1973 Z1 rebuild

wrote:

Don't like the clutch cover mod.  It will allow grease to escape and may attract wasps!!

 

Haha, the drilled one is the outgoing, the other one will be the replacement.
Maybe I can turn it into a wasp nest ?

Trypophobia. fear when you see patterns with lots of holes.

A question for the guru's - a lot of alloy parts have "S - 1" on them.
what does it signify ?

 

wrote:

Are you going to do anything about the screw holes in the edge of the rims?  I ask because I have an old 3.5x18 DID rim that has the same holes, It's off an old CB750 drag bike I bought years ago...


 

I have put stainless 6mm mushroom head bolts in - looks better than the bare holes.

 

For info I found out about the S-1 embossing on the alloy covers.  It would appear that a lot of parts on the bikes have a month and year stamping and the alloy engine covers used a S-1 embossing to designate '72 or '73 part.  Later bikes used 2 and 3 in the embossing.

I have been busy polishing the de chromed alloy, focusing on the engine covers.
It's been a bit of a grind (quite literally) as the de chroming process of the corroded covers has left pock marks in the alloy, making it necessary to start with 80 grade wet and dry and work up to 1200 to get the covers flat and ready for a hand polish.

 

Also got some more parts, a set of cover screws in original philip head style, a packet of various engine/cover seals, a pair of fork seals and a clutch cover sight glass.


 

I have always found using 1200 W&D together with "Autosol" polish as a next step takes the finer scratches out before final polishing

wrote:

I have always found using 1200 W&D together with "Autosol" polish as a next step takes the finer scratches out before final polishing

 

Well I havent heard of using 1200 paper with Autosol - I still have a bit more to go on the top of the sprocket cover to clean it up so I will give it a go and see what happens !

I do it as you mentioned blackozvet, but I usually go to 3000.  I don't bother with wet...just dry.  I use Mother's polish, but I don't polish too much.  The original look is what I am after.

You can learn all about Kawasaki parts codes in general and Z1's in particular in a book by John Brookes.

hardrockminer post=871052I do it as you mentioned blackozvet, but I usually go to 3000.  I don't bother with wet...just dry.  I use Mother's polish, but I don't polish too much.  The original look is what I am after.

You can learn all about Kawasaki parts codes in general and Z1's in particular in a book by John Brookes.

Have to agree with "the original look..." statement.

We see far too many "restorations" wherein the bike has most all the correct hardware & painted surfaces, but the polished aluminum has been brought to a mirror finish that is in no way correct, and would be more at home on a custom bike effort.  It just looks like bling for the sake of bling on a stock resto.  Pretty to look at perhaps, but detracts from an otherwise good effort at a correct resto.  In people's choice shows, the bling finish often gets votes from "OOOHHH...pretty!" observers who don't know any better.  Surprisingly, it's easier to achieve a mirror-finish polish than the correct finish that Mama Kaw produced.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

the sprocket cover needed some extra work, but I did give it a 1200 with Autosol and it didnt seem to hurt.
only 3 more to go.
I'm trying to get a clean shine on the covers, but not so shiny I can do my makeup in it ! 

 

Looks good and it seems to have taken out the surface scratches from using the W&D on it's own 

We see far too many "restorations" wherein the bike has most all the correct hardware & painted surfaces, but the polished aluminum has been brought to a mirror finish that is in no way correct, and would be more at home on a custom bike effort.  It just looks like bling for the sake of bling on a stock resto.  Pretty to look at perhaps, but detracts from an otherwise good effort at a correct resto.  In people's choice shows, the bling finish often gets votes from "OOOHHH...pretty!" observers who don't know any better.  Surprisingly, it's easier to achieve a mirror-finish polish than the correct finish that Mama Kaw produced.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

I have to say the thing that attracted me to this forum was the willingness to share knowledge and the welcoming non-judgemental acceptance of all old Kawasaki fans regardless of whether their bikes are stock, modified, big, small, two wheels or three.
I have nothing but respect for the "museum restoration" guys who are willing to spend years scouring the world for that elusive "OE correct" part that they then spend much time and a small fortune returning those parts to useable condition. I on the other hand sit firmly in the modified camp, I find it deeply therapeutic at the end of a stressful week to go into my garage and exercise my "creative" side whether that be a bike or a piece of furniture that is uniquely mine.
The written word is very powerful and often misinterpreted (I know this first hand !) but I think comments like "would look more at home on a custom bike effort" can easily be interpreted as deeply derogatory (I am sure that wasn't the intention) to people who have spent a huge amount of time and money creating their vision. I appreciate that many "modified" bikes are visually offensive and in some cases downright dangerous (IMHO) however they are their owners vision.