74' Yamaha RD350 - Crawlin' along

[FlyinRyan350]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Basement Build

Slowly pickin away at this thing. Engine work is taking forever, should finally have my crank and cylinders next week so I can begin assembling that. The oil tank should be here by the end of the week. I really wish my wheels were done cause I have a feeling things are going to get tight. Worst case scenario, buy inch longer shocks and end up leaning a bit forward or put bump stops on the stock shocks. We'll have to wait and see I guess.

Mockup of the oil tank. Hangs a bit lower than I would've liked but it's the only way since the filler neck was going to need about 2". I'm sure there could be a flush cap but its not costing me anything so I'll work with what my buddies got.

Got my taillight situation figured out. I like the bug eyes but I may ad some glass back onto the seat in the future to help the side view a bit. The taillights have indicators built in as well so no turns to hang anywhere. I was pretty concerned about how visible these things will be so that's why I stuck em out a bit.

Next up, more filler on the tank now that i've blocked it and can see the bad spots and this fun.

 

[LucasR]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Basement Build

FlyinRyan,

I'm going to be doing an identical frame loop on my 74' RD project and was really hoping you could share any details/specs on what size tubing you used and where you got it or who made it? I'm trying to figure out where I should cut, and how long the new loop should be. Any pictures would be awesome. PM me if you can!

btw great build so far! Can't wait to see it finished

 

[facefirst35]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Basement Build

Can you raise the gas tank up a bit so the line from the bottom of the tank runs into the bottom of the seat? Looks kinds choppy as is.

 

[dmw56]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Basement Build

Awesome build on the RD! Got a soft spot in my heart for them, my first bike was a 78 RD400 I bought new. I just purchased a 72 R5 for my second childhood!

Keep up the great work!

 

[FlyinRyan350]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Basement Build

FlyinRyan,

I'm going to be doing an identical frame loop on my 74' RD project and was really hoping you could share any details/specs on what size tubing you used and where you got it or who made it? I'm trying to figure out where I should cut, and how long the new loop should be. Any pictures would be awesome. PM me if you can!

btw great build so far! Can't wait to see it finished

Sadly I didn't take any pictures of the hoop process but I'll try explain it.

In the photo below you can see where I cut the stock part of the frame off. Once you cut into that bracket you'll see the stock frame tube inside. I notched the bracket back to the frame tube after I could see where it was. The stock frame tube was 1" o.d. so I went to a local steel vendor and bought a few feet of similar tube. To make the bend, I filled the tube with sand, made a plywood jig, heated the tube and bent it around the jig. To attach the new hoop I welded some 6" long slugs halfway into the stock tube then slid my new hoop onto the 3" of slug left sticking out and welded to that. Once the hoop was in place I welded an 1/8" sheet over the top.

I made my seat before doing anything with the frame since I new exactly what I wanted it to look like and then I sized the hoop to the seat. Before trying to make the hoop myself I tried finding a steel fabricator in town to make it for me but no one that I talked to could make anything but a 2.5" radius' with their bender so I had to do it myself but it ended up being cheaper. I think I have $10 into it. Hope that helps!

Can you raise the gas tank up a bit so the line from the bottom of the tank runs into the bottom of the seat? Looks kinds choppy as is.

Not really, I had thought about dropping the sides of the seat that low but then the seat would look massive. I left the seat high since i'm 6'2" but the paint scheme i'm planning on going with should tie it all together. Fingers crossed.

Awesome build on the RD! Got a soft spot in my heart for them, my first bike was a 78 RD400 I bought new. I just purchased a 72 R5 for my second childhood!

Keep up the great work!

Thanks man! I'm always looking for more, once I have a garage I'm sure I'll start collecting. I really want a stock 400...missed out on one that was listed for $500 last summer...still bitter about it.

 

[hawyn9]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Basement Build

Very nice job.....I like how it has nice clean lines. The seat and tank should line up nice w/ paint (optical illus) and also rounding the seat side to tank can give it the illusion too. Anyways, looks very clean and silent till you open it up. Nice build.

 

[LucasR]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Basement Build

Sadly I didn't take any pictures of the hoop process but I'll try explain it.

In the photo below you can see where I cut the stock part of the frame off. Once you cut into that bracket you'll see the stock frame tube inside. I notched the bracket back to the frame tube after I could see where it was. The stock frame tube was 1" o.d. so I went to a local steel vendor and bought a few feet of similar tube. To make the bend, I filled the tube with sand, made a plywood jig, heated the tube and bent it around the jig. To attach the new hoop I welded some 6" long slugs halfway into the stock tube then slid my new hoop onto the 3" of slug left sticking out and welded to that. Once the hoop was in place I welded an 1/8" sheet over the top.

I made my seat before doing anything with the frame since I new exactly what I wanted it to look like and then I sized the hoop to the seat. Before trying to make the hoop myself I tried finding a steel fabricator in town to make it for me but no one that I talked to could make anything but a 2.5" radius' with their bender so I had to do it myself but it ended up being cheaper. I think I have $10 into it. Hope that helps!

Whoops I didn't see this response. You have no idea how helpful this is! Thanks so much.

I have heard about the heat + sand filling technique, I might have to try it. A wooden jig is all I need eh? Interesting. Maybe I can find some simple plans for one. Let me know if you have any pics of that. Thanks again man!

 

[valvesprung]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Basement Build

Diggin it!

 

[LucasR]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Basement Build

Any updates? This project is so cool

 

[Godffery]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Basement Build

Hey man, Look'n good!

You might Dig these for that bad boy:
http://www.vinmoto.org/gallery/v/VinMoto-Garage/album03/Godfferys-Garage-123/album185/Brake+Rotors+_+Thinned+and+Drilled/

 

[DreadRock]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Basement Build

I like it ! Can't wait to see the end of this ....

 

[FlyinRyan350]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Basement Build

Not much has been happening, school and work keep kickin my ass. I've been painting random parts and my crank and cylinders finally came back so engine building should happen next week. I've been playing around with paint on the body work but I'll keep that to myself until I end up with something I want to show

Anyway, cylinders and heads got some paint and spent some time in the oven...hopefully I'll have some actual progress to report next week.

Thanks for following along!

Hey man, Look'n good!

You might Dig these for that bad boy:
http://www.vinmoto.org/gallery/v/VinMoto-Garage/album03/Godfferys-Garage-123/album185/Brake+Rotors+_+Thinned+and+Drilled/

Thanks for the link man, I definitely need to do something with my stock rotor

 

[FlyinRyan350]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Basement Build - Inevitable Wheel Clearance Fun

Welp, in one hell of a whirlwind day things actually happened. Picked up my wheels this morning and threw em together for a mock-up to see what I was dealing with and exactly what I thought was going to happen happened. I need longer rear shocks and chain sliders for the swing arm...or bump stops which will limit me to a solid 1.5" of travel. The ideal fix would be an extended swingarm and longer shocks but my money for this project ran out months ago.

On a positive note, my brother rolled into town today and we got the engine back together for the most part...waiting on a clutch kit and I still need to paint the side covers but those things are easy. Completely rebuilt crank, completely rebuilt top end, all new seals and gaskets, and everything else checked for wear makes me fairly confident that I won't be pulling this baby apart again until 10,000 miles from now.

As you can probably guess, the paint scheme is gunna be my take on the many bikes of Kenny Roberts. Unfortunately the fluorescent lighting in my basement/shop wildly alters the appearance of the color and my cell phone camera doesn't help one bit either. The tank needs many more coats but, I assure you that the yellow does look retro outdoors...if you're curious about the tape, I was just trying to figure out sizes for the white/black graphic thing which is still in the works.

6 pm

1 am

I'm open to any ideas about gaining height in the back

 

[Nojokirk 75cl360]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Engine In! & Inevitable Wheel Clearance Fun

lookin great dude

 

[LucasR]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Engine In! & Inevitable Wheel Clearance Fun

I think your best bet is longer shocks. I picked up some Hagon 360mm slimline shocks off ebay which I think will help significantly. They are stiff as hell though. I need to get one of the hagon spanners to adjust it.

 

[FlyinRyan350]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Engine In! & Inevitable Wheel Clearance Fun

lookin great dude

Thanks man!

I think your best bet is longer shocks. I picked up some Hagon 360mm slimline shocks off ebay which I think will help significantly. They are stiff as hell though. I need to get one of the hagon spanners to adjust it.

"
Ya I gota agree, I think that's my best option. Have ya put em on your bike yet? I've been looking at mine and it looks like 14" shocks would make the chain hit the swing-arm as it comes over but do ya suppose just a slider fastened to the top of the swinger would be a good enough fix?

 

[andycafe]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Engine In! & Inevitable Wheel Clearance Fun

Love it, that's my kinda cafe! sweet!

 

[LucasR]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Engine In! & Inevitable Wheel Clearance Fun

Ya I gota agree, I think that's my best option. Have ya put em on your bike yet? I've been looking at mine and it looks like 14" shocks would make the chain hit the swing-arm as it comes over but do ya suppose just a slider fastened to the top of the swinger would be a good enough fix?

I had the same thought, but I don't have the swing-arm on right now because my right side shock threads are flattened and rusted really bad. Gotta find someone to fix/weld a new mount on.

 

[johnu]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Engine In! & Inevitable Wheel Clearance Fun

Thanks man!
"
Ya I gota agree, I think that's my best option. Have ya put em on your bike yet? I've been looking at mine and it looks like 14" shocks would make the chain hit the swing-arm as it comes over but do ya suppose just a slider fastened to the top of the swinger would be a good enough fix?

Don't forget if you put longer shocks on it will change your front end geometry also. May not be a bad thing, just saying.

 

[FlyinRyan350]

Re: 74' Yamaha RD350 - Engine In! & Inevitable Wheel Clearance Fun

Right, I was running it with the front end dropped about an inch last fall so if the front stays at the stock height and the rear comes up an inch this time I should end up with the same ride? Just slightly higher I suppose. It never got squirrely on me at all last fall but it tracks grooves in the road like crazy. I'm guessing that's a tire width issue?

The angle of the obviously not stock swingarm on the twinline bike makes me assume they are running longer shocks but it doesn't look like the swingarm is any bit longer.