TOPIC:

For the master cylinder one off any size LTD will work.
Get the tapered roller bearings for the steering stem.
Your neck is worth far more than the expence and hassle.
Remember, mechanics first. It will get boring fast looking
at all the pretty and not being able to ride it ( safely ).


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I finally got around to doing some more work on the bikes, I picked up another basketcase kz400 that a guy had completely dismantled down to the last bolt which was good because now I have a ready inventory of replacement parts! He did chop the frame and de-tab it but I'm keeping it around just in case I decide to try and build that one up later. On the first bike I took off the clipons in favor of some euro bars. Don't think I want to mess with rearsets. At all.

Anyways, with the parts I had and the parts just bought I ended up with enough parts to build 3 complete sets of CV carbs, with workable diaphragms even, and I used the best parts from them all to make a single set to use on the motors while I get them up and running.

I wired up one bike with a new coil, aftermarket ignition switch and only barebones wiring for now (light circuits to come later) and charged up a new battery and tried to see if it would start. It barely fired after cranking forever and it was pretty late at night by the time I gave it the first shot so I went ahead and called it a day.

The next day I came back out, reset the points gap, reset static timing, checked and slightly adjusted the valve clearances and did a compression test (150-ish on both!) (all things I should have done before trying to start the first time). After doing that I wired up the starter, gave it a couple cranks and it started up.



It wasn't running quite right though, one pipe was getting hot while the other was not getting hot much at all unless I had the throttle open more, so I took the carbs off and broke out the carb cleaner and air compressor and cleaned the snot out of everything (turns out one of the pilot jets was completely plugged). Re-installed the carbs (and added an inline fuel filter) and gave it a second try,



It doesn't quite come back down off of the revs as fast as it should, but I have the idle set up high in the previous video. Once it warms up everything is good to go. You can see in the second video I fabbed up a bracket for the ignition key below the side cover area. Once I wire up the lights I'm going to include a killswitch up on the control area.

I also spent some time putting the other bike together, I have 2-1 exhausts on both bikes (one was a B and one a C, the B came with the 2-2 that I still have as well). The other bike is original paint but it is not in great shape, however I really like the patina it has so I might just leave it that way. I installed a new coil on that one too in order to get it all wired up at some point, however I noticed the carb to airbox boots are super hard and probably not going to work, so I'm looking for a way to replace those (I've read about some mods like using a bellows or even fork gaitors as a replacement).

Here are the two bikes currently



And here's them both with some eye candy, my girlfriend's 66 mustang

Very nice looking fleet!

I also wondered, whatever happened to that guy that sold his KZ to go sailing. I figured there'd be some cool stories to go with that. So how was it on the high seas?

Glad to see you back.

loudhvx wrote: Very nice looking fleet!

I also wondered, whatever happened to that guy that sold his KZ to go sailing. I figured there'd be some cool stories to go with that. So how was it on the high seas?

Glad to see you back.

Between the two sailboats I bought, sailed, worked on and and sold, we made plenty of great memories (and plenty of harrowing experiences as well)!



I sold my last sailboat and ended up with some kayaks and a camping/offroad utility trailer that was easier to haul around than a sailboat though (and much less maintenance work).

Quick little update, Got a new chain and sprockets, put the 2-2 exhaust back on, went back and forth between the euro and clipons, mounted the modified rear fender and taillight/license holder and put some bar end mirrors on to be legal. Between the three complete sets of CV carbs I have only one set is fully dialed in so it's being shared between this and my other bike for now. I removed the stock airbox after finding out even the boots on that one were going out as well, plus it makes removing the carbs so much easier. I know pods suck, but I ordered the cheapo emgo pods and just put rolled up black socks over the cleaner elements to restrict airflow and it seems to do the trick, no fancy business required, the bike pulls hard in all gears all the way to WOT and the plug chop readings look great.

This winter it looks like full teardown and rebuild/paint/polish, but for now I'm going to ride as is and enjoy the weather



...not sure why the pic won't load, but you can copy and paste it to browser for now...

Here's the picture. Ed

That thing looks great! I like the rear fender.

it all works,looks good.

leon