Author Topic: Any Other RD350 Guys?? (Read 4745 times)

ekpent · « **on:** September 09, 2011, 07:48:08 PM »

Well another deal came around tonight. I have been buying up some 3 cylinder triples for about a year now. Got a 380,couple of 550's and a GT750 Suzuki and a 350 and 400 Kawasaki.Hope to land a 500 and 750 Kwacker sometime but the search continues.
Met a guy at a local 'watering hole' on my bike one night this summer and he mentions an RD Yammie 350 which was on my want list.
So I guess about 8 weeks or so later its in my shop. Rode it in my parking lot tonight and think it going to be a fun project. Low miles,less than 2500 on this 1974. Was owned for a long time by a Gal who threw it down shortly after receiving and gave up.Sure I will shout out for help. Now lets make some GOOD Smoke-------

CycleRanger · « **Reply #1 on:** September 09, 2011, 08:30:09 PM »

Great score! I even like the color.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 10, 2011, 12:01:46 AM »

Hell yeah!!!...I got one too...now if I can only figure out how to time the damn thing...wish mine was still purple... $:-\$

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 10, 2011, 12:03:25 AM »

ohh...and by th way Eric...you are way too tall to be riding that little thing...

MoMo · « **Reply #4 on:** September 10, 2011, 05:02:20 AM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on September 10, 2011, 12:01:46 AM

Hell yeah!!!...I got one too...now if I can only figure out how to time the damn thing...wish mine was still purple... $:-\$

My recollection is timing is set 1.8mm before tdc using a dial indicator and ohmmeter. Maybe this will help http://www.motocarrera.com/advice.htm ...Larry

ekpent · « **Reply #5 on:** September 10, 2011, 06:38:47 AM »

Yeah Sean I knew you had that RD hidden in your shop.Looks like we can have a timing party. I need to tool up with some other instruments for working on these and educate myself better on the techniques for sure.Find the 750's easier to work on at this point.I got a Clymer's with mine if you need to read or borrow it. Eric

Stev-o · « **Reply #6 on:** September 10, 2011, 06:46:00 AM »

My buddy had one "back n the day". I had a Suzi 250 at the time, remember riding the Yami and it was so much faster!

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 10, 2011, 07:44:39 AM »

...helpful people in here...

m in sc · « **Reply #8 on:** September 13, 2011, 06:44:18 AM »

Oh yeah. i have a few....

timing? here:
timing-w-a-dial-gauge.AVI

analog:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/320813/2137583

or, you can just use a timing light. there are 2 marks on the alternator rotor and a factory scribe mark on the housing at 12-0 clock under the brushes.

check this out:
http://www.2strokeworld.com

ekpent · « **Reply #9 on:** September 13, 2011, 07:03:52 AM »

Thanks for the links.

Magpie · « **Reply #10 on:** September 13, 2011, 08:13:24 AM »

Eric, I've got to get out there and tour your workshop! Dan Frey is also working on one of these, maybe he'll check in too. Cliff.

ekpent · « **Reply #11 on:** September 13, 2011, 08:46:50 AM »

Got my first little wheelie on it yesterday Cliff

bluesmoke69 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 13, 2011, 09:50:43 PM »

The best little smokers!!

becken · « **Reply #13 on:** September 14, 2011, 06:17:49 AM »

I road raced mine a couple years back in the 70s. The timing marks on the engine are ok for street use, but I used a dial indicator for the track set at 2.0mm. With the quality of gasoline now you may want to start at 1.8 and check your plugs. Mine hasn't run in about 30 years, but now that my cb550f is back and running right I've started back on the rd. For the track only, I replaced the needle jets and jet needles with ones from a 1976 Yamaha 175 motocrosser. This let me run without air cleaners of any kind, just open carburetors. With stock carbs and exhausts and some porting work I was still accelerating at 9500 rpm in 6th gear with the stock sprockets on the back straight at Nelson Ledges. Both my brothers had cb750s back then and one loved to ride my rd. My other brother rode it once and sore he would never get back on it. They like to stand up on their rear wheels in 1st and 2nd if you're not careful. Mine will also have the Hondman Transistorized Ignition once it gets going.

m in sc · « **Reply #14 on:** September 14, 2011, 10:15:55 AM »

1.8 is preferred for sure. but the marks are okay, thats how the factory set it. i strongly recommend a dial gauge and scribing new marks a lot of the marks are accurate, some are not. dial gauge is about 110 bucks though, so....

my hot rod one has a full blown cdi/programmable timing curve, etc. but, thats like 1k in ignition parts.

you have to set it with a light, no choice.and the rev limiter on mine is set at 11,600. so, i dial gauge it, scribe marks at a few points of the curve and check it at various rpm's.

also, there is a good cost effective igntion, basically a modified dyna-s being sold by nick pastore out of new jersey. Vintage Smoke. works fantastic.
http://www.vintagesmoke.com/
The old standby pirrahna/autocar/newtronics is basically crap these days, so dont bother.

theres LOTS of info on the rd's out there. lots of things have changed w/the internet allowing recers/pro builders to swap ideas. w/out the networking id never have gotten mine done the way i have.

and yes, this started as an aircooled 74 RD350.

putting down around 70 at the rear wheel. and no, thats not a tz or a banshee topend.

westondc · « **Reply #15 on:** September 14, 2011, 01:10:54 PM »

Nice RD! I've been searching for one in my area for years with no luck. i guess its who you know and meet along the way on your bike that lead you to these little treasures.

m in sc · « **Reply #16 on:** September 14, 2011, 01:55:28 PM »

look up hvc cycle, they are in lincoln i think, thats all they do.

westondc · « **Reply #17 on:** September 14, 2011, 02:13:12 PM »

Quote from: m in sc on September 14, 2011, 01:55:28 PM

look up hvc cycle, they are in lincoln i think, thats all they do.

yeah i've been to that shop, the owners a nice guy. they have a few yamies but they are tricked out cafes or full restorations. the RD they did have for sale was way too rich for my pocket, the only bike for me is one thats cheap and needs TLC

this one looks real nice http://www.hvccycle.com/rd3501975-restoration.html

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 14, 2011, 02:42:34 PM »

Quote from: m in sc on September 14, 2011, 10:15:55 AM

1.8 is preferred for sure. but the marks are okay, thats how the factory set it. i strongly recommend a dial gauge and scribing new marks a lot of the marks are accurate, some are not. dial gauge is about 110 bucks though, so....

my hot rod one has a full blown cdi/programmable timing curve, etc. but, thats like 1k in ignition parts.
you have to set it with a light, no choice.and the rev limiter on mine is set at 11,600. so, i dial gauge it, scribe marks at a few points of the curve and check it at various rpm's.

also, there is a good cost effective igntion, basically a modified dyna-s being sold by nick pastore out of new jersey. Vintage Smoke. works fantastic.
http://www.vintagesmoke.com/
The old standby pirrahna/autocar/newtronics is basically crap these days, so dont bother.

theres LOTS of info on the rd's out there. lots of things have changed w/the internet allowing recers/pro builders to swap ideas. w/out the networking id never have gotten mine done the way i have.

and yes, this started as an aircooled 74 RD350.

putting down around 70 at the rear wheel. and no, thats not a tz or a banshee topend.

m in sc · « **Reply #19 on:** September 14, 2011, 03:20:33 PM »

they are out there. HVC is very expensive overall, but.. eh. keep digging, they show up.

thanks for the compliments...

ekpent · « **Reply #20 on:** September 14, 2011, 04:18:45 PM »

Wicked looking Yammie there M in SC. Probably pretty light on that front end when you nail it.Is that an RZ350 top end-or engine you got going on there or 'If you told me would you have to kill me'

m in sc · « **Reply #21 on:** September 15, 2011, 05:54:39 AM »

4l0 (canadian/euro) topend, 80-81

heck, i did 2 of em actually.

this one is styled.. er.. a 'bit' different

ekpent · « **Reply #22 on:** September 15, 2011, 06:19:58 AM »

That blue one would be more my style,I like that one very much.Kind of like the old muscle car "sleeper" deal. Looks stock until its time to go---very nice.Good thing you don't live to close to me------------- Knock knock-----------.

m in sc · « **Reply #23 on:** September 15, 2011, 06:42:21 AM »

hehe, thanks. yup, thats ones fun. it has flatslides, porting, the stock pipes are modified a bit, elec ign, koni shocks, and so on..all the good stuff but fairly hidden. its very unruly in first and second. the white one has a 3.75 longer swingarm on it, still comes up in first and second no issues, and gets light in 3rd, even w/the full fzr front end, twin discs, etc. with the proper gearing i hit an actual 134 on it once.. (17/35) freaking scary for a 350. it was stable as it does have a scotts steering dampner on it though, so no wiggles.
the blue one is stock geometry/brakes, etc. lots of fun and dead nuts reliable (both of them actually)

as a sort of stab to all the stuff hanging off of it, i did the side covers as such (off an r5 actually)
yes, thats woodgrain.

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Author Topic: Any Other RD350 Guys?? (Read 4745 times)