Crank work?

[Tommo]

What's required to disassemble an RD 350 crank?
I realize there are experts who provide this rebuilding service but I was curious if this was something I could do on my own.
Thanks

[m in sc]

a press a jig runout gauges v blocks and a big brass hammer.  im serious. or just buy a replacement crank new from vitos

[1976RD400C]

 It definitely takes some practice to have things go smoothly.

[m in sc]

true.  i did a few rd cranks, an s2 (triple) and my t500.  it's not 'bad' but times consuming. to be fair, to buy all the rebuild parts for a 250/350 crank, its within maybe 100-150 for a replacement new crank that doesn't have weights that will come loose. I've just resorted to buying new ones for the 350s

[1976RD400C]

I've done lots of 400 cranks if anyone needs one done at a bargain price.

[sav0r (CL MotoTech)]

I find it fiddly but not difficult per se. I recently did a old Honda 300ex Odyssey crank that had been cut on, hammered on, and generally was just beat up. On top of that, the crank pin that's available is slightly too short for the crank.

That one got frustrating after a while. Managed to get it to .002" total runout and gave up. Other than that, all of the ones I have played with were pretty simple to get under .001".

That said, the Vito's crank is the way to go. I have two Yamaha cranks and one Vito's crank and by the time I build my Yamaha crank it's not much cheaper than the Vito's. The big cost of having cranks done is shipping them two directions. Vito's solves that.

[RDnuTZ]

HPR on eBay has cranks for RD350 as well. Mine were a little less overall $ cost than the 1 I got from Vito's but they are same design as OEM instead of upgraded like Vito's. Can't go wrong either way IMO. Plug and Play saves a bunch of my time which I have a finite supply of 

[Tommo]

Okay I see. I would just be embarrassed to send this out to anyone, it's in really rough shape.

[sav0r (CL MotoTech)]

Post some pictures so we can commiserate.

It's probably not that bad. Unless the bearing surfaces are heavily rusted/pitted it can almost certainly be saved.

[paul1478]

my crank went from what you see in parts to the nice shinny one (not from my doing).

[1976RD400C]

If something doesn't sound quite right, roll back on the throttle. 

[SoCal250]

my crank went from what you see in parts to the nice shinny one (not from my doing).

Chuck did great work 
Before any new folks get their hopes up, unfortunately he has closed his shop and is no longer doing two-stroke work.

[quocle603]

I miss seeing chucks post and information on this forum. There are just so few people doing stuff on these things now.

[NYSingh]

I've done lots of 400 cranks if anyone needs one done at a bargain price.

Where in NY are you located? Might have to take you up on that

[Yamanatic]

RD crankshafts plus all the rebuild parts fit in a USPS Medium Flat Rate box: $18.50 'Click and Ship,' $21.05 OTC.