1980 KZ550

Some more any tips appreciated. R

Wow, a sub 4000 mile bike. The engine is like new on the inside, assuming the cylinders haven't rusted up.

To clean the tank remove the petcock and make a plug then dump this stuff inside the tank. www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-1-gal-Ph...-GKPA30220/100406369 Rotate every so often or add water to fill to the top of the tank. The rust will be gone in a few hours.

Also, it's an '81, which has quite a few differences from an '80

Great find Dude, Free!!!! I am greeen with envy, sort that rust out in the tank and clean the engine a bit and youve got a cracking bike

Would you pull the head and take a look at the jugs before running? Seafoam in the crankcase on first rerun? Any input appreciated. R

rrsmsw9999 wrote: Would you pull the head and take a look at the jugs before running? Seafoam in the crankcase on first rerun? Any input appreciated. R

I would change the oil with something like Shell Rotella 15W-40 diesel engine oil and install a new filter. Negative on adding Seafoam or similar.

Remove the spark plugs and look inside. If you see heavy rust that is bad. Assuming no, squirt a little oil inside and remove the ignition cover on the RH side of the engine and turn it over using a wrench (clockwise when viewed from the RH side). You want to turn the large hex, not the small one. Should be 17mm or similar. Assuming the engine spins easily, install new plugs and focus on the carbs.

When you get ready to run the bike make sure you install the airbox and air filter. The bike won't run for crap without it unless you rejet the carbs.

Good luck

Agree with Nessism, change oil and filter turn bike over nut , to check if aything sezed. Use auxillary fuel tank till you have sorted the ruyst out in the tank

Thanks all. Will be focused on carbs and getting a running motor. After I hear a humming motor. Will due the deep dive cleaning and reconditioning to all other systems. Thanks I' ll keep the process do umented here. R

One heck of a nice bike for free. With the modern trend for big engines and outrageous horsepower it's easy to forget what fun bikes things like the 550's were. In it's day I remember the Honda 550 four being quite quick and comfortable transport on the twisting roads of the UK. Only rode a KZ550 once briefly, by then I'd moved to bigger bikes, but they are relatively small and light and have decent performance providing the fun of a bike you can really open up and enjoy without going twice the speed limit within seconds.

It doesn't look like it will take too much to have this one looking and running really nicely.

Well, a challenge it is.

Carbs gone through and cleaned. Need some carb bowl gaskets and couple o-rings, but otherwise was easy to do. carb cleaner and then compressed air.

Bad part. The points cover bolt were fused. One cracked of flush with impact driver and I chiseled the head on the other. Tons of dust and rust on points, crank end, point plate etc. See the video. Pretty sure the motor is basically okey. I could see shiny buckets and the plugs were not rusted, no visible rust with a flashlight and the crank turned so she i not seized.

Lots to do.

R

video

Hi that ignition plate seems to be in a state , probably better off getting a replacement.