Triumphrat

ffry63 · 11-06-2009, 08:50 AM

Well not a Triumph problem but just due to it being a carb problem and no other help from any other vintage 2 strokers.... I just did some minor work on my 73' RD 350 and replaced the throttle cable. I checked to make sure the carb slides opened evenly and that they were set right. For some reason when I kick it the engine just revs and I cut it off before I destroy my newly rebuilt motor. Any takers?
PS, sorry to post off topic stuff, just needed a general response. Nobody at the two stroke forums want to help, they're too busy dumping loads of money into track bikes.

sailfish · 11-06-2009, 11:43 AM

My first real motorcycle was an orange tank 1975 RD350.

That bike has a pair of simple Mikuni VM carbs, right? A couple of things to look at: Check the ignition timing, retard it if unsure, it might be advanced. You might try turning the idle speed screws way out just to eliminate them.

Is it doing this with the choke on?

ffry63 · 11-06-2009, 12:49 PM

Yep, real simple Mikuni's. It does this on choke as well, I was thinking it was more the way I routed the cable and it's pulling somewhere but I dunno. I will try reducing the idle speed and see if that changes anything. The RD is my first bike and I would never part with it. I seriously love this thing, if I take it anywhere I always have some older gentleman or lady come up to me and say, "when I was younger my brother,uncle,cousin, ect had one of these and man it scared the crap out of me." I love older Brit bikes so much but this is one of the few Japanese bikes I would buy again. So damn easy to work on, light, and when you park it on a curb in some fancy area of town where people wear clothes that cost more than my rent, then kick it over and blue smoke pops out the pipes, the disgusted looks are priceless. Beat that Harley Davidson.

ffry63 · 11-06-2009, 12:51 PM

Oh and Sailfish, just saw that you're from Lincoln. Not sure if you're aware of them but HVC Cycle is located out that way and they specialize in RD's, R5's and various vintage Japanese.

sailfish · 11-06-2009, 02:05 PM

Cable routing crossed my mind too.

I scared the crap out of many friends with my RD. Most refused to ride with me. I gave a motocross racer friend a ride then turned the bike over to him, instructing him to give me a ride like I just gave him. I didn't like it.

HVC is a good little shop, Brad's been doing my tire work. He's in his third location since opening, each one gets bigger, so business must be good. You should see Brad's 2 stroke collection.

ffry63 · 11-06-2009, 03:53 PM

I'll check out my routing job the next day I have off. I'll never forget the day when I leaving my high school job and pulled out onto main street at rush hour and popped the front tire skyward. Scared the crap out of me.
Definately get a lot of, "dude how much do you want for it, I will pay cash right now."

Dittos3 · 11-06-2009, 04:32 PM

Possible air leak, too. If you had the carbs off make sure they are back on the intakes correct. Also check intakes for cracks. Saw alot of that during my wrenching/racing days...

ffry63 · 11-06-2009, 05:16 PM

I'll give that a shot too, I know I had problems getting one of the carbs to fit on the intake boot right.

bradtx · 11-06-2009, 06:42 PM

ffry63, Any air leaking into the crankcase? There's probably a procedure to pressure test the crankcase. I don't know anything about the RD, but my Kawasaki 2-strokes would sky the RPM if there was a leak ... the air got into the transfer port and the piston's vacuum would pull the fuel out of the carbs.

Brad

PS A friend's Husky did the same and it was the cylinder base gasket.

ffry63 · 11-06-2009, 07:45 PM

Not sure if it's that, a few months ago I was trying to get it ridable again and it didn't do that, ran rough but I think it was bad gas clogged carbs. Now all I have done was a thorough cleaning and replaced the cable. But I will take a look at that as well, thanks.