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Lee Johnston leading!

https://live.iomttraces.com/radio.html

Chuck

Going to start this section for some info of RD machine work and things I had to self teach me...Now I'm older I want to share this 2stroke branded mind of mine to share as much of it as I can for others to learn and carry the torch as I would say...
When I lost my dad 10 years ago, I realized I could have learned more from him and made me mad at myself for not asking him.
This is my way of honoring him through the rest of my life! 
Chuck
Team Scream Racing LLC

Going to post RD first fire-up videos here.
Chuck

I'm posting up how I install the Powerdynomo CDI ignition (now referred to a Vape cdi) on RD350/RD400's (R5 are similar)

I always found the wires were pinched behind the stator plate on the cases, so I alway grind the cases a little to not pinch the wires.



In this 2nd pic, I also grind a little off the top corner raised part right by the upper bolt hole and wire loom hole is so the pickup plate will clear.



I have also found some engines castings are all different so I grind the back of the stator plate most of the time just to be sure the stator plate fits perfectly flat without rocking around the seal casting area.

RD350 6 speed transmissions have terrible 4th,5th ratio and higher ratio overdrive 6th gear. (l'll come and edit later for the ratio's)
When modifying 350 engine with intake upgrades, porting and chambers... the 350's have trouble staying in the powerband and fall off between upper gear shifts and 6th is a oversized cruising gear.

Pic of the RD400 shafts.
When looking at RD400 transmissions the 400 gears have a slash cut line right through the center top of the teeth, look close...




There is 2 ways to do this.

One way:
Is to just change out the gears from a 400 shaft to the 350 shafts, but a press with some fixture tubing to press Off/On 5th gear from the output shaft. Any general 2 ton press will work.

If you have a RD350 late model with the 7 plate clutch, just need a 400 donor tranny and you use all the re-moveable gears off the input shaft, 5 gears.
As stated you will need to press off 5th gear (it's on the shaft next to the sprocket flange) off the 400 output shaft once all the other 5 gears are removed by taking off circlips and laying out the circlips, shims and gears in order.

Press off the 5th gear (24T) on the 350 output shaft




Then press 400 5th gear (25T) on the 350 shaft.






Use all of the 400 gears from the output shaft on the 350 output shaft or technically only the other 2 gears 4th and 6th as 1st 2nd and 3rd are the same on the 400 output shaft as the 350 gears.

Input shaft for 1st has a built in gear for both the 350 and 400, but the splines are different for the clutch hub.
6 wide spline for a 400, 12 fine spline for a 350.
The reason you have to replace 5 gears on the input shaft, is the 2 slider gears (2nd and 3rd slider gears), do have the same ratio as the 350 gears, but gear engagement dogs are machined smaller O.D. to fit the smaller closer ratio 400 gears and RD350 slider gears (2nd and 3rd) don't fit in.

2nd way:

You can drop a complete 400 tranny in also, but have to use a 400 drive sprocket with 6 spline, a 400 6 spline inner hub and pressure plate with all of the 400 springs and clutch spring bolts, first thrust washer against the input double row bearing (thicker than a 350) as they're all different. You also have to grind out the casting ribs on the inside of the 350 clutch cover to clear the 400 clutch pressure plate hub when clutch is pulled in, it will hit the ribbing inside the cover.

Both RD350 and RD400 7 plate models can and do use the same steel plates and fibers other than with all hot rod RD's I build I use the YZ250 fiber plates, and throw the rubber cushion dampners in the trash (same as the FZR100 fiber conversion) to gain more fiber plate surface area to have a better holding power than a stock RD fiber plate.

I also will up the front sprocket from a 15T to a 16T if riding a lot at highway speeds. Good time to do a #520 chain size conversion, for way less rotating weight than the stock #530 size and pick up even more acceleration.

I will come back, edit and add pic's soon.

Chuck

So I haven't been on ebay much lately...and now my head hurts!
I just started looking at just a RD400 search postings.
Have people lost their mind and think this stuff is so rare?
An air box complete with no filter or any mounting hardware...$300

https://www.ebay.com/itm/USED-1976-1979-Yamaha-RD400-Air-Box-Chamber-OEM-1A0-14431-00-00-See-Details/253320498755?hash=item3afb140e43:g:Sy0AAOSwrFtaOTru

So many wrong listings of parts years...
Look at this, not even new (actually broken! no wheel guide pin even in it!) or a RD400 oil pump! It's like a DS7 or R5 with banjo bolt oil lines not press in fittings!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-YAMAHA-1976-1979-RD400-OIL-PUMP-ASSEMBLY-PART-1A1-13101-00-00/264368806616?hash=item3d8d9bdad8:g:HvIAAOSwmftdCoCA:sc:USPSPriorityMailPaddedFlatRateEnvelope!33764!US!-1

Daytona Crank...not '76-'78!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/76-78-Yamaha-RD400-RD-400-Engine-Crankshaft-Crank-Shaft-Connecting-Rod-Rods-Set/273524330119?hash=item3faf520e87:g:~5oAAOSwq9Rb0Ofi:sc:ShippingMethodStandard!33764!US!-1

This one gets me too...Does he think these are stock pipes?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-rd400-stock-exhaust/273870834497?hash=item3fc3f94b41:g:os0AAOSwsnxc8Yic

Only found a few things even close to reasonable.

Chuck 'SUPERTUNE' Quenzler III

[Dyno run link:]

Pauls STG II 405cc RD400

Chuck





Dyno run link:

https://imageevent.com/supertune/paulsrd400?p=299&n=1&m=-1&c=3&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=3

See my 1st post.
Chuck

Those of us that really like keeping live pace with the Isle Of Man TT over the internet, the Isle of Man government now won't allow live coverage! 
The only thing I can do now is the Motor Trend TV channel at 11pm listings, tons of commercials and who know how much scripted crap they will try and feed us...

https://watch.motortrend.com/schedule

If the government wants to make $$, just charge me an event fee for this kind of coverage, I'm not against paying for entertainment as we always do nowadays.

I did sign up for the news emails from iomtt.com and will have to search Youtube postings for video action.
Chuck

So some of you may know and some don't...When I was screwed out of my jetski business with a bad partner of 9 years, I lost everything including my shop I was in since '84. This was 3 years ago, I called a friend who has a automotive race engine machine shop for some part time work to get back on my feet and have been working there for the last 3 years, 2 days a week while working at my new shop and with building up Team Scream Racing again.
I very happy to announce I have had a great time building a lot of killer engines in the automotive industry.
Time has come to move on from the automotive shop to all of you guys and gals to go full time back at my shop again with Team Scream Racing!
I will be full time after June 26th!
This show just came out on monday night called Dirty Mudder Truckers on discovery channel and one of my engines I did at automotive machine shop for Nick on his Grass Money mud truck made it on the show!
It's kind of like street outlaws with the dialog for a entertainment show but was cool to have my work on there.

https://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/dirty-mudder-truckers/full-episodes/the-dirty-7-vs-new-england

Thanks again everyone here for supporting me with your RD and 2 stroke work, many good days are ahead!

Chuck

Oh Goody, a new life coming here soon!!
Chuck 'SUPERTUNE' Quenzler III
Team Scream Racing LLC
1920 Sherwood St. STE A
Clearwater, FL. 33765
cqsupertune@tampabay.rr.com