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Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2

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14 Apr 2021 06:22 - 14 Apr 2021 08:05 #846668 by rstnick
Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2 was created by rstnick
I've had this KZ650 since 1984, buying it off a buddy I knew since Kindergarten.
She had 16,000 kms on her:

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I made changes right away, rear fender removed being one.
Over the years she has seen some different set ups;

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2006 I found a Rickman Fairing.

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Painted blue;

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Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project
Last edit: 14 Apr 2021 08:05 by rstnick.

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14 Apr 2021 06:31 - 14 Apr 2021 06:33 #846670 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2
In the '80s she got repainted Candy Apple Blue.

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Having the teeth on the lower fairing, she got the nicname Sharkey.
The last five years she has been sitting, since I bought a ZRX1100.
125,000 kms on her, so far.

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This past Winter, I started doing some maintenance to her, and getting new parts where needed.
A compression check gave readings of 150 psi across all four, so I'm not opening the engine.
Valve clearances will/have been checked and adjusted, as well as more...
 

Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project
Last edit: 14 Apr 2021 06:33 by rstnick.

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14 Apr 2021 06:40 #846671 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2
Part of the project this past Winter was installing a set of Keihin CVK32 carbs off a ZX600 Ninja.
I bought the carbs thinking they were ZR7 carbs, which was what's needed.
Thankfully the ZX600 carbs are the same size.
I followed Pablo's/z650Spirit's tutorial on installing the CVKs.

Also will use the stock ZRX shocks I have.

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VM24SS carbs and air box removed.

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Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project

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14 Apr 2021 06:44 #846672 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2
I used a spare air box with a bit of damage around hole #2;

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Used some JB Weld to repair the damaged bit on the air box;

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Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project

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14 Apr 2021 06:50 - 14 Apr 2021 06:51 #846673 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2
While having the valve cover off to check the valve clearances, I also replaced some of the rubber bits while in there.
Had an extra cylinder head, so checked what shims were in it, and was able to use a few;

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ZRX1100 rear shocks on.
They are about two inches longer than the Konis currently on there.
I will bring the front end back up to stock level, as I've had the forks slid up in the triple trees for ages.

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Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project
Last edit: 14 Apr 2021 06:51 by rstnick.

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14 Apr 2021 06:56 - 14 Apr 2021 06:57 #846674 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2
CVK carbs got Ultrasonically cleaned, and all new rubber o-rings and jets.

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The current Auto cam chain tensioner rigged up to be a manual locked set up, was replaced with an Ape cam chain tensioner;

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Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project
Last edit: 14 Apr 2021 06:57 by rstnick.

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14 Apr 2021 07:03 - 14 Apr 2021 07:04 #846677 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2
The clutch, having over 100,000 kms on it, is getting some attention;
New friction plates.
New basket, as the old Cir Cycle clutch used an extra set of plates.
The plates being thinner, have grooved the basket fingers.
The clutch release mechanism got all new parts too.

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[IMG


 

Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project
Last edit: 14 Apr 2021 07:04 by rstnick.

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14 Apr 2021 07:07 #846678 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2
CVK carbs installed.
New ZR7 carb manifolds and boots used;

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A used clutch basket found.

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Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project

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14 Apr 2021 07:12 - 14 Apr 2021 07:14 #846680 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2
New battery and coils;

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Coils and wires installed;

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Fork oil changed.
Last time I did it I had to slot the drain screw.
Bought new ones, five years ago.
Found them;

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Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project
Last edit: 14 Apr 2021 07:14 by rstnick.

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14 Apr 2021 07:17 #846681 by ghostdive
Replied by ghostdive on topic Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2
I'm so excited to read this! This bike was always so cool to me, I didn't know it was sitting this whole time. 

1982 KZ750 Spectre - 6 speed swap, BS34s, 18" rear wheel

2001 ZX-6R

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14 Apr 2021 07:18 - 14 Apr 2021 07:21 #846682 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2
ZX600E tail light with integrated signals installed.
So rear signals have been removed;

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Have had issues with my horn for ages.
Finally found out the horn was tempermental, so bought a new one;

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Got an Ape bearing clutch pusher as well;

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Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project
Last edit: 14 Apr 2021 07:21 by rstnick.

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14 Apr 2021 07:24 - 14 Apr 2021 07:25 #846683 by rstnick
Replied by rstnick on topic Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2
Rear wheel off for new rubber.
Continental Conti-Gos:

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Then a new front,
Hoping it will not cup as bad as the old tire.
Tread pattern being much different, with no alternating small blocks of rubber, should help;

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Rob
CANADA

Need a key for your Kawasaki? PM me

1978 KZ650 C2, 130K kms, Delkevic ex, EI, CVK32, PMC easy clutch, ATK fork brace, steering damper, braced swingarm, ZRX shocks, 18" Z1R front wheel.
2000 ZRX1100
2011 Ninja 250R - Wife's
2005 z750s (aka GPz750)
1978 KZ1000 project
Last edit: 14 Apr 2021 07:25 by rstnick.

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