1974 YAMAHA TX650A — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I SPENT OVER THREE YEARS RESTORING AND REBUILDING A 1974 YAMAHA TX650A. I PURCHASED A FUEL TANK AND A SEAT FROM A SUPPLIER. FROM THE SUPPLIERS WEBSITE THE TANK AND SEAT ARE MADE TO BE USED WITH MY MODEL AND YEAR OF MOTORCYCLE. HOWEVER, AFTER RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2400 MILES AND WHILE RIDING IT I NOTICED GAS DRIBBLING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK AND LANDING ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE CARBURETOR AND ENGINE CRANKCASE. I GOT THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO MY HOME AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS NOT AN ADEQUETE AMOUNT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE FUEL TANK AND THE METAL PAN OF THE SEAT HAD PROTRUDED THROUGH THE VINYL COVERING OF THE SEAT AND WAS CONTACTING THE METAL OF THE TANK. APARENTLY WITH ENGINE VIBRATION THE METAL OF THE SEAT PAN HAD CAUSED A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL TANK WAS PROPERLY PLACED ON THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME USING NEW RUBBER CUSIONS AND THE SEAT WAS ALSO PROPERLY INSTALLED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE SUPPLIER IN REGARD TO WHAT I FEEL ARE REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT BEING MADE TO ORIGINAL OEM SPECIFICATIONS BUT THEY ARE CLAIMING I DID NOT PROPERLY INSTALL THE ITEMS BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY IN WHICH THE SEAT AND TANK CAN BE INSTALLED AND THERE IS NO WAY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. WHEN I PLACED MY ORIGINAL SEAT PAN ON THE MOTORCYCLE I COULD SEE THE ORIGINAL OEM PAN PROVIDES THE NECESSARY AMOUNT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN PAN AND FUEL TANK. MY ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE TO REPLACE THE SEAT AND TANK AND TO HAVE THE TANK PAINTED IS BETWEEN 700 TO 900 DOLLARS. *TR

I SPENT OVER THREE YEARS RESTORING AND REBUILDING A 1974 YAMAHA TX650A. I PURCHASED A FUEL TANK AND A SEAT FROM A SUPPLIER. FROM THE SUPPLIERS WEBSITE THE TANK AND SEAT ARE MADE TO BE USED WITH MY MODEL AND YEAR OF MOTORCYCLE. HOWEVER, AFTER RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2400 MILES AND WHILE RIDING IT I NOTICED GAS DRIBBLING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK AND LANDING ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE CARBURETOR AND ENGINE CRANKCASE. I GOT THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO MY HOME AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS NOT AN ADEQUETE AMOUNT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE FUEL TANK AND THE METAL PAN OF THE SEAT HAD PROTRUDED THROUGH THE VINYL COVERING OF THE SEAT AND WAS CONTACTING THE METAL OF THE TANK. APARENTLY WITH ENGINE VIBRATION THE METAL OF THE SEAT PAN HAD CAUSED A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL TANK WAS PROPERLY PLACED ON THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME USING NEW RUBBER CUSIONS AND THE SEAT WAS ALSO PROPERLY INSTALLED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE SUPPLIER IN REGARD TO WHAT I FEEL ARE REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT BEING MADE TO ORIGINAL OEM SPECIFICATIONS BUT THEY ARE CLAIMING I DID NOT PROPERLY INSTALL THE ITEMS BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY IN WHICH THE SEAT AND TANK CAN BE INSTALLED AND THERE IS NO WAY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. WHEN I PLACED MY ORIGINAL SEAT PAN ON THE MOTORCYCLE I COULD SEE THE ORIGINAL OEM PAN PROVIDES THE NECESSARY AMOUNT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN PAN AND FUEL TANK. MY ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE TO REPLACE THE SEAT AND TANK AND TO HAVE THE TANK PAINTED IS BETWEEN 700 TO 900 DOLLARS. *TR