Need some 2strock advice

[Chicknstripn]

My neighbor is moving. We've become pretty good friends in the past 6 years. He's thinking about leaving a 1986, I might be wrong on the year, yamaha RD 400 Daytona special with me. He doesn't have the room at his new place for it and he really doesn't want to sell it. The bike was last plated in 1988. I think he's the original owner and aside from head work and rings the bike is totally stock. The thing looks like a time machine!
The premise of this whole storage deal is that I'll try to get the thing back on the road while it's under my care. I can't stand to see the thing collecting dust and being used as a shelf in his garage! Whenever he decides he wants it back, in pieces or as a whole running bike, he'll reimburse me for parts and what not. I'll be doing him a favor by starting, and hopefully finishing, a project he never had the courage or time to start.
I know the engine IS NOT seized.
So, what I'm putting a feeler out for is anyone with experiance,with these types of bikes, to let me know what I'm in for.
I'm fairly mechanically inclined. I've rebuilt my 12r twice. Once for a fried crank bearing and just about 5k ago to rebuild the transmission.
I've looked, a little, into parts for the RD and all the consumable stuff seems fairly reasonable. I haven't looked into new pistons and rings or anything else that might need replacing. I know the electrical might be an issue and honestly I don't know why it has sat for so long.
So anyone with experience chime in and let me know what I might be getting into.
Thanks
Crap. Just noticed what I did in the title. My bad fellas

 

[rchuff]

The man to talk to is John ak ( lunaticfringe). [up]

 

[Chicknstripn]

That's what I figured. I'm just waiting for him to chime in.

 

[cartman]

Most likely if its an RD it would be a 1976 or somewhere near that, an 86 would be a RZ 350. Its most likely a points ignition unless it was upgraded. I had a 1975 Rd 400, was a fun bike, lots of 2 stroke power band, would love to have one again ( or any 2 stroke street bike).

 

[mrlogix]

Take your time and spray some light lube (not WD-40) in the spark plug holes before turning the engine. Helps keep the rings from scoring the cylinders incase a ring rusted/stuck.

The RD400 was the next iteration of the RD350. They made them from like 74'-80'. Could be made into a mean little streetfighter. Light weight, single disk brake front and rear. Used to be a lot of mods, reeds, overbores, custom porting, etc.
Cartman- wasn't the RZ 400 a Kenny Rogers black and yellow paint scheme?

Lunatic is definitely the man to talk to. He's had some real nice H2's. Also very bad ass, Little ballistic missiles.

 

[mrlogix]

oh yeah, pic's please.

 

[user_deleted]

The man to talk to is John ak ( lunaticfringe).

Lunatic is definitely the man to talk to. He's had some real nice H2's. Also very bad ass, Little ballistic missiles.

thanks john.....thanks rick.
chickn: yamaha had multiple smoker lines but think of it in these terms: the RD series 400cc is an air cooled 2-stroke reed valve vertical twin....air-cooled being the clue here. the daytona special is an RD400 gussied up with cast aluminum wheels and badging. everyone i've ever seen or owned is white with red trim. late 70's bikes. if the bike you speak of is a mid 80's it would be an RZ350 yamaha which is a 2-stroke liquid cooled vertical twin. a radiator would be your clue here.
if your intention is to get it running and streetable you'll want to check the usual things as you would on any bike sitting for 25 years or so....but also do the following:
remove spark plugs and spray kano kroil into each cylinder....rotate kicker by hand and spray a bit more.
replace both left and right outer crank seals. these are 3 seal motors and the outers must be replaced. not that tough a job.
drain trans fluid and refill. holds approx. 1 liter of 2-stroke trans fluid. bel-ray #75 preferred.
lube chain, check all cables, this daytona special is a single right side front disc brake though the bike is left hand drive. that caliper and master cylinder will definitely need rebuilt. they always stick from sitting.
lastly.....and this is the most important thing: DO NOT......ABSOLUTELY DO NOT atttempt to start it without vacating the bottom end. when you get to that point i will tell you how it's done. if you don't do this there's an excellent chance it will start and destroy itself. if you find it is an RD and not an RZ and you need parts i have a fair amount in stock here.

 

[user_deleted]

Cartman- wasn't the RZ 400 a Kenny Rogers black and yellow paint scheme?

john: kenny rogers is the singer.......kenny roberts is the racer. RZ350 in kenny roberts bumble-bee edition is really rare. i picked one up in a building clean-out a few years ago. they're pretty nice machines. see it in background here during clean-out it is in upper right corner and has black/yellow paint scheme.

 

[Chicknstripn]

Wow. Thanks for all the info guys! It's definatly the 70s RD. No radiator, and is the red and white daytona special addition. I wish it was an RZ 350! That's the first sportbike I ever rode! My older brother had one and I'd swipe it on the weekends for a little joy ride while he was at work.
I'm pretty sure he knew I was doing it but didn't care. He taught me how to ride a dirt bike when I was 13 and always let me take his 86 honda xl500 for rides.
Anyway, enough memory lane...
I'll try to get some pics of the bike for you guys.
I'll also try to get more background on the bike

 

[Chicknstripn]

Yep. You guys are pretty smart! I just had a brief chat with Mark, the bike owner, its a 79. Been in his family since it was brand new.

 

[mrlogix]

kenny rogers is the singer.......kenny roberts is the racer.

yeah, sucks getting old, can't remember sh*t. LOL.

i picked one up in a building clean-out a few years ago.

still have it?

 

[user_deleted]

^^^^^^ join the crowd john. i freshened it up....rode it for a few miles and sold it to collector in NYC who loves those RZ's. i still have a few RD models but not a huge yamaha guy. they're wonderful bikes but i'm a kawi/buell/vrod type of queer.

 

[mrlogix]

always had a thing for the smokers. What RD's are you sitting on?

i'm a kawi/buell/vrod type of queer.

yeah, the V-Rod does kinda make you queer. Before the butt hurt starts all you V-Rod owners, IT WAS A JOKE...but, it's okay everybody else in the world is coming out of the closet. You guys might as well too. Just no pic's with assless chaps please. [cool]

 

[user_deleted]

Just no pic's with assless chaps please.

LOL LOL john. i only wear those chaps you speak of when elton john and his husband david furnish are in town. i just have a pair of 74 RD250's. one root beer and one blue. actually i'd like to get them out of my building. buy one and get one free. no kidding.

 

[mrlogix]

$?

 

[user_deleted]

i don't know john.....$1900 sound fair for everything? i don't know yamaha 2-stroke values. you get a restored and very nice 74 rootbeer RD250 with clear PA title in my name....some nice parts....a blue and white 74 i think it is RD250 to build as another bike. i would think that would be reasonable money to get into the vintage world of 2-stroke insanity.

 

[cartman]

There is a Bumble Bee Rz 350 on eBay for 6200, they also had a really bad ass Rz 500 (2 stroke V4) in the 80s. Suzuki had a Rg 500 to compete with it, not relaxed in the United States, had a friend bring one in from Canada. A newer version Rz 350 motor is in the Banshee 4 wheeler. I have been thinking about taking a lightweight frame (ninja 250, etc) and stuffing a Banshee motor in it.
The last Rd 400 I had was a 76 in silver, sold it in 1979.