YAMAHA RD250 Cafe Oz
- Thread starter Clueless
- Start date
Lacing the wheels was not too difficult, I would definately recomend having a crack at it yourself, the first one took a while as I needed to get my start point and get my head around the pattern, I laced the second in about 15 minutes. I found this link very helpfull and watched a video on youtube too.
http://www.aircooledrdclub.org.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=28183
I got the spokes off ebay from Singapore for $60 and did not use a jig, just look at the rim to reason where the spokes fit, I started from the valve hole as suggested ,as soon as you get the first spoke in the correct hole on the rim it's easy enough.
http://www.aircooledrdclub.org.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=28183
I got the spokes off ebay from Singapore for $60 and did not use a jig, just look at the rim to reason where the spokes fit, I started from the valve hole as suggested ,as soon as you get the first spoke in the correct hole on the rim it's easy enough.
I dont have any funds to spend on the bike at the moment which is a bitch as Im itching to get some tyres on the wheels and get the bike into a rolling chassis and build myself some fenders. So Im going to start stripping down the engine and making a parts list. I spent last weekend doing some research and Im leaning towards putting a 350 top end on, wanting to customise it somehow Im thinking of knocking up my own Webco inspired heads. I dabbled by taking measurements from the original 250 heads I have and looking at pictures of webco heads on the net. I drew up a design in Pro-engineer,as it is paramentric software I can alter the dimentions of the model and it will automaticaly regenerate once I input the correct dimentions for a 350 head.
Having drawn up the initial design I machined a prototype head in pink tooling board, it cutts quickly and holds it's dimentional accuracy well. I dont like the design, it's too square, I think the head needs to follow the profile of the barrels. The sloping top works, it's nice to see the zig-zag detail from the side view...so back to the drawing board.Hopefully I can get some RD350 heads soon to measure or idealy some dimentioned drawings of the combustion chamber profile...any advice on the design greatly appreciated.
Having drawn up the initial design I machined a prototype head in pink tooling board, it cutts quickly and holds it's dimentional accuracy well. I dont like the design, it's too square, I think the head needs to follow the profile of the barrels. The sloping top works, it's nice to see the zig-zag detail from the side view...so back to the drawing board.Hopefully I can get some RD350 heads soon to measure or idealy some dimentioned drawings of the combustion chamber profile...any advice on the design greatly appreciated.
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I re-drew the head in CAD this week, it now has the same profile as the barrels and a 10mm radius on the top and bottom edges. The fins are 3mm thick. Im hoping to get the dimentions of a webco head soon, I will then cut a prototype in tooling board to check the surfaces and dimensions before machining a billet of ali.
In the mean time I bead blast the headlight and got it back on the bike with some ears I bought off ebay. Im not happy with the way it looks, the ears are to short and wide, I think I may make my own. Im also thinking of putting a small front fairing on. Not much work happening at the moment due to lack of funds and the awesome winter weather, clear blue skys and 20c degrees in Sydney this weekend 8)
In the mean time I bead blast the headlight and got it back on the bike with some ears I bought off ebay. Im not happy with the way it looks, the ears are to short and wide, I think I may make my own. Im also thinking of putting a small front fairing on. Not much work happening at the moment due to lack of funds and the awesome winter weather, clear blue skys and 20c degrees in Sydney this weekend 8)
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el_simo
Zi goggles, Zey do Nothing !!
Hey Clueless great work !
I just bought a Yamaha 250 YDS7 (forerunner of the RD) and your work is really inspiring ! I studied industrial design in university so have a good idea of the work your putting into this. Unfortunately I dont have access to any RP or CNC machines anymore. Its great seeing someone use the technology out there to try out new things ! Ill hopefully have some photos of my own to put up soon.
Anyway best of luck with the project, keep it up its looking great !
Si
I just bought a Yamaha 250 YDS7 (forerunner of the RD) and your work is really inspiring ! I studied industrial design in university so have a good idea of the work your putting into this. Unfortunately I dont have access to any RP or CNC machines anymore. Its great seeing someone use the technology out there to try out new things ! Ill hopefully have some photos of my own to put up soon.
Anyway best of luck with the project, keep it up its looking great !
Si
Thanks for the kind words Si, I look forward to reading your build thread for the Yamaha 250 YDS7, it will be interesting to see what you do with it!
I bought this fairing off ebay last night, I've not had the best luck buying bits so far, they all seem to big when they turn up, hopefully this will have good proportions.
I bought this fairing off ebay last night, I've not had the best luck buying bits so far, they all seem to big when they turn up, hopefully this will have good proportions.
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Merry xmas guys, Santa bought me some some tyres for crimbo! ;D
I've not done much on the bike due to a lack of funds but now the tyre's are on Im really happy with the look and itching to get more done, hopefully I will get some time over the holidays to spend on the build.
I've not done much on the bike due to a lack of funds but now the tyre's are on Im really happy with the look and itching to get more done, hopefully I will get some time over the holidays to spend on the build.
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I've made my mind up on paint colours, the main one being Hemi orange, I love Chargers /Chalengers and think they look awesome in orange...it's a great 70s colour. I painted my headlight in a metallic gunmetal which will be the other main colour.
Going with a Japanese theme I'm putting a rising sun on the tail and a Wave on the tank with the standard race stripes down the middle, all in orange with the gunmetal as the background.
The engine will be matte black, the fenders soft touch matte black to blend in with the tyres.
Going with a Japanese theme I'm putting a rising sun on the tail and a Wave on the tank with the standard race stripes down the middle, all in orange with the gunmetal as the background.
The engine will be matte black, the fenders soft touch matte black to blend in with the tyres.
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S
smvirili
Guest
this thread is so good. viva la twosmoke.
i think you're gonna make so many people jealous here with your designing talent and access to equipment.
and my god, you're far from clueless faaarrkkyouuuu!!!!!
thanks for sharing the build mang, looks awesome.
i think you're gonna make so many people jealous here with your designing talent and access to equipment.
and my god, you're far from clueless faaarrkkyouuuu!!!!!
thanks for sharing the build mang, looks awesome.
JustinLonghorn
No Purple Hearts, No Blue Ribbons
Yep, I can dig it.
FlyinRyan350
Been Around the Block
Wow...people on this board have skills and access to a pile of expensive equipment. Amazing stuff man, can't wait to see the final heads. If they'll fit a 350 you should make extras ;D . In a couple weeks I'm going to start building up my 74 350...mostly cosmetic mods aside from a top end rebuild and hopefully only a shift fork swap since I'm only a lowly Architecture student and funds are tight. Great build, I'll be following it.
