Yamaha RD400, prep to go racing.

**Ghost_Bullet** · 10th August 2008, 15:58

This project started a wee while ago now, after buying the bike on Trademe from an englishman from Nelson.
First hope was to remove all the bits and throw it straight on the track havig a bit of fun.
Alas some bugger said better look at the top end. That we did, found things not to be right, had the crank rebuilt, rebore. Beginning to look good, steering bearings replaced, Brakes sorted. Again making good progress.
Gears were then looked at a little closer and found to be less than right. Hunted down some spares and came up with a older RD400 bottom end, and the gears were in good nick.

So as the long story is short... we are now up to putting the engine back into the frame, (got to find a new woodruff key for the crank rotor set up) then we shall fire it into action ready for this Sunday 17th BEARS meet at Ruapuna raceway.

Pictures of progress to date can be found by clicking on the below link.

by GhostBullet

**Wired1** · 5th October 2008, 20:49

How goes the project? I just stumbled across this by accident while looking for other restorers in the Nelson area and I guess this popped up as you bought it from here. I seem to recall that member LB99 has one or two RD400's in his back yard if you are looking for any rare parts or information.
Keep up the good work.

**Ghost_Bullet** · 6th October 2008, 15:56

Well I have not added anything to this thread as there did not appear to be any interest here.
The bike is all but complete, been out on the track twice with it. The first round, I had issues with what seemed to be not enough gas getting through. A fair bit of work ensuring everything was well sealed and replacing fule lines, removing some inline filters I had installed, and we seemed to have a good runner.
The second time out, I had some trouble with the back disc binding, backed it off and bleed out a little. This cured the brake, and still left it with a enough feel to be of use.
Next time out will be this coming Sunday at Ruapuna. And looking forward to it, getting to grips with the bike and how it goes has been fun.

**Wired1** · 6th October 2008, 16:38

Yeah I know what you mean, still I see it as my moral responsibility to leave more bikes behind than I started with! So far I've ressurected four of them that would have otherwise gone to the junk yard or worse. Good luck on the weekend.