OzVMX Forum

Marque Remarks => Suzuki => Topic started by: Nipper on May 13, 2015, 04:26:55 pm

Title: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: Nipper on May 13, 2015, 04:26:55 pm
Can anyone tell me whether there is an aftermarket connecting rod or an alternative for the rm 370 Suzuki. Remember reading here that someone was making a rod for the 370 ,cheers
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: sleepy on May 13, 2015, 05:44:49 pm
Do you have any dimensions of the rod. Pin size , centre to centre length and rod widths.
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: bazza on May 13, 2015, 05:48:02 pm
was it the Auckland engineering firm?
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: BAHNZY on May 13, 2015, 05:59:31 pm
Aftermarket, none that I am aware of. Has been a lot of talk about remanufacturing but cost Vs. volume had knocked it on the head.
I've got an RM400 (shares the same rod) and I’ve been looking for many years & found nothing. Was lucky enough to find and fit a NOS pin, bearing & thrust washers that has bought me some time. I’m sure that there will be someone that has one and will pop up there head one day.
To save you some time I have trawled though all the web sites and catalogues (eg BBI) etc. & can’t find anything close enough. I did find one but it was 4mm longer and would have meant the fabrication of a 4mm spacer to go under the barrel which would have stuffed up all the crank volumes, exhaust pipe locations and the carby to air box connection, in short not worth bothering.

They come up in the states from time to time but the demand in the USA means that no one is interested in going through the brain damage to deal with us and pack/send to Australia when the have local guys jumping over each other to get hold of one.
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: oldfart on May 13, 2015, 06:21:20 pm
 RM Engineers .....I thought were making them in Un Zed
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: sleepy on May 13, 2015, 07:12:00 pm
It is possigle to make an oversize pin (3 or 4 thou) then hone the rod out and fit a new bearing or new rollers. The rod has to be in far condition to do it.
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: Rossvickicampbell on May 13, 2015, 07:13:59 pm
these guys.

Ron Anchak
www.anchakandsons.com
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: oldfart on May 13, 2015, 07:24:22 pm
Bazza ... was it" RM Engineering "   out your way that were making billet ones ???
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: tony27 on May 13, 2015, 07:26:25 pm
Bazza ... was it" RM Engineering "   out your way that were making billet ones ???
Trimac engineering is who you are thinking of
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: oldfart on May 13, 2015, 07:51:30 pm
Are they still making them Tony ?? or was it a one of deal.,
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: Davey Crocket on May 13, 2015, 08:24:20 pm
I think he was making them for RM500's......I had a stash of 6 but all gone to good homes now.
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: Nipper on May 13, 2015, 08:55:13 pm
I thought it was someone in New Zealand who made some of these rods but not sure of who.
Had a look at Anchacks and couldn't see anything in their products. Found a rm 400 crank and rod on eBay but the seller only thinks it's for a rm 400c .
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: micko on May 13, 2015, 08:58:33 pm
There's a guy in Holland that makes aftermarket rods for the RM370, i will dig through my emails tomorrow and let u know.
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: bazza on May 13, 2015, 09:01:03 pm
Trimac was one i was thinking of, penrose ,auckland ask for ritchie to check if it was them
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: Nipper on May 13, 2015, 09:08:44 pm
Shanks guys for the leads , I will be following up on them . Let you know how it turns out.
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: micko on May 13, 2015, 10:12:19 pm
VMX service in Holland, I paid $300 for a rod 18 months ago. Suzuki still make the bearing and pin.
www.vmx-service.eu  $175 euro on his website.
Was easy to deal with.
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: Lozza on May 13, 2015, 10:30:41 pm
Try Samarin in Spain they will make 10 min order. Those rods look like they are from Samarin
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: Nipper on May 13, 2015, 11:02:05 pm
Thanks fellas things are looking good for a rod kit for the rm.
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: KTM47 on May 14, 2015, 11:35:39 am
I emailed Trimac previously I think he said the rods they make are for the next model.  N & T.

Jeroen from VMX Services in Holland emailed me once that he knew someone who made them.  He never got back to me.

I found a Chinese company one time that makes different rods and big ends etc.

I found one myself in the US.  I think the bearing and pin were still available too.  If your rod isn't worn you could just replace it.  Also I remember a post from a guy in South Africa who was going to get some made.
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: micko on May 14, 2015, 07:32:17 pm
It was the guy in South Africa that put me onto Jeroen @vmx services. 2 weeks later I had my rod, I got lucky as he had a genuine Suzuki one still in the packet but also had the billet ones that are on his website.  :)
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: alexbrown64 on May 14, 2015, 09:24:07 pm
Micko is onto it... http://www.vmx-service.eu/en/370-400-500cc/1099-rod-rm370-rm400.html  These would sell like hot cakes and not a bad price at 175 Euros as a kit.
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: Nipper on May 14, 2015, 10:33:38 pm
I have contacted the guys in south Africa, and also anchack and sons to see if they have a rod for the rm.
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: Ted on May 15, 2015, 06:14:21 am
And I thought you were taking a break for a while ;D
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: bigk on May 15, 2015, 07:24:47 am
Fairly sure I used a YZ465 rod in a 370 once, no mods that I can recall. Not that a 465 rod is probably any easier to get.
K
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: Nipper on May 15, 2015, 01:24:44 pm
Ted I've had my break..... It's overrated , gotta keep busy .
I suppose the yz 465 rods are next to the rm 370 rods in aisle 5 right by the corn flakes.
This is what I like about the old bikes having good people getting on board helping to find the almost unobtainable part . Thanks fellas
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: sleepy on May 15, 2015, 04:22:16 pm
If it is the same as the 465 rod then use a Maico late 500 rod they are very close to a 465 rod , same other than the length which I believe is 137 for the Maico and 137.5 for the Yam. Just need to take .5mm of barrel base or run without a gasket. Maico rod are quite available at the moment.
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: VMX247 on May 15, 2015, 04:33:49 pm
I have contacted the guys in south Africa, and also anchack and sons to see if they have a rod for the rm.

Keen over here for one, if it comes off ..cheers
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: tony27 on May 15, 2015, 06:17:59 pm
Fairly sure I used a YZ465 rod in a 370 once, no mods that I can recall. Not that a 465 rod is probably any easier to get.
K
YZ465 rods are same as for 490's & according to boats.net are still available from Yamaha so I'd say much easier to get than rm370 rods
Title: Re: RM 370 connecting rod
Post by: micko on May 15, 2015, 09:25:41 pm
I believe there is afew mm difference in the length between the yz and rm rod.