380 piston's are up to oversize 2mm available. Look for IMD pistons from UK.They are as set 3 pieces 84 euro, thats almost the price of one orginal. Have used in the Gt750. They allow tighter clearance between piston's and cylinder (0,03mm out of my head) than orginal specs 0,05mm. Weight is almost same, springs have a little edges on top side + are little bit less stiff and easier to install. For oil lines, oil tight checkvalves are important. Especially not used every now and then. It is possible to disassemble the checkvalves and use new springs. Or look for replacement line, but also 50 years old checkvalves. Kawasaki still sell oem checkvalves 16128-009, Webike sell them cheaper. I recommend to do this to the other GT triples. Hydrolocking your 550 or 750, could safe crank rebuilds Use good non thickness liquid gasket between crankcases. have good experience with Hylomar Blue. Keeps sticky when good preperation been done. Could assembly when activeted chemical reaction after 5 minutes. Keep your engines air tight and not lean. I see your shared video's when rebuilding the nices bikes!
Good call, the bike will get fixed and back on the road and you keep your sanity. I also thought hydrolocking from engine pickling initially, but you kicked it over a few times before, which did not make sense in that context, it's either hydrolocked or not. These old 2 strokes are indestructible, my Yamaha RX-100 grenaded the top end piston roller bearing, metal went down the engine and she limped home. Oil and fuel, a little work and sweat, maybe a drop of blood or two, and these machines will take you to the end of the world.
That there is a full rebuild back to factory. Any bikes I get that look as bad as these are always completely engine out and then full engine disassembly and replace everything. I don't ever "start" any engine until after it's been fully rebuilt to spec.
Curious, what did you pay for all the entire haul of non-running vintage bikes? I also have a few bikes in my garage so I subbed and will follow your progress. Honda CBX, Suzuki GT750, Honda CB400F, Yamaha XS750, Honda MB5 (two stroke). I used to own a Yamaha RD400. I still dream about it, I loved it!
He bought the collection off of me but he paid a good friend price. These classic motorcycles were my father's collection; he passed away in 2012 and have been siting in a storage unit. As for the GT380, that was one of the motorcycles that was already running prior to my father acquiring it; so the cylinder issue was probably present when he brought it home.
@@_Sisyphus I appreciate it. I wish I had the time and expertise to rebuild these myself. I did hold onto my dad's pristine yellow RZ350 with only 400 miles. All I hope is that ones in this collection that are rebuildable end up in home where they are loved.
Good call on passing that bike on there's still a few sled shops in the midwest that do good crank rebuilds.
380 piston's are up to oversize 2mm available. Look for IMD pistons from UK.They are as set 3 pieces 84 euro, thats almost the price of one orginal. Have used in the Gt750. They allow tighter clearance between piston's and cylinder (0,03mm out of my head) than orginal specs 0,05mm. Weight is almost same, springs have a little edges on top side + are little bit less stiff and easier to install.
For oil lines, oil tight checkvalves are important. Especially not used every now and then. It is possible to disassemble the checkvalves and use new springs. Or look for replacement line, but also 50 years old checkvalves. Kawasaki still sell oem checkvalves 16128-009, Webike sell them cheaper. I recommend to do this to the other GT triples. Hydrolocking your 550 or 750, could safe crank rebuilds
Use good non thickness liquid gasket between crankcases. have good experience with Hylomar Blue. Keeps sticky when good preperation been done. Could assembly when activeted chemical reaction after 5 minutes. Keep your engines air tight and not lean.
I see your shared video's when rebuilding the nices bikes!
Good call, the bike will get fixed and back on the road and you keep your sanity. I also thought hydrolocking from engine pickling initially, but you kicked it over a few times before, which did not make sense in that context, it's either hydrolocked or not. These old 2 strokes are indestructible, my Yamaha RX-100 grenaded the top end piston roller bearing, metal went down the engine and she limped home. Oil and fuel, a little work and sweat, maybe a drop of blood or two, and these machines will take you to the end of the world.
That there is a full rebuild back to factory. Any bikes I get that look as bad as these are always completely engine out and then full engine disassembly and replace everything. I don't ever "start" any engine until after it's been fully rebuilt to spec.
Curious, what did you pay for all the entire haul of non-running vintage bikes? I also have a few bikes in my garage so I subbed and will follow your progress. Honda CBX, Suzuki GT750, Honda CB400F, Yamaha XS750, Honda MB5 (two stroke). I used to own a Yamaha RD400. I still dream about it, I loved it!
He bought the collection off of me but he paid a good friend price. These classic motorcycles were my father's collection; he passed away in 2012 and have been siting in a storage unit. As for the GT380, that was one of the motorcycles that was already running prior to my father acquiring it; so the cylinder issue was probably present when he brought it home.
@@deltawhisky Thank you for replying DW. You have my sincerest condolences on the loss of your father.
@@_Sisyphus I appreciate it. I wish I had the time and expertise to rebuild these myself. I did hold onto my dad's pristine yellow RZ350 with only 400 miles. All I hope is that ones in this collection that are rebuildable end up in home where they are loved.