kobra's 1985 RZ350NC2 basket case restoration

Got a customizing or restoration project? Discuss it here

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JonW
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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#16 Post by JonW » Tue Sep 18, 2018 11:37 pm

That case can be repaired. See if you can find an RZ/banshee case top thats being thrown out for other damage and carefully remove that part and have it welded in to yours. You cant swap the top out as you need matched top n bottom halves, plus i expect youve a matching numbers bike so you want to keep the cases.
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

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kobra
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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#17 Post by kobra » Thu Sep 20, 2018 12:27 am

I won't be able to even start on this project until I clean a work area. Been spending many hours on that already...

But anyway, I am realizing I might be missing something kind of important - the part that holds up the OE headlight fairing. I've been searching for photos of this and can't find a good one with it installed. It currently has the spec2 mounting bracket which uses two U-bolts which I am not very fond of, from a technical standpoint. Anyone have a good picture of what the stock setup up front should look like, without the fairing actually installed?

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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#18 Post by brrrappp » Thu Sep 20, 2018 1:09 am

EBAY is your friend!
In the past 3 months I have seen 3 of the rear fenders appear on eBay. The very back part that supports the tool kit is still available from OEM.

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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#19 Post by brrrappp » Thu Sep 20, 2018 1:32 am

kobra wrote:I won't be able to even start on this project until I clean a work area. Been spending many hours on that already...

But anyway, I am realizing I might be missing something kind of important - the part that holds up the OE headlight fairing. I've been searching for photos of this and can't find a good one with it installed. It currently has the spec2 mounting bracket which uses two U-bolts which I am not very fond of, from a technical standpoint. Anyone have a good picture of what the stock setup up front should look like, without the fairing actually installed?
-----p/n 29L-23174-00-98
No longer available and hard to find one that isn't bent or tweaked. Another Ebay part.
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side view
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front view
front view
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brrrappp
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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#20 Post by brrrappp » Thu Sep 20, 2018 1:39 am

kobra wrote:I won't be able to even start on this project until I clean a work area. Been spending many hours on that already...

But anyway, I am realizing I might be missing something kind of important - the part that holds up the OE headlight fairing. I've been searching for photos of this and can't find a good one with it installed. It currently has the spec2 mounting bracket which uses two U-bolts which I am not very fond of, from a technical standpoint. Anyone have a good picture of what the stock setup up front should look like, without the fairing actually installed?
-------------------------------

Third Fourth Pict didn't take- here it is on the bike:
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on bike 2
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on bike
on bike
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kobra
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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#21 Post by kobra » Thu Sep 20, 2018 2:41 am

Right on. Cool! Hopefully I have some good stuff to share soon then.

I just want to say thank you so far, and I'm amazed at how active this forum is. Very grateful. Hopefully I can give back some knowledge too.

tacky1
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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#22 Post by tacky1 » Thu Sep 20, 2018 2:57 am

Jauce .com is also great for sourcing the hard to find parts on the Japanese auctions. The good thing about Jauce is you can buy parts, pay for them, let them sit, add more parts etc and then ship them all together. Saves a ton on shipping.
1985 RZv500
1984 RZ500 Hybrid
1986 RG500 Walter Wolf
1986 RG500 Skoal Bandit
1984 RZ350
1984 RZ350 Hybrid
1981 RD350LC
1981 RD350LC Hybrid
2009 CR500AF Supermoto 250X
2007 CR500AF 250X
1988 YSR50 (2)
1984 GPZ750 Turbo
1989 VFR750R RC30

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kobra
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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#23 Post by kobra » Wed Oct 03, 2018 8:46 pm

I started diving into this a little bit. (Will provide pics soon)

First thing I noticed is that the stock pipes (CA model with cats) are rusted through. I tilted them up and they dumped rust out from within. Does anyone here have a stock set or recommendation of what will work without breaking the bank? I don't need anything special, just some stock pipes or decent aftermarket. I would be okay with eliminating the cats since they're one more thing to get clogged.

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kobra
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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#24 Post by kobra » Sat Oct 13, 2018 9:24 pm

Finally had time to make progress. I hate to admit it, but at one point I thought about stopping the project because I was getting discouraged by how many broken things I was finding... but I've decided to keep going and tearing everything down until I can fully assess what I have. One thing is clear, this bike has been pretty well neglected.

Anyway, here's some pictures of my journey.
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One cylinder melted a piston and send chunks into the head.
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I am happy to report that the transmission looks perfect. There are no wear marks on any of the parts and everything turns like butter, it's amazing.
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While unscrewing this little sheet metal piece (yes I know, I didn't need to touch it), both screw heads popped right off. Does anyone know what it's for and if it's needed? I am not looking forward to drilling it out.
Image

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RuZty
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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#25 Post by RuZty » Sat Oct 13, 2018 10:13 pm

It is there to catch oil flung off the gears and funnel it to the bearing behind the clutch. I certainly wouldn't leave it out.
Apply penetrating oil, let it soak, tap with a hammer/punch to help loosen the bond to the cases. A bit of heat wouldn't hurt either, in case someone applied loctite to it. Use a left hand drill bit with a good on center punch mark to start it, often the heat and torque of the left hand drill working together will catch and wind out the broken part.

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kobra
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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#26 Post by kobra » Sun Oct 14, 2018 12:26 am

It felt really stiff coming out. The right screw never even turned, it just snapped right off. The left one turned about half a rotation then snapped. Pretty much a bummer!

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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#27 Post by silverstrom » Sun Oct 14, 2018 2:49 am

I've done the same thing. My advice to anyone reading this is to use heat before trying to remove those screws.

While not exactly the same as yours, I did deal with a similar problem not long ago. I broke the screws holding the pick-up in place on a TZR engine. I had to drill them out. As Ruzty says, a left hand drill bit helps. A centering bit to start makes it easier. Use a pneumatic drill. You really do need the speed it offers. It makes the task much less difficult. Start with a very small bit and then increase in size. Use an easy-out if you have one when the hole is big enough. Often the last size drill bit will remove the broken screw. If you do it right you'll get the broken screws out without damaging the threads. If you do damage the threads, you can tap the holes one size bigger. And when reassembling, do use some blue thread locker on the 2 screws. I've seen what happens when they fall out and it gets ugly fast.
Last edited by silverstrom on Fri Oct 26, 2018 1:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Zedixe13
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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#28 Post by Zedixe13 » Sun Oct 14, 2018 3:17 am

Put a nut on top of it and weld it . I had a broken bolt on a 31K cylinder ( the coolant bolt on the side ) . I've tried to drill it , use a tap , an last a left drill bit , nothing would move it until I saw a vid on youtube showing a broken exhaust manifold stud in an alu. head extracted with a nut welded on it . Surprisingly it won't melt the alu . , the heat by itself is enough to unstuck it .

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Redline Junkie
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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#29 Post by Redline Junkie » Sun Oct 14, 2018 9:32 am

Sometimes you need to put a washer on first, when the broken bolt is below the case. Weld the washer to the bolt then place a nut on the washer and weld them together to give you something to turn. Sometimes it’s hard to get a good weld down the hole of a nut if you are shaking like a dog shitting out a Christmas tree. Lol
1985 RZ350F being restored now!
1987 RZ350 Stock
1985 RZ350F basket case
1985 RZ500 Stock

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kobra
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Re: New project '85 RZ350 NC2

#30 Post by kobra » Mon Oct 15, 2018 12:08 am

Sadly I don't have a welder (it's on the list of tools to collect one day). I actually just heard about that washer idea yesterday in a Youtube video. I will share how I manage to get it out!

Peeled off the VIN and emissions stickers today using a razorblade and hair dryer. Came off pretty easily.

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