251LC
Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2017 1:30 am
*** If anyone is interested in reading about what im doing with this one in a more condensed and rewritten form, Ive hosted the build on my website now:
http://2smoked.com/Yamaha_251LC_1982_RD251LC_Home.html
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For a while now, a couple of years at least, Ive harboured a two fold plan to build an interesting LC... the ethos being:
1, To use as many of the parts Ive got left over from other projects, ‘restoring rather than buying parts’.
2, It will be a 250...! Eeek... I know... Really? Yes....
It will not be a standard build, but have a few nice and modded features, this keeps it away from trying to build a perfect restoration and also means I can use some cut down and modified parts. It will probably have Japanese spec paint, but I’ll leave that decision for nearer the time...
Ok, I know youre dying to know... Why a 250?! Well the plan was to use the coveted 51L 250 top end on a YPVS bottom end in the LC frame; essentially to be a fast 250LC. The idea was to call it the “251LC”... Thereby getting the 51L info onto the side cover and perhaps peaking the interest of those who know these bikes. The beauty of the 51L 250 top end is the addition of the Boysen port. Its the only cylinder Yamaha made with this configuration and the 84 (japan only) and 85 (Aus and Japan) 250s really worked well with this cylinder and the new type of exhausts, a real step up from the old 29L. Sadly I expect it was too expensive to licence the technology for the whole range so no 350 ever got it. Kawasaki did the same thing with its KDX250SR models in the 90s, they were the same cylinder as the KX with the boysen undrilled. Yeah, you just know what we all did to those ;) The clever bit about the 51L engine is that its listed at 48bhp, and as such its smooth running and tractable. The LC 350 is actually 47bhp, less smooth (crank designed for a 250 not a 350) and has more of a powerband. Now of course the LC350 is no bad thing, we all love those but Im keen to find out what the same power in the later smaller capacity engine will be like in the same same frame. And I can always turn it into a 350 later if needed of course. :)
What clinched the deal is that I already had the top end from my F1, I already had a spare ypvs bottom end and a bunch of other LC parts that Id acquired over the years but the main stumbling block was as ever downunder; finding a frame. I bought a whole 250LC a while back but it was too rusty to use having been left outside for 10+ years. That bike did give me the rest of the parts, well those that werent too rusty or worn out to use, as you can see it wasn’t exactly ‘pretty’.
The engine and frame were sold on and the tank on this bike is the one I cut open to show you how just because a PO says a bike holds fuel, doesn’t mean that its actually fuel or that its holding it. In fairness the PO probably didn’t know it wasn’t fuel, the cap was firmly stuck on and what was in it did ‘slosh’ about when it was shaken. I found when cutting it open that the water had seeped in through holes in the top metalwork... Eeek, a real mess.
Time is what you need when sourcing parts for projects like this and a few months back a good friend locally messaged me to say he’d located me a frame, he was looking harder than I was it seemed lol. Thanks mate! It was out in the countryside and he’d already bought the wheels and other parts from it. what was a bit scary was when asked for a photo he went outside and took this, at least it doesnt rain too much where he lived LOL
We got it home and it turned out to be a 350 frame, something quite rare in Aus.
Here it is stripped and keeping my 31k company in line waiting to be blasted and painted.
Of course if these all came about together it would have been better to use the 350 frame on my 421 and the 250 frame I modded for that on this build but hey its all bit late for that with all the mods done to the 421s frame, such is life, some would argue that I only got the offer of the new frame as Id just finished the 421 frame mods. Lol!
So what’s happening with this all now? Well I have the paint to paint the frame, I just need to clean and blast it. I will do that at the same time as the 31k project’s frame of course as Ive got to get set up to do that work. The rest of the progress has been to go about my usual process of doing small subprojects and squirreling them away for an easy rebuild later. With that in mind I’ve refurbished a set of switches from a bunch that a mate sent me as he was throwing them out. I’ve also started to refurb a set of footpegs, they just need rubbers and pins which can still be had from Yamaha. Both those tasks follow the first rule of my plan for this bike’s build as you can buy both those sets of parts brand new still from Yamaha, yet Ive enough good parts and access to blasting and powdercoating rigs so if anyone can/should restore these I can. Naturally rebuilds are cheaper than buying new, but time taken can not be had back.
Ive also put a bunch of original LC parts in for zinc plating, some of which are for this project and I've cleaned up and polished the black plastics and repaired and painted the center stand and the rear subframe. I had already restored a 250 rear wheel for my resto LC and then found a 350, so Ive got that put aside for this bike and just need to do the same work on the spare front wheel I have... If you’ve read the other threads you know that Ive powdercoated a bunch of bits recently and while I was doing bits for other bikes I also did bits for this one, so things like indicator stalks, headlight ears and tie bars are already in the box. A friend of mine also supplied me some clocks which Ive cleaned up and restored along a bunch of other really nice parts (clock cover, headlight rim, rad cover). Ive also sorted the YPVS wiring setup from an old F2 loom and located a PV controller and servo, just need an 85 250 CDI, anyone? In fact while im on the scrounge, if anyone has any LC parts they know they wont use but could be restored then feel free to contact me. I would really like to buy as few new bits for this one... not cos im stingy, more that I want to prove what can be restored if you put your mind to it.
Ok, the bad news for those who like what’s happening here... This project will sit in the queue after the 31k, which is after the 421 and the resto LC, so don’t expect too much progress too soon. And no fun pics as yet, not much to see really...
http://2smoked.com/Yamaha_251LC_1982_RD251LC_Home.html
---
For a while now, a couple of years at least, Ive harboured a two fold plan to build an interesting LC... the ethos being:
1, To use as many of the parts Ive got left over from other projects, ‘restoring rather than buying parts’.
2, It will be a 250...! Eeek... I know... Really? Yes....
It will not be a standard build, but have a few nice and modded features, this keeps it away from trying to build a perfect restoration and also means I can use some cut down and modified parts. It will probably have Japanese spec paint, but I’ll leave that decision for nearer the time...
Ok, I know youre dying to know... Why a 250?! Well the plan was to use the coveted 51L 250 top end on a YPVS bottom end in the LC frame; essentially to be a fast 250LC. The idea was to call it the “251LC”... Thereby getting the 51L info onto the side cover and perhaps peaking the interest of those who know these bikes. The beauty of the 51L 250 top end is the addition of the Boysen port. Its the only cylinder Yamaha made with this configuration and the 84 (japan only) and 85 (Aus and Japan) 250s really worked well with this cylinder and the new type of exhausts, a real step up from the old 29L. Sadly I expect it was too expensive to licence the technology for the whole range so no 350 ever got it. Kawasaki did the same thing with its KDX250SR models in the 90s, they were the same cylinder as the KX with the boysen undrilled. Yeah, you just know what we all did to those ;) The clever bit about the 51L engine is that its listed at 48bhp, and as such its smooth running and tractable. The LC 350 is actually 47bhp, less smooth (crank designed for a 250 not a 350) and has more of a powerband. Now of course the LC350 is no bad thing, we all love those but Im keen to find out what the same power in the later smaller capacity engine will be like in the same same frame. And I can always turn it into a 350 later if needed of course. :)
What clinched the deal is that I already had the top end from my F1, I already had a spare ypvs bottom end and a bunch of other LC parts that Id acquired over the years but the main stumbling block was as ever downunder; finding a frame. I bought a whole 250LC a while back but it was too rusty to use having been left outside for 10+ years. That bike did give me the rest of the parts, well those that werent too rusty or worn out to use, as you can see it wasn’t exactly ‘pretty’.
The engine and frame were sold on and the tank on this bike is the one I cut open to show you how just because a PO says a bike holds fuel, doesn’t mean that its actually fuel or that its holding it. In fairness the PO probably didn’t know it wasn’t fuel, the cap was firmly stuck on and what was in it did ‘slosh’ about when it was shaken. I found when cutting it open that the water had seeped in through holes in the top metalwork... Eeek, a real mess.
Time is what you need when sourcing parts for projects like this and a few months back a good friend locally messaged me to say he’d located me a frame, he was looking harder than I was it seemed lol. Thanks mate! It was out in the countryside and he’d already bought the wheels and other parts from it. what was a bit scary was when asked for a photo he went outside and took this, at least it doesnt rain too much where he lived LOL
We got it home and it turned out to be a 350 frame, something quite rare in Aus.
Here it is stripped and keeping my 31k company in line waiting to be blasted and painted.
Of course if these all came about together it would have been better to use the 350 frame on my 421 and the 250 frame I modded for that on this build but hey its all bit late for that with all the mods done to the 421s frame, such is life, some would argue that I only got the offer of the new frame as Id just finished the 421 frame mods. Lol!
So what’s happening with this all now? Well I have the paint to paint the frame, I just need to clean and blast it. I will do that at the same time as the 31k project’s frame of course as Ive got to get set up to do that work. The rest of the progress has been to go about my usual process of doing small subprojects and squirreling them away for an easy rebuild later. With that in mind I’ve refurbished a set of switches from a bunch that a mate sent me as he was throwing them out. I’ve also started to refurb a set of footpegs, they just need rubbers and pins which can still be had from Yamaha. Both those tasks follow the first rule of my plan for this bike’s build as you can buy both those sets of parts brand new still from Yamaha, yet Ive enough good parts and access to blasting and powdercoating rigs so if anyone can/should restore these I can. Naturally rebuilds are cheaper than buying new, but time taken can not be had back.
Ive also put a bunch of original LC parts in for zinc plating, some of which are for this project and I've cleaned up and polished the black plastics and repaired and painted the center stand and the rear subframe. I had already restored a 250 rear wheel for my resto LC and then found a 350, so Ive got that put aside for this bike and just need to do the same work on the spare front wheel I have... If you’ve read the other threads you know that Ive powdercoated a bunch of bits recently and while I was doing bits for other bikes I also did bits for this one, so things like indicator stalks, headlight ears and tie bars are already in the box. A friend of mine also supplied me some clocks which Ive cleaned up and restored along a bunch of other really nice parts (clock cover, headlight rim, rad cover). Ive also sorted the YPVS wiring setup from an old F2 loom and located a PV controller and servo, just need an 85 250 CDI, anyone? In fact while im on the scrounge, if anyone has any LC parts they know they wont use but could be restored then feel free to contact me. I would really like to buy as few new bits for this one... not cos im stingy, more that I want to prove what can be restored if you put your mind to it.
Ok, the bad news for those who like what’s happening here... This project will sit in the queue after the 31k, which is after the 421 and the resto LC, so don’t expect too much progress too soon. And no fun pics as yet, not much to see really...