Topics

Spotted on a DT175 swingarm yesterday:



Carries two spare plugs in just about the dirtiest place on an off-road bike. Cool old accessory.

In my head this was going to be a long, complicated post with several pictures, but maybe I can pare it down some: IF my RD350LC has a billet clutch basket for a Banshee/RZ and uses the same pressure plate as an RD400, should I assemble it with LC springs or RZ/RD400 springs (they're the same)? They're different lengths: LC=35.1mm, RZ=36.5mm.

If you were replacing the entire front end of your RD350, what would you use? Qualifiers:
You need everything: clamps, forks, wheel, brake
You prefer a conventional fork (not USD)
You want a disc (single)
You want a spoked wheel (not cast), 18" preferred but could be talked into 17"
You'd like adjustments, but not necessary
You'd like to update with newer stuff, hopefully from the 21st century

As requested:







It was my wife's grandfather's car. 340, 727 AT, original except for the Edelbrock carb; I couldn't get the thermoquad to stop leaking internally.

Does the board allow a new project to be started and documented before the last one is finished? Asking for a friend...
Tank from Striker1423 (not his real name) in place, Motolana swingarm due any day (Thai post website is all white characters on a white background, so who knows? It'll be here when it gets here) and massaged  cylinders and heads coming back from Mr. Ritter this week. Talking with Mr. Garland about rebuilding the crankshaft, and beating the bushes for an RD400 transmission. Getting excited about this, but I will finish the Elsie also; scout's honor (yes, I was a [cub] scout).

Anybody have a quality/fit/comfort/durability review of a Texavina seat? I'm interested in your experience.

Not mine, but not far from me:

https://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/mcy/d/black-diamond-1982-honda-mb5/7319195997.html

Currently at $250 plus shipping...who among ye shall snatch these up? Not mine, nor shall they be, as I anticipate many American dollars changing hands for them.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324589298808?hash=item4b9307a478:g:1JMAAOSwELNghMat

Good luck!

Not mine, silencers are rough

https://www.ebay.com/itm/363125305091?hash=item548bf46f03:g:l~kAAOSwEzlfRoKV

This bike is featured in the April/May issue of Café Racer:

https://laptrinhx.com/yamaha-rd400-custom-by-keith-carlson-2496720601/#



Can't decide if I like it or not, but the article says Chuck did the cylinders, so it's got that going for it!

Is anybody planning to attend the One Moto Show in Portland this year? I'll probably go Saturday the 1st, and it'd be cool to meet some of y'all there.

I noticed a local granite countertops place has some free scraps available; any chance that stuff is flat? smooth? enough to use as a surface plate? Too good to be true, I imagine.

I probably came up with the same solution that you all did, but it worked so damn well I'm sharing. The RD350LC and RD350s have a pin across the outlet of the exhaust baffle, and it's just gotta be there for extraction. Forget pliers. Nope, Vice-grips won't do it either. Spring hook? Please, they've been in there 45 years, man! I found the largest diameter bolt I had that would slip in next to the baffle pin and cut the head off, then drilled a hole slightly larger than the pin diameter through it. Next, the cutoff wheel made an angled slot into the hole:



So now I dug up some ABS pipe, a nut, some washers and spacers:



I know, it looks like junk, and it was a little tedious switching spacers and washers and then to the longer pipe, but it walked those gungy baffles out with leverage-enhanced ease (the penetrating oil may have helped).
The RD baffles are out and sold, but I have two right side RD pipes and headpipes and one left side pipe, two headpipes as well as two 350LC baffles that all need new homes. Yup, they're dented and have some rust, but I'm tired of looking at 'em.

Does anyone have experience with the Boyesen RAD valve on the RZ350 or 350LC ('82) engine?

Funny how different things can be so similar...



It's just about the right diameter for a RD, but...



Probably not interchangeable.

A friend is cleaning house and has two RDs to trade or sell; he has them posted on the NATS forum.

http://www.natsforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1723

Contact him via NATS or pm me for his email address.

Another great talent lost...what a legacy!

Looking at fuel tanks for my project: XS360 with one fuel valve, XS500 with two (one on each side). What do you think about a fuel valve for each carb...good, bad or indifferent? 

I'm looking at an XS360 tank on eBay sold by mistermonkeyclaw; anyone have reason I should avoid this seller?

Not mine:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/YAMAHA-TD2-TD2B-TR2-TR2B-TZ250-TZ350-4LS-Rare-Brake-Rim-Lever-System/274344848259?hash=item3fe03a2b83:g:WPUAAOSwYcdeoKPb

If you've gotta have that vintage racing look, this one looks to be in better shape and less expensive than the one in eBay insanity. Still, that's a lot of money to me.