mcferreira100

These bikes always worth saving..no matter how far gone.

Washed and degreased all the plastics..ready for some black chrome polish.

Got the hooter painted today.

Thought about it but nah..prefer to stay original.

Would like to know from the guys out there how often is it that the plug gap is out of spec? I have never checked the gap as I don`t own a feeler gauge. Should every new plug be checked?

New boots are on..Bridgestone Battlax BT45`s. Front 90 and went for 120 on rear..was told by the salesman who races RD`s these work well. No one realised these wheels needed tubes. Apparently there is a mod to tubeless but I just went for new tubes. Back wheel looking nice. Front wheel went on today.

Decided to go with gloss black on rear brake hub. Doing rims in satin black. Was wondering how to get the emulsion tubes out the carbs as they sit flush. The guy doing my engine suggested screw in main jet, stick it in a vice and press the tube out. Ive been battling to get these marks off the fork stanchions. Used Brasso with fine steel wool and Autosol metal polish with a rag but am not winning. Was hoping to just polish but otherwise will have to paint them.

I get you..but those standard tyres are just too narrow for my liking. Wont be able to go very wide on the standard rim anyway.

So the crank webs need to be replaced due to bad pitting as well as conrods. So complete crank rebuild will happen..this engine will be like new when done. Looking at a bill of around 560pounds for engine alone. Been busy making things nice. Monoshock Front wheel..plenty painting and polishing here..all day job. Rear wheel tomorrow. Will fit new tyres when done..still wondering what tyres to fit..hope these rims not odd sizes..would like a modern road tyre as wide as I can go on the back.

Look forward to seeing this bike complete. No updates yet?

Wish I could do it but I feel I just don`t have the mechanical experience to judge how good engine parts are, so it is a specialist doing the job for me (he`s well known around here for his knowledge of 2strokes..RD`s and Banshees). He reckons it definitely needs a rebore so rather do it..then I know what I`ve got..specially with a high performance engine like this. Thanks for the paintwork comment..wait till the tank and plastics get done..I`m getting it professionally done this time and the decals will be traced and sprayed on..think it will have a better finish. Only thing is the guy can only do it in 4 weeks time. Going to be a long wait so keeping myself busy with all the smaller jobs on the bike..every nut, bolt and washer is getting wirebrushed and painted. Still got wheel cleanup and calipers to reassemble and paint..wiring cleanup before reinstall..mudguard cleanup and black chrome polish. Need to start thinking about all the gaskets and seals I need to order around reeds, carbs, brake calipers, fuel tank etc..

Ok engine stripped. No sign of a seizure..was just parked..maybe outside as crank is biggest problem with signs of pitting and rust. He might have to use bits from another spare engine he has. One conrod stuck in place. So crank will be rebuilt and will do rebore to 1.00mm oversize. Flywheel magnets and coils look very good indicating bike did stand a long time.

fitted swingarm

Assembled yoke today. Pic of how good seat still looks underneath.

This will teach me to take more pics when stripping.

YPVS...I can`t for the life of me remember if that hole was closed when i opened that carb..are you saying its supposed to be that way from the factory?..if that`s the case my whole thread here seems pretty stupid..and compression stabilizer not as destructive as I thought.

Busy with seized front brakes. Stripped calipers so you can see how it looks inside piston bore. Plenty gunk in there..will try sum carb cleaner here. Seals will be replaced. Piston could use a cleanup. Noticed the manual shows a spring here that`s not on mine. Can only presume this caliper is different.

Yep its the 350LC`s carb. You`re right YPVS..this is the right hand carb (well spotted)..choke is on the other one. So you saying this blocked hole won`t effect anything..I can leave it? Yeah..careful of bubbles..think its ok as long as you blow the stuff out pretty quick. Does good job though..you can imagine how these these bowls looked after 20 years standing and you can see the result.

Very upset now. It was recommended by a 2stroke expert I should use this stuff to clean the carbs. Been cleaning nicely so far..really gets the gunk out nicely....until I left it a little long in here. As you can see its gone and sealed the hole...almost looks welded shut. The tube was also blocked but a piece of wire and compressed air down there got the gunk out. But this other hole seems well sealed. Some head scratching required here. After some internet research on this stuff I see people use it to clear carbon out of engines as well. just don`t leave it in there too long..it starts bubbling immediately on contact.

Trying some oven cleaner in there to give them a clean. Sprayed whole can of the stuff in...will leave overnight.

Reducing noise is logical..but I am wondering about backpressure and performance. By the way after doing some research I think the leftover strands is probably the wire used to hold packing in place..ie: there is NO packing left in there..or it was removed.

Can anyone explain to me the story behind the packing in a 2stroke exhaust. Removed the baffles from my RD350 today and noticed no packing left in there...only a few strands which had unwound themselves. What is its purpose, can I ride without it or must there be packing in there?

Don`t have enough experience to try free a piston that`s been seized for 20yrs..might damage something. Expensive parts going in here so rather let a pro do it. Frame completely stripped now. Now for cleaning and painting. Going to have plastics etc.painted this time. but will first see what the engine going to cost me.

now pilot jet in one carb refusing to budge. these small buggers can be real pain sometimes.

I eat off stuff out of the dishwasher..not too keen on putting old greasy bike stuff in there. You guys ever heard of something called compression stabilizer? It starts bubbling the minute it is sprayed on. Was told its good for cleaning carbs.