Rd400

[slide]

Hi all im looking at rebuilding a couple of RD400s does anyone have or know of any clubs or sources of good info in NZ?

[Paul in NZ]

Hi all im looking at rebuilding a couple of RD400s does anyone have or know of any clubs or sources of good info in NZ?


As a serial rebuilder of old motorcycles I suggest you look under 'Mental Health Services' in your local directory.... :innocent:

And post pictures here of your progress....

[slide]

Thats funny you are the third person to suggest im mentally unstable but the thing is i am really good at it after all iv had 50 years practice :)

[GrayWolf]

As a serial rebuilder of old motorcycles I suggest you look under 'Mental Health Services' in your local directory.... :innocent:

And post pictures here of your progress....

Browsing UK websites and looking at the RD/LC owners group (UK Based I beleive) is probably your best resource. The RD's in all incarnations were THE street corner racer through the 70's and 80's over there.

[slide]

Hi Greywolf i know there's loads of info out there just was wondering if there is a kiwi guru on RDs, i was over in the UK at thge age of 15 and had a crappy cb250 a old Greeves trials bike in a box and a fsie but my dream at that age was the RD400 but never had the cash so hence the 2 Rds now :crazy:

[F5 Dave]

Bit thin on ground, but I know where two are if I ever got the money together that wasn't needed for something else. They'll keep.

Pete Sales at Total MC in Palmy has rebuilt a few engines for racing over the years so a good place to send stuff if reqd.

[slide]

Im looking for local knowledge as i already have two bikes ( 400c and a 400 Daytona )and three engines just need to get them working but it appears parts are really only available from overseas :(

[F5 Dave]

Tony in Chch used to do TKJR parts, so pistons & rod kits, think R2(?) distribute them now, so any bikeshop should be able to get them in ok, as I said so would Pete Sales, he's a clever chap.

oh look they do Procross as well, so you're covered there

http://www.r2enterprises.co.nz/about.html

[rok-the-boat]

I had two RDs years ago and completely rebuilt my RD400 in 1982. Pretty much the same as any 2 stroke. Not sure I'll know anymore about them than you. What would you like to know?

[slide]

Hi im just looking for tips and does and don'ts so i don't make to many stuff ups lol, i currently have it stripped and need to rebuild the engine including crank and a re-bore so sourcing bits and finding where to get the crank and re-bore done is my first job or can i do the crank myself??
there must be loads of does and don'ts as far as performance enhancing with the RDs as they have been around on the road and raced for so many years although im finding allot of good info from the UK and the States but local knowledge is limited :(

[slide]

254122254123254124

This is where they are now!!

[slide]

And this is something similar to what im wanting at the end :)254127

[F5 Dave]

Hi im just looking for tips and does and don'ts so i don't make to many stuff ups lol, i currently have it stripped and need to rebuild the engine including crank and a re-bore so sourcing bits and finding where to get the crank and re-bore done is my first job or can i do the crank myself??
there must be loads of does and don'ts as far as performance enhancing with the RDs as they have been around on the road and raced for so many years although im finding allot of good info from the UK and the States but local knowledge is limited :(
I wouldn't attempt to do a twin crank. As I said Pete Sales at Total MC knows his way inside & out of these engines.

[rok-the-boat]

Hi im just looking for tips and does and don'ts so i don't make to many stuff ups lol, i currently have it stripped and need to rebuild the engine including crank and a re-bore so sourcing bits and finding where to get the crank and re-bore done is my first job or can i do the crank myself??
there must be loads of does and don'ts as far as performance enhancing with the RDs as they have been around on the road and raced for so many years although im finding allot of good info from the UK and the States but local knowledge is limited :(

If you decide to reuse the oil pump, make sure to prime it before yo ustart the engine. At the same time, put oil in the petrol, and keep an eye on the oil line (use a clear one) to make sure oil is pumping. I get my engine work (crank/rebore) done at a local engineering shop (not cheap). You can split the crank if you have a good press and various plates and you can probably order a lot of stuff from Ebay. Bearings are pretty interchangeable so just visit your local bearing shop and show them what you have and they'll give you what you need. Seals too - I have rarely not found what I want.

[slide]

Thanks all first i will get some quotes for the crank and rebore from Pete Sales and others as recommended then go from there, i will be ordering all parts from the states in one hit as its way cheaper and they are available, thanks for your help :)

[rok-the-boat]

Also, pull everything off of the frame / swing arm, and otehr related parts( pegs / sidestnd / etc) ,then get it all shotblasted and powdercoated.

[GrayWolf]

If he is still operating,
Or has passed on his 'lore' to another, I would strongly suggest contacting Stan Stevens racing in the UK if you want to tune the RD, he was the Guru of RD/LC tuning in the 70/80's. I watched a couple of his early LC350's chasing, and I mean chasing! a CBX1000 round the Boxhill 'circuit' at Dorking.

[F5 Dave]

Sending it to UK? yer crazy. Besides you'd never see it for years & there's no point tuning something like that. He's semi retired after some health issues & only does tuning/renovating 2 strokes, but has long wait list.

[slide]

Have just had a price on all parts needed from Spec ll in the States just over 2k which includes full chambers all parts for full engine rebuild, brake rebuild kits, carb kits, swing arm bushes and steering head bearings shipping included.
Have already bored cylinders out to 1.5mm over and next is the crank when i get the parts, im hoping to get 50hp and a mean noisy 2stroke at the end!! :scooter:

[slide]

F5 dave why isnt there any point in tuning a RD400 ?

[F5 Dave]

Maybe I'm being a cumudgeon. Heck last week I was eyeing up two sitting in a lockup & wondering if the time was right to offer him some money & would I prefer the Euro or the Daytona tanked one.

Actually I don't need more projects (or have time or money).

I think they suit going to std.

Did you get the latest CMM mag? they have 2 in there. One std & the other modded to the period.

I was torn which I preferred. Maybe the modded one.

Hold on a min. What did I say?:confused:


meh, I was just saying that they aren't new & aren't water cooled so I wouldn't go crazy on hotting them up. They would tend to lose their torquey character & you might as well start with a YPVS if you want to build that sort of bike.

[slide]

listen to this and tell me you dont want one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPWrJaHhal4&feature=related

theres just something about a aircooled 2stroke or maybe i am just old :confused:

[F5 Dave]

I have 9 bikes. one is a 4 stroke.

2 are air cooled.

[Bikemad]

I have 9 bikes. one is a 4 stroke.

2 are air cooled.

now ya just showin off davy boy