Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

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ZedSledder
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Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#1 Post by ZedSledder » Sun Dec 15, 2013 4:57 pm

Hi my name is Gord and I'm a two stroke addict. I've been a lurker here for a while, and this is my first time posting up my project. Finding this site and its enthusiastic, knowlegable members changed the course of this project. Thank guys so much, what a resource. As well as helping me not feel so alone in this insane obsession.

This bike is a 1AG, basically the first fully faired rz350 sold in Canada. In Europe it is known as the f1
This is a "reconversion". A previous owner converted my square light fully faired rz into a round light naked bike. He went so far as to give it a 84 33E paint job. A really bad one at that.

This could have gone a few different ways
1. I could could leave it. and use it to scare tourists during summer months.My friends were calling it the ratfighter because it was part rat bike part street fighter.
2. I could carry on and finish the round eye conversion properly
3. restore it back to its original piece of Canadiana.n
Meeting Silverstrom set the direction of this project. Along with his very hard to find parts and his encouragment I chose to go with the Canadiana fully faired street bike. The most expensive option, but the bike was cheap and I have money for this. so its all good.

This is a complete frame off restoration, no bolt will be over looked.
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1985 Canadian Rz350. Restored with collector plates. Stock VM26, Triumph Calipers, Galfer brake lines. Brand new DG’s, 260 main, 22.5 pilot jet. Economy pre-load adjusters. Ohlins shock. Oem Banshee crank.

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JonW
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#2 Post by JonW » Sun Dec 15, 2013 5:09 pm

Fantastic! Another F1 back to its glory! Mine is still progressing, from nasty $400 pile of crap 250 to (I hope) beautiful 350. Full story so far is in my site link below and on this forum. The website is less up to date at the moment, will be fixed today I hope, the thread is long a rambly on here tho LOL!
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com

ZedSledder
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Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:33 am
Location: Vancouver Island British Columbia
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#3 Post by ZedSledder » Sun Dec 15, 2013 10:08 pm

Thanks JonW for the insight into your project. I've looked up your website a few times and enjoy it lots.Thats where I got inspiration to tape the alloy trim on my wheels while painting them black. Pain in the neck, but I'm stoked I did.
pinstripers masking tape and a sharp exacto knife. Good as newish.
will post up pics.
cheers
1985 Canadian Rz350. Restored with collector plates. Stock VM26, Triumph Calipers, Galfer brake lines. Brand new DG’s, 260 main, 22.5 pilot jet. Economy pre-load adjusters. Ohlins shock. Oem Banshee crank.

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JonW
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#4 Post by JonW » Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:03 pm

Glad it helped you, and I agree, the wheels are a pain to do, but really satisfying when done :)

Cant wait for all your pics, gonna be great!
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com

ZedSledder
Posts: 275
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:33 am
Location: Vancouver Island British Columbia
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#5 Post by ZedSledder » Tue Dec 17, 2013 3:03 pm

At this point I put around 200 km on the bike with no issues. The previous owner had just honed the cylinders and put in new rings. Unfortunately that was about all he did, other than the bad paint job. Riding it as is was not an option as scaring tourists is not my thing. I'm not the hooligan type.

The bike was pretty much worthless in the condition it was and I came close to just scraping it. A friend down island has an 86 rz350 and he pointed out this is the only model with a red frame and a full fairing. Both of which I liked. Only problem was the fairing was long gone and the frame had surface rust at the welds. I decided to tear into it anyways. If nothing else I would learn the inner workings of these old bikes I love.

What happened next was disturbing and brought bile to my mouth, my heart pounded in my ears, and I was nauseated with butterflies in my stomach. Really I should have just moved on. Then I wouldn't be wasting time typing this over and over after losing my drafts. Riding around on a survivor instead of a piece of shit looked better all the time.

Long story short.
Who hones the cylinders and ignores these issues
WTF, paint job but ignore this?
WTF, paint job but ignore this?
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Wheels need a big hug
Wheels need a big hug
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The rear mud gaurd is awesome. Gonna need one of those
The rear mud gaurd is awesome. Gonna need one of those
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Last edited by ZedSledder on Tue Dec 17, 2013 3:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1985 Canadian Rz350. Restored with collector plates. Stock VM26, Triumph Calipers, Galfer brake lines. Brand new DG’s, 260 main, 22.5 pilot jet. Economy pre-load adjusters. Ohlins shock. Oem Banshee crank.

ZedSledder
Posts: 275
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:33 am
Location: Vancouver Island British Columbia
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#6 Post by ZedSledder » Tue Dec 17, 2013 3:11 pm

Couple more.... This is just the first things to jump out at me. A list as long as my arm.
Spooge in the swing arm/ chain slider area.
Spooge in the swing arm/ chain slider area.
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surface rust everywhere. What are the white spots everywhere? Is that battery acid?
surface rust everywhere. What are the white spots everywhere? Is that battery acid?
DSC_0009_zps660a540f.jpg (222.14 KiB) Viewed 5324 times
Master cylinder lid screws seized. Gonna need one of those.
Master cylinder lid screws seized. Gonna need one of those.
DSC_0011_zps1a5c2f13.jpg (219.74 KiB) Viewed 5324 times
1985 Canadian Rz350. Restored with collector plates. Stock VM26, Triumph Calipers, Galfer brake lines. Brand new DG’s, 260 main, 22.5 pilot jet. Economy pre-load adjusters. Ohlins shock. Oem Banshee crank.

silverstrom
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#7 Post by silverstrom » Tue Dec 17, 2013 3:35 pm

Another case of out of sight out of mind. It always amazes me that some owners just ignore doing anything that approaches preventative maintenance.

Glad you're going to save the old girl Gord. I have plenty here to help you sort it out. If the need arises drop me a line and I'll help where I can.

John

ZedSledder
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#8 Post by ZedSledder » Tue Dec 17, 2013 4:06 pm

Thanks John, as always your work and words are inspirational. Coming to the end of the grunt work and will have lots of technical questions in the future.
1985 Canadian Rz350. Restored with collector plates. Stock VM26, Triumph Calipers, Galfer brake lines. Brand new DG’s, 260 main, 22.5 pilot jet. Economy pre-load adjusters. Ohlins shock. Oem Banshee crank.

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JonW
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#9 Post by JonW » Tue Dec 17, 2013 6:26 pm

Ooooohfff... of course, making it look good and ignoring the mechanics is 'Bikes101' for most of the idiots who sell to us on ebay and craigslist it seems. We really should start a thread on some of the 'cool shit' the DPOs have left for us. From your pics my fave is the yellow thing on the tail, just mental!
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com

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aaronmvrider
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#10 Post by aaronmvrider » Tue Dec 17, 2013 7:12 pm

going to be a very satisfying restore.... good on you..
1 x 4mm stroker rz 375cc 1983
1 x 7mm stroker rz 443cc 1984 (under construction)
1 x rz 500
1 x mv agusta 1000

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Zedixe13
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#11 Post by Zedixe13 » Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:40 pm

JonW wrote:We really should start a thread on some of the 'cool shit' the DPOs have left for us.

It still a lot better than the 1983 parts bike that I bought 3 years ago , look at the rear taillight .

Image

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JonW
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#12 Post by JonW » Tue Dec 17, 2013 9:59 pm

yeah and my F1... overspray and foreign objects... sounds like one of those sites Aaron likes.

Image
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com

ZedSledder
Posts: 275
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2012 12:33 am
Location: Vancouver Island British Columbia
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#13 Post by ZedSledder » Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:37 pm

Yes, a POS data base should be in a thread. The crazy thing is the guy I got it from might even see this. Sorry M____ if your watching this.
It is pretty funny stuff. If you can imagine mine was insured and being ridden regularly. That was the only thing that really gave it a value. A VIN and insurance.
1985 Canadian Rz350. Restored with collector plates. Stock VM26, Triumph Calipers, Galfer brake lines. Brand new DG’s, 260 main, 22.5 pilot jet. Economy pre-load adjusters. Ohlins shock. Oem Banshee crank.

silverstrom
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#14 Post by silverstrom » Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:15 am

Please visit the new "Biggest POS" thread :smt003

http://www.rzrd500.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=10913" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ZedSledder
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Re: Restoration of my 85 rz350rn putting her dress back on.

#15 Post by ZedSledder » Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:32 pm

81c34d5f-cae9-4d52-9428-5218fb1dbe72_zps6a76c81e.jpg
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Once apart I had to get past the surface rust to see if the frame was usable. We live 5 hour round trip from the closest sand blasting rental booth, so I started dremeling and sanding with emery cloth and a sander. Before long my OCD kicked in and the frame was stripped to the bare metal.
1985 Canadian Rz350. Restored with collector plates. Stock VM26, Triumph Calipers, Galfer brake lines. Brand new DG’s, 260 main, 22.5 pilot jet. Economy pre-load adjusters. Ohlins shock. Oem Banshee crank.

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