introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

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graham heise
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introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#1 Post by graham heise » Sat May 12, 2018 6:58 am

Hello Gents. I have been in and around the rz side of this forum. This week i picked up an Australian 1981 rd350r 5eo. I got it from a guy who had owned it for 20 years. 4 years ago he rebuilt the engine and replaced many other parts to get it back on the road. He had a change of fortune and decided to sell the bike and contacted my local yamaha dealer, asking if they knew of an enthusiast?? Seems all that money i have spent there has paid of because they called me. I worked out a deal with him and the bike is home and i'm in love. My first road bike was an rdlc250 that i bought for $500 in 1987. I stacked that bike on loose gravel and cracking a bone my arm. My mother found out and made me sell the bike (her words, "i'm not going to your funeral, get rid of it"). I never forgot the rush of the lc power band, so here i am with a bike i have wanted to own for a long time.

The bike has been fitted with a hot rods banshee crank, +2mm pistons, new matika billet clutch basket, had some minor porting (exhuast port raised 1mm), carb kits, seals etc. Has new tyres, brake discs, calipers rebuilt, swing arm and headstock bearings replaced. It has some nice chambers, (apparently sagaya chambers japan??)
In all most of the major things have been done, essentially it needs to be painted and mirrors, stock bars and indicators fitted. I will be going with original. I would like to fit a pro am bikini and lower fairing at some point.
I spent a few days going over the bike adjusting and checking settings. Today i took it for a shake down ride on a country road to get a feel for how it and start to run it in. The bike went really well and the fueling feels spot on. (stock jets and air box). I did notice a rattle a few times that i believe is the idler gear rubbing on the clutch basket.
I'm looking forward to spending allot of time on the bike. I'll also be on the forum asking questions and gaining knowledge about lc's.
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graham heise
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Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#2 Post by graham heise » Sat May 12, 2018 7:04 am

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graham heise
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Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#3 Post by graham heise » Sat May 12, 2018 7:06 am

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JonW
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Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#4 Post by JonW » Sat May 12, 2018 9:44 am

Coool! nice catch Graham and good backstory. :)
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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2smoke
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Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#5 Post by 2smoke » Sat May 12, 2018 12:26 pm

Probably not a hotrods crank. Maybe a rebuilt oem or new Yambits one.
Unless the previous owner was a machinist.
Some missing bits on there. Some aftermarket bits too.
Enjoy and update us!
Colin
79 RD400F Daytona Special
81 RD350LC
89 TDR250
75 Kawasaki H1 500
77 Can-am Tnt250

graham heise
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Location: gold coast Australia

Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#6 Post by graham heise » Sat May 12, 2018 5:08 pm

I asked the previous owner if he machined the cases to fit the crank? The ends of the crank webs where machined to bring the outer bearings in to fit. The head has been shaved to get.09mm squish using a copper head gasket. Inlet side of Piston skirt has been shortened, Carbon reeds installed. The bike came with quite a few parts, including front gaurd, rear grab rail, original bars and master cylinder, stock pipes and pro amm bikini fairing. I've just removed the clutch cover to inspect the clutch and idler gear. The rattle noise i believe is idler gear. The noise is not constant and if i turn the bike of and re start it, it goes away. There is a small amount of movement on clutch basket. ( in and out) i wonder if the clutch thrust washers are worn. I'll replace the idler first.

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Last edited by graham heise on Sat May 12, 2018 5:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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graham heise
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Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#7 Post by graham heise » Sat May 12, 2018 5:20 pm

https://youtu.be/CUvxLs6YgaM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Evans Ward
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Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#8 Post by Evans Ward » Sat May 12, 2018 6:27 pm

Cool new bike Graham! I like it!
84 RZ350-Toomeys,SCR milled head, stk 26 carbs,300 M, 35 P, stock regrooved needles AS 2.5 turns out,stk air box,Banshee reeds Zeel non-progr CDI,TSRL Program YPVS,alum rad,R6 shock,GV emulators w/RT springs,fork brace,Shindy steering damper.

graham heise
Posts: 291
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Location: gold coast Australia

Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#9 Post by graham heise » Sun May 20, 2018 8:38 pm

Thanks for the comments gents. The lc is all but run in. It's travelled 300k's and i'm starting to ride it in the band. The bike had an engine rattle that was fixed by a new idler gear. Changed the trans oil to yamalube trans plus, now the gear changes are smoother and neutral easier to find. Love the bike, been riding it on a tight curcuit and as an overall package the bike delivers. The forks Will need an overhaul as it dives so much on the brakes. Just ordered a box of parts from norbo, like indicators, mirrors and braxjet for oro am fairing. Then it's start saving for the paint job.

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Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#10 Post by graham heise » Sun May 20, 2018 8:39 pm

Out on the roadImage

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Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#11 Post by graham heise » Sun May 20, 2018 8:41 pm

Mock up of fairings that came with the bike. Will go the bikini but not sure about the lower fairing? In some way it kook like the 2 fairings where meant to join. Would that mean the headlight would be attached to the fairing instead? Image

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JonW
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Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#12 Post by JonW » Sun May 20, 2018 9:35 pm

Eugh... That fairing... {shudder]

Each to his own of course LOL :)

That looks like one of the new repro tank Graham, is that right?
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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graham heise
Posts: 291
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:10 am
Location: gold coast Australia

Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#13 Post by graham heise » Sun May 20, 2018 9:48 pm

No original tank. In undercoat. Has been lined with redcoat. Guy i bought the bike from said it came him with original yokohama tyres on it. I should be owner number 3. Yer the fairing? Lol. I'm going to go with the bikini or at least paint it so i can use it or remove it depending on the taste if the day.

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Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#14 Post by graham heise » Sun May 20, 2018 10:02 pm

I know these bikes are worth the most when left original but since i will probable never sell it, i'm contemplating painting it yellow with the bird and speed blocks. Or the original white and blue but with pro am bikini and smaller pro am lower fairing complete with sponsor stickers like the pro am bikes. I parked my xs750 next to an original restored bike at a recent bike show.Image

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JonW
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Re: introduction of newly acquired rdlc350

#15 Post by JonW » Sun May 20, 2018 10:11 pm

Depends on how original you want to go really. Most people will happily buy a blue 2 stripe no matter what the bike started life as in Aus as thats the best of teh colours really here.

I have a yellow one, so i cant really comment as I like them both, but its your bike, paint it how you want.
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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