Messages

Our 76 RD400 in normal riding on the back roads gets around 35-38 mpg.  I'm so glad i took the supertune "tune" stock mod on it, got soft breathable foam on the airbox hose ends.  Still runs great w/ the XR700 crane ignition (thanks again Mark!).  No problem running the newer plugs either. Non ethanol 92 octane gas most of the time.   Normally, just doing 80 mile round trip back road rides.

Rode the RD400 two days ago.  Clear and about 45 degrees.  How's it going Wade?

My GF had a KZ650 w/ a Sargent's seat....most comfortable seat.  what's up w/ the cheap plastic locating tips on Corbin Seats?  WFT?

I had one and the thing suddenly failed one day.  You know what i found inside that cheap plastic box?

A very TINY piece of deburr material shorting the thing out!

Took out the piece and it fired right up!

BTW:  Crane Cams XR700 (Mark's "blue-light" special) is the bomb!

Hairo!   

Yambits has always been really fast, considering where they are located.  Impressive shipping. 

Thanks for the heads up Mark!

Love the original hylomar on the intake gaskets...RD400 still up and running, Chuck tune of course!

UK made hylomar and it is a pretty deep blue  ...easy on, easy off...i beleive that stuff is made of urethane. Love it.  I usually dress both sides of the gasket and install.  I believe yambits sells it.  The U.S. version sucks (permatex).

Anyone else use this stuff. 


Also, what i think it important.   i don't use the OEM allen heads for the intake manifolds.  I use these flanged? bolts w/ a flat washer that covers the round surface area nicely. that cover a wider surface area.  The heads on the allens are just too small for my taste. 

Make a collar:

I'm not sure how that works. Wouldn't you have to push the bearings out to do that?

that spacer should center in the bearing on one side and be fairly well captured on the other. if you use a smaller rod to get it all in place 1st in place of the axle, then slide the axle in pushing the smaller rod out, (can be a very long extension, screwdriver, etc) its easier. .02

haha...that is EXACTLY what I did! 

Thank you for the useful tip!!  I used a long steel "punch" rod.  What also made the install painless was using a small wheel chock laid sideways for the "flat head" shovel to "teeter" on (brick works too!) and raise the  rear wheel.  XR700 is working just fine.  Nice, not having to deal w/ pesky chambers.

w/o that rod it would be a nightmare!

NOTE:  saw a "tip" on how to keep the brake pads "spread".  Some guy on youtube w/ a y/black RD...funny name, just can't remember.   I used an old white plastic throttle cable OEM tie sandwiched between the pads to make it easier for the brake disc to "slot" in place. 

You mean Spacer# 90560-17233?

Yes.  I believe that is the one.

So Judy duty bought a brand new BT46 for the RD400.  That rear wheel can be a bitch to install.  Especially w/ the "floating metal spacer" inside the mag that never wants to stay center when you slide the axle through <insert 4 letter words w/ gusto>.

It's been awhile since i've worked on the ole' RD.

Any speed tips or advice on making the install as quck and easy as possible.  I do have it on center stand and the stock pipes off.  Take the chain off (non o-ring) too as when i put the new chain on i made it as short as possible to have a quick turn wheel base.

it runs good w/ the Chuck Q carb/airbox mods.  No problems.

P.S.:  I'll be doing this myself w/ no helper...so you know.. ...like Rossi would say..., "ahh....fu*k!"

I met Julian YEARS ago when I lived in San Jose, early 90's I think.  he came over and helped me sort something electrical? on the RD. 

Then.....I went over to his house in Livermore.   F*ck me Freddy.  This guy was like the american equivalent to John Britten.  I think at the time he was w/ A.N.D.?  He showed me a rubber like protector he was making for diving guages and that big friggin mill metal hulk thing  he had in the garage and a zillion bikes out back.  I think he even made his own rims.  Talk about blown away.   I think he was also doing a frame for an RD500.  His EX500 race frames were bitchin' too.

Right next to Mines road..


I was like please let me get 6 winning numbas, i'll have the baddest RD in ALL the land.

What a great talent.  It was a privilege to have met him.

Rest in peace framemaker.

I was just thinking about the FZ07, and I thought, "Hmm, could mark do something like this?"  Has he already done it?  Is it even possible?

Why doesn't Millyard do it?

What would be the benefits?  Sound?  mow powa?

got any good chuck norris jokes?

Hi uncle reverend kevin! How you be? I just bought some carbs, PWK Keihin 28mm. Hope it doesnt backfire!

Good luck w/ those.  It looks like you bought PWK30s? is that right?....if so, you probably did good as the larger PWKs also have a larger selection of needles vs. the 28s...that's a GOOD thing.  I think when i was tinkering w/ PWK28s i had the timing backwards (my understanding  at that time), so not much success jetting at that time, obviously.

That B.O.C. concert up at Muckleshoot was cancelled, Buck (guitarist) got sick w/ pneumonia.  Will be going back Jan. 27th as it was recscheduled. 

I be chillin' 3 day weekends this week and the 2 after that.  Had to use my floating holidays up before i LOSE when the New year comes in.



 

Revvy in the house.  i need to hear another backfire while cruising the strip in San Jo bro.  :)

Victricity!  R5 carbs worked on my daytona.

I think i was at a 230 main, 169-p2, 5DP7-5, 30 pilot between 1/2 and 1.0 turns...I don't think it had to be modified for a 2.0 airjet, since it was pre smog, but Mark can confirm.  been awhile.  Maybe as high as a 35 pilot.

good luck.

Don't remember if i had to change the brass fittings ont he top fo carbs, also bought a premix only cable.   32:1 was what i was running w/ spec II pipes, uni filter banshee crossover and intakes.

I think these new VM carbs have smaller slides...hmm.  a little more restrictive?

oh sit.  I have RB Design carbs new still in box w/ divider plate, but i need money anyone interested?  These are the new VM's modified for an RD, Ron doesn't make them AFAIK anymore...Don't ask me how to jet them...*uck if i know.

2003 Z1000 stock "gold" handlebars look tits on an RD.

Red Line ! Thats all I have to say

I agree!  I used this the 1st year RB designs did his magic and it was awesome.

Worried?, try 25:1 and rejet.  Doesn't hurt to run high octane non=ethanol. if you can afford it in tandem.  The only pump i know VP fuels is in Salem, so that's a bit far, failing that 92 non ehtanol in the RD400, stock pipe keeps things in check.

1.  Redline  $$$$$race full synthetic @ 25:1!.  If you want to cruise +85 on the freeway, best seat of the pants.  smells racy too...added plus w/ that beautiful red color....gokart rated for high rpm if i remember correctly and those are AIR cooled for the most part...love this , but expensive.
2.  Amsoil Dominator
3.  Amsoil Interceptor.  I can honestly...trust me....haha.  say that this runs much cleaner than yamalube...easier
    cleanup on piston tops and exhaust ports.

Note RB Designs recommended yamalube 2R years ago.  Haven't really tried it.