[ku69rd]

Pavan,
Is your search still on? are you able to finally pick up the Rajyam?

[2StrokeJunkie]

beautiful bike shibu lots of attention to detail , though u probably have not noticed how badly the seat from rao is messing it up . any updates on ur bike ?

[r_nairtvm]

Hello Guys,

Was in my hometown recently. Happened to see a RD 350 converted to Hydraulic Clutch unit at my Mechanic's place. Reportedly its is the 2nd bike he has converted.

Master Cylinder from Yamaha Vmax and slave fro Ducati 796.

Couple of pictures here.

Best Regards & Drive/Ride Safe

Ram

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by r_nairtvm

Hello Guys,

Was in my hometown recently. Happened to see a RD 350 converted to Hydraulic Clutch unit at my Mechanic's place.

Interesting to read that post Ram, some indigenous brains at work eh!!!
on the contrary would a RD 350 require a Hydraulic Clutch unit? All my years of riding never felt that it required one.

Not trying to be skeptical on the modification, did you happen to ride it to check if there was any difference between the stock & modded one?

[r_nairtvm]

ku69rd

Your doubts are exactly same as mine. I think they did it just for the sake of doing it.

The original push rod is still inside - the slave cylinder is only pushing it. What they have done away with is the Clutch Push mechanism.

I asked the owner and his techie adviser. The reply on the advantages were rather unconvincing - one was that they are now free of the fear of a snapped clutch cable. Rather feeble I would say.

I am still on my original Clutch Cable

Best Regards & Drive/Ride safe

Ram

[rust_in_peace]

I am an all time admirer of the mighty RD350. Although i don't have enough luck to own one, Many of my friends are having RD350's at my hometown. And i didn't miss a single chance to ride one or even as a pillion. These are some old pictures of my freind's RD which they will keep at my house when they are out of town. Because they know i will look after their machines like a baby.



@r_nairtvm
I think the spot you took those picture is very familiar .
Was that Jagathy Murugan's Workshop?

[mustangboss302]

Hello All,

Just bought mine a few days back - 1987 HT. Good engine but not in original condition. will have to restore it. Would be good if someone in Delhi is having one who can share information regarding availability of parts and places where they would be available.

Cheers

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by mustangboss302

Hello All,

Just bought mine a few days back - 1987 HT. Good engine but not in original condition. will have to restore it. Would be good if someone in Delhi is having one who can share information regarding availability of parts and places where they would be available.

Cheers

Congratulations Mustang, do post in some pictures of your latest acquisition else do start a different thread. Not particular about any shop in Delhi, But i believe and have been told explicitly that you will get a majority of spares in karol bagh. However do keep an eye out for their authenticity.

If there is anything that I can do sitting here in Bangalore do let me know.
More importantly what are the spare parts you are searching for? Do you have a list of them?

[r_nairtvm]

Originally Posted by mustangboss302

Hello All,

Just bought mine a few days back - 1987 HT. Good engine but not in original condition. will have to restore it. Would be good if someone in Delhi is having one who can share information regarding availability of parts and places where they would be available.

Cheers

Mustang,

Congratulations on getting a RD 350. Delhi is the best place in India to get a RD 350 restoration done. There are few mechanics in Delhi who can access the require spares etc.

I am sure guy from Delhi area here would be able to help. Otherwise try the RD 350 Yahoo Group. There are a lot of genuine enthusiastic guys from Delhi and will help you.

Please be careful as Delhi is also a place where there are a lot of duplicate parts and made up bikes.

Just for your info - The HT Bikes production in India stopped in November 1984. All models that rolled out of Escorts after that were LTs. The current RD 350 I have - which I bought new in 1985 March is an LT and was one of the first batch of LTs.

So if your ngine is now in HT spec, its definitely an after market job. Nothing wrong with that but it feels bad to hear when a RD 350 owner is saying something incorrect under misguided information.

All the best with your restoration efforts.

Best Regards & Drive/Ride Safe

Ram

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by r_nairtvm

Just for your info - The HT Bikes production in India stopped in November 1984. All models that rolled out of Escorts after that were LTs. The current RD 350 I have - which I bought new in 1985 March is an LT and was one of the first batch of LTs.

Ram Nair Sir,
My 2 Cents. Please do let me know your thoughts
Whilst I agree that HT models were in production only for the initial 18 months, The initial Bikes (2000) came with the Made in Japan stamping as they were direct imports and post that the entire dies were shifted to India from Japan; reason being RD was redundant and was EOL in the world market by then.
There were very little differences between the HT & LT technically. Both engines were similar except that the gear box assembling & Engine assembling were done in India itself. Chief differences amongt the 2 were
1) Exhaust port timing: The LT Exhaust Ports were restricted and had a new metal chip screwed in to limit the performance and meet the Indian's desire for 'Kitna Deti Hai'. If people are keen will try to pull out the maps for an easy comparison
2) Silencer First Cone, Mid Cone & Baffle Design: The design & flow of LT Silencers are way different compared to the HT. The first cone is much smaller compared to the HT with a decrease in the pipe Diameter compared to HT making it exhale a bit laborious. This can be measured by anybody using a simple string.
3) Main Jets: For better Midrange on the LT, the jets were fiddled around with to accommodate a better street ride. LT has very smart picking unlike the rev happy HT. But LT's quickly run out of breath around 120 Kays.

Many people convert LT to HT Barrels by removing the metal chip/tongue which in terms matches with those of original HT Barrels as both the booster ports, inlet ports are similar.

Vehicles post 89 model came with Indian Made Barrels which can be easily differentiated with the Rajdoot Stamping instead of standard 347 CC on the external sidewall at the lower end. These Barrels do not have any metal chip or tongue but instead the die was changed to achieve the same port timing. If you had to convert these barrels into HT, they had to be simply filed till the mark was achieved.

[voodoochild]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

Ram Nair Sir,
My 2 Cents...

MK, great information! Would you happen to have any photographs of the points you mentioned? I'd be particularly interested in the differences between the HT and LT (port restriction, mfg stamping, pre-8etc).

Will look for the details you mentioned about the silencers. My opinion was that the only difference was the end taper being more on the LT silencers than the HT.

Please note: This is just for my academic interest, I'm not refuting anyone's claims. Its just that I've had no opportunity to peek into an RD barrel.

Cheers,
Rahul

[r_nairtvm]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

Ram Nair Sir,
My 2 Cents. Please do let me know your thoughts

MK,

You are spot on with the information. Silencers - there were a lot of mix-up specially from 1986 onwards. From Escorts itself LT Bikes came with HT Pipes - clearing the old stock was the game. By then their interest had shifted fully to the hot cacke the RX 100. They didn't care what happened to RD 350. It was so ridiculous that there were few new bikes in TVM dealers, which had one HT and one LT silenser.

As you said you could easily revers the LT restrictions and go back to the HT standards,

My post was just to clarify the point that there were no HT Production bikes after 1984 November that is all. I believe, I have mentioned that in my post itself.

Best Regards & Drive/Ride Safe

Ram

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by r_nairtvm

My post was just to clarify the point that there were no HT Production bikes after 1984 November that is all. I believe, I have mentioned that in my post itself.

Ram

Ram Sir,
Agree to your thoughts one hundred percent, many owners are in the dark about the HT & LT so thought would put in a few clarifications which I knew.
Also with everyone going Ga Ga over HT, its very easy to hoodwink people.

Originally Posted by voodoochild

MK, great information! Would you happen to have any photographs of the points you mentioned?

Rahul,
Thanks for your kind words, Shall surely put in some photos when I find some free time. Planning to write a thread on my ownership & experience with RD shortly and you might find them there.
Do not take it that you are refuting, I would definitely like to be challenged which can only enhance my knowledge. Knowledge is for sharing mate is what I seriously believe in.

[SunnyBoi]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

Ram Sir,
Agree to your thoughts one hundred percent, many owners are in the dark about the HT & LT so thought would put in a few clarifications which I knew.
Also with everyone going Ga Ga over HT, its very easy to hoodwink people.

There have been instances of people raising ports on LT barrels and grinding off Rajdoot escorts logo on on barrels to make them look like HT barrels as well.

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by SunnyBoi

There have been instances of people raising ports on LT barrels and grinding off Rajdoot escorts logo on on barrels to make them look like HT barrels as well.

Well you can never stop people from doing that bit
But they can be made out by any trained/experienced eye. As long as the performance is good then why bother with such minuscule stuff