Saving a 1980 750 twin.

I never seem to have any free time to work on the bikes these days. I did make a little progress this week and started assembling everything. The motor is in the frame, the new motor mount bolts are super snug and made getting the engine in there a challenge. I still need to make the mount plates.

I put new bearings in the swingarm, added a grease fitting, and I started the chain slider. After a couple failed attempts I got a sheet of Delrin to melt over a piece of the tube I capped the swingarm with. It ended up being a bit thinner than i would have liked but it turned out pretty nice. I need to mount it to the arm next. Should I rivet it or drill and tap for some counter sunk screws?

if you can keep countersunk (into the delrin)button head screws out of the direct chain line so they don't get beat up.i would go that route.otherwise i would just countersink the delrin and pop rivet it on and just plan on drilling em out anytime it needed removed or replaced.

hth,

leon

Very nice.
Steve

Its a ROLLER.
Also got the body work in sealer.
I ended up counter sinking some 3mm allen screws for the chain slider. I sunk them below the plastic height so hopefully they'll be protected a little bit. The more i thought about it and it seemed like rivets would be easily ground down because the sit above the surface.

Much to my chagrin the new wheel is 3 lbs heavier than the stock wheel and tire - which was bald enough that the new wheel probably is more like only 2 lbs heavier than the stock. Its a push on overall weight though because the swing arm made up the difference. The geometry is a little more aggressive than i would like as well.I didn't account for how much height the mount on the swingarm would add to the "shock to axle" length. With both these things happening it seems like the perfect excuse to swap for something like a aluminim 17" rim with a 130/70/17 tire and a stainless spoke kit. :whistle:

I pulled the dual disk setup off my roached KZ650 that some asshole torched a couple months ago. The fire burnt the MC but everything else was untouched. Its funny, This dual setup was on my first KZ1000, that i then put on my second KZ1000, then on my kz650, and now its going on this bike. At least a little bit of a phoenix will rise from those ashes.

Gotta love progress.
Great work and, I've said it before, that seat is a work of art. I need to go back and reread how you did that.

that thing looks awesome! :evil:

the one niggle i have is at that height the rear fender sticks out too far to my eye.

if it was rotated forward about 4" i think it would flow better.

with your weight on it,it may not be as noticeable.


leon

Looking good! What TIG did you buy?

Very nice Doc! Looks just like something I would build! Don't beat me up, but, what about paint on the fenders too? I always painted my fenders the same as the body parts.
Back in about 1990, someone gave me a 1978 KZ750 for free! I took the guages and head light bucket off. Same as the KZ900.
Then I sold it for $100 bucks No Title though. That gut turned it in to a dirt dragster.
It will be very cool when done! Make sure the pipes are loud!
This one keeps popping up on craigslist last couple of years $999.
rochester.craigslist.org/mcy/5379720816.html
Had an old rusty Z1A (another $100 bike) early 90's Blued it all. covered a rusty hog wheel with alumium

I'm really liking the appearance and clean finish. The saddle is especially well done as is the engine.

Great project. I also think the rear fender needs about 3" cut off and the rear shocks are at least 1" to 1 1/2" too long.
Also don't care for the upside down rear shock look.

Thanks guys!
Lotta concern about the fenders! Both fenders are just sitting in there its not bolted in at all. when the rear fender is properly bolted in it flows with the the lines alot nicer. Right now i'm digging the chrome fenders. I think I'm going to lightly sand them to dull the chrome a bit. give it a "brushed" look. I want to build a bike that to the untrained eye could appear to be stock, and nothing says stock like full length chrome fenders. The fender length is dictated by the existing mounting points, and I don't want to bob it because it has a sweet bead rolled edge which was the reason I selected this XS650 fender as it matches the LTD front fender very nicely.

KidKawie - I have the Eastwood TIG 500. hell of a welder for $700

DoctoRot wrote: KidKawie - I have the Eastwood TIG 500. hell of a welder for $700

Thanks. I have a Lincoln MIG, no spool gun but I have the liner for the lead. Sucks swapping spools and doing aluminum is tricky. Been looking for a TIG that's not $1200.