Hi - need some help and advice

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Skipzero
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2019 3:24 pm
Location: Lofoten Norway

Hi - need some help and advice

#1 Post by Skipzero » Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:17 pm

Hi all - this is the first of many posts. (hopefully)
Im 51 year old, and live in Lofoten - Norway - work as an electrician and have no/limited mechanical skills.
I have been on this forum for hours every day since i found this place - and im really impressed. So much knowledge and skills in this forum.
So to the case:
I have 3x 1GE and none of them are in good shape tbh.
As you can see on the pictures, they really scream for some TLC
2 of them have been in a fire a few years back, and I found the last one on the web only 50km away from home last year.
I think the poor thing have been outdoors the 2 last winters.
My plan for them is to build one as a start - the two from fire/heat are more or less complete. Both was in good condition when they was stuffed away for winter when the house burned down.
Most of the damage are melted plastic from fairings, heat and seawater.
In late may i will buy a ultrasonic cleaner - 28 litre capacity - so i have some time to clear some space in my garage, and get rest of the bikes home
Is it a good idea to strip them all, clean and put everything in boxes and plastic bags with partnumbers? Or is it stupid to mix parts from 3 different bikes?

Image
Image
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Jens
1982 YZ250J *burned*
1974 RD350 VIN: 351504718 *burned*
1974 RD350 VIN: 351601331 *burned*
1985 FZ750 VIN: 1FN003300 *burned*
1986 RD500LC VIN: 1GE002975 *burned*
1986 RD500LC VIN: 1GE001400 *hmmmm*
1986 RD500LC VIN: 1GE001411 *burned*

silverstrom
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Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:36 am

Re: Hi - need some help and advice

#2 Post by silverstrom » Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:50 pm

Welcome to the forum :smt006

I think stripping the one with the white tank and aftermarket pipes is where to start the teardown. See what you have that you can use and see what you will need.

I would absolutely look at the engines carefully before stripping the bikes. If the engines are beyond saving you want to know before you bother with anything else.

One observation: The exhaust heat shields on the rear subframe of the yellow bike are 47X only items.

You're going to need a bigger ultrasonic cleaner. And a powder coater. And a paint booth. And a metal plater. And a media blaster. And a lot of money. And a miracle.

Given the condition of the 3 bikes I wouldn't be optimistic about any of it. I admire your courage for considering the project. I'd likely dig a deep hole and bury them.

lost1750GTV
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Re: Hi - need some help and advice

#3 Post by lost1750GTV » Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:30 pm

"no /limited mechanical skills"

do NOT combine parts from three bikes, no matter how orederly you think you are. it will turn intio a bicket of stuff,

do one, keep the others intact unless/until you need something from the designated parts bike.
when you are done with one, tackle the other.

IF you end up selling before completion, both you and the new purchaser will be much happier.

Skipzero
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2019 3:24 pm
Location: Lofoten Norway

Re: Hi - need some help and advice

#4 Post by Skipzero » Fri Mar 15, 2019 4:56 am

hmm - I think the the bike on PIc 1 is a better bike to start with than no2 with white tank.

Both engines are turning, and both was in good condition before the fire...

When it comes to the yellow bike, i bought it for parts. Very cheap :) I payed 3000NOK = 350USD for it.
After i got it home, i tracked down previous owner, and he transferred ownership to me.

When it comes to what i need, I think i have to take one step at a time. 28 liter have to do the job - at least for small partes - in the beginning.
Media blaster, powder coater, money, miracles and so on ill have to deal with later......

I was afraid of the answer, but i understand that stripping all 3 at the same time can be problematic

Jens
1982 YZ250J *burned*
1974 RD350 VIN: 351504718 *burned*
1974 RD350 VIN: 351601331 *burned*
1985 FZ750 VIN: 1FN003300 *burned*
1986 RD500LC VIN: 1GE002975 *burned*
1986 RD500LC VIN: 1GE001400 *hmmmm*
1986 RD500LC VIN: 1GE001411 *burned*

torp68
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Re: Hi - need some help and advice

#5 Post by torp68 » Fri Mar 15, 2019 10:01 am

Hi Jens!
Another 51 year old norwegian chiming in; living near Stavanger in the southwest...
Well, you sure have balls!!:-)
I bought my RD three years ago for 90000 NOK (10000 USD) and have spent about half that to get it to where it is today. And it looked decent to start with....
These things cost an arm and a leg to fix. If you've checked ebay, I bet you've seen it already. Prices have gone absolutely mad! My engine was supposed to be ok (yeah, right....!), but still needed a near full refurbishment.
The special thing about Norway is that you don't find a lot of those small companies you find in many other countries. Meaning; plating, upholstery, boring/honing, crank-work etc etc often has to be sent abroad. Costly to start with, and paying 25% tax on all bills + shipping doesn't help.....
That said: I´m no mechanical engineer, and it can still be done! But you need good, knowledgable friends, lots of tools, lots of time and a sh....load of money!!
I agree with lost1750gtv above: Start with the best one, take it apart and only move to the others if you really need to. Be systematic. I made my own system using-zip-bags and marked them according to the parts catalog (A,B,C.....1,2,3 etc). And take photos; hundreds of them......
(If you should choose to follow silverstroms advice (bury them....), at least remove the engines first....! Rear cylinders are scarce.....) :-)
Lykke til!

Øyvind

Skipzero
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2019 3:24 pm
Location: Lofoten Norway

Re: Hi - need some help and advice

#6 Post by Skipzero » Fri Mar 15, 2019 10:58 am

Heja Øyvind

The one on pic 1 have i owned since 1999 - and it was good before the fire. Not extraordinary, but just good.
I will take everything home this spring, because i cant have them where they are now much longer.

After the fire i got near 50k NOK (little less than 6k USD) from insurance and i could keep the wreck. The bike on pic 2 i payed 5k NOK for and 3k NOK for the yellow one.

Yeah - have seen the prices on ebay - and the problem is that people actually buy parts to "heroin price"

I have loads of zip-lock bags and "gilde-kasser" (plastic boxes) - now i just wait for warmer weather.

Jens
1982 YZ250J *burned*
1974 RD350 VIN: 351504718 *burned*
1974 RD350 VIN: 351601331 *burned*
1985 FZ750 VIN: 1FN003300 *burned*
1986 RD500LC VIN: 1GE002975 *burned*
1986 RD500LC VIN: 1GE001400 *hmmmm*
1986 RD500LC VIN: 1GE001411 *burned*

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TwoStrokeNut
Posts: 585
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:12 pm
Location: Florida,USA

Re: Hi - need some help and advice

#7 Post by TwoStrokeNut » Fri Mar 15, 2019 1:21 pm

Looking at picture #1, I see that the seat isn't even melted, so the heat must not have been too intense. To me, that is an encouraging sign and perhaps many parts were not damaged at all. If those bikes were mine, the first thing I would do is take a pressure washer to them or use something to get them clean again so I can see what I am dealing with. While tearing apart just about anything brings me great joy, tearing down a bike covered in carbon soot would not be my idea of fun.

There are lots of knowledgeable people on this website that are willing to give their time to answering questions. And some that have parts available too! Being a newbie myself, I will be watching along like a sponge, soaking up whatever information I can.

Good luck!
Project bike links: NS400R - TRIPLE THREAT // RZ500 - MOSQUITO CONTROL BIKE // RZ350 - REVIVAL
'72 H1-500/'75 H1-500/'85 RZ350/'85 NS400R/'01 DR650/'07 FJR1300/'18 Tiger 1200

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