New member, new project

[dusty350]

Hi,
Just joined the forum and recognise a few names. Always been into strokers, but mainly aircooled 400's. Sold my last 400e to fund an Xjr1300 which didn't stay long;







I built this from parts from all over the place and had some trick parts fitted. The Xjr was a bargain but the Rd had to go to fund it. At the same time, I had a Tzr 1Kt with a 350 1WT engine fitted;



That went well with the Swarbricks, but I always wanted an Lc2.
I've only had one Lc before, a one owner F1 that I did a complete nut and bolt rebuild on as it had stood in a garage for 10 years;






Sold it once I finished it. I have never liked the fully faired look. I bought the F1 as it was cheap at £300.00. Anyway, I ended up swapping the Tzr for a nice Lc2 that Rich had built a few years back;



I had plans to put 3 spoke front and rear ends on this. I bought some stainless large can Allspeeds off the fella that welds them up at Gibsons, and had big plans for a special rebuild. Trouble is, the Lc2 is too good to start messing with, so with the Xjr money burning a hole in my pocket, I started looking for another project, which brings me to the subject of this post. Ebay turned up an Lc350 not too far away, a deal was struck and she now lives in my garage after being under a sheet in a back garden for 3 years



It has Swarbricks fitted, a Spax shock, and it looks like Hejira did the Ypvs suspension alterations. The engine was seized from standing, the forks were badly pitted, Rd500 brake calipers are not working, plus general corrosion of parts associated with being outside for so long. She is now totally stripped down. The Lc engine has been cleaned up and sold, and I bought a 22000 mile F2 engine with powerjets that will slot in it's place. The frame,swingarm, subframe, bottom yoke, side stand, engine brackets, shock spring, clock bracket, lift handle, torsion bars and wheels are all at the powdercoaters. Everything gloss black except for red shock spring and white wheels. The footrest hangers and caliper adapter brackets are at the polishers, and I have stripped and resprayed the suspension linkages. I have new clock casings that I will fit once I have taken the clocks apart to clean. I have got both Lc2 and F2 forks, but have yet to source an Lc2 top yoke. I had a bracket welded in for the powervalve motor before it went for powdercoating, plus a lock stop was welded on. It'll need new bars and headlight, plus loads of odds and sods, but I hope to have a rolling chassis fairly soon.



I'll post pics as I do the work.

Regards

Dusty

[lcowner]

love the 400 and the f1 m8 keep the piccys coming.like the way the 400e sits very racey looking!

[dusty350]

Hi,
The 400E had a Hejira Lc swingarm with an R6 piggyback shock. The wheels were from a Jap spec Rzr250 powervalve and were 17". Forks were Rzr with 3ma calipers. Every last inch of that bike was either cleaned, polished, powdercoated or re-newed !! RDChris on the aircooled forum owns it now, and he has gone for a more standard paintjob which is what I would have done if I had kept it. Fully intend to keep my Lc's though

Regards

Dusty

[LC'Adam]

Yep have to admit mate, you have done a fantastic job with that 400 A/C, can't wait to see the 350lc come together. Love the PV's too, nice collection


Adam.

[mellow]

Hi and welcome. Love the F1...i had one of those as my first big bike after passing test.Bloke who lives near me had it for years.....wonder who has it now its still taxed

[Paul Dawkins]

O no

Not Rusty Dusty ;D

[dusty350]

Hi
Thanks for the kind comments. The Lc will get the same amount of attention as the 400 did, money permitting !!I have sold parts that I no longer need to fund the bits that I do. As you can see from these next pics, she needs some tlc;

















The forks are getting swapped for either Lc2 or F2, haven't decided which yet. I have still to track down an Lc2 top yoke to suit the 35mm forks and keep the upright bars. I sold the 350 lc engine for what I bought the F2 for, so I am happy with that. The Lc needed at least a crank rebuild.I also need to get a coolant tank as the other was butchered to fit elsewhere I also wanted to fit an Lc airbox, but I think the top shock mount may foul the bottom of the box. I wanted to avoid using individual filters if I could help it.
I'll post the "after" pics as soon as I progress !

Regards

Dusty

[dusty350]

Hi,
Stripped the brakes down today. Actually managed to pump the pistons out with the master cylinder, so they weren't as knacked as I thought ;D. Plan is to get them vapour blasted and treat to new seals and maybe pistons, I'll get a better look at them to see if they can be salvaged. I am planning the front end set up at the moment, and have a couple of questions. I am using an F2 bottom yoke. Will the twin horn bracket that you find for sale for 350lc's fit the F2 yoke? I am not used to Lc yokes so wondered if the Ypvs splitter will get in the way. Also, anybody know where I can source an Lc2 top yoke ? E-bay doesn't show any and my local engineers are snowed under with work so were reluctant to try boring out the Lc top yoke that I showed them. I have an F2 top yoke but want to keep the Lc type bars. The list of bits I need is getting longer by the day !! Oh the joy of rebuilding old bikes !!

Regards

Dusty

[Norbo]

Im realy loving the 400 and the F1 is lovely . i bet you make a spanking job of the lc if the others you have are anything to go by .

[dusty350]

Cheers Norbo,I will be in touch soon as my shopping list is nearly done!

Dusty

[vin]

Yep that 400 especially is top draw

Always fancied doing an air cooled 400....... maybe one day if the right donor bike turns up!

Don't know the air cooled bikes very well but are barrels interchangeable ie 250 bottom end and 400 top?

[dusty350]

Hi Vin,
Your special is stunning mate, a real credit to you. An aircooled project would be a doddle after that !! You can put 350 aircooled barrels onto a 250 bottom end but not 400 barrels. The 400 crank has larger flywheels so wont fit in a 250 crankcase either. I started off with a bare crankcase and 4 400e flywheels. The 250 gearbox is the same as a 400, but the clutch ring gear and primary are different. It isn't easy sourcing good second hand 400e engines. I found it a lot easier getting a valve engine. I spent over £500.00 just on that engine and it didn't need the top end doing either as it was a good 430 conversion;











It had a hydraulic clutch conversion, Pjme rebuilt crank, and all the seals and bearings were new Yam items from Granbys. I even changed the shift drum bearing and hidden first gear bearing. Granby's supplied virtually everything from stock.
It's another of my bikes that I didn't want to sell, but had to to fund the Xjr

Dusty

[Paul Dawkins]

Dusty
I may have the 31k top and bottom yokes.
Do you still need some?
If so I will have a look in the shed..

[dusty350]

Hi Paul,
Yes, I really only need the top yoke. It looks like an Lc top yoke but is 35mm as opposed to 32 for the Lc. It doesn't matter if it's scabby as I will either get it painted or polished. Let me know if you have one and I'll cross your palm with beer tokens

Cheers

Dusty

[watchhislegs]

Looks like you're a dab hand mate, I'm sure you'll get it all sorted in no time!

[dusty350]

Got some bits back this week. The first lot of powdercoating was picked up from Windsor this afternoon ;




Everything is gloss black except the shock spring which I wanted in a bright red. The Spax shock has been resprayed and the adjuster rings cleaned up, so I will put that back together over the weekend. I also picked up my footrest hangers and caliper adapter plates yesterday;



Think I am going to use the Lc2 forks as I can use the original mudguard, plus they are already polished. I pick the wheels up next week. I took a side panel to the powdercoaters when I dropped them off so they can try and match the wheels to the panels. I have bought a coolant reservoir off ebay as the old ond was cut about so it could be re-sited as the rear master cylinder took its place in the frame, but I will redo the cylinder position or even do the Nk tube setup. Still need to source an Lc2 top yoke, so if anyones got one spare . Got a shopping list for Norbo sorted out too. Calipers front and back are now stripped and will be heading to Reading next week for vapour blasting. I'll post pics as I go.

Regards

Dusty

[dusty350]

Made a bit of progress over the weekend. Think I have sourced a 31k top yoke, so that's hopefully coming this week. Also, put my Spax back together. The "before" pic isn't great but gives you an idea;




The "after" pic is a bit better !;





I scrubbed up the oil tank and it now looks much better. I have cleaned and sprayed the radiator and regreased all the suspension linkages, which thankfully were all in good condition.


Gonna order some goodies from Norbo tomorrow.

Regards

Dusty

[dusty350]

Hi,
Had some time today so I wheeled the Hybrid project out for some update pics. I had some welding done before the powdercoating was done. I had made a bracket for the powervalve servo motor and clamped it in place for welding;







I experimented with different ways of fixing the motor and this seemed the best. I also had a stop welded onto the headstock as the original was missing ??
Then everything was powdercoated, either gloss black or white for the wheels. I bought some rim tape to try and match the dark blue of the Lc stripes and add a bit of colour to the wheels;



The front tyre was a part worn with 200 miles on it and the rear is a brand new Pirelli. I rubbed down the disc centres and resprayed with Hammerite gloss;



The forks are Lc2 which I got off ebay already polished. I had to get a new Shraeder valve for one of them and cleaned up the tops, sorted new oil and preloaded the springs which has worked a treat. I have fitted new wheel bearings and regreased all stem bearings and suspension bearings. I have rebuilt the Spax and resprayed the body and had the spring powdercoated.

All new rubber grommets off Norbo, plus bars and horns, stainless side stand spring and stainless head race cover. I stripped the ignition coil and resprayed that too.
The footplates were pro polished and Norbo supplied a bracket for the R6 rear master cylinder;



I noticed a crack in the rear disc when I rebuilt the wheel, so a new Kagazumi was ordered;



The oil and fluid tank were scrubbed up as best I could and they came up really well. I bought a new rear light from Yambits as the metal of the old one was badly rusted;



The next job is to strip and rebuild the clocks. I have new top and bottom cases. I think I will have to use F2 electrics to match the engine, so I will try and source a loom, switchgear etc. I bought an Fzr1000 master cylinder so I will fit that for the front brakes. I have a lovely pair of stainless large can Allspeeds so may eventually fit those instead of the Swarbricks. I have given up on the idea of using an Lc airbox so foam filters will eventually be used, but that's all in the future. I wanted to get as far as I could with the rolling chassis. I am gonna try and mate an Lc back section mudguard with the Ypvs front half that is already fitted. I got the grab rail re-chromed which was a bit of an extravegance but as its the only bit of chrome on the bike I thought it would look nice.



All the bolts nuts and washers have been changed to stainless allen heads. I am keeping the Rd500 brake calipers which will be vapour blasted and then rebuilt. The adapter plates have already been polished.
Once I have gone as far as possible with the chassis I will start on the F2 valve engine which needs a really good clean for starters !





I'll post more pics as I progress.

Regards

Dusty

[winnerevo1]

Looking very clean and well finished.

BTW, your clock bracket is fitted wrong, it should be mounted underneath the yoke as opposed to on top. Looks gash when fitted that way.

[paulo]

Looking great mate, nice upgrades too, not too much, so still retaining that 80's look. Wish my YPVS engine looked as good as that - clutch casing off now, so no excuses now for not repainting, also just managed to get a LC flywheel side casing for the look i want - keep it going mate.

[dusty350]

Hi,
The Hybrid project is moving on a bit more sedately at the mo , but I have got some more jobs done. I am going to use F2 electrics to match the engine, so I have sourced the switchgear from an F2. I have fitted new grips, plus I stripped the clocks, cleaned all the glass inside then rebuilt them with new cases;






I also fitted the Fzr1000 master cylinder and reworked an old horn bracket so I could mount the front reservoir neatly;



The F2 coil wont fit the Lc coil mounts, plus I wanted to keep the F2 Cdi in the area it would be on a valve so I got some 3mm ally plate made up to mount the coil and Cdi, and as I am not using an airbox, it all worked out great;




I also fitted the servo motor to the mount I had welded in prior to powdercoating;





I fitted a new rear mudguard, then the tail fairing with the newly chromed grab rail;



Still got the brakes to sort out front and rear and then the rolling chassis is sorta done. I'll post some more up as I progress.

Regards

Dusty

[paulo]

Hi m8, bikes looking real nice. Hope the bits i sent were of some use. Only one thing m8. clock bracket fits to the underside of the top yoke - only know this as that's how i fitted it too !.

[dusty350]

Hi Paulo,
The bits you sent were very usefull, thanks again for them . I know the clocks should be mounted under the lugs but I kinda like the more upright look of the clocks. I might change them when I fit the headlight bowl later this week if it doesn't look right though !

Regards

Dusty

[dusty350]

Hi,
Couple of bits done recently.Chrome headlight brackets fitted along with a headlight bowl. I did try the clocks mounted under the lugs but actually prefer them "higher up" so that's how they are gonna stay. I also got my original Lc bars blasted and powdercoated gloss black and I think they look better;




Also got a rad guard off e-bay for a tenner as it had light surface rust. Got tht powdercoated too;



Apart from the brakes the rolling chassis is virtually done, so I have started stripping the F2 engine down. I am going to channel my time and limited funds into getting that done. I dont think its been apart before, but I have to split the cases to fit the Lc mechanical tacho drive. I am getting the crankcases vapour blasted along with the barrels, then I will rebuild with new seals and possibly bearings. I will check the tolerances on the crank too. The bores look fine and the pistons are standard size and just need a clean up. I now plan to use my stainless Allspeeds on this bike and leave the standard pipes on my other valve. I think it will be easier to set up the engine with pod filters too. Plus the sale of the Swarbricks will help fund the rebuild. Only issue with the engine so far is the flywheel magnets come into contact with the generator pic up;




That cant be right. Crank seems to spin true and no sign of damage so maybe the pick up needs moving out a bit.
Regards

Dusty

[dusty350]

Rolling chassis is at a standstill at the moment, so my attention has moved onto the engine. It is now completely stripped down and I have bagged all the parts up and taken loads of digi photo's. The only thing I had a problem removing was the clutch arm bearing in the top case. Had to butcher it to get it out but I plan to change all the bearings anyway so not a big deal. Tomorrow I am off to RD Cox in Reading to get the cases and barrels vapour blasted;













Once that's done I will start getting it back together. I already have new stainless bolts and screws to replace the Yam cross head items, and new stainless nuts and bolts for the cases.
The powervalves will need a spruce up too;




I will post some pics of the rebuild as I go.

Dusty

[dusty350]

Got my barrels and cases sorted today ;








I love this point in an engine rebuild, a blank canvas that you can start adding parts to. I will ring Granby's tomorrow to get the first lot of parts. Cases and barrels will stay satin ally with the head and powervalve covers gloss black along with engine side cases. I can start slowly moving onwards again

Dusty

[dusty350]

Stuck my cases and barrels in the bath yesterday and gave them a good hosing with the shower hose. Still managed to shift some blast media but they are clean now. Always worth doing again even though the blasters gave it a good going over. Today I tackled the powervalves, and they came up well;




Thought I would clean the pistons too. Have done 1 so far as I had to remove the rings to clean the grooves of carbon deposits that made the bottom ring especially a bit gummy;





I'll do the other piston and reed cages tomorrow.

Dusty

[Norbo]

I love the look of freshley vapered casings .

[dusty350]

Hi,
Gave the cylinder head a bit of a clean up;




The paintwork on the head is pretty good with just a few minor marks. Haven't decided yet whether to paint it or not . Also have put the reed valves back in after stripping them down and cleaning/polishing them. New gaskets, stainless allen bolts and new drain washers with stainless cap heads;






I am starting the engine rebuild from the bottom up, and I bought a new bearing and circlip for the selector drum. The cross head screw would not budge so I had to drill the head off, and subsequently had to carefully dremell a groove in the screw shank so I could remove it;




The masking tape is to stop any swarf finding its way into the drum housing. With the screw out of the way I removed the circlip and bearing and replaced with the new items. Finished off with a stainless allen bolt threadlocked in place;




I have bought lots of e clips, seals and o rings from Granbys, plus I ordered all new gearbox bearings today so hopefully the build can move on a bit. More soon.

Regards

Dusty

[bertiemollie]

Mar 14, 2011 7:09:05 GMT 1 Norbo said:

the F1 is lovely .

+1.

i'll be doing my F1 over the next few yesrs so may be in contact if you have any pictures / records.

BTW - they all look very well.

Cheers

Andrew