So after years of owning 4 strokes about 400 of them, I finally bought my first real bike! I look forward to being part fo the forum!
Bruins in 4. :metal:
Smoking is addictive.
"Hi, my name is Chris... and I mix Gas and Oil"
Welcome! :cheers:
Quote from: Raxxis on May 29, 2019, 07:54:47 PM
So after years of owning 4 strokes about 400 of them, I finally bought my first real bike! I look forward to being part fo the forum!
Bruins in 4. :metal:
Hey Dude, way cool :metal: Where abouts in Ma. do you live? I live in Gloucester. Welcome to the forum and congrats on a unique bike. I have a RD250. Took a spin on her today around town and got two compliments on separate occastions and plenty of stares :righteous:
I live in West Boylston. Here is a pic of the new bike and some of the others. I pick up the RD at the end of the month. Other than the seat and mirrors can anyone tell me what else is wrong with the RD?
Hard to tell from the RD photo what issues it may have. The forks/triples area looks a little unusual, like the vertical spacing is not normal. Just guesssing because it's difficult to tell from that photo. Better (closer) photos of the bike from the side and different angles would be helpful
But from the other photo I think it's pretty obvious you have a Honda problem :dawg:
Welcome!
Lots of 2smoke nuts here!
I have 6 RD's , 5 of them 400's
Let us know when you get it!
Chuck
Might just be the headlight mounting brackets (not stock and very long) that make the front end look different.
Welcome!
Can't say there's anything wrong with it. What's not stock beside the seat, mirrors, and the paint would be the headlight ears and the turn signals. The bars look longer than stock but that could be an angle thing.
Some different angles will let us get a better look. Your VIN will tell you if you have a 76 or 77.
One thing to tell in 99% of the time from a '76-'77 is the disk brake mounting on the mag wheels...'76's used studs w/ nuts and 77's went to bolts like the 78's and 79's also.
Another one is the electrical wire connectors from the handlebars are all bullets single connectors like 350's and in '77 Yamaha started using multi connector blocks.
Chuck
What the hell is a four stroke and how the hell do you own something that happens when you run too rich?
So clearly I have a few parts to begin to assemble. Are there and other Yamaha bikes in that time period that used the same parts? Like the directionals from an XS series, that might be an easier find that are the same? Id like to get it back to stock.
A dozen years ago when I was sorting out parts to build the R5 I came across this. It's very valuable. Unfortunately mine was registered on a long-trashed laptop so I don't have access. It's worth the $25 bucks.
It's a complete cross reference by part number and bike, as well as having PN changes associated. For example, it will tell you the PN for for signal mounts, what OTHER bikes used the same part number, and even better what other part number is identical. It really helps to tell you what XS, RD, and any other model parts cross fit.
I recall even finding locally available "modern" outboard parts that crossed to the old 278 bits. I found banjo bolts that way on a Sunday iirc.
http://www.zedder.com/itm00609.htm (http://www.zedder.com/itm00609.htm)
https://www.mikesxs.net/xs650-parts/electrical/signal-lamps-reflectors.html
First ride today was a blast. It was such a unique experience with the way the power was delivered and when I wasn't whaling on it it was really comfortable to drive. Everyone from the Harley guys to the nice old lady at the gas station had to check it out. Maybe its my weight :whistle: but I found the bike quick not fast, but I guess thats what my 1000+cc bikes are for. Overall, a keeper.
1. I need some oils for this 1977 RD400. Transmission and engine. I dont mind spending a buck, I just want the right product that I can buy from the local Yamaha dealer.
2. When I put the bike in neutral, both the oil and neutral light illumnate. Is that Normal?
3. See attached photo for third question...where and what the heck is this vent tube from? I thought maybe the battery...
4. What kind of mileage should I expect out of a full tank of gas and a full tank of oil?
That looks like the transmission vent on upper back of cases
I think the best tranny oil is bel ray gear saver 80wt. The best 2 stroke oil is really a matter of personal preference, I run yamalube 2s but there are plenty of good oils on the market. Now my rd is a hot rod and I run it on premix, 75-100 miles to the tank of fuel is what I get (spirited riding!)
Quote from: Brad-Man on June 26, 2019, 07:53:28 PM
That looks like the transmission vent on upper back of cases
Bradman nailed it...
C
Yes, Yamaha did a override system to check and light the oil light bulb when in neutral, so if the bulb is burnt out, you'll know by clicking into neutral.
2 stroke Jamoke nailed it on the oil for the tranny.
C
Mileage can depend greatly on speed you ride it at and how modified it is.
average is about 90-100 miles a tank on stockers and about 3 tanks of fuel to one tank of oil? All depends again how you ride it and if you turned up the pump like I do for hot rodding them with mods.
Chuck
Quote from: Raxxis on June 02, 2019, 11:07:21 PM
I live in West Boylston. Here is a pic of the new bike and some of the others. I pick up the RD at the end of the month. Other than the seat and mirrors can anyone tell me what else is wrong with the RD?
Hi Raxxis :wave: I completely forgot about you here. Very cool bike man congrats :righteous: You definitely found the right place to ask any and all questions. I would also add that Economy Cycle a vendor here has an excellent website if you need parts they are the RD specialist and they give great customer support. You'll probably find like I did that the local Yamaha dealer won't be able to offer much in terms of parts or even service but there's so much out there on the net and here on this site to learn about your bike and keep it running good.
Been riding it for a while now working out some bugs. Checking torques, fluids, syncing carbs, new plugs, the usual. Does anyone have an owners manual on pdf... The one that would have come with the bike? I have the Haynes and parts list. Thanks for all the advise, looking forward to my next smoker!!!
Long shot here but found this nut in my driveway after a ride this morning. Everything looks in order. Maybe it was "lost" on the bike years ago. God knows how many I've left on bikes...
Quote from: Raxxis on July 02, 2019, 11:47:12 AM...Does anyone have an owners manual on pdf... The one that would have come with the bike?
How about this? http://www.rdsonly.com/reference-materials.html
Quote from: ~JM~ on July 02, 2019, 12:49:26 PM
Quote from: Raxxis on July 02, 2019, 11:47:12 AM...Does anyone have an owners manual on pdf... The one that would have come with the bike?
How about this? http://www.rdsonly.com/reference-materials.html
Or this:
http://www.aircooledrdclub.com/manuals/400C.pdf
Found my nut!
These all have to be retorqued. What's the torque value? Its it necessary to bend both tabs?
Thanks for the links!!
43-54 ft-lbs, bend the lock washer tabs to capture the flats of the nut
Quote from: SoCal250 on July 04, 2019, 04:15:46 PM
43-54 ft-lbs, bend the lock washer tabs to capture the flats of the nut
Anyone have torque specs to add to the tech area? I found them on the old site and they were really helpful for my resto project.
So my oil pump gasket was leaking so I replaced it with an nos one from yamaha. Surfaces were cleaned and prepared carefully. Still leaks, but not quite as bad. So I ordered another one and I guess I'll use some yamabond or similar. Is there a supplier that makes a better/high performance gasket? Like Cometic for SBC. Any other thoughts welcome...
Quote from: Raxxis on July 10, 2019, 10:02:19 PM
So my oil pump gasket was leaking so I replaced it with an nos one from yamaha. Surfaces were cleaned and prepared carefully. Still leaks, but not quite as bad. So I ordered another one and I guess I'll use some yamabond or similar. Is there a supplier that makes a better/high performance gasket? Like Cometic for SBC. Any other thoughts welcome...
I thought my pump was leaking too until I looked closely at my new Yambits oil line and saw tiny cracks in it. The oil was seeping out of the cracks and dripping onto the pump. The leak went away after I changed the line.
The supply line nipple on the pump is short too, they tend to leak there also.
Chuck
So I figured out the problem...
The PO installed hex head type screws to hold the oil pump in place and replaced the panhead screws. The smaller diameter of the hex was not putting the same kind of force on the edges of the pump. When I switched to the oem screws with the larger head surface area, it sealed right up and hasn't leaked.
Quote from: Raxxis on July 23, 2019, 07:32:36 PM
So I figured out the problem...
The PO installed hex head type screws to hold the oil pump in place and replaced the panhead screws. The smaller diameter of the hex was not putting the same kind of force on the edges of the pump. When I switched to the oem screws with the larger head surface area, it sealed right up and hasn't leaked.
Nice!
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