1978 OR 390 Out of the barn and into the race!

Geary, those shocks came off of a 81 WR250 for reference!

Great, I was going to ask you about that.
Are you coming to the hillclimb? Tentative plan is to drive down Friday morning arriving about 10am. Possibly stay Friday night in motel and watch big bikes Saturday. Maybe go ride Mattawa Sat afternoon.

Pulled clutch apart tonight everything looks ok. I decided that the noise I heard is caused by not enough freeplay at the cable, although why it did not make the noise from the beginning is bugging me a little. The cable was a custom made one for the race last year. It is now too short even with the bar adjuster all the way in. (This a different lever and clamp) So I will get the correct cable and see what happens.

Put all back together without the clutch cable connected. Noise is gone. Ordered new cable 3.0 slide and 247 q-8 needle jet. Now the waiting game.

I thought I had the clutch chatter solved. I made a temp fix to an old adjuster bolt to give me 3mm more free play. Went for a 3 minute ride and when running in neutral the noise is back. Pull in the clutch1/4 to 1/2 and noise goes away. I am going to try to decide if the noise is present in gear.

Noise does not seem to be present in gear. Nor did it make noise when it first started. Only after putting in gear then back to neutral. I need to see if this pattern repeats itself though. I may just be paranoid.
Pattern repeats each and every time so far. Hmm, time will tell I guess.

Got carb parts today. 247 Q8 needle jet, 6f15 needle, 430 main, 50 pilot. Unfortunately the new slide does not have the threaded holes for the cable adapter. Using the flat plate the cable is too short . Back to old hand ground slide for now. Adjusted needle to middle slot and bike runs and starts pretty well. Now for a ride.
THANKS TO ALL FOR THE HELP!

Thanks Steve,
It is just the opposite. It makes noise when there is no tension on the lever. As soon as you move the lever 1/2" or so the noise goes away. I agree the sound reminds me of a throwout bearing. It won't make the noise on first startup, only after you put it in gear and then back to neutral. I did look at that assembly and saw nothing obvious wrong. what should I look for?

#5 and the affected surfaces of #4 and #6. Also check for scoring on the OD of #3 and ID of #4 were #4 slides over #3. I lost that bearing a couple of times on my 80 OR390 but alot of that was probably teenage error.

As for the gasoline tank in post #6 that one is a good choice to run out with. I have an ugly plastic one but opted for that pretty design instead and paid the price.

I am assuming since there is talk of sending the (an?) engine out earlier and later stating you took the clutch apart and everything was ok the throw out bearing discussion isn't going to be it. The clutch shaft, transmission front shaft input shaft or whatever it gets called has a way of developing a lot of axial play. It might be the shaft sliding in the bearings. It might be the bearings, were they replaced, bearings can seem good to me but upon taking them apart are chipped. At last the ones I dis assemble the bearing in the drive side often is no longer a tight fit and doesn't fit into the case all the way because It rests against a snap ring which can deform a bit at the bearing and the case can dent in. Perhaps your issues relate to mis allignment of somethning unless there is pressure holding the shaft to one side. Examine the oil/magnet and pull and push on the clutch shaft.

Geary,

That is a funny and inspiring story!
I like that you and your brother slapped the thing together and
ran the old beast. Good way to find out what works.

Keep up the good work.

I'm doing the same thing to my old 76 WR250.
Just it's taking me 9 years!

Finally rode it the way it was meant to be ridden this weekend.
The old girl was happy that I let her out of the corral.

Thor

Wow somehow I missed this post. I have the original tank, I just need to get a couple dents out and a repaint. As for the engine I need to check the parts list. Was suppose to be completely rebuilt by a very reputable shop. It does not seem to make noise when in gear and moving so I am going to ride it a little and see what happens.

Thor,
We had so much fun! I've had alot of fun working on it since too. I might get to go for a little ride Saturday.

Good luck with yours, do you have any pics posted?
Geary

Boy this 390 is kicking my butt! Last Wednesday I got the extended swingarm on, made some temporary shock bushings, bought another new chain and took it out for a stroll. I hadn't run it since last June and haven't put 2 miles on it total since rebuild. Got it started but it didn't feel quite right. I rode down the driveway and back and the engine runs away. Kill switch won't stop it, only dumping the clutch with the brakes on. Hmm, wasn't doing that last time. In June it ran pretty good. Oh well, throw it in the trailer and work on it when I get to Odessa. We changed carb, checked the intake, changed throttle cable, no luck. Now I guess I get to do a leakdown test and probably change the crank seals...again. Oh well the WR250 and WR175 ran great and we had a fantastic time riding the poker run at Odessa this year.

I have the cases welded ofter here in Phx. I am also having billet inserts made to repair cases that had water standing in them. Call Superfinishers in Phx, it's an Aircraft machine shop, 623-516-7517

Glad the WR 250 ran good!