet the seller about halfway to make the transfer. SO, for better of for worse, my wife has an AT3!


V-man

BTW:

In the second video I received, the seller read the stamping on the head stock and the dates on the I.D tag.

Stamped into the frame was "AT1".

The I.D. tag indicated it was mfg'd "10/72".

Does this still mean its a '73 AT3?

V-man

Yamaha built bikes the year before the actual model year. They kept the same serial number prefix for several years.

1971DT250:

Understood. Figured that was the case, but thought I'd ask you vintage Yamahammer guys just in case I assumed incorrectly.

V-man

Look at VIN lists in Tech Library to confirm year but production date means it's a 1973 model... and the problem you described about title not matching the year was common with Yamaha too... many states used to title the bike as "year first sold" rather than "model year" back then... that didn't change until 1980's.

On the headlight, seems to be many 69 AT1 reflector/lens on ebay... they had a replaceable bulb... bulb is still readily available... tricky part is the bulb holder but they can be found. I'm pretty sure the 69 reflector/lens will fit a 73 but someone here should know for sure. They are a odd size smaller than most.

Other option is a bucket and rim from a CT3... would take a standard 5 3/4" bulb available at any auto store or H4 reflector.. One thing is that it's only a 25w bulb so you'll want to stick with that (or LED) or the battery will run low.

Spraying Caig DeOxit into the switch contacts and cycling the switch restores new performance to corroded contacts. Amazing stuff. I use it all the time and it always surprises me.

The 12V light system is far superior vs the 6V.

Wife and I went on a dual sport ride up in the Ozarks today. On the way back to eastern OK, we stopped in at Westark Yamaha and I picked up a quart of Yamaha S to use as injector oil.

My intention is to pull the oil tank, empty it from God only knows what kind of oil is in it, then rinse with gasoline to remove any residual oil. I will also pull the inlet line to the pump and drain it. IF the inlet line has hardened with age, I will replace. Once new oil is in the tank I'll bleed the pump and make sure it's good to go.

Also, ordered universal mirrors n' adapters this morning before leaving out for the Ozarks. Hoping they'll arrive about the time we get the bike next Tuesday. Still pondering what to do about the headlamp, but I really won't know a thing until I take possession of the bike and have a chance to get it up on the lift table for some going over. Could be a connection... only one element burned out... or some other issue... who knows?

All fer now!

V-man

Update on "Lil' Blue" (wife's AT3):

Only parts I'm awaiting is a new filter element (to have on hand for the first cleaning, when the old one will be replaced), and the spring for the exhaust header.

For the headlight issue, I went with an AT-1 headlight fixture, the needed pigtail, and incandescent bulb for the headlight. Works great.

In fact, we've already been on a paved back road outing of some 45 miles, her on Lil' Blue and me on my Zundapp GS125. Lil' Blue performed great and she's really liking it.

Our next outing will be after the temps have cooled from a hot spell the middle of this week, which puts our next vinduro ride toward the end of the week. Until rains hit (to settle the talculm powder dust on the forest roads), we'll probably be doing a paved back road ride again. Come Nov 7 we'll be riding a T-Town Tiddlers Fall Ride that will be based out of our home town. That ought to be fun!

So far, so good!

V-man