KZ550 restoration from basket

Posted most of these already, but so they are in one place. Unfortunately I didn't think to take before's. These are mostly after's or in progress pic's. Even the after's are a little rough. Man I wish you could've seen before's.



























Nothing to impressive. Just a lot of clean-up and elbow grease. #1 piston and rings, hone, gaskets, engine paint, new carbon fiber-like turn signals, minor electrical, Pods, re-jet to 95 mains, new cables, rattlecan repaint, battery, seat recover, etc.

1-1-8 update. Paint and sanding all weekend.
Don't tell me you can't get results from a rattle-can! You just have to be patient and sand like hell.

Side covers awaiting final sand.







Tank drying. Sand to metal. Bondo as nec. (See previous large dents at top.)
6 primer coats. 5 Base coats. 4 Top coats. 3 Coats Clear lacquer. Sand starting with 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, finish with 2000 grit. 2 Coats engine enamel. Need to wait a few days to cure agian, then plan on sanding again with 1000,1500,2000 and finish with 2 - 3 more coats enamel, rubbing compound and WAX IT UP! :woohoo:









More to come.
Doesn't show in the pics, but this is the DupliColor Mirage - Red to Blue color shift paint. Only showing blue for some reason in pics.

The yellow/orange spots are from reflection a 75Watt and flrourescent overhead lights. The white is obviously camera flash.
Post edited by: Aric, at: 2008/01/01 22:12

Post edited by: Aric, at: 2008/01/01 22:18

Post edited by: Aric, at: 2008/01/01 22:24

I like it! I've been wondering, since my kz440 hauls a good bit of arse, the 550 must really rip. (not to mention the larger bikes)

Can't say for sure yet. Rode it up the street and back trying to get carbs set. Then it got cold here in Atlanta too. Now the tank and covers are in the basement drying after 2 days of Bondo, sanding and spraypaint. Had it perfect too until I decided to try to flash cure the paint in the oven. BAD idea. The paint poked out like a nipple on a cold day overtop of my bondo job. Should have known. It only had like 8 coats of primer, 4 base, 4 top and 6 clearcoat on it put on in one day. STUPID! My wife wasn't to happy about her kitchen smelling like paint all evening either!
But yeah, with the rejet and pods it runs better than my old 650B2 ever did even not totally dialed in yet.

Not a bad bike!!! A new gas tank would help the look for sure and maybe some new faces for the gauges.

Have fun with that man!!

Nick

Cool! I like the look of the black block and head... very nice.

Best of success!

Tank is in repaint stage ( see new pics) New faces is not a bad isea. Hadn't realized how crappy they look.

Here are some pics of the seat re-cover.

Before





Cover off



Covering up separation in foam. Hot glued old towel. multiple layers, 7 or 8 I think, to build back up.





Seat pan was beginning to rust and many of the teeth broke off when cover was removed so I came up with an easy fix. I found some fine tooth, flexible, hack-saw blades and attached them to fit the contour of the pan with 6 X 1/2" pan screws. Next I predrilled holes for screws to attach new cover at regular intervals.







Liberal coat of rustoleum inacan'



Remove tape, Always pre-tape:whistle: Learned that lesson.



more to come...

1st attempt. Don't like the way it turned out. Tight as a drum when stretching, but really loose on top. Any body have any experience with this? Saddlemen cover.














Post edited by: Aric, at: 2008/01/14 22:11