Bridgestone Motorcycle Parts Discussion Board
Bridgestone Tech Talk => 350 Talk => Topic started by: farmerdl on January 23, 2020, 12:24:40 PM
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We have been looking into the possibility of having the carb and clutch cover for the 350 reproduced. The initial costs are high and unless there would be adequate demand it is not feasible. I would like to be able to keep the price per unit in the $200 range and am looking for an idea of how many people would be interested.
farmerdl
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Not trying to tell you what to do, but perhaps check with Richard, as he had made lots of parts in the past and may have helpful information fro you.
I hope you go ahead with the project as there is a red shortage of them.
Sam
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I'd be interested in two sets.
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I would be interested in a set
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this is just the right side I am looking into. The smaller on the left seems to be more available.
DL
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The right side ones have been gone for years since the brake pedal tends to poke a hole in them. Definitely contact Richard, he probqbly has already investigated.
With 3D printing of metal parts like that readily available, the costs may have come down vs. the start-up costs of a die casting (probably $20k or more). It's an easy part to make a 3D model of. It may also be possible to 3D print a cover in ABS (I could do that on a home printer) and have it chromed by vacuum deposition. I have no idea of the cost of the vacuum deposition, though.
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I would take at least two covers, probably the most sought after item for 350 restorations.
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It would be great if the clutch cover was available.
It seems that 75% of the ones I have found are cracked
or are broken from where the rear brake lever has hit.
If the quality was good and the price was around $200
I would purchase.
Randy
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I'd be interested.
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How difficult to find are they?
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I can't even find a damaged one!!!
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it's still very preliminary but it looks somewhat promising that we should be able to do this. We are staying away from trying to do it in ABS for a number of reasons and if we get there it will be aluminum. Advice is always appreciated, we don't promise to follow it.
farmerdl
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Just a quick update. The tooling is being made and I should have a casting in hand in 4 to 6 weeks. There is going to he finish work involved past that and the decision will be made whether or not we are on the right track, but it does look promising. I didn't mean to sound like a "snot-nosed" kid when I said that I didn't promise to listen to advice! My grandfather taught me to get all of the advice I could and then go in the direction I thought best. anyhow, it looks fairly promising.
DL
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DL
Very pleased to hear you are taking this forward. Was frankly disappointed and surprised by lack of response and support from members above.
Almost every new 'barn find' or unrestored UK import, I see on the net has a broken side cover. If it's any help, I stuck my neck out and speculated, recently, on another site that there were probably no more than 2500-3500 BS 350s left in the world in total.
I'm sure you could soon shift up to 1-200 new covers, if you can stand the initial capital cost. Based on responses so far, I would be thinking maybe 50 max !!, come on members support this, we/you are going to need them.
Keep up the good work DL, will support you all the way and encourage others to do so, maybe lead to other scarce metal parts being remade. Have the covers been posted on facebook BS site ?, worth doing. Surprising how many not aware of Richard's site.
Good luck, fingers crossed, Brian
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Brian - As a GTR owner, what do I need to do to show support?
Dan
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I wouldn't say good work just yet. Still only about 500 things could go wrong, but I think we have a decent shot for a scarce part. My biggest concern is that we don't disappoint anyone!
DL
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ALL MEMBERS - Progression of DL's project to reproduce the almost unobtainable, right side, outer carb/clutch cover and the final cost, all depends on the number produced.
Please show your support by indicating how many covers you are likely to buy.
Can't stress enough how scarce this part is, more chance of an alien ship landing on the Loch Ness Monster or you winning the nationl lottery than finding one. You would need a lottery win to buy it, if you did find one. If your 350 falls over on its right side, for whatever reason, the brake lever will gouge, crack or hole this right cover, happens every time, done it twice !
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l've got two of those right side covers on my bike room wall
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Al, Goods ones are rarer than hens teeth. With the number of GTRs you've rescued, if you've never needed one, you have a guardian Angel and don't know how lucky you have been. Brian
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DL
Very grateful to you for trying to achieve this...it's much appreciated. I currently have two GTOs and two GTRs and surprisingly, none of them need a RH cover...at the moment anyway. However, it only takes one slip...the bike's down and sod's law, it'll be on the right hand side!
So on the basis that I always plan to have at least one 350 in my life, I think I need a spare, just in case. This is probably going to be our only chance.
Cheers,
Steve
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I've been on the fence since I have 2 NOS covers. But this is a good cause, and the points made by my brethren members have convinced me to join up. Put me down for one. BS350s Forever!!
...bert
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I'll take one.. Thanks, Chase
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I'll take one. Karl
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Hi DL
Don't wish to interfere but was thinking. In light of what we know about original covers, new covers would benefit from being made slightly thicker on outerside, the clutch vent slot (later rubber plugged) near rear 5mm screw hole can be eliminated and make from an alloy that can be readily welded !
Just my thoughts, Brian.
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I would be in for (1) 350 right side cover. Sorry, don't log in here too often anymore as my bike is sitting in the corner gathering dust. Not enough $$, not enough time, not sure it's safe to ride a motorcycle around Phoenix....but I would still like a good cover!
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I've just logged in specifically to answer this- I need one, I'm in!
Looking forward to using this forum more as my 71 GTR restore moves along.
Thanks!!
Davitt
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There is a used right side clutch/carb cover just in on ebay. looks to be decent shape. I listed the link below.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/R-S-Carburetor-Cover-And-Screws-350-GTO-GTR-Bridgestone-721/202923459057?hash=item2f3f2e41f1:g:3QgAAOSwt3teYY61
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That'll buff right out! ;D Actually, since it doesn't seem to be cracked, it could look pretty good after some work.
Edit: I see I missed the fact that it is cracked. Still not too bad of a piece, though.
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From the sellers description......
"Description
Has a crack"
Crack is circled by the seller in the attached pic.
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I've seen far worse on Ebay, price is OK. Dents and crack would largely tap out with a bit of careful work.
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Put me down for one.
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Well, we had planned on having the first of these covers in our hand by now. I talked to the people at Clark Casting and they have not received the dies yet. They talked to the pattern maker a few weeks ago and he told them it would be a week. No word from him since then. I tried to call him over the past few days and get no response. The people at Clark Casting don't understand what has happened as they have worked with him for years and have never had an issue. I will let you know when we have more news.
Sorry for the delay,
DL
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If he is not an "essential business" in his state, he could very well be shut down by mandatory closures.
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The "Essential Business" issue probably is the reason. Besides, in my experience pattern makers tend to be older with long experience and if it is a small shop, that may consist of most of their workforce, so they may be self-quarantined.
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Keep the faith! We'll be back to our BSing before we know it! (Probably not May 1, but we'll get there!)
...bert
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Finally got in touch with the pattern maker and the foundry. We are still on, but further down the road. As some had said it was due to Corona virus restrictions.
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I've got a good spare one ( wrapped up in a box)
but i'd be interested in one :)
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we have a first run of castings in hand. now the people who do my machine work are backed up so we have a ways to got yet. Bt I think we just might get there.
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Good news! Can you post a pic of the casting(s)? Thanks...bert
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Progress! It's a wonderful thing!
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I'Ll definately have one if this project goes ahead or maybe I'm too late!
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No, not too late. Still waiting on the shop doing the machining. Hadn't thought that this would be the hang up. Someone had asked for pix of the unfinished castings. For some reason I have difficulty posting pix on this forum. I am not exactly skilled in the digital world. Much better in analog.
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Ok keep me posted.Would you have any problem shipping to UK?
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Hey DL. If you could email the pix to me, I can try to post. Will send you a PM....bert
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Sent this a.m.
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Let's see if we get it done...Whoo hoo! Nice looking part and a great start!...bert
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I will buy 2 when they are ready banana banana banana
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We are getting closer. We have one machined and bolted up on one of my riders. I posted pics on the Facebook group and am still trying to understand how to post them in this forum. Still a few months away from finished product. Down to only 250 things can still go wrong with this project. And I thought it would be simple.
DL
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Just curious about the progress on this thread. Any changes? Thanks....
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If the cover is a good replica @ $200 ea. I'd take 2 or 3 DL. I am assuming the polishing will be left up to the buyer.
I have a SolidWorks 3D work station and have dipped my toe in this pond with a CNC approach. First off was $500.00, not sure what a 50 lot would be. Kinda neat, because one could choose the material.
- Bob
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I stopped by the shop that is doing the machining on these covers and jumped on them about as hard as I could. They are busier than a cat covering it's business. They have a number of large clients that bring them business on a regular basis so we kinda get shoved to the bottom of the pike, but they did promise me "soon." If it isn't soon I may have to go to plan "B."
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Thank you for the update banana
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OK. Finally have another bunch of these nearly done. First batch that we had cast were ok and had test mounted a few of them on one of my GTRs and then sent them off to be polished. The polisher did a job that I wasn't pleased with so we started over. Have another set of castings machined and are.now.at.a.different polisher. HOPEFULLY I will have them ready to go in a few.weeks. I have posted a pic of the rough castings on the Bridgestone Motorcycles group on Facebook if you want to have a look. I have been chasing this project for way too long and maybe we will soon have these available. If I manage to figure out what I have to do to post pics on this sight I will,put them up here.
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Here ya go Richard L.
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One for me to support this project.
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I'll take s polished one. Chase
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Finally I have 50 of these covers polished and ready to go. The polishing around the edge isn't perfect but isn't bad. Pics are posted in the Bridgestone group on facebook. Sorry I haven't posted the pics here but I just cannot seem to make that happen. I just spent an hour and I am missing something! So again if someone wants to copy them from facebook or I can send them to you by email.
Anyhow these are available at $225 including priority shipping in the U.S. I have another 20 that am calling seconds in that they have had the edges polished too far. They bolt up and fit right and are not unattractive. They are availably for$125. Again that includes priority shipping on the U.S. My email is brakelate@hotmail.com I am more than happy to answer questions or send photos. We have order another batch of castings, hoping to refine the polishing. When (or even if ever)they will be available is hard to predict but I would guess late 23 or early 24.
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Nice job, hopefully many will step up to the plate Jeff Bar
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Great effort, and I hope it gets rewarded. I'm down for a couple. Email on the way!
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Was just looking at this and realized I didn't list my contact information.
email is brakelate@hotmail.com
mailing address is Richard Ladrach
4277 Boltz Orchard RD SW
Sugarcreek OH 44681
phone number 330-432-7274
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Great job well done. I'd like 1 please shipped to Uk. can you advise on shipping cost? I've tried emailing direct but it keeps bouncing back undelivered!
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I have sent several to England. Price to England is $275. I can fit two into the same box and price for the two is $500. The price of shipping out side of the -U.S. always just floors me. I do us priority shipping and while it might be possible to ship cheaper, I haven't really done that because I don't loke the idea of a package sitting in a warehouse and then maybe getting shipped to another warehouse, and on and on.
You might try my other email janetlm@hughes.net or we can just communicate on this forum.
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Hi,not sure if my previous message reached you,so just in case please send payment details including shipping to uk to my email address below.
richardtunbridge49@gmail.com
Also picture of finished article would be good too.
I'm out of the country for 10 days so will respond on my return.
Thanks & all the best Richard.
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Hi everybody,just received one of the replica clutch covers that Dick Larach(farmerdl) has had made. He needs to be congratulated for instigating this project by all 350 owners.The example I received is of very good quality aluminum(better,thicker & hopefully stronger than the original)
highly polished & fits nicely,well worth the wait. Reasonably priced,even with shipping charges to Uk I think I got a good deal.Don't know how he managed it but well done. Any one with a 350 should get one now while they still can,I'm sure they are gonna sell ouy real quick!
Should add that I have no connection to Mr Larach other than as a very satified customer.
All we need now is somebody with experience in the plastic moulding industry to commision manufacture of replica oil tanks for the GTO!!
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Thank You!