My name is Adam and I own a 77 DT 400. This bike has been treated like crap from multiple owners and I am in the process of bringing her back to life! If you have ever seen the movie The Dirt Bike Kid, that is basically what kind of relationship I have with this bike. There is just something about this old machine that I love and I am fully addicted to getting her back to her former glory! I have a cherry 1980 Kawasaki KZ 440 LTD that I would give up in a heartbeat for this DT, that's how much I love it. I might even be a little crazily attached, but that's ok to me! Right now it is just a drag bike and it's a head turner when I go to the drags. I can keep up with most modern 400 4 strokers no problem, and they are wondering what the hell is going on! lol I have a goal of getting it back street legal by next spring. I can't get enough!

Morning folks.

I have an exceedingly beaten up old 360 rt used as a farm bike for the past 30 or so years.

Time to actually get the old girl on the road, ie legal and stuff, as I have an oversized (tall) lad of 20 who would like to learn to ride (at last!!!) He's not a natural so I suspect this girl is the best machine to do it.

I do have a problem though. The worm actuator which operates through the left crank case cover pushing that clutch rod thingy is missing and I'm damned if I can find a parts catalogue with the actual part number and a visual on ebay has not been much help.

The engine runs a treat though, none of that pinging or knocking sound associated with old 2 strokes and is a first kick starter.

I will renovate her aesthetically also, so all advice from the experts will be gratefully received.

Photos will follow.

Regards and thanks

Dave

That actuator isn't available from Yamaha anymore and I'll bet over 50% of the remaining population is already cracked. Real common failure. It took a little modifying of the case cover but I was able to use an actuator off of an XS650.

You have to drill and tap new holes at an angle to mount it. See the pic

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And the other thing is you have to cut the case down to flat to mount it.

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Kind of a pain but the good side is the 650 has a steel worm inside a plastic outer sleeve. Stock for our bikes is the other way around which is why they seem to crack over the years.

Wish I had an easier answer but if it helps .....

Onto it!

Hi all,
I am semi-retired now but worked for Yamaha in the early seventies to about 1985. I am a licensed motorcycle mechanic with many enduro rebuilds under my belt, lol.

Lately I have started buying old bikes when I can find them and doing restorations on them. I have ridden almost all of the old enduro models as I assembled the new ones as they came into the shop and test rode them. Others I had the task of tuning or rebuilding.

I still feel they are one of the best built bikes ever made. I know they don't have as many bells and whistles as the hi-tech new stuff but at least you can work on your own bike which I love to do. I enjoy solving mechanical and electrical problems especially on old Yamahas.

I am glad to give any feedback I can.

Thanks, Eck
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Welcome Eck! Glad to have you here!

to the site!

Hi, my name is Larry and I have a vintage motorcycle collecting addiction. I'm semi-retired and decided to relive my childhood by playing with old cycles. My current projects are a 1971 CT1 and a 1973 RT3. Both of these are in running condition and actually are in pretty good original condition. Both need some TLC and I figured this site might have some valuable information on keeping these bikes in tip top shape. I'm kind of new to collecting Yamaha enduros even though I did have a couple many years ago. Most of my vintage cycles have Kawasaki emblems, as that is what I started out with back in 1967. None of them are enduro style bikes, just twin and triple cylinder street bikes. Sorry I couldn't post any pics, but I'll get a few up soon.

to the site! Looking forward to seeing your bikes.

We should have factory manuals for your projects in the Tech Library.

Feel free to post pics of your non-enduro bikes in the "other bikes" section. We have soft spot for two stroke triples

Hi my name is Gord and I am an Enduroholic. I was introduced to my first Yamaha 175 Enduro in 1972, along with a friend who had a 125 and another who had a 360. Absolutely loved my bike, on the road and on the dirt trail. Decided to get married in 1974,ended up selling my bike for a new living room couch and chair....44 years later I'm back baby... and yes still married to the same love of my life. However I did find an old flame, in a 1976-125 Enduro, with only 2450 miles on it, and the romance begins again. Pics will follow.