YT125 clutch problem

[scott_YT125]

Guys
i just acquired an unknown model year YT125. it had been in a barn for 3 years but after i cleaned the tank and carb THREE times ive got it starting and idling. problem is when i put it in gear it dies like if it had clutch and you just let it out with no throttle. im an experience mechanic and have rebuilt multiple honda 250R's but this is my first experience with a yamahammer. i changed the oil and pulled the right side cover off to do a quick visual inspection but cant find anything wrong. i used fully synthetic royal purple oil and im wondering if that might be part of the problem. are there any links or old threads on here about these old clutches or can anyone help me??

thanks
and i love the site im new here
i wish they would have had all these resources available when i was working on bikes 10 years ago.

scott

[HondaYamaha rider]

Hello scott! Welcome to the board!!
The clutch problem you are experincing is very common on the 125's (I've got one, and it does the same thing), It's not the clutch, but driving habits. You have to rev up the 125's just alittle bit then shift into gear. Mine you almost have to get to 1/4 throttle to go into gear (and it was just rebuilt) and not kill the motor. Being there such a small motor, you have to treat it the same as a car, throttle then relese the clutch (which would be shift it into 1st). Hope this helps you out :thumbsup:
I know it is very frusterating, I spent atleast 40hrs trying to figure out the same thing on mine, only to figure out it wasn't the trike, but the rider. So I hope this helps.

HondaYamaha rider

[scott_YT125]

thanks for the info i was ready to rip the whole right lower cover off to try and solve this. ive never had a bike this small always had 250Rs in the past. i tried pushing it a bit then hoping on and slamming it into frist once and that worked and as i shifted through the gears and got to third it fell on its face and almost died so i down shifted and it almost bucked me over the bars. this bike was given to me and not something i really want to keep or have a need for but its fun to tinker on for now, its been to long since i sold my last bike.
thanks for the info and id be more than happy to hear any other tips or tricks you might have on messing with these little bumble bees.
thanks

[HondaYamaha rider]

yea, I've got one tip if you wan't more power out of it. Shave the head 0.052" and you'll have a good motor. Did it with mine and it worked great! Anyway, good luck with the trike!