74 RD 350

[Bheezy27403_imp]

Finally! Blowing smoke.
Well that's a crappy picture. Oh well.

 

[misterprofessionality]

*sigh*. i've always wanted to own one of these obnoxious noisy smelly beautiful machines but I've just never had the mechanical chops. every time I think about getting one I remember how much skill and time and tools it takes to keep it working well and I back down. I'm glad somebody is keeping them on the road.

 

[LongRanger_imp]

Bheezy, congrats! You’ll get lots of compliments every time you take it out for a ride.

I had a ‘73 for several years. It was fun for what it was.

 

[the Ferret]

Cool. Congrats. Like LongRanger I had a '73 bought brand new. Wife and I even toured on it to Smoky Mts Natl Park from Ohio. Ended up trading it in on a TX 650 Yamaha.

 

[Bheezy27403_imp]

I've have a '73 and '74 I bought in bits that I've been trying to get put back together for years now. I finally said screw it and bought a '75 RD250 that was all together but upon tear down the top end needs rebuilt. I will swap in the 350 bits from the other bikes to make it a 350 and then hopefully sell all that off to just have the one in the pic. It's been a long road but I finally have one that is dialed in and a friggin blast to ride. I'll spend the weekend cleaning her up and swapping parts I have for the ones in use now if they are in better shape.

 

[Nachodaddy]

Congratulations. That should put a smile on your face every now and then.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Looks fantastic. In way better shape than my previous '76 RD400.

 

[peterbaron]

Love these smokers
.... and congrats!!!

 

[Bheezy27403_imp]

Thanks gents. Yes, the smile is visible through my tinted visor I am sure. Also, I usually listen to music in my helmet. I haven't bothered turning it on when on the RD, it plays it's own sweet music.

Looks fantastic. In way better shape than my previous '76 RD400.

It's in pretty good shape considering it's 47 years old. The crappy pic hides a few scars. I will be swapping out prettier parts in my stash for what's on the bike now if it's needed. An example is the front fender, it will pass but one of the ones I have is way nicer. A little tlc here and there and it will pop. Then I need to decide if I want it repainted and new decals or leave the patina. We'll see.

 

[Cormanus]

I was tempted to say something about not needing a 2-stroke to blow smoke, but, nah … congratulations Bheezy. Look forward to more pictures as it comes together. Enjoy it.

 

[furious_blue_imp]

sweet !
brings me back to the days when the local shops would advertise a sale on cartons of 10 (12 ?) NGK spark plugs to get traffic into the store....

 

[Bheezy27403_imp]

sweet !
brings me back to the days when the local shops would advertise a sale on cartons of 10 (12 ?) NGK spark plugs to get traffic into the store....

Ha! Yeah I'm about to sock up on some.

 

[PowerDubs_imp]

*sigh*. i've always wanted to own one of these obnoxious noisy smelly beautiful machines but I've just never had the mechanical chops. every time I think about getting one I remember how much skill and time and tools it takes to keep it working well and I back down. I'm glad somebody is keeping them on the road.

2-stroke are much much easier than a 4-stroke, and an air cooled 2-stroke is about as easy as it gets.

No camshafts, no valves, no coolant....easy peasy. And basic hand tools is all you need for whatever.

Worst thing about that bike (maint wise) is just the carbs...but carbs on any bike are a PITA eventually.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

... and points maintenance was distracting.

 

[Bheezy27403_imp]

*sigh*. i've always wanted to own one of these obnoxious noisy smelly beautiful machines but I've just never had the mechanical chops. every time I think about getting one I remember how much skill and time and tools it takes to keep it working well and I back down. I'm glad somebody is keeping them on the road.

2-stroke are much much easier than a 4-stroke, and an air cooled 2-stroke is about as easy as it gets.

No camshafts, no valves, no coolant....easy peasy. And basic hand tools is all you need for whatever.

Worst thing about that bike (maint wise) is just the carbs...but carbs on any bike are a PITA eventually.

2-stroke are much much easier than a 4-stroke, and an air cooled 2-stroke is about as easy as it gets.

No camshafts, no valves, no coolant....easy peasy. And basic hand tools is all you need for whatever.

^^^^This.

 

[misterprofessionality]

*sigh*. i've always wanted to own one of these obnoxious noisy smelly beautiful machines but I've just never had the mechanical chops. every time I think about getting one I remember how much skill and time and tools it takes to keep it working well and I back down. I'm glad somebody is keeping them on the road.

2-stroke are much much easier than a 4-stroke, and an air cooled 2-stroke is about as easy as it gets.

No camshafts, no valves, no coolant....easy peasy. And basic hand tools is all you need for whatever.

Worst thing about that bike (maint wise) is just the carbs...but carbs on any bike are a PITA eventually.

2-stroke are much much easier than a 4-stroke, and an air cooled 2-stroke is about as easy as it gets.

No camshafts, no valves, no coolant....easy peasy. And basic hand tools is all you need for whatever.

^^^^This.

2-stroke are much much easier than a 4-stroke, and an air cooled 2-stroke is about as easy as it gets.

No camshafts, no valves, no coolant....easy peasy. And basic hand tools is all you need for whatever.

^^^^This.

You guys forgot one very important tool: knowledge, and I dont got it. I've tried to get it many times and it all just turns up looking like Egyptian to me. You can have a garage full of tools and the knowledge just isn't going to come to me. Can't make heads or tails of a service manual and every time I try something there's always some critical catastrophe even though I do exactly what I'm told. Some people are just cursed in certain areas of expertise, and motors are mine.

No sirs, I think I know my limits well and I'm happy to pay people to do the bits I cant. Im fine with changing oil and chain maintenance.

 

[Bheezy27403_imp]

*sigh*. i've always wanted to own one of these obnoxious noisy smelly beautiful machines but I've just never had the mechanical chops. every time I think about getting one I remember how much skill and time and tools it takes to keep it working well and I back down. I'm glad somebody is keeping them on the road.

2-stroke are much much easier than a 4-stroke, and an air cooled 2-stroke is about as easy as it gets.

No camshafts, no valves, no coolant....easy peasy. And basic hand tools is all you need for whatever.

Worst thing about that bike (maint wise) is just the carbs...but carbs on any bike are a PITA eventually.

2-stroke are much much easier than a 4-stroke, and an air cooled 2-stroke is about as easy as it gets.

No camshafts, no valves, no coolant....easy peasy. And basic hand tools is all you need for whatever.

^^^^This.

2-stroke are much much easier than a 4-stroke, and an air cooled 2-stroke is about as easy as it gets.

No camshafts, no valves, no coolant....easy peasy. And basic hand tools is all you need for whatever.

^^^^This.

You guys forgot one very important tool: knowledge, and I dont got it. I've tried to get it many times and it all just turns up looking like Egyptian to me. You can have a garage full of tools and the knowledge just isn't going to come to me. Can't make heads or tails of a service manual and every time I try something there's always some critical catastrophe even though I do exactly what I'm told. Some people are just cursed in certain areas of expertise, and motors are mine.

No sirs, I think I know my limits well and I'm happy to pay people to do the bits I cant. Im fine with changing oil and chain maintenance.

2-stroke are much much easier than a 4-stroke, and an air cooled 2-stroke is about as easy as it gets.

No camshafts, no valves, no coolant....easy peasy. And basic hand tools is all you need for whatever.

^^^^This.

You guys forgot one very important tool: knowledge, and I dont got it. I've tried to get it many times and it all just turns up looking like Egyptian to me. You can have a garage full of tools and the knowledge just isn't going to come to me. Can't make heads or tails of a service manual and every time I try something there's always some critical catastrophe even though I do exactly what I'm told. Some people are just cursed in certain areas of expertise, and motors are mine.

No sirs, I think I know my limits well and I'm happy to pay people to do the bits I cant. Im fine with changing oil and chain maintenance.
I hear you, and believe me, I am not above a catastrophe or two along the way, but, walk away and come back with fresh eyes. The only way to get the knowledge is to do it. P Dubs is correct though. All an engine is is basically an air pump and with a 2 stroke it is a very simple air pump. Anybody, including yourself, can do it. The only difficult part is the measurements/tolerances. All this being said I still don't crack cases (prolly could) but a top end can be done. Get yourself a cheap old 2T dirt bike that needs a top end rebuild, get the manual, watch utube vids, and learn. You're a smart fella from your posts....you can do it.

 

[PowerDubs_imp]

Don't need knowledge whatsoever.

I started working on bikes when I was about 10-11. No idea whatsoever what I was doing. This was waaay before any internet.

No shop manual, just my dads socket set and screw driver. And vice grips and a hammer.

Heck- plenty of times I remember trying to find the closest 'normal' socket that would fit a metric. This was back when most everyone had an American car or lawnmower.

Had plenty of bikes bought out of a shed not running, or blown up and in boxes. Would just take it apart, guess at what I needed, get my dad to drive me to the local shop- "Cycles & Sound" and explain to them what I wanted and they would order it. Also used Dennis Kirk and Chapperal a lot later on for mail delivery. Lots of pistons/rings/gaskets - lots of carb cleaning and spark plugs.

Everything just unscrews and screws back together. If you think there is no spark- get the neighbor kid to stick his finger in the cap while you kick it.

Oh- and tighten until it is 'tight' is not good. I wish I knew about a tq wrench for my first 20 years.

 

[Bheezy27403_imp]

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

This is about as close I get to an RD350 these days in my basement ...