AUTO
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Chapter IV: Collecting Parts 01/08/03I ordered a bunch of parts from Pro-Flo (great service, by the way). Bronze swingarm bushings, Redwing shocks, tapered steering head bearings, fork seals, an engine seal kit, etc. I picked up the Redwing shocks ($70 US per pair) because I was either going to get a really good set of race-ready shocks (Works Performance or similar), or I would get the cheapest useable pair to use until I could save for the good ones. Thus, the $70 Redwings... I am told they are an acceptable street shock, with their major drawback being soft springs. Motocarerra, Spec II, and PGM Motorcycle Spares are also good sources for RD parts. At this point there are still a bunch of things I need to complete the re-build and be certafiable. Most important, and hardest to get, is a rear master cylinder re-build kit. [Update: picked up a Japanese market FZR400 rear M/C - Click here to see the details.] Also needed are a tail lamp assembly [Update: got one on eBay], RZ front axle and bearings [Update: got them on eBay], RZ brake re-build kit, an RD400F rear wheel bearings, a new battery, and tires. Although the DG pipes are in perfect working condition, I plan on replacing them with a re-buildable stinger-equipped model from Pro-Flo, Motocarrera or Spec II. I haven't decided which yet. I also plan on picking up a set of rearsets, most likely from Motocarrera. I have all the stock bodywork, but they are all in need of a paint job. I plan to re-paint everything the original colour (or as close as I can get). A friend of mine is in the business of making stickers, and I am going to get him to make me a replica sticker kit. Once I have it made, I will post pictures of it here, and if anyone is interested in a set, they can e-mail me.
Just picked up a brand new ATK fork brace for the RZ forks. I'm told this is a well needed upgrade, whether I'm using RD or RZ forks. Plus, it looks really cool...
This is yet another item picked up on eBay. I think I'm addicted.
I just picked up an '86 RZ front wheel and disks from eBay. I'll post pics as soon as the wheel arrives (it is still in transit at this time). Looks like it will need to be powdercoated - the original red was painted over with yellow paint that is chipping off, and I want it to be black to match the rear anyway...
(No offense to the P.O.s, but what is it with painting wheels yellow?)
I now have the Haynes manual, Clymer manual, and Yamaha factory service manual for this bike. Basically the Haynes is great for pictures and graphics, and it is cheap and generally readily available. The Yamaha is much better technically, with full specifications and torque requirements that the Haynes does not quite cover 100%, but it is hard to find an original copy and can be expensive once you do. The Clymer is a really broad, basic manual that covers quite a few models, not just the RD400 - not really recommended, especially if you already have the Haynes or Yamaha factory manual.
  Update 02/05/01 Finally took photos of the new rear master cylinder I ordered from PGM. Click here or use the link at the bottom of the page for the details. I also picked up a used tail light assembly on, you guessed it, eBay. The original on mine was all hacked up, so I managed to get a NOS lens and a new base assembly to replace it. Oh, and apologies to "burnedDave" for hogging all the RD parts on eBay. What can I say, I'm hooked! I'm almost done, though, until I start riding and things start breaking...knock on wood...
Went to Cycle World in Scarborough and ordered a set of inner swingarm bushings (I already have the bronze outer ones from Pro Flo). They arrived in a couple of days, no problem. I also picked up a set of float bowl gaskets while I was there - they actually had a set in stock, lucky me.
Also just got another RZ front wheel, this one in better condition than the last one. See Chapter V: The Fork Swap for the details...
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Lately, 
Here is a pic of the RZ350 front wheel I got from 
Also got a used RD400 chainguard off of 
Yet another 