So I found a guy with a complete LT80, but it is VERY rough to say the least. He wants $100 for it and it is one hell of a project to say the least. I'm not sure of the year, but it has yellow plastics and ablue frame and seat. He told me that it had some compression but that it was getting very weak spark so he took the magneto off and it was VERY rusted out. He got it from a guy who had left it out in the elements for what looks like a really long time. The stock exhaust is there, but almost totally risted out. The side of the engine is off and in a box from where he was looking at it. There is some surface rust on the frame and I'm sure just from looking at it that any rubber pieces or bushing on it are most likely dry rotted and need replacing. I'm sure the whole engine will need to be gone over and the plastics are cracked and broken in a few spots. I have no problem getting a project but I'm just curious from you guys with experience if this sounds worth the money for the crappy condition. From what I could tell the block isn't cracked, but where exactly on the block should I look for where it typically cracks? Anyway, I hate to make my first post full of nothing but questions, but any help on this will be appreciated. I was just thinking that I could get it as a project to show my son how to work on them and I think it would be a good father son project but if the prices of new plastics and everything is is going to just leave me with a money pit I move on and find another one. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

Let's do a lil approximations..LOL
Top end (piston,rings,gaskets,fresh bore,pin,pin brg, and clips) $140
4 bushings (like you think may be bad) $60
Starter (if bad and from ebay) $39-$70.
New battery (good one ) $50-60.
Sprockets/chain $60.
Bottom end brgs and seals $60.
Hope the crank rod bearing is good or add $220 +/- for a new crank.
Prolly need some clutch stuff: Front:: all the variator and inside parts $90
Rear clutch pads are usually good but I do replace alot of rear clutch bearings. 2@ $20.
Used ebay pipe $40-80
Approx $8-900 or so and there will be a lil more. It's inevitable.
These prices are close to list. The crankshaft price is in the middle of the pricerange.
There is money to be saved depanding on who and where.

I don't know about plastic and tires (plastic can be rode broke and tires bald) <EG>..But,, At the end of all that, you will have a machine that's arguably worth $1200+ and will be dependable for years to come.

FYI: look in front of the front sprocket. This can sometimes be fixxed, even if in 2 pieces.
There are steel plates joining the motor to the rear end. Check where the plate bolts to the motor and the rear end housing. A busted spot on the rear end is still usable. If the holes where the plates join to the motor are cracked/broke, the cases are NG.
Check the frame for cracks where the 2 tubes come down at the air filter box area and where the 3 tubes come togeter on the bottom.
"whew".

 

LT80 thanks for the run down and the info. Ill check those areas to see if there is any damage or if it is just cosmetic. Now at least I have a baseline of pricing.

 

I'm thinking if nothing else, it might make for a nice parts bike if you found another one that needed less work.

 

Yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking too.