Saturday, August 23, 2008

Essential Consumables & Tools - Yamaha RD350

This is time to start collecting the essential spares(consumables) and tools for my RD350. Guys pour all your inputs so I can start collecting them. I need the exact tool that needs to be placed under the seat of RD350.

As I was reading through some of the fellow RD350 owner's blogs I have found everyone keeping a set of spare spark plug, hence here it goes. I just got a set of MICO (BOSCH licenced) manufactured in Hosur road of Adugodi, Bangalore. You please let me know is there any other better brand I can use in my RD350. Have seen the internet people suggesting NGK etc. is it really matters to use costlier replacement than of made in India stuffs ? if yes, let me know why?Apart from the spark plugs, currently nothing available with me as spare for my RD350. Though I have some idea of what are the other consumables to be carried along such as
  • Clutch cable
  • and Accelerator cable
and the Owners Tool Kit

The Owners tools provided in the owners tool kit are sufficient for performing the service as described in the lubrication and maintenance chart
  • Spanner open jaw 7 x 10
  • Spanner open jaw 13 x 17
  • Spanner open jaw 19 x 22
  • Screw Driver Combination slotted & Phillips type
  • Grip Driver (Box spanner 13)
  • Box spanner 17 x 21
  • Cap Grip Driver
  • Spanner Point 5.5 x 8
  • Plier
  • Hexogon Socket Screw Key 5A/F"
  • Spanner special 22 x 30
Location: Below Fuel Tank

Let me know if you guys found something is missing on my list. Will soon update each and ever item that I have listed above with a picture displayed after I procure them.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Bangy in Help - Yamaha RD350B accessories

Readers, Thank you so much for your encouragement on my RD350 restoration. As many of you suggested me to find and fix the carrier and crash guards that came with Rajdoot RD350 during the age old days, I rolled my search to all the scrap markets in various parts of this country and got a call from one of my pal in Bangalore. That's it me on the way to Bangy and got the stuffs that you guys urged me to fix. The carrier was full and needs only installationbut the crash bar was not installalable contidtion as I still need to holder plates that stands between the crash bar and the bike's chase. If you some one know where is it available do let me know.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Savager - My RD350

This post is to let the world know I'm naming my RD350 as "Savager". The adjective is marked by extreme and violent energy.
Now you know how good the name matches to the bike. I thank my Jeep Guru "Mr.UBS" for giving a suggestion on this name.Today after a first drive to office, I found couple of teething issue hence the bike has been sent back to the mechanic to fix the problems. Looks like the engine advances faster than the normal and same will be corrected today.
My trip to Bangalore fixed to fetch the missing spares for the RD350 today.

Update: Some one asked me about the tube that runs between the manifolds like "what is it in between the block and the cabs ........ the pipe joining the 2rubbers.......can u pls explain what is it for.... " I answered him with the below email, I'm posting it here to answer as many as who can get same query.

This is modern manifold design found on the Banshee / RZ350, with Balance tube. The balance tube will help cure flat spots, improve throttle response and mileage. It works like a boost bottle. The design acts like a reed stuffer. Unlike the stock RD/RZ manifolds where your intake velocity drops sharply as it enters the reed cage. These manifolds improve and sustain higher in take velocity.
To improver further we can go with Boost bottle setup, Just need to replace the balance tube with the boost bottle. The Manifold stays as such.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Curtain Raiser!!! - Rajdoot (Yamaha) RD350B

Officially I announce that my Yamaha RD350 is back to his original glory. The restoration was successful.Got to compromise couple of items for using non-standard color or design due to unavailability of spares such as indicator holders, License plate on the timing cover, Crash bar, Carrier and fork lock.
I hope I will slowly locate them to fit it on my Yamaha RD350. This is the newest bike in Chennai road today.
Yamaha RD350 reborn now. I need to get the birth registered now, as the papers are outdated and needed another ten grants to fix the legal issues.Except the tank sticker I have retained all other Rajdoot original spares. The illumination of the main console, WoW I have attained the RD enlightenment today.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Give me RED... Rajdoot (Yamaha) RD350 LT

Another important step in restoring a classic bike is to bring it to its original color. As my RD350 registration book says red as color. Here is my attempt to restore the bike to its original color. I heard someone saying "German Red" as a code to identify the RD350 original red color. Though the Indian version of RD350 is stamped with Rajdoot on the tank and even few of my friends suggested to stick it as it is an Indian bike. I somehow got to like the Yamaha (origin) name on the tank.
Hence same has been sprayed over the paintable parts. Though the Chassis and engine are already painted with black already, the Red stands the color of my bike. Here are the exact parts painted with Red other than the tank which is shown above.Tomorrow going to be the day for rest of my restoration to complete, hopefully as the mechanic promises I will take the delivery of my red beauty in the afternoon. Otherwise I will wait for few more days to pick it up as I have plans to go out of station by Sunday.