1971 TM 400 resto

[SON]

Flywheel weight is great for Dirttrack,
But not for MX with modern tyres and decent suspension.
Exactly the same for the RL Trials back in the 70's they needed flywheel weight for traction,
Modern Trials tyres fixed that.

[firko]

Sure do Pete, 3 Legends, well 2.5.
Brian Martin (Kiwi), Brian Clarkson & brother Carlos.

Talking to Vern Grayson on the weekend who reported that the legendary Brian 'Clarko' Clarkson is in pretty poorly condition. I spoke to Brian about three weeks ago and he told me that he "feels like shit" and that he can't drive very far and has had to hire a lady to cook and clean for him. Anyone who knows the stubborn old bastard will know that he has to be pretty bloody crook to allow that into his life. Clarko's one of the toughest blokes to ever race a motorcycle....in his day nobody could outride him out root him or out drink him.....he lived it like a rock star. I think Jonesy and I will be taking a road trip up to Port Macquarie to see him in the near future. It was good of him to loan the ex Roy East Metisse to HEAVEN to show off at Buladelah on the weekend.
                                                                             

[GD66]

Flywheel weight is great for Dirttrack, But not for MX with modern tyres and decent suspension.

I would have thought a bit of flywheel weight would have been something of a blessing on one of those orange-tankers to iron out the grunt : gnaw is something they weren't short of. Lou Peeti, a Maori sheep shearer and mx racer from Dannevirke picked up a ride from Colemans in NZ when they came out. He was one tough hombre, but the next time we spotted him he'd forked out his own dough and bought a 400 Husky with a view to living a bit longer. Peter Ploen was working for Colemans, and started forging a name for himself with spectacular acts on an orange-tanker. Next time we saw him, he  had a leg in plaster. By the time the first of the yellow-tank TM400s came out, MXA mag was full of tales of destruction by the "Nowigotcha" 400. A Whangarei Suzuki dealer named Dave McCluggage was a big, strapping fellow who pooh-poohed all the cissy tales about the so-called hinge-framed horrors. We saw him pull a top-gear flying-W over the front of his TM400 at the end of a bumpy, muddy straightaway at Tokoroa one day, and the next time we saw him, he was racing a TM125. So I reckon, if you can smooth her out a bit, couldn't hurt....

[SON]

If TM400R's came with Works Performance shocks, Progressive front fork springs and decent tyres their reputation would be completely different to that of a Widowmaker or Serility Clinic.

[80-85 husky]

and a flywheel weight...

[firko]

If TM400R's came with Works Performance shocks, Progressive front fork springs and decent tyres their reputation would be completely different to that of a Widowmaker or Serility Clinic

Are you sure being a Suzuki dealer hasn't clouded your memories of the TM400 Graeme ? I've ridden both orange and yellow TM400's and even wrote a magazine article of my first ride experience on a TS400 and I know in my heart that the only real cure to the TM's erratic behaviour is to either add weight to the existing CDI flywheel or fit a TS points ignition and to fit a full circle late TS crankshaft. The major flaws in the TM400 engine is the lack of flywheel with the porkchop crank and erratic CD1 mapping. Fix those problems and you're on your way to having a decent bike. The best cure of course is to do all of those things plus fit the engine into a Cheney or Boyd and Stellings frame as I have.

All that aside though, all Japanese bikes from the era were pretty awful but they can be made into good racers with a bit of careful development. As long as the ignition issues are addressed the TM can be a handy open class weapon.

[frostype400]

Thanks for posting the articles some good reading in them it seems a simple solution if I am unable to ride it standard.

[SON]

If TM400R's came with Works Performance shocks, Progressive front fork springs and decent tyres their reputation would be completely different to that of a Widowmaker or Serility Clinic

Are you sure being a Suzuki dealer hasn't clouded your memories of the TM400 Graeme ? I've ridden both orange and yellow TM400's and even wrote a magazine article of my first ride experience on a TS400 and I know in my heart that the only real cure to the TM's erratic behaviour is to either add weight to the existing CDI flywheel or fit a TS points ignition and to fit a full circle late TS crankshaft. The major flaws in the TM400 engine is the lack of flywheel with the porkchop crank and erratic CD1 mapping. Fix those problems and you're on your way to having a decent bike. The best cure of course is to do all of those things plus fit the engine into a Cheney or Boyd and Stellings frame as I have.
Not biased Mark,
CR250M were the same, nothing then everything
Being lighter made them easier so less of a reputation
Good shocks and good tyres are a good head start on all VMXers
I just wanted the young fellow to get it right
Some great info has been posted so far,
I forgot to mention to find the articles on Roger Grainers Superlight TM400

All that aside though, all Japanese bikes from the era were pretty awful but they can be made into good racers with a bit of careful development. As long as the ignition issues are addressed the TM can be a handy open class weapon.

[shelpi]

bump

[frostype400]

I have had GMC sort an original pipe for me that I had shipped from the US but I have been busy with other bikes and I bought a 74 tm400 in ready to ride condition I also sourced a correct orange tank as it had a ts one on it I will do this but its on the back burner at the moment I have been having fun sorting bikes nut and bolt resto are fairly demanding making riders to use I have been enjoying.

[Mick D]

 
That's me like button

[80-85 husky]

wack some lights on it frosty and bring it to harrow...THAT would be an adventure

[frostype400]

The tank I found for the 71.



The 74 its at my mates at the moment he wants to get some photos of it in the back of his old f100.

[80-85 husky]

nice, I love the look of those tm soozooks...got RD Coster written all over them

[shelpi]

Me too (LIKE)