AUTO
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Chapter VIII: Reassembly Continued
Update 02/07/26I picked up some "engine manifold paint" in flat black from Canadian Tire yesterday. Says its rated to 600 degrees C or something like that, and does not ask to be baked or cured at high temps after applying. I just finished prepping my DG chambers and will apply the paint probably tomorrow. I'll have pics of the finished product soon... I was after something that did not require baking or heating immediately after applying, since I do not have an oven to bake them and the bike will not be running for at least a month or two, if not next season. There was also some high temp Tremclad product available for BBQs but it was rated for a lower temp (300C or something like that), and even though it was Tremclad it still called for removal of all rust. If it could be painted on over rust like some other Tremclad product I would have gone for it but I went with the engine manifold stuff because of the higher temp rating and the fact that I would have to prep more carefully either way. I ultimately did not get every speck of rust off, as the front end of both chambers were quite rusted. I used steel wool and this chemical rust remover stuff (also from Canadian Tire) which was basically acid, which did a decent job but not 100%. I plan on replacing these chambers in the next couple of years so I am not after a 100% perfect job... Again, pics soon... I also got around to photocopying the RD400F parts fiche I picked up on eBay. Unfortunately, the photocopyer was kind of archaic, so the copies are not great. I've scanned one to see what it looks like on the computer, but the results are less than ideal. I can read them (barely), but when scanned to the computer they aren't great. I think my original plan of converting them to PDF and posting them on the web or offering CDs would be a bit of a waste of time, as the reproduction just isn't good enough. If I can locate a better reader/photocopier, this may change, but for now it is not happening. Again, I can (just) read the orignals, so if anyone is in need of part numbers, just ask and I can relay them. Whew! If you've read this far you really must be an RD fanatic...
Update 03/03/23
Reproduction Decals specialize in hard to find decals for classic bikes, and plan to have (if they already haven't) decals for all models of RD sold in North America. If you have an RD and need decals for your restoration, drop them a line. For my project, I am still undecided on the paint job I will do. I have ordered the decals because I want to be able to return the bike to stock looking in the future, even if I do not go with a stock paint job right now. I have been tossing a few ideas around, from the stock white tank, sidecovers, and tailsection with red/black stripes, but with a solid red front fender (similar to some of the racebikes of that generation), to a full Yamaha blue with white decals modern style paint job, to a "half and half" split between the original white with stripes on one side and the modern Yamaha blue on the other, split right down the middle of the tank, tail and front fender. Or there is always the classic Yamaha yellow, black and white (Kenny Roberts RZ style). Regardless, I will always have a replica of the original decal set to return the bike to its original glory at any time.
 I have also picked up a couple of rear fenders off of eBay. One is from an XS400, the other off of a '76-'78 RD400. I bought the XS fender mostly for some of the tail light parts, but also on the off chance the fender itself fit the RD400F. No luck, though, so I ended up selling it. The RD fender I purchased actually does not fit all that well, either. However, with a bit of dremelling it should work fine for now.
Update 03/05/11The RD list has come through again! Thanks to a fellow lister from the Ottawa region, I now have a genuine RD400F rear fender to match the rest of the bike. No need to dremel the '76-'78 fender. The '79 XS400 rear fender and the '76-'78 RD rear fender have been sold.
Update 03/08/17
And what do we have here? Carron pipes! The previous owner got them from a small local builder who fabbed them up with mounts for the Daytona Special. Originally designed for the RZ350, their powerband characteristics are a bit of a question mark, but the gentleman I purchased them from had them running on his Daytona and reports a nice power curve. The only thing is that they are missing the exhaust flanges. If you happen to have a set lying around, let me know! My dented up but freshly painted DG pipes will not be put up for sale until I have the bike running properly with the new pipes (could be a while!). Once I get the new pipes fitted, jetted, and working fine I will sell the dented up DGs...
Update: September 8, 2005I have received a few emails asking if I have finished my RD400F project, or whether the project is dead. Well, the project is neither finished nor dead. But it has, unfortunately, not progressed very much in the last year or so. I could make 100 excuses for this, including the usual "no time", "too many hobbies", "no cash", etc., but I won't. I will just say that this project will get finished. When? I do not know.In the meantime I have put several thousand kms on a nice SV650, and more recently a '98 TL1000S which I am currently enjoying (see pic below with a friend's YZF750, taken last weekend). If you have any questions about my RD project, feel free to contact me. In the meantime, happy riding!
 Update: April 26, 2006Work continues! I just took the '79 cylinders in to Concepts on Wheels (formerly Leitner & Bush) to get them re-bored since these were the cylinders that were damaged when the motor originally went. They took a look and found that one of the cylinder walls had been gouged so badly that a new sleeve would be necessary. Doh! They are in the process of pricing out what the damage would be if I get this done (sleeve, labour to take old sleeve out and insert new sleeve, re-bore both cylinders, pistons, rings), but the initial "off the top of my head" quote is around $700. Doh Doh! Looks like I'm in the hunt for a new cylinder, anyone have any Canadian Daytona cylinders hanging around?
Update: December 2008I've almost thrown in the towel. I'm thinking about selling this project. If you are seriously interested in picking up a 1979 RD400F Daytona Special complete-but-in-pieces project bike with a few spares from Markham, Ontario, post up here and we can work something out. Not interested in shipping. Not interested in parting out. No trades.
Questions? Comments? Click Here
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