Yamaha RD400\questions

Happy Seal · 09-08-2012, 06:16 PM

Ok guys, got a few questions. Getting ready to pick up an RD400. It is in rough shape. Will need engine rebuilt and a total restore! It appears to be black now with a dented up tank. The chrome is all rusted, the seat is ripped up and foam is molded.

Is there a way to find the original paint scheme?
Are engine parts available? I think she's seized up.
Is there a way to fix up a dented tank?
Anything else I should know?

Thanks guys, might be my first restore.

Pretty physced about doing this project, I am doing it to ride the bike.
Any links for parts or other rebuilds would be appreciated.
Thanks Much!

pdxjim · 09-08-2012, 10:44 PM

Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.

http://www.2strokeworld.com/forum/index.php

Twin-shocker · 09-09-2012, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Seal

Ok guys, got a few questions. Getting ready to pick up an RD400. It is in rough shape. Will need engine rebuilt and a total restore! It appears to be black now with a dented up tank. The chrome is all rusted, the seat is ripped up and foam is molded.

Is there a way to find the original paint scheme?
Are engine parts available? I think she's seized up.
Is there a way to fix up a dented tank?
Anything else I should know?

Thanks guys, might be my first restore.

Pretty physced about doing this project, I am doing it to ride the bike.
Any links for parts or other rebuilds would be appreciated.
Thanks Much!

Before starting I would suggest looking very carefully at the likely costs involved. It sounds like the bike you have is very bad, and may well cost a lot more to do, than what you might pay for a bike in reasonably god running order.

JonnyCash · 09-09-2012, 04:58 AM

^ what he said!. The RDs are great bikes, and there are a lot of them around. Seems like you can get a very nice one for about $2000 pretty easily, as long as you're not set on getting a Daytona. Buying a ratty RD for $750 will be way more expensive in the not so long run. Then again I'm the kind of guy that has to do everything the hard way, so I always buy the basket cases. They're fun to build, but currently, I must have $4000 into my RD350 that I hope to get $2500 for next spring. That's gonna hurt, I think.

Happy Seal · 09-09-2012, 10:44 AM

Thanks for the replies guys,
I can pick this bike up for 250. I dont have 2000 to put into a bike right now. Bought a new bike last summer, bought a trials bike early this year. I do have a full shop to work out of and I do have dribs and drabs of petty cash to throw down when needed. I know I'll have more into it than it's worth but I'll give it to my kids someday.
I just wanna make sure I can get what I need as far as parts to bring it back to original.

Bloodweiser · 09-09-2012, 11:00 AM

hell yeah.
that sounds reasonable so long as it has paperwork
or you live in one of those cool loose states.

I love my RD. Haven't ridden it yet

but sure is fun to throw money at.

I haven't had trouble getting any parts
and I've pretty much bought all the weird stuff.

HVCcycle.com
http://www.hvccycle.com/parts-catalog.html
makes it easy

Boats.net
http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Ya...00C/parts.html
makes it cheap

Do some research on the parts for xfits.
Found out I could get a rear MC kit for FJ1100 for 1/3 the $.
Yamaha part # 2YK-W0042-50
FWIW.

Happy Seal · 09-09-2012, 12:40 PM

Thanks Bloodweiser! I'm gonna try to do it all myself except for the machining. I'll post up a few pics when the Skins game is over!

Happy Seal · 09-09-2012, 01:41 PM

Well, here it is! I know it's rough but cosmetic can be fixed.

Happy Seal · 09-09-2012, 01:44 PM

sorry for the double pic!

4badboyz · 09-15-2012, 05:12 AM

I picked up a 76 RD last year (with 2 engines) for $300.00 thinking it was a good deal.
So far, I'm at $1,300.00 and that's just to put the motor back together.

these things are money pits you just throw cash at...

Makr · 09-15-2012, 10:09 AM

Old, neglected motorcycles are always super cheap and easy.

Shocktower · 09-17-2012, 12:04 AM

I got my 79 in pretty good shape, but I need to do somethings and well about 2500 more into it I am ready to ride it

Happy Seal · 09-18-2012, 06:31 PM

Anybody tell me what year and model it might be from those pics? What color the bike might have been new?

Shocktower · 09-19-2012, 11:06 PM

Look at the head badge, it will tell with that you get the color, BTW 400's where 76-80

Damifino · 09-20-2012, 05:27 PM

It is a 76 or 77, 75's were 350's and the 78 and 79 had cowls on the back of the seats

09-08-2012, 06:16 PM	#1
Happy Seal ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2010 Location: CT. Oddometer: 2,032	Yamaha RD400\questions Ok guys, got a few questions. Getting ready to pick up an RD400. It is in rough shape. Will need engine rebuilt and a total restore! It appears to be black now with a dented up tank. The chrome is all rusted, the seat is ripped up and foam is molded. Is there a way to find the original paint scheme? Are engine parts available? I think she's seized up. Is there a way to fix up a dented tank? Anything else I should know? Thanks guys, might be my first restore. Pretty physced about doing this project, I am doing it to ride the bike. Any links for parts or other rebuilds would be appreciated. Thanks Much! __________________ with his videos I've been able to crash into trees even faster than before. ( Darius re Shane Watts)

09-09-2012, 04:58 AM	#4
JonnyCash turd polisher Joined: Jan 2011 Location: Midcoast, Maine Oddometer: 803	^ what he said!. The RDs are great bikes, and there are a lot of them around. Seems like you can get a very nice one for about $2000 pretty easily, as long as you're not set on getting a Daytona. Buying a ratty RD for $750 will be way more expensive in the not so long run. Then again I'm the kind of guy that has to do everything the hard way, so I always buy the basket cases. They're fun to build, but currently, I must have $4000 into my RD350 that I hope to get $2500 for next spring. That's gonna hurt, I think. __________________ I wouldn't bring her home to Mama, but Mama ain't home tonight.

09-09-2012, 10:44 AM	#5
Happy Seal ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2010 Location: CT. Oddometer: 2,032	Thanks for the replies guys, I can pick this bike up for 250. I dont have 2000 to put into a bike right now. Bought a new bike last summer, bought a trials bike early this year. I do have a full shop to work out of and I do have dribs and drabs of petty cash to throw down when needed. I know I'll have more into it than it's worth but I'll give it to my kids someday. I just wanna make sure I can get what I need as far as parts to bring it back to original. __________________ with his videos I've been able to crash into trees even faster than before. ( Darius re Shane Watts)

09-09-2012, 11:00 AM	#6
Bloodweiser honestly Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Upstate Ny Oddometer: 2,264	hell yeah. that sounds reasonable so long as it has paperwork or you live in one of those cool loose states. I love my RD. Haven't ridden it yet but sure is fun to throw money at. I haven't had trouble getting any parts and I've pretty much bought all the weird stuff. HVCcycle.com http://www.hvccycle.com/parts-catalog.html makes it easy Boats.net http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Ya...00C/parts.html makes it cheap Do some research on the parts for xfits. Found out I could get a rear MC kit for FJ1100 for 1/3 the $. Yamaha part # 2YK-W0042-50 FWIW. __________________ the carrot seed - honest country. Bulletproof VS. Bloodweiser - yamaha world super GP TT 5000 BW - 455 : BP - 100

09-09-2012, 12:40 PM	#7
Happy Seal ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2010 Location: CT. Oddometer: 2,032	Thanks Bloodweiser! I'm gonna try to do it all myself except for the machining. I'll post up a few pics when the Skins game is over! __________________ with his videos I've been able to crash into trees even faster than before. ( Darius re Shane Watts)

09-08-2012, 10:44 PM	#2
pdxjim Two Stroke Terror Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Portland, OR Oddometer: 65	Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. http://www.2strokeworld.com/forum/index.php

09-09-2012, 01:41 PM	#8
Happy Seal ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2010 Location: CT. Oddometer: 2,032	Well, here it is! I know it's rough but cosmetic can be fixed. __________________ with his videos I've been able to crash into trees even faster than before. ( Darius re Shane Watts)

09-09-2012, 01:44 PM	#9
Happy Seal ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2010 Location: CT. Oddometer: 2,032	sorry for the double pic! __________________ with his videos I've been able to crash into trees even faster than before. ( Darius re Shane Watts)

09-15-2012, 05:12 AM	#10
4badboyz Studly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2010 Location: Oakville. Oddometer: 563	I picked up a 76 RD last year (with 2 engines) for $300.00 thinking it was a good deal. So far, I'm at $1,300.00 and that's just to put the motor back together. these things are money pits you just throw cash at... __________________ tuck in behind me, I'll show you where to crash. 06KTM950A 07KTM525EXC 03CR250R 77RD400 73CB750 Yet another Translab report... Owen and Mark do Labrador Moab 2012

09-15-2012, 10:09 AM	#11
Makr I make my own rules Joined: Apr 2010 Location: SL,UT Oddometer: 18	Old, neglected motorcycles are always super cheap and easy.

09-17-2012, 12:04 AM	#12
Shocktower Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Oregon City Orygun Oddometer: 8,314	I got my 79 in pretty good shape, but I need to do somethings and well about 2500 more into it I am ready to ride it __________________ Alexa Drew Nov 9 1995- Oct 28th 2004 Miss you baby '08 KTM 530 EXC 79 RD 400 Daytona

09-18-2012, 06:31 PM	#13
Happy Seal ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2010 Location: CT. Oddometer: 2,032	Anybody tell me what year and model it might be from those pics? What color the bike might have been new? __________________ with his videos I've been able to crash into trees even faster than before. ( Darius re Shane Watts)

09-19-2012, 11:06 PM	#14
Shocktower Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Oregon City Orygun Oddometer: 8,314	Look at the head badge, it will tell with that you get the color, BTW 400's where 76-80 __________________ Alexa Drew Nov 9 1995- Oct 28th 2004 Miss you baby '08 KTM 530 EXC 79 RD 400 Daytona

09-20-2012, 05:27 PM	#15
Damifino Damn if I know Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Maryland Oddometer: 570	It is a 76 or 77, 75's were 350's and the 78 and 79 had cowls on the back of the seats __________________ 07 KTM 950 SE 99 KDX200 79 Yamaha RD400 76 BMW R76/6 06 Vespa Granturismo 200L

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