Part refinishing

Hi All,

First off I must say that I have been involved in auto restoration for a long time and belong to similar car related forums, and you all are a cut above! Or the moderators broom out the less desirable quickly.

I have been dipping my toe in the Kawasaki waters and am working on a Z900 and an F9. There are great tutorials on everything from nuts to engine cases but what I am struggling with are items like brake/clutch levers and turn signal housings. Do I vapor blast the levers, clear them and call it a day? For the turn signal housing is rechroming the option?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

are you doing a factory faithful restoration?

You can rechrome the turn signal pods and posts if you want to retain the Stanley stamps on them. I have a few set aside for the next time I go to a chrome shop. Or you can buy reproduction ones, or even used ones on ebay. Nothing wrong with a little patina!

The levers came with a plastic coating that a few bikes still have, although the plastic has yellowed with age now...a sign of authenticity. Occasionally you can find one on ebay for an outrageous price, so I've put POR 15 on reproductions. Works for me!

If you want details on period correct parts, date codes, etc you should get the Kawasaki Z1 & Z2 Restorers Parts Book by John Brookes.



Note the right control on this bike for an original lever.

I have room to move a bit on the faithfulness of the resto. The originals are actually in reasonable shape and I would rather use the original parts if I can. That said, I am not interested is spending ridiculous money for OE parts.

Thanks.

Hardrock. Great looking parts.

As to the levers. Reading the OP I was wondering if anyone has tried Plasti Dip clear to replicate the coating on the levers?

Thanks hard rock!

For the levers, perhaps clear heat-shrink tubing?

There was a thread on this topic recently. As I recall, there were problems with both heat shrink and plasti dip, though I do not remember what.