Aussie 83 rz350 restoration

[Darrell]

"Very nice work,makes me want to build mine..."

Ditto! Great looking so far, Graham! Your work is motivational.

[graham heise]

update. I set up a flickr account to hopefully upload a few photo's of progress. this is a test to see if i can upload photo's

[graham heise]

hooray. the photo uploaded. another photo with fairing mock up. next job is to install carbs, airbox, wiring loom.
url=https://flic.kr/p/2iQU3H9][/url]

[kobra]

Lookin' good!

[silverstrom]

Looks better than new. Well done

[graham heise]

Thanks for the compliments gents. I,m lucky my painter is one of the best around, Although i have said to him and he agrees, "your not cheap, you take to long, but i can't fault your work". Since this corona virus lock down, a few changes have been made. Now i'm building the bike in my living room. . Also i have adjusted my goals as to how i will complete this build. I am now pretty much trying to finish with the parts i have.
Some components i would like to buy new but now i am cleaning, polishing and refurbishing as many parts as i can. Although i have original forks, mudguard and front calipers, the forks are pitted, MC and calipers seized, the cost to recondition led me to using a good set of 1986 variable damper forks and triumph 4 pot calipers that i had.
So those items are not original but are upgrades in my mind. Today i ran the wiring loom and mounted new indicators. Hopefully i'll pick up new clutch and speedo cables from yamaha this week, then i will mount the carbs and airbox. I need to fix some connectors in the ignition switch and fit power valve servo and cables. then i should be good for a start up whilst i wait for bikini fairing to come back from the painter. I need to buy a new windscreen. i will start another post for recommendations for windscreen supply.

[Ricino]

Beautiful results!

BTW it looks wayyy better with the italic lettering

[85RZwade]

Great attention to detail, Graham! Keep at it

[graham heise]

G'day. I've been toiling away on the rz. If i was on an hourly rate i'd be getting overtime. Every part, bolt, bracket needs a clean or a full strip down to be degreased, sanded, masked then painted and thats only if i can find it. Correct bolts and screws are the vain of my existence.
Then there's corona virus hold ups. I ordered indicator dampers from yamaha last week. the wait time is 12 weeks due to All back orders to japan will be shipped by sea freight. I still ordered them and at the same time received a call back from a local LC guy who said he had a pair with stalks included. Pick'd them up on the way home and scored a high tone, left hand rz horn with bracket for $15. Chatting to Mr Lc , He says you haven't seen my 500?? Yer boi. under the house covered by a blanket RZ500r jap specs with jackl chambers and fuck all on the clock. I stood there loving it and also thinking> Hey the 83 i'm doing up has the same red white and blue paint.
Progress. rear brakes installed and bled (wrong 85 onward bolts),front bakes installed waiting to be bled (triumph tiger 800 M/C triumph 4 pots). Other parts fitted include Carbs, indicators, clocks, seat latch's and airbox.
Lots more to do but i'm only a few hours away from running the engine through a heat cycle

[graham heise]

Gday. Ran into few issue's today. Firstly my throttle tube has some damage so i called yamaha, apparently it is no longer available. Does anyone know of an alternative from maybe another model? Another thing. My power valve comtroller doesn't work. I tried the controller from my other RZ to confirm it's the controller. I have a spare later model 1986 rz250 controller that is slightly different shape box and one plug has an external earth plug. I converted the plug and it powers up and go's through the cleaning cycle. My concern is does it operate at different opening rpm's being from a 250?
Progress today. Battery installed and All lights working after changing a few instrument bulbs. Also all radiator hoses secured. Recieved via an ebay seller rider footpegs, power valve servo and a grab rail.

[brrrappp]

There are a few ebay sellers in Singapore that have a lot of 2-stroke OEM parts.
I bought a throttle tube from this one- you might give him a try.
https://www.ebay.com/usr/oldpartsshop?_ ... 2749.l2754

[graham heise]

First start up. The bike is running good. Needed to remove the petcock and got lucky fixing a slow leak. Carbs have been of a few times to play with float heights.
Had a problem with water leaking into the transmission. First i changed the o'ring on the link pipe but had to go back in and changed the impeller and seal.
I broke one of the side covers tabs. Bloody frustrating. I have ordered my own kit of Plastex and plan to repair the tab myself. Hopefully i will get back the front fairings this week. I have come to realize that i have fitted i believe are Lc handlebars. There different (narrower) then whats on my 84. Found the original handlebars today although they are in a poor shape with rust. I'll try painting them but maybe i'll find an alternative or better original bar.
It's been nice to get to ride the bike.

[brrrappp]

Is the red really that bright?
It looks pretty awesome in the picture. At least on my monitor, it's almost "glowing" red.

[graham heise]

G'day race fans., The rz is run in and getting a good workout. Have changed fork springs to a a 9kg /mm race tech spring and have been playing around with fork oil weight and volume, The engine is great, it starts easy and idles at 1200rpm at the lights The pipes and cylinders have a great power band. It comes onto the pipe at 7800rpm and sings through to 10,5k + Love the rz. Still more to do to the bike and i have now secured good original exhaust and forks to run with the waiting for chin fairing.20200613_162419 by

[tacky1]

Now that is one clean bike, Great job Graham, Shes a beaut..