Yamaha RD500 RZ500 500cc 2-stroke Engine Tour. (YZR 500 Replica)

[@LS-ug7jk]

Amazing Engine build. LOVE these. Would kill for that rebuilt beauty.

[@holliheizer]

Great Video.......i am a german rd 500 driver and your englisch is very easy for me to listen and to translate. I build many 250 and 350 LC / YPVS Yamaha engines new but not one RD 500 engine. The day will come i rebuild my Engine.....your Video is a great help for me. 😊

[@thebracketfactory]

I am glad you liked it - I hope you get an RD500 soon!

[@clearine]

I know about you too. Your motorcycle builds are awesome.

[@trianedtog0417]

​@thebracketfactory I had a KZbin channel get monetized and you get over 1000 pds videos do a great thumb nail and start selling t shirts with your channel name on it also do smaller length videos 15mins try doing videos a day from hull were you from 52 yrs of age

[@jensnitsche4994]

Der Tag wird nicht kommen, diese Maschinen sind heute nicht mehr zu bezahlen

[@holliheizer]

@@jensnitsche4994 Ich hab mich vielleicht etwas unglücklich ausgedrückt.....ich habe eine schöne 500er......eines Tages werde ich den 500er Motor überholen.....so meinte ich das. Schau in meine Videos....da ist auch die 500er.

[@JRotten]

I had a RZ 500 in 1986, what a monster.

[@AR-MASTIFFS]

Same..use to eat the ninjas and hurricanes for a snack 😂😂

[@fjp3305]

I would've loved to have one.

[@kahidunn7907]

Great video, i had no idea the rz motor was so complex, a really enjoyable tour of the workings of this beast

[@alfabethev2.074]

Well. Had mine for exactly 39 years now, and you taught me many things i did not know . tnx alot!👍🏻

[@thebracketfactory]

Glad I could help!

[@markbarber7839]

Thanks for the video. I had a RG500. It was way simpler than this with similar performance. These 2 bikes were an answer to a question nobody was asking.

[@iloveslideking]

Suzuki was a lot better in every aspect.

[@grebermuncie3904]

@@iloveslideking..........except reliability.

[@iloveslideking]

@@grebermuncie3904 i don't think so.

[@thebracketfactory]

The RG disc valve induction certainly provides more scope for tuning - and they can be taken out to 570 cc.

[@Farlig69]

My first big bike back in the late 80's, nostalgia is burning badly - SUBBED!!!

[@thebracketfactory]

have you watched the latest video ??!!

[@JPHOT100]

I had an RD250LC in 1981, then a Kawasaki GPz500 and 750. In 1984 I had to decide between buying a GPz900R, an RD500LC or going to Australia. I chose going to Australia for a year. I finally bought a 900R in the mid 90's and still ride now (S1000XR) but I never owned an RD500. Your video was truly fascinating and I want a 500 even more now! Subscribed and looking forward to the next 500 video.

[@pinarellolimoncello]

Had similar experiences , owned a 250 LC in late 80's , great bike , was ex track bike so had had some tuning, then went to Australia , spotted an RD 500 in the paper and went to have a look , thought all my dreams come true but went for test ride and it gave off the most horrendous tank slappers when coming off the throttle, the optimist in me still wanted to buy it but so glad I didn't , would have killed me , think it was probably bent . Ended up with GPZ 600 instead, awesome bike , used to do Macpherson street racing at midnight after the pub, up through the chicane from beach , then 80 mph up to the roundabout, happy days.

[@thebracketfactory]

Glad you liked the vid! I'm working on a YZR rep at the mo so should do a vid on that soon, but will also do a more detailed vid about the power valves which I only touched on.

[@pinarellolimoncello]

@@thebracketfactory Was great, am hugely impressed with your knowledge on the engine , will keep an eye out for the yzr video. Funnily enough I also owned a Yzr 250 wr 2 stroke moto x / enduro bike '89 model , I think they were basically race bikes with lights from what I can gather , was fastest in the pack, just holding off my friend Dave Lamberts TT 600, look him up, much like yourself, very clever bloke , specialises in XT 600's for overland trips.

[@clarityinstatic]

Awesome video! Can we get a dedicated RD500/YZR500 updates! It would be nice to see rhe mods, the replica builds, tuninga tips and so on!

[@thebracketfactory]

That's the plan! There is loads more to say about the engine, there there is the rest of the YZR rep to talk about..

[@Milkybar3320011]

I miss the sound of a good two stroke. Great video, very informative.

[@thebracketfactory]

Thanks!!

[@AutoBeta2T]

A great insight into this engine and really well explained. More YZR 500 would be great. Subbed.

[@thebracketfactory]

Thanks! I'm working on a bike at the moment so it'll be my next video I think.

[@johngibson3837]

Hey up mate first I've seen ov your channel, and what a great video, very well explained. Always struggled to know what these bike's are supposed to be called, mate got one when they first came out in Australia and have always remembered it as been a YZR did also think earlier than 84. I did ride it a few times and loved it, seemed like a big Motorcross bike on the road to me, picking up front wheel half way round corners was fun just like I'd ride my enduro bike

[@thebracketfactory]

the motorcross bike was called the YZ (I think 490) and was a single cylinder. A complete hooligan bike!!

[@mcasteel2112]

Funny how this just showed up on my feed. Back in 95 I was at a garage sale and there was something under a blanket against the wall. I maneuvered on over to take a peek and there was a mint 74 rd350. Asked the lady about it, she said her husband was a salesman at a dealership, the bike had 35 miles but it never would run more then five minutes at a time so he brought it home and there it sat. I gave her $500 and a friend of mine found the problem of some factory welding slag shorting out the bike. Sold it for $2500 a few years later.

[@princesssolace4337]

I've only owned a 86' RD125

[@frozenice61]

no

[@PhillipEaton]

Great video! For my computing & electronics degree in early 90s, I designed and built a power-valve servo controller for my Ministock racing TZR 125, plus an LED rev counter. TZRs in the UK didn't have the controllers fitted and the valve was fixed in the closed position, you could also move it to the open position, but that then gave it no power at low revs.

[@thebracketfactory]

Didn't realised that the TZR 125s had no servo! (Was that the Belgrada?)

[@PhillipEaton]

@@thebracketfactory Nope, the old model from the late 80s/early 90s

[@captaintoyota3171]

So cool, these are the things i love. Mr Millyard would be proud

[@thebracketfactory]

Thanks Captain!!

[@kevinsellsit5584]

You have to love Yamaha engineering!

[@jase-barber-73]

New subscriber here 👍 Collect my rd500 this weekend 😁..giddy is an understatement!! I have a special rd350lc and I’m keen to learn about these engines as I’m a beginner to all this..I find the videos very interesting and informative..cheers jase

[@thebracketfactory]

Thanks for subscribing! If you have any questions, just ask!!

[@supertedogpriken]

Never knew it was 2 engines bolted together (not really, but kind of) Thanks for explaining everything so well. Cheers.

[@thebracketfactory]

No problem, glad you liked it.

[@peterhodes6708]

I,ve got half of one!! (TZR 250 1kt)😀

[@thebracketfactory]

@@peterhodes6708 yes - the barrels are almost identical! (and the one I'm holding has a 1KT head on it if you look carefully...)

[@teamgonzo9289]

Very, very cool!!!✌️😎👍 This gave me a great idea though. 2 RZ-350 engines mated I CAN KEEP MY YPVS!!! Two cub '425's twins, twin crank , ect .... Thank you, thank you very much!!! 👍

[@jdsstegman]

I still seen to get my hands on one! I love in the USA so highly unlikely these days for cheap. For now i will continue to ride ann 13 of my rd 350's i have restored Thanks for the video. I haven't seen may on the internals of an rd500.

[@doccops]

Really interesting thank you. The last two-stroke I rebuilt was a teeny TY80, quite a contrast to this one, so simple ;)

[@pakkelly]

Fascinating tour of the exotic. Thank you.

[@thebracketfactory]

Thanks!

[@Dostiempos.Canarias]

Great video, thank you

[@thebracketfactory]

Thanks Oliver !

[@pauloconnor7951]

Not Piston port !. That's reed valve "Torque Induction" 100%. Upper cylinders are fed via reed to the cylinders. Lower 2 cylinders are fed via reeds though the crank case.

[@thebracketfactory]

Yes, you are quite right! The rear pistons do have ports, but that is not the same as 'piston ported'! Thanks for pointing that out.

[@nickrider5220]

Still two different conjoined twins, two different pistons and cylinders.

[@thebracketfactory]

yes - different cylinders, different pistons, different timing, different cooling... apart from that they are identical !! @@nickrider5220🤣

[@jimamizzi1]

Ok I didn’t know that about the carbs. I never had any issues with overheating even when racing must have got a good one. Great video.

[@matthewfredrickmfkrz1934]

I was going tobsay

[@siyz250]

Also always curious on the compromises engineers have to allow for when pairing multi cylinders on 2S. I have seen RZ 350 cranks with 180d offset pins and understand that the engine is treated as 2 seperate gas pumps in that layout. Then the other day i saw an RGV 250 crank with 0d offset crank pins. This must mean a shared crankcase/primary compression allowed by the 90d cylinder barrel orientation? So interesting.

[@ANDYSTUNEtwo]

I’ve got the same bike YZR rep with zeiltronick ign I’ll have to look into the ign timing on the rear cylinders.. great videos 👍

[@thebracketfactory]

glad you liked it 🙂

[@Humanity101-zp4sq]

You've got some lovely kit dude!

[@thebracketfactory]

cheers dude!

[@ianraynard]

Very good helpful for my understanding for my rd500

[@thebracketfactory]

Glad it helped

[@MrJesperKofoed]

Hello Beenham. thanks for the super good KZbin. So if you don't change the 2.5 standard degrees, then you have a safer temperature on the engine?

[@redtobertshateshandles]

No. The timing difference gives one bank torque at lower revs for smoother power.

[@razor1uk610]

The degree spacing slightly improves tyre grip by spreading the would be twin power pulses of a cylinder per bank firing apart fractionally. Also the slight offset will degrade a sympathetic resonance from the cranks secondary weightings due to each cranks rotational distance from the other with regards to their input onto the clutch's drive gear, and torsional resonations potentially effecting long-term.. bearing lives, perhaps reducing a frothing effect upon fuelling and oiling to below a cavitational bubble generation range(s) level ?

[@thebracketfactory]

good point about resonance ...

[@siyz250]

Throughly interesting. Thank you. As someone about to embark on a 86 RZ 350 resto l wondered if you have done or can do the same for these engines? Regards, Simon, Christchurch, NZ.

[@thebracketfactory]

Hi, I've not done one on the RZ350 (which is the RD350 in the UK), but as it happens I do have on in bits so I could do a vid on it. I'll stick it on the 'to do' list!

[@Farlig69]

17:39 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤 Can I sub again, soooo looking forward to this project, been somehitng in the back of my mind for years!!!

[@alexr3831]

Excellent video I am In California and I am restoring a YAMAHA RD 500LC. However, because of gasoline environmental laws, the old plastic seems to take a big toll on this old motorcycle.

[@manoo422]

??!! What does the "gasoline environmental laws" have to do with "old plastic" parts ??!!

[@yamahav4twostrokesrdrzrzv524]

Interesting regards fitting the clutch basket. Maybe why I'm having an issue with a 'ticking' noise.

[@thebracketfactory]

where do you think the noise is coming from? High revs or tickover ?

[@Stephenderuiter]

I had the last RD.350 then RZ350.i race both of them. 😊

[@3406Accert]

I finally realized I purchased the Wrong 2 New bike after buying the Absolutely astounding 1985 RZ350F the next year 1986 RZ5000V4 steel framed bike , when I should have simply waited till 1987 & purchased another giant killer TZR250-1KT And l imagine would have a lot more useable fun on the twice as small engine size as the bigger overweight lump of a bike 500cc 2 stroke, but after riding & owning 2 Yamaha sport bikes and a bunch of heavy Japanese Socalled sporty bikes the 1985 RZ350 is still the most favorite bike of all time and if ever win the lottery I'm buying as many TZR's & earlier RZ's as possible for a Private Hord collection.

[@thebracketfactory]

The last if the TZR250s where incredible - if Yamaha had made a 500cc version then I don't think that 99% of bikers could have handled it....!

[@ivanyalamov5109]

Amazing vid

[@thebracketfactory]

Thanks Ivan.

[@edalbagem]

Very interesting!

[@thebracketfactory]

Glad you found it interesting!

[@daviddjerassi]

I love the way to very simply explain the total workings of the outer engine components how is your Austin 7 Racer going love all your videos lots more please.

[@thebracketfactory]

Thanks David. The Austin 7 is already for some serious testing... just as soon as the weather is a bit better!

[@peterfitzpatrick7032]

It would seem to me that the offset ignition between banks might widen the powerband ?.... 🤔

[@redtobertshateshandles]

100%. The banks of cylinders aren't coming on the pipe at exactly the same time.

[@paulspringthorpe332]

Hi - great video ! Any chance of talking in more detail about how to do the crank timing please ? Both original standard timing and revised -

[@thebracketfactory]

Hi Paul, yes I think I'll do some more now and delve deeper into the engine - there has been a lot of interest!

[@paulspringthorpe332]

Great news - it’s an unusual and fascinating engine 👍

[@johngibson3837]

​@@thebracketfactoryhey up mate the timing is sort of reminding me of the big bang engine's for improving traction

[@cabovermike]

I bought a red/black rd500 back in the 80's it was on a c reg, a quick test ride and it was sold, cost me £2300, i always wanted one but the £3500+ new price was to rich for me, mine had around 18000 miles on it and it was faultless untill i foolishly let the local jonah have a go on it and he came back with it running on 3 cylinders !, i pulled a plug out and diagnosed a holed piston, did the old screwdriver down the plug hole test, i also had a new yzf 750r so the rd 500 was left alone as quite frankly it scared me from working on it as it looked so complicated, ive stripped and rebuilt many of my previous and later yamaha 2 strokes, td3/tz/yr5/tzr3xvsp no problem ,.anyway i sold it as is for £1200 as i only had room for 4 bikes, so it had to go, leaving me with yzf750r/rd350b/tzr3xvsp/honda cb750k2, these last 3 ive just sold to my eldest son, leaving me with my yamaha R7 0W02 from 2000, i px'd the yzf750r for it in 2004,.if i had a crystal ball back then i would have hung onto the rd500, but i sold it to racer nigel bosworths brother, i also had a speed camera tkt for it years later (my name must have still been on the v5), so it must have been repaired ,. C730EMF was the reg,.not mot'd now on gov.co mot checker,.long live the 2 strokes !..

[@70sport37]

The lower crank gear is heavily lubricated the crank at 12:00 not so much so is noisy without the backlash gear ? Maybe? Great project ! I’m butt hurt !

[@thebracketfactory]

That is a plausible theory!

[@Daniel_Martin152]

Fantastic video

[@thebracketfactory]

glad you liked it 👍

[@jkim6200]

Wasn't Honda the only Japanese manufacturer with a single crank 2T engine? I know that Yamaha and Suzuki both had counter rotating twin crank engine that were coupled to the msin crank.

[@thebracketfactory]

Yes, the NSR400 had a single crank... but only 3 cylinders and 400cc (for Japanese market). The Yamaha cracks both rotate in the same direction and are only connected via the clutch basket.

[@RachaelSA]

Its looks like a TZR250 2MA/1KT motor and a TZR250 3MA stuck together, but I guess thats what the engineers were working with at the time. The YZR500 0WC1 is my "if I won the lottery" bike, or if I ever got my hands on one of these motors, I have enough TZR's and spares to build one, but every one I have seen for sale is way out of my budget.

[@72hourbob61]

I do not understand the per say 2nd oil pump. As the crank is lubed by the fuel/oil mixture and does not run in an oil bath per say like a 4 stroke. Only thing I can only guess is they are putting the crack seal(s) inboard of the main bearings so the 2nd pump would just oil the main bearing on the right but how does the oil get to the bearing on the left?

[@thebracketfactory]

One of the oil pumps is the 2-stroke oil pump as found on many 2 stroke engines. The other pump is a gearbox oil pump and specifically feeds the primary gear for the top/rear crank as that is high up in the engine and too far away to just be splash lubricated. I hope that makes sense!

[@egbertvanderweide3597]

@@thebracketfactory Hi, the gearbox pump doesn't olny lubricate the top/rear crank but also through the gear axle the gears.

[@thebracketfactory]

@@egbertvanderweide3597 good call Egbert 👍

[@simonallan9941]

Thats CCI oil pumps, both are for 2stroke lubrication, one for each crankshaft.

[@thebracketfactory]

I've just googled the Suzuki oil pump - very interesting. Thanks !!

[@nickywalsh8492]

Well explained 👏.

[@thebracketfactory]

cheers Nicky !

[@jimamizzi1]

I purchased mine in the 90s, I think it was 10yo. It was in like new condition with about 8k kilometres, I paid $4200 Australian dollars. Kept it for 5 years and sold it for $5k.

[@DoRC]

I won't pretend to understand the actual physics behind it but I suspect that only one of the gears has a functioning anti backlash device because they found that they only needed one in order to achieve the goal that they were trying to achieve. Given that type of system will inherently add friction and will rob power they probably decided just having one was the best compromise. The other one likely has a dummy setup just so the two could be the same and use the same hardware etc.

[@thebracketfactory]

I think you are probably right - means they only need to make one part differently (the thin anti lash gear) as apposed to everything else.

[@DoRC]

@@thebracketfactory yeah I've seen quite a few instances over the years as a mechanic where dummy parts like this are created in order to avoid re-engineering a whole bunch of things.

[@keithgarland3404]

very interesting, hope you don't mind me asking, but what is your day job, or trade/ training ? only you appear to be very familiar with this engine, and engineering in general, enjoying your videos. myself long time motor and mechanical engineer/ fitter.

[@thebracketfactory]

Thanks Keith. My day Job is in IT (!)... but I did an engineering degree and have always had a passion for anything mechanical!

[@JayC-fb1ri]

Please tell us about the Ducati Cucciolo engine!!!

[@thebracketfactory]

haha! well spotted! That is another side project that is ongoing - but I'll be doing a vid all about it so hit subscribe!

[@ironDsteele]

Where do you even find parts to work on these bikes anymore?

[@thebracketfactory]

The parts are hard to find and pretty expensive when they do crop up!

[@TS50ER]

Were there two different frames for these bikes bikes, a steel one and and an aluminum one?

[@thebracketfactory]

That's correct. The RD and RZ models had steel frames whereas the RZV500 (Japanese market only) had an aluminium frame.

[@bluestripes1]

nice video about a funky engine

[@thebracketfactory]

Thank you!

[@stewart8127]

Have you ever seen one of these with two 360 cranks?

[@thebracketfactory]

Not sure what you mean Steward - this engine does have 2 cranks.

[@stewart8127]

@@thebracketfactory 2 180 degree cranks one piston at TDC one at BDC at the same time a 360 degree crank would be both pistons on crank at TDC at the same time.

[@stewart8127]

@@thebracketfactory kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIubZaWLi7CDj6Msi=1uYBbhDKofHcuqsj

[@stewart8127]

@@thebracketfactory I'm curious out the "Big Bang" and what the factory might have done in the GP days . Did the ever use a two 360 crank configuration one bank both pistons up other bank both pistons down? or ever a 270degree difference per bank ?

[@lesmontgomery6498]

Rebuilt one for an old buddy. His son had assembled it. Seized so hard it pulled the wrist pin out of one of the pistons. Aftermarket pistons any one? Put it together stock with Yamaha parts. Much better

[@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443]

Ive never had a failure with Wiseco forged pistons. Im also meticulous about mixing my fuel and having my jetting right.

[@ernestbidon5027]

How has this anything to do with the YZR500? There are some big differences between cafe-racer or track-bike and a GP bike.or replica thereof.

[@thebracketfactory]

so you realised it *is* a waster spark 😉

[@ernestbidon5027]

Still nowhere piston-ported, still not anything close to a YZR. Maybe it's gonna be a nice bike, have fun, I'm all for it. But if you put " YZR replica" in the title, people are gonna be disapointed.

[@thebracketfactory]

sorry you are disappointed.@@ernestbidon5027

[@ernestbidon5027]

To be fair, Yamaha deserve most of the blame for that. What were they thinking? Engine designed by a committee?

[@redtobertshateshandles]

The timing lag is to give a broader spread of power. Imo. The RD was a roadbike.

[@thebracketfactory]

that a plausible theory too - wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.

[@Emmanuel-sb3vv]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@gren509]

Brilliant ! You've gotta feel sorry for the mechanics of that time.

[@twitchbook-1]

please and thanks, cheers

[@XavierMauViegas]

Hello Can I buy one like this ?

[@martykath4427]

I can't imagine the anti rattle primary drive stuff would be in the racing version of this engine. The piston port side looks to me like it has access to the crankcase and may or may not be piston port??

[@thebracketfactory]

You are right - the anti lash gears are often left out of race engine builds. And also it is *not* piston ported, despite what said! The rear pistons do have ports in them, but it's reed valve induction..

[@manoo422]

After the success of the RD250LC and RD350LC, when Yamaha announced there was going to be a RD500LC coming, EVERYONE was expecting a 350 bored out to 500. Which I think would have sold by the million! However what we got was a square 4, V4 massively more complicated engine with different cylinder banks front and back. A much bigger heavier bike with a £3000+ price tag compared to £1130 for the 350...It would have been Sooo much easier and better to have made a TZ500 replica with detuned barrels... It was a MASSIVE disappointment at the time and didnt sell well at all from what I remember. You COMPLETELY misread your market Yamaha, a massive mistake.

[@thebracketfactory]

In the UK someone made an RD500 from two RD250 engines mated to together (4 cylinder in line) - it was featured in a magazine at the same time as the RD500 came out. Ebvryone liked the 'home-brew' version more...!

[@manoo422]

@@thebracketfactory Yes, I have seen a water cooled and air cooled version, both were rather 'wide' as I remember. The best answer was still a twin, a completely wasted opportunity by Yamaha, very annoying!

[@leslieaustin151]

Good grief! I thought two-strokes were meant to be simple!! Bring back the Austin 7.. (or the C12). Thanks for a very interesting video. Les

[@thebracketfactory]

Hi Les - The Austin is all ready for some serious testing... just waiting for some nice weather!

[@massajava]

Where did you get the engine?

[@thebracketfactory]

engines crop up on Ebay - but they are starting to get quite expensive!

[@stewart8127]

Single fire ignition will produce less Heat than wasted spark.

[@paulklingler2620]

👍👍

[@marcswinnen9100]

I will subscribe nice engine

[@thebracketfactory]

Thanks Marc!

[@jpmorgen5726]

Always loved the 90 degree kinks in the intakes, not! Why didn't they just copy a race engine...

[@thebracketfactory]

Yes, a lot of people have tried ways of getting the inlet tracts straight(er) - but it's not easy - it's all very tight!

[@BRaff-hl4ip]

Seeing as the intake system is different on each bank, does that mean there is an imbalance in power produced from each bank?

[@thebracketfactory]

potentially yes - the engine designs are different in a few ways so whilst the power output would be similar, it wouldn't be identical.

[@jmzochsnrtr]

🏆SUZUKI RULZ!!🏆

[@thebracketfactory]

haha! the RG500 is Ok ;-)

[@VtecTurboMiniGuy]

Start her up! :)

[@thebracketfactory]

next vid there will be some 'running engine' action !

[@Null-h6c]

As long as it's thermally protected ? Say cerakote . Magnesium is usually more desireble then aluminium . Lost sparx ignition is a great idea to prevent false signal but for the rest must awfull . No wonder 2 stroke smoked so much

[@Pompomgrenade]

😂 I can't believe you're working on an engine that's 40 years old. And has accounted for splash needed for lubrication... While my 2019 5.7 l. V8 ram engine... Has a tendency to suffer from lifter failures due to inadequate oiling at idle😮😮😮 Yeah that's right. It's still 2024... Old is better

[@mt10sprd350lc]

Not piston ported its a reed valve ported engine

[@thebracketfactory]

yes, well spotted. I may do another vid to expand on more details and I'll correct that mistake while I'm at it!

[@frozenice61]

yamaha designer took acid on sunday went work on monday

[@juliomorales4330]

Y ese mosquito

[@Pitoumotorsport]

ce moteur est une grosse merde, l'améliorer n'est pas compliqué....

[@thebracketfactory]

😂

[@Pitoumotorsport]

@@thebracketfactory Je suis d'accord, ta vidéo est tordante de rire !

[@thebracketfactory]

Glad you found it entertaining 👍😊.

[@bobrogers7004]

Steve Parrish tried to race a tuned version of this but it wasn't competitive.