Bridgestone Motorcycle Parts Discussion Board
Bridgestone Tech Talk => 350 Talk => Topic started by: husker on July 22, 2016, 03:30:52 PM
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After 2 years I have finally made some progress on this project! The first time I have ever laced wheels. Engine reassembly is next.
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Looks really good so far. I like the engine stand modification - necessity is the mother of invention.
Did you clear coat the painted cases?
Dan
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No clearcoat. I used Duplicolor aluminum engine enamel.
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Looking very flash! Well done!
I take it you are trying to do as much of the resto yourself? anyone can fork out $$$ for a resto, but this will be a true personal resto!
Ryan
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Looking good! Keep it coming!
...bert
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I have way more money in this bike than I originally thought it would take and that's just in parts. I did take the crankshaft into a shop and had it rebuilt and will probably have someone paint the tanks and cover for me. For the time being the tank will be all paint. I haven't even priced rechroming it! I need to start putting in some late nights on this as I would like the have it running before August 20th. There is a local group called the '500 Challenge' and the original idea was to take an old bike under 500cc that cost less than $500 and take it on a 500 mile trip(I paid $150 for my GTR).We won't mention what it cost to fix up. This years trip is from Sioux City, IA to Manhattan, KS and I would really love to take the Bridgestone.........Rod
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We all feel your pain, Rod! I'm currently stalled on my resto due to youngest daughter college expense...Hope I'm making the right choice! Some days I wonder... ;D I guess when she's paying for me to be in a good retirement home it'll be worth it...lol
...bert
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The restoration your doing looks great!
I enjoy doing the restoration myself also.
Besides it saves a ton of money and I get
a great deal of satisfaction from doing it.
I just wished I could do my own chrome plating
and finished painting. But knowing my abilities
it is cheaper to hire it done.
I hope you ride the 350 in the event.
Randy
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Really nice job thus far. Your pictures really brought back memories of my own restoration. Keep us posted with progress shots.
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Love the idea of the '500 Challenge', go for it, but remember you will be running / bedding in a rebuilt engine. Maybe try to put 100 miles on the clock before you set off.
Having said that, reminds me of the time I did the 'National Rally' here in the UK on my GTR, must have been around 1970. 600 miles in 24 hours calling in at as many checkpoints as you could. 24 hours before we were due to set off, there was a strange rattling sound from the right side of the engine. Stripped it down to find the right crank seal had come adrift but hadn't broken up. Put a new one in, boxed the engine back together and had it running about 4.0am.
Maybe went round the block to test it. Grabbed a few hours sleep and we set off about 8.0am to ride for 24hrs. The engine was fine but boy was I tired. We didn't quite make it, giving up early the following morning. Parked up the bikes after some 500 miles, lay down on a grassy verge and went to sleep !!
Couldn't do that now, Happy days :D :D. Good luck with the Challenge.
Brian.
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Brian 3 years ago I took my Kawasaki A7 on the 500 Challenge ride. Hadn't run in over 10 years. Got it running On Friday evening and left on the ride the next morning! Would find myself having a hand on the clutch lever expecting the engine to lock up at anytime! My brother did pretty much the same with his A7 but they both made the trip. I'm expecting the GTR will be a little more comfortably bike to ride than the A7 is and I would like a few days to spare to get a few miles on it before the 500................Rod
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Have been putting in some late evenings working on the Stone. Wednesday morning I started it for the first time on the second kick. It's been around 34 years since it has run. Pretty good feeling I must say! Finished putting it together Friday and took it out for a ride. The clutch works great with those new repo clutch plates in it. All was going well till the engine died. Blew a fuse so I put in the spare and didn't make it 50 feet. If also started to not want to shift down. Haven't tried sorting any of this out yet. I ended up taking my KZ750 on the 500 Challenge ride. The other members were disappointed that I wasn't able to take the Bridgestone as most have never seen one before. The tanks and side cover still need a proper paint job as I only did a quick rattle can job on it for the Challenge ride. I would like to thank Richard for this forum and all those on here who have been such a help in this rebuilding process. It would have been much more difficult without it. Thanks.......Rod
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Sorry to hear of the misfortune, but congrats on getting your baby running. That's always a huge milestone! You'll get 'er sorted. Post a pic or two of the bike with your current paint. They all look great back together.
...bert
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Picture of the GTR in its temporary paint. The nos side cover is still in the later gold color. Found the reason it was blowing the fuse the male connector going to the rear brake switch was missing the insulation and was shorting on the oil tank. The handlebars are off a KZ400. The originals were bent and the KZ bars are close to the same shape but a little wider. Hope to take it for a trial run tomorrow after work......Rod
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Alright! Thanks for posting the pic. It looks pretty darn presentable.
A thing of beauty and grace is a joy forever!
...bert
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The starting point in an abandoned house when I first saw the GTR.
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Certainly an improvement! Well done! ;D
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Would love to know how it came to rest there. Im always curious how these things end up where they do.
Dan
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Dan this GTR had a hole in the top of one piston and the 1982 on the license plate. I am just guessing that since there was no longer a dealer network and no internet to find parts it was pushed into this old house. The owner was killed in a work related accident around 10 years ago and I bought it from his widow who lives in a house next to this one. He was the second owner and I also know the original owner who I plan on surprising by pulling into his driveway with it in the near future. I have a question to throw out there: How long does it take to get use to this backwards shift pattern?!........Rod
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Good luck with the shift pattern!
Back in the day, I went from one shift pattern to the other, and then back again a couple of times. Every so often, the old habit would take over, resulting in a downshift when intending to make an upshift! This can be really exciting when you get in a hurry!
Even now, years later, I still once in a great while try to shift a newer bike like the Bridgestone.
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I've already told my Norton story with the shifter on the other side (shifted when trying to brake...hello weeds...;-), but the shift pattern thing is something you just have to keep top of mind. These ain't Hondas or Kaws...lol!
...bert
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Got the tanks and side cover back from the painter and am very pleased with the results. He tried matching some original paint on the rear mount of the gas tank. I don't know how close it is to the original but no matter I love the color. A friend made the decals that are on the gas tank. I thought since it is no longer chrome it needed something on it. There is a car show in Newcastle on Monday and I plan on parking it in front of the building it was originally sold out of. It will be interesting to see peoples reaction.......Rod
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Wow Rod, quite the transformation from what you started with. 8) Great Job!
Here's another option for you on the tank decals. I've attached a pic of a tank that Mike Anderson did using the 1971 350 tank decals. I think they look good on the painted tanks...
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I second the "looks good"! Nice job! I have been thinking of using the logo decal you have on your tank in the same way. I may modify the color scheme somewhat to go with what I'm considering, but the black looks nice on the red.
...bert
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I have a question to throw out there: How long does it take to get use to this backwards shift pattern?!........Rod
I solved the problem on my 350 by making a lever mechanism. I was racing at the time and also riding the 350 to work frequently and didn't want to get shifting confused on either. There is a photo in the Gallery: http://bridgestonemotorcycleparts.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=264
BTW, very nice looking bike.
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Karl that was a pretty slick fix! I put over a 100 miles on the GTR in the last 2 days. Had to pull the carbs off a couple of times as it was running rich. Put in 130 mains and 25 pilot jets and it was still doing the 2 stroke stutter way more than it should at 60. Adjusted the floats to get the fuel level lower and it is running pretty good now. Main problem I'm having is it is difficult to shift down. It helps if I blip the throttle when shifting. I think I like the GTR better than my Kawasaki A7 as it vibrates less. I have a 40 tooth rear sprocket and it turns about 5000 at 60mph. What is the rpm at 60 with a stock 36 tooth?............Rod
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60 MPH is about 5100 RPM in 5th or 4600 RPM in 6th according to the chart in the service manual.
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Finally got around to doing something about the missing foot lever on the center stand. These compact benders are not suppose to work with pipe but I was able to do it a 3/8" pipe nipple by first by capping one end and packing it full of sand and then capping the other end. By looking at pictures it needs a smaller radius on the outside bend and more distance between the 2 bends. I remember seeing pictures on this forum showing the right dimensions but have not been able to find them. If anyone is interested I could bend more of these up and send them to you.........Rod