OzVMX Forum
Marque Remarks => Suzuki => Topic started by: EL Sammo on August 10, 2016, 02:40:06 pm
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Here's some pictures from the restoration of a RM370 my dad recently finished. I had the RM in parts for around ten years and kept it stashed in the shed intending to "do it up oneday" just like everyone says.
Time got in the way and a couple of years back when i was in australia on holidays i delivered all the parts to Dad as it was unrealistic for me to ever get the time to do it. Good to keep him busy anyway, idle hands and all that.
Anyway a picture tells a thousand words so i will let them do the talking.
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/1/707/21296356001_b872a1335e_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/yrToFK)RM 370 as found (2) (https://flic.kr/p/yrToFK) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
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(https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7437/13941634278_0945fab246_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/neYw9N)1976_RM370_sales1a_800 (https://flic.kr/p/neYw9N) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
This is how it should look, having wheels would be a good start i will be running wheels for sure.
(https://c6.staticflickr.com/3/2906/14148365093_2cd3140276_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nyf52c)19-3-14 (https://flic.kr/p/nyf52c) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Up on the bench and stripping! Need some bad music and a pole.
(https://c6.staticflickr.com/3/2906/14148365093_2cd3140276_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nyf52c)19-3-14 (https://flic.kr/p/nyf52c) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
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(https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5315/14032860838_89e20d20d7_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/no35Cw)RM370 (https://flic.kr/p/no35Cw) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Here's Dads 370 he had back in the day, i was born circa 1983 around the same time dad sold the 370 to pay for nappies and milk powder. Don't blame me i would have told him to keep it!
I was intending to build the 370 as a gift back to him but now hes restoring it for me to ride, i got the better end of that deal for sure!
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5594/14032839070_34288a4ba0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/no2Yad)19-5-14 (2) (1) (https://flic.kr/p/no2Yad) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Frame back from powdercoating, this bike will be a racer so not concerned about factory finishes more about usability.
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(https://c7.staticflickr.com/3/2907/14400848126_3404b0b86f_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nWy7qW)14-6-14 (https://flic.kr/p/nWy7qW) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Zinc plating, new foam and seat cover, suspension re hard chromed and setup as per standard, the rear shocks were sent out to be rebuilt and a threaded top section added to make them rebuildable.
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(https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7312/15749282464_9cb1b67644_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pZHbYQ)25-1-15 (https://flic.kr/p/pZHbYQ) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Looking more and more like a bike.
(https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8593/16483313917_d082a8a6b6_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/r7zhXx)001 (3) (https://flic.kr/p/r7zhXx) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
The rotational noise making parts.
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3952/15513496377_c6e65d8203_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pCSHZt)006 (1) (https://flic.kr/p/pCSHZt) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5605/15513301198_19cae553c9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pCRHYj)005 (1) (https://flic.kr/p/pCRHYj) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Got some flash gear to go with it, looking cool is very important while you are cartwheeling through haybales.
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El Sammo, kudos to your dad. He is doing a great job ,and yes you sure are getting the right end of the deal.
I have been in the process of rebuilding a 1976 RM 370, and boy have I been dragging my feet on that project.
I really like the fact that he is building it to ride. Well done!
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(https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8602/16503193350_1a76bdfcee_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/r9kbqo)003 (1) (https://flic.kr/p/r9kbqo) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
The tank was pretty beat up, looked like it had been a victim of domestic violence at some point in its career and the tunnel had been spread about 50mm to fit it on another bike. It was cut open along the seams then panel beat back into shape before being welded back together then pressure tested. Man these tanks are light!
(https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8767/16863139898_476c2a9e23_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rG8ZZm)20150324_160911 (https://flic.kr/p/rG8ZZm) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Finding a rod kit for this thing was a huge mission, after much searching i got a NOS rod out of canada then sourced a big end pin and bearing from the US.
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8733/16843451427_cae155a08b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rEp6hX)4-4-15 (https://flic.kr/p/rEp6hX) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
All together and balanced, with a nicely balanced crank and dad also remachined the engine mounting holes in the cases to keep the motor snug and happy in its home.
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El Sammo, kudos to your dad. He is doing a great job ,and yes you sure are getting the right end of the deal.
I have been in the process of rebuilding a 1976 RM 370, and boy have I been dragging my feet on that project.
I really like the fact that he is building it to ride. Well done!
Thanks Nipper! You should get stuck into yours! Only big hold up we had parts wise was the rod kit but everything else was reasonably easy to get.
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(https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8722/16863085098_805f867c6c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rG8HGw)1-4-15 (https://flic.kr/p/rG8HGw) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
The crankcases were powdercoated along with the hubs, cylinder and head painted with high temp paint. Trying the powdercoat on the cases to see how it goes and for ease of cleaning.
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8845/17330506278_6d8a515292_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/sprnJo)001 (2) (https://flic.kr/p/sprnJo) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
I had a spare engine with broken crankcase flange that supplied a mint gearset and clutch in perfect condition for the engine build, lucky there.
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7675/17331959369_3136f79023_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/spyPFF)rm2 (https://flic.kr/p/spyPFF) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Ticking along now.
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Nice one El Sammo.....doing one myself as we speak...great looking bikes :-)
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(https://c5.staticflickr.com/1/269/19870990572_1822f8cc2d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wgW2cJ)006 (2) (https://flic.kr/p/wgW2cJ) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
The number plate mounting brackets were very difficult to find, eventually one came up at a horrific price so dad bought it and used it as a pattern to make the two we needed, then sold the original OEM bracket on again. Sorted.
(https://c3.staticflickr.com/4/3867/18820127210_f8ee4139f1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/uF558U)003 (1) (https://flic.kr/p/uF558U) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Top end sorted with a new genuine piston.
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Nice one El Sammo.....doing one myself as we speak...great looking bikes :-)
Cheers! Yes they are a great looking bit of kit, they look really light and sharp even sitting still.
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8) sweet!
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(https://c5.staticflickr.com/4/3789/19871001612_9a25453d3a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wgW5u5)16-7-15 (https://flic.kr/p/wgW5u5) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Bars and levers sorted.
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/1/568/20942584638_cca21fca67_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xUCdMu)001 (3) (https://flic.kr/p/xUCdMu) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/598/21558118112_4f7b1885c9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/yR1ZrA)002 (3) (https://flic.kr/p/yR1ZrA) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
The muffler was caved in so dad cut open the rear mount, got it back into shape then repacked it and closed it back up. Even freshly packed the bike is still ear bleeding loud. WHAT?
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(https://c2.staticflickr.com/1/272/19883441721_108100e781_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wi2QuH)19-7-15 (2) (https://flic.kr/p/wi2QuH) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Getting there, getting there. This all took around two years but now posting up pictures makes it all seem pretty fast.
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/2/1711/24407309830_f1e7b13146_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DbMQSJ)003 (4) (https://flic.kr/p/DbMQSJ) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Tank painted and decals applied, Dad put a clear coat over the top so should keep it looking pretty nice and i can spill fuel on it etc without being worried.
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(https://c7.staticflickr.com/2/1711/24407309830_f1e7b13146_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DbMQSJ)003 (4) (https://flic.kr/p/DbMQSJ) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Ta Da! Damn these are a good looking bike! Two years for the build, dad fired it up and ran the motor but waited for me to come back for the first ride.
(https://c3.staticflickr.com/2/1527/24407307890_8c2d280327_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DbMQih)009 (2) (https://flic.kr/p/DbMQih) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Very pretty, like a girl dressed up for a night on the town, you know shes going to hurt you and cost you money at some point but you still have to jump in and enjoy it while you have the chance.
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(https://c6.staticflickr.com/2/1709/24609349261_cdf03fbaa2_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DuDmac)004 (5) (https://flic.kr/p/DuDmac) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
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(https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1695/26379135256_617e5ccb94_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Gc2XSQ)20160323_134201 (https://flic.kr/p/Gc2XSQ) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
I'm excited by how it looks so i can only imagine the kind of sir up these must have produced when they were first released. Dad tells me how much of a improvement they were over the TM range and how good they were to ride with a wonderful power curve but i wonder how much of that is just rose tinted glasses looking back into the past? Lets find out!
With a drum of premix and a box of sparkplugs we were out to a local flat track to test run the old girl. Its difficult t say if mechanical items have a soul but if it does i am sure she would be happy to once again be out and tearing up the countryside.
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/2/1505/26338863811_117c240d71_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/G8tyzz)20160323_131850 (https://flic.kr/p/G8tyzz) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
That's myself and Dad, I'm the one without grey hair! haha Has been a really nice project to keep me and Dad in touch and chatting to each other, its easy to let life get in the way and lose touch with people in your life even if neither of you wants that to happen so something to work on together can be really cool.
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The Rm was not supposed to idle so once it fires you can just keep it running with a few blips, off and around the paddock for a few laps i was pleasantly surprised! The brakes and suspension were much better then i expected, new cables, shoes, machined drums etc means everything is working as intended. The last Vintage MXer i rode was a totally flogged out shitbox so maybe gave me bad impressions! Probably quite a few people have the same.
A few more laps then pulled in for a checkover and Dad told me stop being a pussy and get stuck into it, i was trying to run it in a little but he said get the revs up it will be fine. Really impressive motor on these a mid size two stroke is a good thing, you can lug it around a bit and it pulls with torque and you can scream it out like a 250 also so very usable.
(https://c3.staticflickr.com/2/1600/25800208154_6db9609690_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FiSP25)IMG_4139 (https://flic.kr/p/FiSP25) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
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(https://c7.staticflickr.com/2/1515/26132267070_2d1e99c5d2.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FPdGyN)rm3701 (https://flic.kr/p/FPdGyN) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
(https://c7.staticflickr.com/2/1597/26312783702_e34829a00b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/G6aTSw)rm3702 (https://flic.kr/p/G6aTSw) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
(https://c4.staticflickr.com/2/1562/26091353963_e9452b199c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/FKB1wp)20160324_144706 - Copy (https://flic.kr/p/FKB1wp) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Took it to the local sandhills and had a great day blasting around the dunes.
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(http://forum.ozvmx.com/video/166373177)<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/166373177" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/166373177">RM370 RESTORATION</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user1312663">Sam Bennett</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/166373177" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
Made a video! Hope you enjoy.
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(https://c7.staticflickr.com/2/1472/26602879542_d2371e430a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GwNHfW)20160328_160930 (https://flic.kr/p/GwNHfW) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Alas i also killed it too, on my last day of riding it some friends were taking their new 450f Finke desert race bikes out to a local test track. I didn't know at the time but they gear for about 160kmh on the finke bikes and the straights on the whooped out sand test track were huge.
Stock gearing and jetting on the 370 meant i was wide open by half way along the straight clocked at 145kmh by a ktm450 i was racing with, but it was wide open for too long, i could have backed off but was locked in a battle with the ktm450and two stroke honour was at stake so i kept it pinned.
I didn't back off the throttle at the end of the straight but instead kept it wide open and used the killswitch to bring it down but the damage was done, i felt the motor go off and pulled over to let it cool. Once it cooled there was the horrible feeling of no compression.
Back to dads and after some sucking of air through clenched teeth the top end was off revealed the front edge was detonated off the piston but the bore and bottom end was totally fine.
Some CSI style questions from Dad about how long i had it wide open for were answered sheepishly, and we decided to change from the standard #310 main up to a #360 for next time to be on the safe side with a #340 also there.
A new genuine piston and she was up and running again, a little bit of a rough getting to know each other period but that's ok! Next time i am back i plan a bit of a test session to sort the jetting and keep it a little on the safe side, also no more wide open desert test tracks i want to get onto some proper VMX tracks around the place.
Hope you all enjoyed the build and will likely meet some of you at VMX events around SA or VIC if all goes well in the next few years!
Have a great day.
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Sand dunes are very hard on a bike especialy air cooled (big loads high rpm and low speeds) , you need to jet up and run a colder plug same goes for Finke style desert races.
Bike looks a treat.
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Nice story El sammo,
OK it ended up with a very lucky blow up.
Feels nice to know that you used it though. Rather than sat around getting dusty or rusting..
good on you!
Brett
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cant believe you poohed it :) great bike, great build by your dad.
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Thanks guys, we're really happy with how it turned out. Next time back a bit more run in and testing time will be good and then off to find somewhere to race it.
Whats the cutoff year at VMX events? I'm rebuilding a 1996 cr125 also that is up in brisbane and was hoping to take both bikes out. Also got a 1980 RM125 but it needs a full restoration also so may be some time away.
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QVMX run Pre 95, so a 1994 model is the newest. Pre 95 isn't in the MA rule book yet and probably won't be for at least another two years.
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Very well done ElSammo. And a few siezures, bit of paint rubbed off and the rest of it are all part and parcel.. Bike looks great and i bet it was a blast to give the other boys a run.
Well done,
Cheers,
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Well done, a top rebuild, sorry about the WOOPS, I'm inspired as Ive been getting a RM370 together over the last couple of years.
cheers
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(https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8605/28348797954_de2a6fc2de_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Kc5ZYw)Bill CR (https://flic.kr/p/Kc5ZYw) by EL Sammo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93705351@N06/), on Flickr
Thanks guys! My brother in law just finished a CR250 81 build also so we are going to go racing together again, last time was back on 125s around 1996, not sure how it will go but should be a load of fun.