Messages

I am not a purist, by any means. And it seems like a cool concept. But its just sad seeing another unmolested classic reduced to a half modern bike. I am not hating, just thinking out loud. Look forward to seeing the progress!

Something done to that Daytona crank to make it a little more bulletproof, like a '76/'77 RD400 crank?

No, I am using the original crank. Not the hardened earlier 76-78 models. I spoke with a few old timers, and they said as long as its not a crazy powerful/ported race machine, I will be good. None of them have ever heard of the cranks failing under normal use. Have you?
Gary from Specii said the 350's are also not hardened.

Only heard of those who put chambers on, experimentally ported and thrashed the living snot out of a Daytona having an issue. Scary when it happens when least expected.
I would trust those old timers, though.

...and excellent project, by the way.

What happens when the crank fails? I have heard the splines connecting the left and right crank halves fail. This should not damage the cases if that is in fact the failure point.

Got the head on, carbs baseline jetted and installed, waiting for my wicked pipes to arrive and hear this bike run!

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.



 

Guitarists dont need a voice! Weak!

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.

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

[MODEL]

Is this accurate information? Seems a bit light for head torque.

Cylinder Head Torque Specs

MODEL	TORQUE SPEC	SOURCE
RD125 / RD200	Cylinder head nuts torque:  86.8 ~ 130.2 in-lbs (1.0 ~ 1.5 m-kg)	Yamaha Service Manual: RD125/RD200 1975-76 (LIT-11616-10-12)
DS7 / R5 / RD250 / RD350	Cylinder head nuts should be loosened and tightened in a "cross" pattern and in progressive stages with final torque of 180 in-lbs. (2 m-kg).	Yamaha Service Manual: DS7/R5/RD250/RD350 (SVM-360-0800-20)
RD250 / RD350	Cylinder head nuts should be loosened and tightened in a "cross" pattern and in progressive stages with final torque of 180 in-lbs. (2 m-kg).	Yamaha Service Manual: RD250/RD350 1972-75 (LIT-11613-61-02)
RD400	Cylinder head nut torque: 1.9 ~ 2.1 m-kg (13.7 ~ 15.2 ft-lbs.)	Yamaha Service Manual: RD400 1976-79 (LIT-11616-RD-40)

RD400F

Cylinder head nut torque: First:  1.0 m-kg (7.2 ft-lbs.) Final:  2.0 m-kg (14.5 ft-lbs.)

Yamaha Service Manual: RD400F Supplementary (LIT-11616-01-24)

I am curious if anyone has a PDF of the 400 F repair manual supplement? I am trying to find head torque and points/timing information. Thanks in advance!

Finishing touches on the engine side of things.

Something done to that Daytona crank to make it a little more bulletproof, like a '76/'77 RD400 crank?

No, I am using the original crank. Not the hardened earlier 76-78 models. I spoke with a few old timers, and they said as long as its not a crazy powerful/ported race machine, I will be good. None of them have ever heard of the cranks failing under normal use. Have you?
Gary from Specii said the 350's are also not hardened.

Very nice work.

What methods did you use to get the front forks to look so nice? 

Also, how did you clean the wheels before painting?

Thanks!

I sanded with 320, then 1200 wet, then 2000 wet. Then polished using a drill attachment. It was not hard at all, enjoy an adult beverage and sand away!

Would you recommend the TDR reeds or YZ reeds?

going to need bigger mains. reply #9 i stated:

theres tons of pwks being run on rds. typically, jjh needle, 142-155 (maybe as high as 162) main jet, 38-42 pilot will get you super close. ;)

Awesome, Thank you sir!

I changed my order from the PWK30 to the PWK28. Thanks for the input, guys!

Yes I bought knock off carbs, but I have had relative success with them. As our friend stated, if these are junky(round head jets) I can just return them super easy thanks to Amazons return policy. However, I think at the moment, they will do much better than the stock 2v0 carbs I was originally going to run. Honestly, times are tough money wise but I totally get why you say you get what you pay for and its the truth. But this isnt a safety item like a brake hose or something...

Regarding the jetting of a PWK 28 on an RD400f with Wicked chambers, crossover, y boot/Uni foam... What are some good baseline jetting numbers? I am gonna order up a range of a few genuine keihin jets next and need a ballpark. I looked at the excel jetting poll and saw no pwks being ran. However on the link showed above, a guy was running --

"You Will however need; jjh needles.. 130 mains and 40 airs
Suggest ONLY Genuine Keihin Parts... as there IS difference."

Good starting point?

for that bike its pretty good, not going to lie. the machining quality was top notch out of the box and uses genuine keihin jets. I mean, i put it on a brand new bike because the original carb just sucks.  Ive used knockoff pwks before, but ive learned, IF you go that way, use ones with hex jets, the round jet main ones are very hit and miss

Nice! Dare I linked the ones I bought? Okay...

I am thinking I will block off the power jet to simplify tuning.

You may want to try wintergreen oil and a stone or xylene mixture to soak the yboot carb ends in for a while to make it very pliable and then stretch over the PWK's - that worked for my 28's.

Good call! Maybe some boiling water too. Thanks for the input!