OzVMX Forum
Marque Remarks => Maico => Topic started by: Maicojames on January 07, 2008, 06:51:47 am
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http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Maico-MC250-326-big-bore-kitted-VMX-AHRMA_W0QQitemZ220188823369QQihZ012QQcategoryZ102690QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This bike is so cool I don't know where to begin, I love the laydown conversion, looks like a 75 with 76 travel.
Firko, or any one can you explain what a 326 is? Is it a 400 barrel on a 250 lower end or???
Thank you, James
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james the bikes owner is a member on the forum im sure he will let you know .my guess is a sleeve and piston
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I remember this one from the classies on this site; it was listed a few months ago and I attempted to buy it.
By the time I noticed the ad the owner had a change of heart and decided to keep it.
Great looking bike!
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The 326 is created by fitting a 76mm 400 top end to a 70mm stroke bottom end. The end result is a beautiful, tractible oversquare Maico that will beat any 400 or 440 in most situations. Anyone who's ridden or seen my 350 (326) Maico square barrel will know what I mean. The conversion started as a backyard mod but in the late 80s the factory introduced a 320 enduro that was a hidden gem.
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Hello all,
It's my bike and I no doubt will regret selling it but I plan to have a go on Husqvarna for this season. This bike was not built by me and has a 400 piston fitted to the standard non-decompressor, 7 fin 250 cylinder. You can't tell by looking that it is no longer a 250, but anyone who has seen it and heard it knows that something different is lurking underneath. Loses a little bit to the big bores down the long straight at Ravenswood, but makes up for it in the corners with handling and rideability. Super reliable and you only have to look at the kick starter for it to start. I am told it was originally built by Stackers many years ago. It is the correct front guard by the way. Every time I talk about it I think that I shouln't sell it, so I'd better stop now.
Cheers,
K
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BigK, no offense intended on the front gaurd. It is a 75, I was looking for the more rounded 76-78 style. Extremely cool bike. I like the looks so much, I want to build one like it when I can.
Thanks for the info on the conversion..so it seems a 400 liner in a 250 cylinder.
Do you retain the 250s trans and primary? It seems these ratios would be lower, and that may make a difference on top end. Very, very cool.
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Bottom end is all 250. I run 13/54 final drive which allows me to hold 3rd in most corners and 3rd gear start on concrete gate, 2nd in the dirt. 13/56 is probably better overall, but knocks the top end off a tad too much for Ravenswood straight (my local track). It pretty well gets all its power to the ground which is what makes it so rideable, turns better than my modern bike. I've gotta stop talking about it or I'll change my mind again!
Cheers,
K
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I was under the impression the 250 barrel could simply be bored out to suit the 400 piston as their was enough meat in the sleeve. A good mod once you run out of oversize choices.
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Bike has been sold to a forum member, he will have some fun on it for sure. Lookout everyone in Brisvegas.
Cheers,
K
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Ok, Firko now I am gonna ask too many stupid questions( yes even more thna I normally do)-since I may have a lead on an AW250 engine.
Can you actually just bore the 250 liner to 76 mm?, if not do the ports in the 400 liner match, or do you need a blank of some sort? Is porting required or recommended?
I know an RM 370 piston can be used in a 400, can it also be used here?
Do you change the rod? What rod bearing etc? Must the 250 head be machined?
Base gasket used is 400..or modified 250?
Pipe would be a 400 pipe cut down to shorter length head pipe? ..250 pipe? custom pipe.
All internal 250 parts remain? Primary gearing, 2 row chain, etc-then would it be geared like a 400? Big K said he runs 13/54. I ran 14/56 on my old 440-is this eqivalent?
Demanding aren't I? ;D ;D
Thank you for any replies, MJ
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Yep, me too please Firko, same questions as Maico James. I know nothing about Maicos only what I've picked up on the forum but am working toward getting a 250 from somewhere around 1979 - 81. Can the same 326 conversion be done on the later engine ? Cheers, T250.
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today im going to stacker motorcycles who apparently built the engine so i will ask ok james
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I'm the lucky bloke who bought the Maico 326 so any history/info will be appreciated ;D.
I mentioned earlier I tried to buy this same bike back in August; so I was stoked to score it this time around.
Thanks James for listing the ad or I wouldn't have known; so if you do make your way to Oz for an event you're guaranteed the 326 for the meet, OK? ;)
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I'm the lucky bloke who bought the Maico 326 so any history/info will be appreciated ;D.
I mentioned earlier I tried to buy this same bike back in August; so I was stoked to score it this time around.
Thanks James for listing the ad or I wouldn't have known; so if you do make your way to Oz for an event you're guaranteed the 326 for the meet, OK? ;)
That's too cool of you. In the meantime I am dreamign of building a 326, like a 76 AW......nickeled frame, alloy swingarm, orange plastic(not available)-polished hubs and rims...I can dream....I can probably though get the engine going this spring.
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There was one of these Maico's at CD2. It was featured in VMX mag.15 page 55
I built a pipe for him which was just a standard 400 pipe.
A 400 pipe would help with more torque & bring the revs down a bit.
You could probably run a 250 pipe also if your like your bikes to rev more like a screamer
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This cut and pasted from Firko's repsonse on the Maico board:
"Travis/James. This is a fairly common conversion here in Australia
and I believe South Africa. I've seen it done three ways. The first
is to use the complete 250 bottom end, modify the cylinder stud
spacing to fit a 400 cylinder. The second is to fit a 250 crank to a
complete 400 engine and machine the bottom flange of the cylinder to
allow for the shorter stroke/rod length. The third way is to fit a
400 liner to the 250 barrel but this method sometimes fails due to
there not being enough material in the casting. Some cylinders have
more 'meat'than others but I'm not sure which.
I actually race a factory 326 which is my factory '350' square
barrel. They were originally made for the old 350 ISDE class in the
late 60s and early 70s. If you have heard the old saying
that 'smaller is better' It's true. The engine revs like crazy and on
shorter courses will out accelerate 400 and 440 bikes. The only place
they fall short is very long straights. All over though, the 325 is a
brilliant bike to ride that feels so un Maico, maybe because it's the
only oversquare Maico engine. The factory actually bought the engine
back in the 90s with the blue bikes "
Firko, thanks a million. This gives me a start, another Maico board member indicates sending his engine to Eric at MO, and Eric said it needed a 78 cylinder to do the conversion-they must have more meat in the casting. ...just waiting for a few moto $ from polishing next month, and to ge tthe AW250 engine.
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Here's a cool 326 Maico that was uncovered in a deceased estate after laying dormant for years. The bike was originally owned by a Victorian racer named Eldon Tucker back in the early 90s. Off memory it was built be a Port Pirie, South Australian racer whose name escapes me after Eldon had a ride on that blokes own 326. After a short while the bike was sold to ex A grader and then Aussie Sports Sedan Champion Bob Tindall. Unfortunately Bobs car racing committments and other activities saw the bike sit for 10 years. Bob built other other bikes (mostly Maicos) to race as well after he retired from car racing but sadly, not long after retiring from car racing Bob got a nasty load of cancer and died before he had a chance to race the bike.
It's now owned by a Sydney racer whose name also escapes me (sorry mate) but is rarely seen at the races.
Note sand cast ignition cover with 326 cast into it. (http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/KVOQP-t3.JPG)
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Well, now I am to press on with it, though it will be a few months until I can start on it. I think the 400 cylinder will bolt on , but needs machining-I will try to find a suitable 250 cylinder-and put liner in. Thanks for that pic, i saw it on Maico board some time back-very cool.
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I've seen it done three ways. The first
is to use the complete 250 bottom end, modify the cylinder stud
spacing to fit a 400 cylinder.
Getting a bit interested in this upgrade. Is there much involved in modifying the stud spacing?
Ed
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No, they actually match, though you have to shorten the 400 cylinder. I am liking the idea of 400 liner in a 250 cylinder with enough meat to accept it. It looks to me like a 400 cylinder on the bike pictued above...I am wondering if a 440 liner could be machined down to fit a 400 cylinder-or maybe a 250 cylinder. Gonna have to get a few cylinders and measurements.
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250 cylinder has 7 fins and no decompressor, 400 cylinder has 8 fins and decompressor.
Cheers,
K