Katit's 1978 KZ650 project

I've found simplest and most effective way is to sleeve them with heatshrink as plastidip seems to split with heat exposure when used for the clutch cable clips by the headers.
If you want them semi gloss to match the frame you can spray the heatshrink after applied with plasticote rattle can clear gloss. 

Another question for those who know:
What kind of finish original Kawasaki hardware had? Was it blue zinc or gold zinc? I got both chromates, used gold/yellow for engine hardware and I think it's too much. Or maybe I should dip very quickly.. But bolts I bought look more like plain black/blue hue..

 

wrote:

Another question for those who know:
What kind of finish original Kawasaki hardware had? Was it blue zinc or gold zinc? I got both chromates, used gold/yellow for engine hardware and I think it's too much. Or maybe I should dip very quickly.. But bolts I bought look more like plain black/blue hue..


 

Blue.  Very few parts were yellow chromate, but there were a few.

More prep work. There is a lot of hardware but I am getting there! I found it is easier to do bolts and stuff on wire wheel vs blasting.

Received caliper kits. I guess there is good news. Pistons completely identical, they just miss inserts. I carefully cut a lip on a lather to remove those pads.
On old ones those pads (interesting, they made like brake pads, metal with some composite) were stacked into piston.

My idea is to reuse them, but I am going to use anti-squeak grease and just insert them loosely. Should work just fine I think..

P.S. Also received M7 tap and cleaned threads on "bad" caliper. I think it's good enough to hold "nipple" in place, it doesn't need much force.

 

Got gauges back. Look very nice!
Hope to start plating tomorrow. Took 3 weeks for shipment from Caswell.

 

Those gauges look brand new 

Are they rebuilt?

Yes, rebuilt by zresto.com

He does really fine work.  He's done 7 gauges for me.

wrote:

I've found simplest and most effective way is to sleeve them with heatshrink as plastidip seems to split with heat exposure when used for the clutch cable clips by the headers.
If you want them semi gloss to match the frame you can spray the heatshrink after applied with plasticote rattle can clear gloss. 

This worked. Ends not super-pretty, but won't be visible. Use 8mm tube, 6mm was too small. And I bought cheapest from ebay to make sure there is no glue inside


 

Plating in progress. Getting hang of it again, but it's slow. ANd tricky on bigger pieces.

 

Those are looking very nice!