Yamaha RD400 Restoration

[Scoobynut_imp]

Here are some photos of an RD400 I bought a couple years ago from an estate. It was in a garden shed, as near as I could tell with the license tags and registration papers, since 1980.

As found in the summer of 2011:

[url=http://s173.photobucket.com/user/cyrenus/media/P1020203_zps2dc1ba86.jpg.html]

After a quick clean up a few days later:

[url=http://s173.photobucket.com/user/cyrenus/media/P1020233.jpg.html]

It's possible all these miles were put on from 1977 to 1980:
[url=http://s173.photobucket.com/user/cyrenus/media/P1020229_zpsfbdff03b.jpg.html]

Is this why it sat dormant for so long? Carbs came with bike, but were in an ice cream bucket. Amazingly, all the parts were present and accounted for:

[url=http://s173.photobucket.com/user/cyrenus/media/P1020243_zpsc2d87a86.jpg.html]

Myself and a friend finally started working on it this Spring. We rebuilt and installed the carbs, flushed the oil injection lines and it fired up after a few kicks. Mechanic friend who has lots of experience with the old 2-strokes says the motor sounds extremely healthy. Now we're going through bearings, cables and all the other stuff a bike would need after sitting for over 30 years. We will also replace a few parts like the cracked turn-signal lens. He's doing most of the mechanical work, while I'm cleaning everything.


Wheels off for cleaning and new tires:
[url=http://s173.photobucket.com/user/cyrenus/media/photo_zpsd9d1c6b5.jpg.html]

[url=http://s173.photobucket.com/user/cyrenus/media/photo2_zpsd217fa00.jpg.html]

This wheel should look good once I remove all the crud:

[url=http://s173.photobucket.com/user/cyrenus/media/PWheel_zpse545c98f.jpg.html]

I restored the original finish on the tank, and also used Rusteco to return the insides to like new. Other than a few little scuffs in the paint, it's nearly perfect. It turned out very nicely.

[url=http://s173.photobucket.com/user/cyrenus/media/photo3_zps4ba39bcd.jpg.html]

Will keep this thread updated as we make progress, probably in our usual fits-and-starts.
Oh, forgot to mention, I paid $350 for the RD. They also threw in a nice '73 RD350 for another $350, which my friend bought from them. A pretty nice little score for us I'd say.