Is it a 500 or 502?

A place for all your Diablo Rouge Questions or just a place to shoot the bull about those little Red Devils.
Post Reply
User avatar
Go Go Diablo
Site Admin
Posts:1830
Joined:Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:47 am
Location:Sobieski, Wisconsin
Contact:
Is it a 500 or 502?

Post by Go Go Diablo » Sat May 01, 2010 8:25 pm

Hi all,

Randy H from Richfield, Ohio told me a few years back he had a 500 (and he was damn sure it was a 500), that had some of the same characteristics of a 502. As we talked on the phone and trying to explain back and forth the differences, I speculated maybe Randy had a 502 as he discussed how it was constructed.

Today, I stripped down a chassis and now realize for sure that Randy knew what he was talking about but may not have understood why. Take a look at the 500 chassis pictures below.
DSC00029.JPG
DSC00029.JPG (164.88KiB)Viewed 3142 times
Note that from the topside, it sure looks like a 500 chassis. One thing to note however is the longer tube steel under the gas tank. The 500 would have a shorter tube toward the front instead of the longer tube shown.
DSC00030.JPG
DSC00030.JPG (164.63KiB)Viewed 3143 times
From the bottom side, the chassis looks like a cross between a 500 and a 502. It still has the brass bushings in the bogie mounts like the 500, but has the anti-flip stop welded on like you see on all 502's.
DSC00031.JPG
DSC00031.JPG (162.39KiB)Viewed 3144 times
The area where the double bogies mount is a fully tubular design like the 502. The 500 would have a piece of angle iron here. It's also hard to see, but the chassis has the angle iron supports where the bumper brackets mount which is a 502/3 design and not on any of the 500's.
DSC00032.JPG
DSC00032.JPG (164.49KiB)Viewed 3141 times
The track support bars are installed like the 502, but the side supports are still a flat bar design like the 500 instead of the round stock style support used by the 502/3.
DSC00033.JPG
DSC00033.JPG (164.36KiB)Viewed 3143 times
One last difference is the addition of this stabilizer rail to the backside of the chassis edges. This rail is riveted to the chassis side.

I believe this chassis to be one that was built late in the production year and may have been one that Bolens was experimenting with designs. It could also be a part that you could buy after your original 500 chassis self destructed. The serial number on this chassis was 15449, but I don't know if that serial number is original to the chassis or was transferred to the chassis if it was truly replaced after the first failed.

Comments?

Bruce
Too many Diablos and parts to count.
Yamaha 600 SX

devil dog
Posts:209
Joined:Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:52 pm

Re: Is it a 500 or 502?

Post by devil dog » Tue May 04, 2010 9:01 am

It's a 501? :lol:

devil dog
Posts:209
Joined:Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:52 pm

Re: Is it a 500 or 502?

Post by devil dog » Tue May 04, 2010 9:51 am

Ok, My curiousity got the best of me. I have a 500 serial # 15558. It is the same as this one in every way except that it is not riveted on the sides.The rivits were probobly added by the previous owner and if I was restoring it ,I would remove the rivits and fill the holes. It has the braced handlebars with slots in the dash. One thing I noticed too is the front double bogie mount on both machines actually had a piece of angle iron added to the existing to create a "box".

User avatar
Go Go Diablo
Site Admin
Posts:1830
Joined:Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:47 am
Location:Sobieski, Wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Is it a 500 or 502?

Post by Go Go Diablo » Tue May 04, 2010 4:40 pm

I questioned the rivets too, but this is at least the third same modification I've seen like this so I do believe it is a factory installation.

Interesting that they boxed in the piece with another angle. I may have to look closer at mine and see if that is what they did and maybe I just thought it was a tube :roll:
Too many Diablos and parts to count.
Yamaha 600 SX

User avatar
Barrie2777
Posts:1547
Joined:Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:17 pm
Location:Arundel Quebec

Re: Is it a 500 or 502?

Post by Barrie2777 » Tue May 04, 2010 9:41 pm

My "original" 500 with serial number 15310 also has the side pieces riveted to the body.

Post Reply