TOPIC:

DO NOT USE BRAKE CLEANER ON RUBBER PARTS!

Denatured alcohol is what you want.

Flush the lines and calipers at least. I cleaned out my MC with brake fluid and it is still working 3 years later.
Steve

Will try a thorough clean and then power bleed with new fresh fluid before taking apart. Will inspect and clean the dust covers with ISO or denatured alcohol. Thanks. R

My lines are original and they recommend replacing them ever 4 years.... cleaned it out a while back but mine could use it again too...... will do it soon but I get ya you can't do everything.

I won't tell you how old mine are. I'll be going SS soon. One thing at a time. If I noticed cracking or a spongy feel, I would have replaced them first.
Steve

Yep my concern is that the pistons in front brakes will need full cleaning and I doubt the rubbers will make it thru dis assembly. I did not realize how one off the 79-80 E models are. Lots of different limited run parts between it and other KZs. R

I have come to a decision. This bike is too cool to just be slapped back together. Will get the motor out soon and refurbish system by system. I have a source for regular VM28SS bowls to ditch the accelerator pump and hopefully improve tune ability and performance. I have a local powder coater and a reasonable painter. Considering only the tank and side covers have color I am seeing a midnight blue, polished aluminum, and black boxes. I like the stock bars. I need a lot of parts yet to do this right. Given that it starts a top end rebuild should be just the ticket for many more miles. Unlike the 650 and 550 I have recently sold, this one has the emotional attachment I can't deny. Lots to come, no real time line. R

What slides do you have in them?
Steve

They are the stockers, not sure of the number. Manual says slide cutway is 1.75

110 mains, 15 pilots.

The 26-28's have 1.5. 1.75 is leaner.
Steve

Hey Steve, I was hoping after getting the standard bowls to just adjust jetting. I realize with the different slides I have, I may not be able to copy others jetting from VM28SS standard carbs due to the internals being different. I do know that the slide is the most active control on the most used range of throttle. Mmmm. How much experimenting will it take. Primarily mains will be the issue as the slide won't affect starting and idle circuit a lot. You said you have 117.5 mains and 17.5 pilots eh? Probably can start with 17.5 pilots and as u mentioned 120 main or do you think even larger as a guess? By the way, yetserday on startup the thing was pissing gas, betting more trash loosing up. The carbs were so dirty that even after I cleaned em here was residue scum in the bowls after the first start up. I really wanted get rid of that BS accel pump - it's a nightmare. Anyway it is starting easily, its all coming apart. R

Also the manual has an odd notation to differentiate the carb slide cutway. It had 2.0 @ 1.75 where @ denotes non- US model. The symbol is in the middle of the two numbers. I have no idea which number is the US and which is the non US number So If the non US is 2.0 and the non US 1.75 (richer?, no accel pump on non- US model) I may have a 2.0 cut away on the slides. I will look for some numbering when I start taking things apart. R