Passing the tinkering torch

concours · May 29, 2022

My 33yo Neighbor is a moto junkie, as well as a talented mechanic. Helping him with the RD350 resurrection..

concours · May 29, 2022

Back from the machine shop, Japanese CAST (out with the Wiseguys) pistons fitted.

concours · May 29, 2022

Out with the old, in with the new. (The forums convinced the lad that, unless he spent $600 on electronic ignition, he could never enjoy 2-stroke bliss)

concours · May 29, 2022

Replacing the coil bracket that had been cut off:

concours · May 29, 2022

Lol, Derek, are we like the Red Green show that had the gas can on the woodstove??

concours · May 29, 2022

Sadly, the bike needs crank seals. I had hoped to get it running for him to play this Summer. That'll teach him to wait till APRIL to start thinking of bike engine repairs, lol

Pup · May 29, 2022

Cool, keeping it alive. I would love to have an RD-350 or 400 in the stable. My
father had a 350, it was surprisingly quick and nimble, reliable, and DAMN FUN !
My old 75 DT-250 satisfies my 2 stroke cravings though. There's just somethin' bout that
fragrance that's so appealing to my "smell buds."

concours · May 29, 2022

1977years said:
Cool, keeping it alive. I would love to have an RD-350 or 400 in the stable. My
father had a 350, it was surprisingly quick and nimble, reliable, and DAMN FUN !
My old 75 DT-250 satisfies my 2 stroke cravings though. There's just somethin' bout that
fragrance that's so appealing to my "smell buds."

....I use a Lawn-Boy mower for just such reasons

Fast Eddie · May 30, 2022

concours said:
....I use a Lawn-Boy mower for just such reasons

A drop of Castrol R in the mowers petrol tank does wonders for easing the burden of a tedious job !

concours · May 30, 2022

Fast Eddie said:
A drop of Castrol R in the mowers petrol tank does wonders for easing the burden of a tedious job !

concours · May 30, 2022

1977years said:
Cool, keeping it alive. I would love to have an RD-350 or 400 in the stable. My
father had a 350, it was surprisingly quick and nimble, reliable, and DAMN FUN !
My old 75 DT-250 satisfies my 2 stroke cravings though. There's just somethin' bout that
fragrance that's so appealing to my "smell buds."

Onder · May 30, 2022

Since he is busy dropping money hope he fits a pair of quality rear shocks on that bike. Back in the day that small detail brought me to a few inches of a wall at 85 on a curve. Great bike but the handling was not up to british standards.

Pup · May 30, 2022

I made quite a bit of money in my teens for 3 or 4 summers with a Lawn Boy, one
year I had 15 yards, granted, alot of them were small, in town residential yards.
The only real maintenance required was the removal of the muffler to de-carbonize
it and the exhaust port. Concours, You are fortunate to own a 400, appears to be
a '75 or '76, mine is the red, white and black 250 version from '75.

Lineslinger · May 30, 2022

It takes a lot of dedication and time to get involved in working on a friends project and seeing it through...good on you Concourse.

The little one below now wants to go out to the shop and "fix my motorcycle" most every time she visits. She is now 6, knows how to pull every wrench out of the cabinet drawers and lay them out on the floor...in order. As well she understands the difference between phillips and flat blade along with knowing how and where to read wrench sizes when I ask her for a specific size.
They are never too young to learn.

Pup · May 30, 2022

Cool Lineslinger, maybe she will be the one to take over ownership one day !

Pup · May 30, 2022

I made quite a bit of money in my teens for 3 or 4 summers with a Lawn Boy, one
year I had 15 yards, granted, alot of them were small, in town residential yards.
The only real maintenance required was the removal of the muffler to de-carbonize
it and the exhaust port. Concours, You are fortunate to own a 400, appears to be
a '75 or '76, mine is the red, white and black 250 version from '75.

concours · May 31, 2022

Onder said:
Since he is busy dropping money hope he fits a pair of quality rear shocks on that bike. Back in the day that small detail brought me to a few inches of a wall at 85 on a curve. Great bike but the handling was not up to british standards.

Yeah, my buddy bought one that had put the previous owner in a wheelchair for life. Google maps smooths it out with the depiction of a flowing curve. It's actually a nasty little 20mph dogleg in a 50-60mph road that dates back to ox cart days.

concours · May 31, 2022

Lineslinger said:
It takes a lot of dedication and time to get involved in working on a friends project and seeing it through...good on you Concourse.

The little one below now wants to go out to the shop and "fix my motorcycle" most every time she visits. She is now 6, knows how to pull every wrench out of the cabinet drawers and lay them out on the floor...in order. As well she understands the difference between phillips and flat blade along with knowing how and where to read wrench sizes when I ask her for a specific size.
They are never too young to learn.

View attachment 95744

Amen. Start 'em young.

mean gene · May 31, 2022

Probably a little late but you should have raised the exhaust port the width of a nickel, cut the heads .040, enlarge the windows in piston and hang on!

Onder · May 31, 2022

...it is never too late with a two stroke to pull the jugs....easy peasy...