83 Honda XR500 Conrod Kit Unavailable

[HL500]

Hi.I am hoping the combined knowledge and experience of forum members may have struck this issue before.

I am reconditioning a Honda 83 XR500 engine and would like to fit a new conrod kit which I have sadly discovered is not available.

I have found a few interesting sites that discuss fitting XL600 conrods and the like but there seems to be a lot of machining and work in order to do that, which I will if I have to.

Has anyone got advice on this subject at all or by a miracle, actually have a new kit they have left idle and unused in the drak regions of a shelf?

Any help or leads would be greatly appreciated.

Regards John

[alexbrown64]

Not trying to get your hopes up, but this dutch site reckons they have the ProX rod kit for the XR500RD/RE in stock.  https://www.braking.nl/default/03-1554 
They are saying the kit is Product op voorraad  which means product in stock.  Worth giving them a go.

I did have a look through all my old emails to see if and when i did my crank on my 83.. but i never did it. New piston and rings, timing chain etc.. but it sits in the mancave now.. she did her work a long time ago..

[sleepy]

Are you sure it's the 83 model? The rods for the 82 are available but have a 2 mm smaller pin and are 8 mm longer.
XR600 looks like 2 mm bigger pin and 2 mm bigger small end, wouldn't be to hard to fit up
There is a 650 rod that has the same size pin but it is 1 mm shorter and has the 24 mm small end, still machining required which ever way if you can't get the correct one.

[alexbrown64]

Try these guys as well.. https://webshop.muldersmotoren.nl/nl/con-rod-kit-xr-50083-85-03-1554.html

[alexbrown64]

Pro X rod kit for 83-84 XR500 is 03.1554 Seems to be the same part number as the Mitaka kit for the 83-84 XR500R. If you look up the Mitaka 03.1554, it gives you all the dimensions..
http://www.mitaka.co.uk/ROD%20DATABASE/PAGE.html

[sleepy]

Pro X rod kit for 83-84 XR500 is 03.1554 Seems to be the same part number as the Mitaka kit for the 83-84 XR500R. If you look up the Mitaka 03.1554, it gives you all the dimensions..
http://www.mitaka.co.uk/ROD%20DATABASE/PAGE.html

The dimensions on the Mitaka site are wrong. They have the length as 134 mm when it is 133 mm long.

[HL500]

Thanks a lot for replies. I am going to follow up then suggestions.

If anyone is interested I have a C&J frame kit I brought from Austria.  I am fitting the 83/84 engine instead of the usual 82 motor. Obviously a lot of differences including the original dual carbies.  I am casting a new manifold for a single larger pumper carbie and doing a few modifications to the motor.

[HL500]

Not trying to get your hopes up, but this dutch site reckons they have the ProX rod kit for the XR500RD/RE in stock.  https://www.braking.nl/default/03-1554 
They are saying the kit is Product op voorraad  which means product in stock.  Worth giving them a go.

I did have a look through all my old emails to see if and when i did my crank on my 83.. but i never did it. New piston and rings, timing chain etc.. but it sits in the mancave now.. she did her work a long time ago..

Great looking bike. I tried to reach the site you gave but its not connecting. Can you give me the company name?

[alexbrown64]

I dont know about the sizes Sleepy. The kit is supposed to fit the  83 XR.
You can email them on [email protected]  ask them a few questions.  Most dutch speak pretty good English.
Company is Braking, website is braking.nl

Cheers,

[HL500]

I've sent off a few emails.

Thanks for the help

Regards

John

[djr]

this is probably no help to you but - cmsnl.com are showing a complete crank with rod at 1099 euros !   for 83-84 XR500
I cant really see it selling at that price, maybe worth a call/email to see if they could do a sensible price

I am sure you have tried - davidsilverspares.co.uk {big Honda specialist in uk}

good luck with your search

[crossedup2]

XR's Only in US have the big end bearing kit if you can find the rod. Plus other kits. I used them a few times and their mail service has been very quick.

http://www.xrsonly.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=rod+kit

If you contact them they may have a supplier for the rods.

Peter B

[sleepy]

I dont know about the sizes Sleepy. The kit is supposed to fit the  83 XR.
You can email them on [email protected]  ask them a few questions.  Most dutch speak pretty good English.
Company is Braking, website is braking.nl

Cheers,

That is the correct Pro-X part number for the 83 XR500 but Pro-X haven't made them for several years and are listed as no longer available. There were some Long brand kit around but are also no longer available.
Not a big fan of Mitaka as I've seen a few problems with their product. One that spring to mind is their YZ465/490 rods being .5mm shorter than original.

[HL500]

this is probably no help to you but - cmsnl.com are showing a complete crank with rod at 1099 euros !   for 83-84 XR500
I cant really see it selling at that price, maybe worth a call/email to see if they could do a sensible price

I am sure you have tried - davidsilverspares.co.uk {big Honda specialist in uk}

good luck with your search

Yea, saw the new crank for sale. Bit out of my price range. The other suggested suppliers have all come up blank.

[HL500]

XR's Only in US have the big end bearing kit if you can find the rod. Plus other kits. I used them a few times and their mail service has been very quick.

http://www.xrsonly.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=rod+kit

If you contact them they may have a supplier for the rods.

Peter B

Hi. Tried them from the start. Getting some other stuff from them.