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Post by yamark on Jul 19, 2014 12:34:51 GMT 1
Introduction first. I've owned loads of bikes over the years, mostly 2 strokes, but have a very soft spot for Yamaha RD's. Started riding in 1979[AP50], then an X7 followed by an RD350B. I always wanted/lusted after an RD400 but couldn't afford the insurance. Through the 80's I owned LC's, PV's and an RD500 [two RG500s as well]. I drifted into 4 strokes over the last 15 years. An R6,R1,FZ6 and back to an R1[which I still own].But modern bikes are just to clinical for me, I love 2 strokes. Rewind to 1999 and I bought a RD400E and restored/improved the bike over 12 years. The 400 was finished but then DISASTER! I prolapsed 2 discs in my back 3 years ago. I couldn't walk for 3 months. I also couldn't ride the R1, kickstart the 400 and I had a Kawasaki H1 500F that was 95% finished that I couldn't work on. After 18 months I was able to finish the H1, but couldn't use the RD400 or H1 because of the kickstart.
At this time one of my sons wanted a 125 so I talked him into an RD125LC. It took a year to restored and I loved every second. Sourcing those hard to find parts an everything is light in weight, so I could manage most of the work myself. I was then bored, I needed another project. It was late 2013. My best memories/bike are of the RD350LC. I thought - I know I'll buy one and restore it.
I bid and won a fantastic 350LC. great photo's description. I nearly wet myself with excitement. The rose tinted glasses were working flat out. My new bike was a mere 90 miles away, so I collected her [with help] in my van. An electrical fault and a blister on the paintwork were the only faults I was told. 4LO frame, but 4LI engine number.
These are the Ebay pictures
Pictures of my restorations
I will post pictures of the build soon
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Post by mikee on Jul 20, 2014 19:26:17 GMT 1
That's a garage to die for
Dahling
Lc looks alright , bloody awful pipes , but hey ho
So I take it it's a pig in a pocke ?
Was it cheap ?
Mike
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Post by stusco on Jul 20, 2014 20:23:38 GMT 1
Love the air cooled selection
don't dont remember many black 125 's
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Post by yamark on Jul 20, 2014 20:31:29 GMT 1
Unfortunately it was not cheap and I had my pants pulled down a bit. I agree with you Mike, I hate the pipes, but it's had a bit of money spent on her. New switchgear, rad cover, handlebars, front muddy, EBC discs, clocks referbed , frame powder coated.
If the bike was a bird and you undressed it, you'd have Frankensteins bride. A pig alright.
I hope I can turn her into Kelly Brook |
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Post by mikee on Jul 20, 2014 21:00:25 GMT 1
It's only money , and it's spent now
Get on with it then
Lol
Mike
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Post by yamark on Jul 20, 2014 21:33:34 GMT 1
More pic's, dismantling starts
The horror starts to unfold. Just about every nut/bolt is rusted, seized or wrong. Wiring has been butchered, crimped connecters everywhere. Switch on the headlight and the fuse blows and the battery isn't charging. The gear lever shaft moves up and down 5mm, carbs are 4LI, rear indicators look strange[more later].
I'm going to stamp on those rose tinted glasses
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Post by mikee on Jul 20, 2014 21:57:14 GMT 1
Hmmmm
I feel you pain
Move away from the NOS resto then allspeeds ace bars , and a usable classic it is
Mike
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Post by steve h on Jul 20, 2014 22:36:32 GMT 1
I hate seeing botched wiring and those ****ing crimp connectors that belong in a control panel.
The correct automotive terminals and crimping tools are widely available and not expensive.
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Post by yamark on Jul 20, 2014 22:55:16 GMT 1
Mike, I nearly went down that route, but here's my thinking. I like standard bikes, love restoring them. I used to work as a bike mechanic many years ago, and still get a big discount off parts. I've also got great contacts for spare parts [2nd hand], links to Germany, USA for spares. I'm mates with engineers, welders, and paint sprayers. The H1 and 125LC were painted by a mate[who runs a body shop]. I'm good at sourcing parts, assembling bikes, engines and electrics. I can't do half the stuff some of the guys can do on this forum can do but I know people who can, and usually for a drink!
So I decided a few months ago to replace every bolt/ fixing with new. If a large part can be restored I'll do it. If not I'll source the best 2nd hand part but new is first choice. Hence the thread title NOS build.
It might cost me say 2k more but that's what I want to do, before any more new parts become obsolete.
I've been buying new parts for 3 months now, driving Norbo mad and the guys at my local Yam dealer.
I've also had 4 deliveries of 2nd hand parts from German bikes which had done 8,000 kilometres!
I'll post up as many pictures as I can - someone tell me if it's OTT
More pictures soon. |
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Post by yamark on Jul 20, 2014 22:58:58 GMT 1
I hate seeing botched wiring and those ****ing crimp connectors that belong in a control panel. The correct automotive terminals and crimping tools are widely available and not expensive. Spot on Steve. I like to solder the original style connectors. I got a new loom in the end |
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Post by Eyrey1 on Jul 20, 2014 23:21:25 GMT 1
I'll post up as many pictures as I can - someone tell me if it's OTT
we love OTTt on here mate !
fill yer boots it's your thread .
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Post by yamark on Jul 20, 2014 23:44:53 GMT 1
Cheers mate, that's a green light for me to bore everyone
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Post by Shytalk on Jul 21, 2014 9:04:06 GMT 1
Even chain split link is fitted wrong way round, I wonder if he rode it before selling it...
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Post by yamark on Jul 21, 2014 17:28:50 GMT 1
Good spot Shytalk, I never noticed. The list of bodges is getting longer, the engine mount plates were held on by disc bolts that were made of cheese, they rounded off in the blink of an eye. I had to drill those out. The brake y piece was floating in the breeze coz the retaining bolt had been sheared off on the bottom yoke, more drilling. The wiring fault when the headlight was switched on was wait for it- the live feed was earthed! The horrors just keep coming!
Engine out at last
Oh yes add to the list 1/2 " master cylinder, [sorry about picture]
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Post by steve h on Jul 22, 2014 0:02:02 GMT 1
Headlight problem....the old "red to black, blue to bits" strikes again. Well it looks like you bought a bit of a polished turd,  But I have a feeling this bike wont be a turd forever  |
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Post by yamark on Jul 22, 2014 6:23:12 GMT 1
Headlight problem....the old "red to black, blue to bits" strikes again. Well it looks like you bought a bit of a polished turd, But I have a feeling this bike wont be a turd forever LOL, polished turd without much polish more like 
Make that a giant Mr Whippy of a turd with a bit of glitter on top
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Post by bogbrush on Jul 22, 2014 19:51:18 GMT 1
Headlight problem....the old "red to black, blue to bits" strikes again. Well it looks like you bought a bit of a polished turd, But I have a feeling this bike wont be a turd forever LOL, polished turd without much polish more like
Make that a giant Mr Whippy of a turd with a bit of glitter on top
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Post by shaunthe2nd on Jul 22, 2014 20:52:25 GMT 1
Even chain split link is fitted wrong way round, I wonder if he rode it before selling it... At least it has a split link, the bike i bought to rebuild didn't have the U link and was held together by muck and grease. Glad i didn't test ride it! |
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Post by yamark on Jul 23, 2014 18:33:42 GMT 1
Pictures of knackered parts
Quick quiz - What's wrong with the subframe?
Was this done to save the cost of the indicator rubbers? The indicators were wedged on and held on with screws.
So Junk list........
Rad [corroded, twisted, 2 knurled fixing broken] Rear mudguard [hole in it] Inner mudguard [finished with a brillo pad] Rear shock [silver paint] Oil tank [stained and full of gunk] Front calipers [worn and cracked lug] Rear subframe [see quick quiz] Discs [rusty not standard] Master cylinder [1/2" not 5/8"] Headlight [cheap pattern] Tank [it might repair but I want a near perfect one] This is a small selection of the knackered parts
next I'll post the wish list and parts for restoring
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Post by copper99 on Jul 23, 2014 19:44:39 GMT 1
Shes going to be a fighter but I can sense your not going to take "No" for an answer from it..
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Post by yamark on Jul 23, 2014 20:30:16 GMT 1
Cheers mate, your gut feeling is right. She's been beaten into submission already
I figure the parts that are good are
Frame , swingarm powdercoated switchgear new handlebars new seat recovered rad cover new tyres new forks restored stansions hardchromed new seals clocks restored new upper case grab rail almost perfect header tank perfect gear lever new
Need/ wish list
centerstand fuel tank oil tank clutch cover oil pump water pump rear subframe exhausts rear shock and pins airbox CDI box reg/rectifier generator/ flywheel discs 4LO crankcases carbs 4LO 01 wiring loom side panels rear seat cowl lower clock cover oil pump cover 2 plastic engine covers chain adjusters clutch actuator clutch basket matching lockset gear shift shaft control cables headlight 5/8"" master cylinder rear footrests
I think I'm gonna have to give the sofa a real good shake to fund that lot
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Post by steve h on Jul 23, 2014 21:43:31 GMT 1
Were the screws holding the indicators on self tappers?? (And sticking out of the other side ready to pierce the hands of innocent bystanders) Don't shake the sofa, shake your bank manager for a loan |
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Post by yamark on Jul 23, 2014 22:21:51 GMT 1
Were the screws holding the indicators on self tappers?? (And sticking out of the other side ready to pierce the hands of innocent bystanders) Don't shake the sofa, shake your bank manager for a loan You've got a real feel for this bike, they were self tappers and, in enough to pierce the indicator wiring.
Also self tappers used on the plastic cover on the clutch side - no idea why.
As for a loan, I might have to do some "sexual favours" for the bank manager the amount of cash I need.
I hope the manager's not a he and fat and bald 
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Post by steve h on Jul 23, 2014 22:56:04 GMT 1
Were the screws holding the indicators on self tappers?? (And sticking out of the other side ready to pierce the hands of innocent bystanders) Don't shake the sofa, shake your bank manager for a loan You've got a real feel for this bike, they were self tappers and, in enough to pierce the indicator wiring.
Also self tappers used on the plastic cover on the clutch side - no idea why.
As for a loan, I might have to do some "sexual favours" for the bank manager the amount of cash I need.
I hope the manager's not a he and fat and bald
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Post by yamark on Jul 25, 2014 19:15:34 GMT 1
Right here goes, first lot of parts - Norbo is first choice then Yamaha for new parts. Yambits if I'm desperate or the only pattern part available.
2nd hand parts are from people I know [1st choice], then Ebay from international sites as well.
This is the total haul from Yambits - some of the parts weren't good and I didn't use them, but they are very quick
Next pic from Norbo and Ebay, new matching locks, I altered the seat lock to suit, new wiring loom, new oil pump yellow dot, Norbos excellent rear mudguard and brake hoses
Next 2 lots from a 8,000km German bike, gear shaft UK as new
Also a German oil tank, available new but £70 to rich for me on a hidden part
Lastly, I had a pair of discs from years ago and had a mate of mine who's a toolmaker skimmed them [saved money for a change], then I painted
Also bought a rear subframe and painted it, new fixings of course
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Post by LC_BOTT on Jul 25, 2014 19:56:30 GMT 1
coming along nicely by the looks of it, the two shocks look in good condition, think one of mine came from Germany, I don't know the reason why their parts look so much cleaner, can't all be down to salted roads?
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Post by yamark on Jul 25, 2014 20:18:43 GMT 1
One of the shocks [on the right], I stripped and painted, but then the low mileage original was sourced, it's still got perfect gold passivate.
I know what you mean with the German parts they are clean and great condition, don't know why either. I don't think LC's have hit cult status in Germany and probably don't get used much
Regards Mark |
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Post by steve h on Jul 25, 2014 21:57:40 GMT 1
New loom Just hope the shocker is ok, I've got a 3k mile one and its knacked, looks nearly new as well. But its junk and will be binned. |
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Post by yamark on Jul 25, 2014 23:20:30 GMT 1
Gulp, why is it knackered Steve? Damping gone?
Both my shocks have really good damping when the springs are removed.
Also after my back went I was told to lose 2 stone of weight so I'm built like Mr muscle. I can't even open the door to the gym [ I work out with cotton buds now] so I hope that the shock wont be under to much stress. |
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Post by steve h on Jul 25, 2014 23:28:22 GMT 1
Yup, damping gone west, and pissing oil.
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