'Barn find' RD400

[jasonu]

I found this last Saturday on Craigslist. I got it for $750.
Only 3500 miles and 2 local owners.
The ad said not running but was when parked a year ago.
Upon inspection it looked to be complete and unmolested. Motor turned over and it shifted thru all the gears. Front brake seized. No visible modifications.
So I parts with my cash and trailer it home.
I have since stripped the front caliper and found a seized piston. Easy fix.
Stuffed battery, got a new one ordered $30.
Gave it a general cleaning. Stripped, checked and cleaned carbs.
Changed slippery, flammable and lubricating fluids and gave it a kick in the guts.
It sounds crisp and smooth.

[Mental Trousers]

I believe the correct phrase is fucken lucky prick

[sugilite:Me]

Awesome score! You might want to replace the crank seals as a matter of course. Who knows how long it was really laid up for.

[george formby]

Better barns in the US obviously. Enjoy!

[Grizzo]

Fecking wicked, nice find there chap

[BigAl]

Lucky bastard

[HenryDorsetCase]

Bastard. send it over i will give you double what you paid :-)

[jasonu]

Bastard. send it over i will give you double what you paid :-)

Double you say.
I am hoping for a 4 fold score if I sell it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331096220396...84.m1423.l2649

[F5 Dave]

Yeah you were right
Awesome find
Thanks for posting pics. Might want to replace the bars for something closer to std.
How did the oil pump go?

[roogazza]

Looks like a great find. Keep it forever.

Bet if you fell down the shithouse you'd come up with gold nuggets in your teeth !!!!!!!

[robinm]

As F5dave touched on, have a good look at the oil pump, remove it and clean it, and the whole autolube system. the oil pump has a plastic gear in it and have been known to shear a tooth or two off. If this happens then you are looking at major damage to the engine.
well I assume they have a plastic gear, I know the RD250 and 350 did. I recall spending quite a large amount of money on a RD350 motor in my youth, only to have it seize soon after firing it up due to a broken gear in the oil pump.

[gammaguy]

As F5dave touched on, have a good look at the oil pump, remove it and clean it, and the whole autolube system. the oil pump has a plastic gear in it and have been known to shear a tooth or two off. If this happens then you are looking at major damage to the engine.
well I assume they have a plastic gear, I know the RD250 and 350 did. I recall spending quite a large amount of money on a RD350 motor in my youth, only to have it seize soon after firing it up due to a broken gear in the oil pump.

My TDR did that one day,no warning of course,just grind rattle pull clutch in and start walkin...

It needed new slugs and rebore and of course an overhauled oil system including oil pump drive gear set,and all good from there on

now 65k km up and runs sweet,which reminds me I feel like a ride..

[husaberg]

Hate people who live in dry climates......just saying..........

[jasonu]

Yeah you were right
Awesome find
Thanks for posting pics. Might want to replace the bars for something closer to std.
How did the oil pump go?

Oil pump seems to work. As you suggested (I had to call NZ for technical assistance because according to my local bike shops motorcycles were not invented until 2005... and apparently there is no such thing as a 2 stroke road bike) I put 3.7 liters of premix in the tank, disconnected the oil lines from the carbs and ran the bike on idle while holding the oil pump fully open. A drop every couple of seconds appeared from each oil line. About the same amount came from each line so I am assuming it is about the right amount. I checked the settings of the pump per the manual and it is dead on.
Re the bars, yes they are not the originals but there are several original sets on ebay for under $25.
My plan is to not spend one cent more than I have to so I will most likely leave it as is unless I decide to keep it.

[jasonu]

As F5dave touched on, have a good look at the oil pump, remove it and clean it, and the whole autolube system. the oil pump has a plastic gear in it and have been known to shear a tooth or two off. If this happens then you are looking at major damage to the engine.
well I assume they have a plastic gear, I know the RD250 and 350 did. I recall spending quite a large amount of money on a RD350 motor in my youth, only to have it seize soon after firing it up due to a broken gear in the oil pump.

Thanks for the tip. I might open pump and see what's what. Eventhough it looks to be working I don't see any harm in being careful. Others may say 'if it aint fucked don't fix it'.

The only other issue I have found is that the oil light won't go out. There is plenty of 2 smoke oil in the tank. I have removed the sensor and my multi meter says it opens and closes correctly when manually operated. With the sensor disconnected the oil light goes out. The wiring harness is untouched and totally standard. Any ideas?