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Post by earthman on Jan 17, 2020 21:26:16 GMT 1
Nice find is that tank π Steve +1. I've always wondered why the fuel cap on the 350 were designed to be fully removable yet it's predecessor had an hinged fuel cap,....seems like a step backwards to me??
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Post by tacky1 on Jan 17, 2020 23:40:33 GMT 1
Nice find is that tank π Steve +1. I've always wondered why the fuel cap on the 350 were designed to be fully removable yet it's predecessor had an hinged fuel cap,....seems like a step backwards to me?? Im only guessing, But id go with weight saving and build cost, The old cap was metal, and looked class, But prices and building.....
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Post by donkeychomp on Jan 17, 2020 23:49:09 GMT 1
Lovely to see the old gal getting a new lease of life. One thing is that mudguard. The 3 grommets in it don't look right to me. Can you maybe trim it down a little and get rid of that part? Or fill the holes and give it a blow over?
Alex
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Post by dusty350 on Jan 18, 2020 10:12:01 GMT 1
Hi Alex It will get trimmed eventually ! The bottom of the mudguard looks too wide for the relatively skinny wheel/tyre, so I want to reshape it so the back curves look like the front curves. That will lose the 3 holes. Only decided to remove the mudflap once I had refitted the guard, so I will come back to it when I'm looking for a job In the meantime, I've stripped the rear brake system out. Theses are the bits that are now redundant; 20200117_212555 by dusty miller, on Flickr The rear master cylinder is a Magura item, and quite chunky looking. Not sure whether to use it or get a Brembo type like on the Pv's ? I will make the mounting plate and then decide. It should work far more effectively once done. Dusty
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Post by veg on Jan 18, 2020 10:19:02 GMT 1
Another 400 π I do wonder if a metmachex swing arm would look good? Not that I am trying to spend your money, but then I really like the spindly look of the rear end. Coming on very nicely.
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Post by dusty350 on Jan 18, 2020 21:05:24 GMT 1
Hi Veg I've already got my name on the list for the next batch of Metmachex Lc swingarms with slotted adjusters. I'm no.21 on the list, so they are proving popular ! I've also spoken to Tamsyn regards a Met arm for an Rd400 frame, twin shock, but to take an Rgv rear wheel. I'm excited about that one ! Dusty
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Post by peter007 on Jan 19, 2020 18:17:39 GMT 1
Bloody heβll Dusty Iβve just read your initial post to this thread mate , have you ever considered writing a book.π
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Post by dusty350 on Jan 19, 2020 18:50:35 GMT 1
Haha, no, wouldn't want to bore anyone with my biking "near misses" !! Made the bracket for the rear master cylinder today. Only bit of metal I could find was some ally plate about 5mm thick ! A bit heavy duty but at least it wont flex 20200119_164517 by dusty miller, on Flickr The brake action has been transformed, so it was worth the effort. You can see the original frame bracket has been opened up over the years to accept different master cylinders, and now looks quite rough. When the frame eventually gets stripped for powdercoating, that bracket will get cut off. Just need to polish up the rearsets a bit, but that's a job for later in the week. I'm not going to refit the pressure switch banjo bolt - I want to hide all the wiring as much as possible so I will just fit a standard bolt, so it's one less cable to think about. Dusty
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Post by mouse on Jan 19, 2020 18:57:23 GMT 1
Much better solution Dusty, speedy work and looks a million times better!
Mouse
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Post by yamark on Jan 19, 2020 20:21:43 GMT 1
That blends in brilliantly Dusty. Uber elegant solution sir
Mark
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Post by sidney81 on Jan 20, 2020 9:32:52 GMT 1
Looking lovley dusty ,π
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Post by oldbritguy on Jan 20, 2020 13:45:12 GMT 1
That is looking really nice Dusty. I used the exact same rear master cyl on a T140 cafe racer I had a few years back. I think it was originally on an 1150 GS which I found a little wooden when first in use. Never quite got my head around the hydraulic calcs with cylinder bore size against piston sizes in the twin pot caliper. I think the BM had a 4 pot job on the back. I had to play around with lever lengths on the rearsets to get it just right for the lockheed caliper and when finished worked really well. Same as you I incorported a hydraulic brake switch but fitted it to an inline coupler on the brake pipe. As the bike was a right hand gear change with the lever and caliper on opposite sides of the bike, it was easy to hide the coupler between the frame spars, keeping the set up clean. This is a similar thing to what I used but dont think I got it from these guys. catalog.zodiac.nl/en/catalog/12-brake/brake/brakeline-tees/goodridge-rear-brake-line-tees/Again, loving this project of yours and your attention to detail is as usual second to none John
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Post by dusty350 on Apr 4, 2020 11:06:51 GMT 1
Had an issue with this last week. I could smell petrol when I went in the garage, and the only source would have been the 400's tank. No visible leaks, so I thought maybe it was because the garage gets hot when the central heating is on, and you do get a whiff of fuel every now and then. A day later, I can still smell fuel, and a more thorough check showed a small drip on the right side Allspeed. So I wheeled the bike outside for a better look, and then noticed I had left the petrol tap in the "on" position. I'm always careful to turn the tap off and run the carbs dry before storing the bike, so I don't know why I didn't do that after the last run up ?? Anyway, I tried the kickstart, by hand, and it locked up So Im now guessing at hydraulic lock, and a crankcase full of fuel, the petrol escaping the exhaust ports and collecting on the lowest point of the pipes. Only way to check is remove the pipes, so I take each off in turn and manage to empty approx. half a litre of black fuel out of each pipe !. Pipes back on, and now it will kick over freely, but wont fire, so pipes back off and then I kept kicking it over, watching fuel spitting out of the open exhaust ports. Ignition on, and she fired up - bloody loud without the pipes fitted, and that really cleared the crankcase !!. Pipes back on, everything bolted back up tight, and she fired and ran nicely, with no obvious ill effects. Just goes to show, always remember to turn your tap off on an old bike, and don't rely on 40+ year old float valves !! Dusty
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Post by midlifecrisisrd on Apr 4, 2020 11:12:22 GMT 1
My TS250x used to do that and was a bitch to start after
One time it wouldn't go and just kept wetting the plug. I hadn't taken the exhaust off but I I heated up the plug with a blow torch, fitted it with gloves then started kicking
The spray out the tailpipe was crazy. Luckily it didn't light π
Steve
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Post by donkeychomp on Apr 4, 2020 21:54:30 GMT 1
Phew...glad that the bike is okay Dusty.
Alex
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Post by dusty350 on Apr 5, 2020 8:10:50 GMT 1
Yeah, me too mate. Didn't fancy another engine rebuild ! Fired it up again on Saturday and it's fine. In fact, this Covid lockdown will hopefully see me bleed the brakes and get it roadworthy. I need to apply for tax and Mot exemption too. Plenty to keep me busy ! Dusty
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Post by dusty350 on Aug 21, 2020 11:44:18 GMT 1
Well, as nice as it's been having the 430e back, she's gonna move on soon , and be advertised for sale. I had an initial flurry of enthusiasm, improving a couple of bits and buying some new parts, but I've not ridden it once, and had to consign her to the shed as there is not enough room in my tiny garage for 3 bikes. I gave her another deep clean the other day, tidied up some wiring, and bled the brakes front and rear. Took a few pics in the garden too; 20200818_184813 by dusty miller, on Flickr 20200818_184844 by dusty miller, on Flickr 20200818_185032 by dusty miller, on Flickr My mission is finish my CafΓ© racer bike, and progress the other 400 build, so hopefully the 430 will fund that. Dusty
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Post by arrdy350 on Aug 21, 2020 11:53:20 GMT 1
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Post by midlifecrisisrd on Aug 21, 2020 12:09:19 GMT 1
Looking real good Dusty π
Pity you are selling it but I understand what you mean. Now point keeping them when there is no room and not being used
Steve
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Post by tony2stroke on Aug 21, 2020 12:38:33 GMT 1
I hope you get a fair price back and don't loose out on it, GLWTS
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Post by flames on Aug 21, 2020 20:04:34 GMT 1
If I had to pick my all time favourite special, I do believe this is the one. Red is my favourite colour and I love the colour scheme on this. To me the bike is perfect. GLWTS, I'm just gutted that I am not in a position to buy it.
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