KZ 550 LTD shaft, will it live?

While looking over the machine, it seems to be all there. Picked up some engine cleaner and am letting it soak. Will go out and squirt it down. There is some has in the tank and it's starting to turn. I left the battery on the charger over night, it tried to turn it over but no UMPH. I'll take out the battery and add water if needed. Of course the carbs will come off for cleaning and testing. Also I can locate the oil leak. It seems to be coming from the cam chain adjuster area. It has air shocks and air assisted forks, they leak. This is what I have so far.
Steve

Took the carbs off, they were as bad as I've seen. Slides stuck,floats, needles and seats, main and pilots clogged, green goo everywhere. I pulled them apart and cleared all passages and jets. One carb failed the thumb test. It probably will work but not like it should. The pilots are so small even a strand from a wire brush wouldn't go through them. The choke circuit was hard to clear with the guitar string method but it did eventually. I had to use the smallest jet drill on the pilots. The low speed screws were out all the way. If I made the jets a little bigger, it would be compensated being it is the fuel not air mixture. No way would this thing run. The plugs look great so it should run. No oil fouling or anything.


Some moron used Allens in a few places. A bastard size, my metric or SAE wouldn't work on them. I had to use a easy out to get them off.
















Have them together and will put them on in the morning. The battery is new from AZ, or at least it was new when parked. I pulled it out and found two dry cells. I don't think the PO filled them all. :ohmy: I have some left over acid so I filled them. When I put on to charge, it tested at 14.5 volts immediately. I know it won't last but it should start the bike. The idea is not to spend any money until I know if it's worth it or not. Find out tomorrow.
Steve

Good find Dude, looks in decent shape, kep us informed of progress

yeah those carbs were pretty bad!

So your thinking the oil leak may not be too bad?? I guess you will find out when you start it :woohoo:

It lives! :woohoo: Looked like the oil leak was from the adjuster. Only place with baked on oil. I opened it and no O ring? I used a little silicon, took it up the street, no leak. It now has graduated to Bossie's billet patio where I can dial it in out of the wind and sun.
More a little later.
Steve

Good timing. The wind is really kicking up now. The carbs are TK's. I've read about how hard they are to tune with pods. The boots to the air box are pulled back in case I had to adjust the floats and it ran fine. :whistle: It pulls good in all gears but I can tell the air box needs to be hooked up. The seat is comfy, too bad it won't fit mine. The wind screen is huge but I can see how someone would like it. Everything works. I'll dial it in, hook up the box, air up the shocks and try the front. I guess I could list it as is now. If I'm going to spend money on a bike, I'd rather spend it on Bossie.
Here's some pics.
Steve

Congrats! Looks like a fun one. Don't let Bossie get jealous!

She won't, she's the queen around here. I know someone that wants a bike like mine. Known him for years. I don't care for him because he's a jealous FK. I can't stand people like that. To top it all off, he doesn't pay anyone what he owes. Too bad, it would be perfect for him. I'd better sell it soon before he sees it and starts sniffling and complaining to others how much a A hole I am. Been there with him.
It would be better to sell it to someone I don't know. I've made that mistake before.
Steve

My daughter suggest I ask you guys what I should ask for it. Who else would know best the value of these small fours? I got a release from the PO saying he sold it parts only. He tore up the title and kept the plate. So my question is, what would be a fair price for a 84 KZ 550 in good condition and no title?
Steve

I wish I lived closer . I would love that bike for my wife

Yeah, she's a pretty sweet little bike. Needs some TLC. A little rust here and there but is presentable.
Steve

swest wrote: ...I got a release from the PO saying he sold it parts only. He tore up the title and kept the plate. So my question is, what would be a fair price for a 84 KZ 550 in good condition and no title?
Steve

My cynical mind tells me he is a liar and never owned it or it's stolen...
So, just take the VIN and go to the local State dept and find out what the scoop is... you'll find out if it has ever been reported stolen.
If not, simply, you or he file for a lost title
It's like $10.00 here.