84 GPZ550 SAVED

what ed says works great or what i have done before for field repairs is put it on the center stand and then use a ratchet strap to pull the back down onto a trailer hitch or something.

When I removed my clutch cover, I noticed my fresh oil change was already pitch black. I have not even put a 1/4 mile on it. I just removed the oil pan and I'm glad I did. There was old oil sediment or old clutch fiber or both in the pan. Oil sitting in a bike since 1988 is not good. It's kinda stringy. I have my pan soaking in a tote full of degreaser. I blew out my oil cooler too with light air pressure. I'm thinking I probably will do this to all my other projects cause they've sat for years also.

I just took a large plastic tote and poured 3 gallons of muratic acid in it with hot water. I submerged my gas tank. I've used the stuff for years to clean old car gas tanks. Its cheap too at around $7 per gallon.

The old oily crust stuck to the insides of the gas tank has been a real mess. Just when I think its clean, more crumbs come out. I put the petcock and sending unit back in and put in some gas with a bottle of Heet. Letting it sit a couple days and hopefully it will be good after another flushing. I ordered a brand new petcock and sending unit gasket. I think I have decided on color. Its going to be Keylime pearl. I'm painting the stripes on to look stock. They are going to be medium blue pearl and pearl white. I'm going to paint the wheels pearl white also. Should look pretty nice and kinda stock. I'm going to paint the swingarm platinum pearl. The frame will be high gloss black. Everything will be sprayed through a gun and cleared. I'm wanting a nice showable bike.

I had the new decals made in both colors in case I change my mind on painting it red or green.

Here's the paint. The Summit line of urethanes sprays very nice. Have used them a few times. Hard to beat the price.

www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-swbc511q-12/overview/

When I gather all my new parts and get a few miles on it in mock up to check everything out, I'll tear it down to the bare frame and do the entire rebuild in two weeks time. I'm waiting on a windscreen and a perfect side cover to come in. The excitement is killing me to get on this thing but its 30 degrees outside and I hate the cold. I've got a busy spring and summer coming up. I'm going to redo this bike, one of my 305s, my KZ1000A2A, a 1978 Olds 442 aeroback with a factory 4 speed stick, and hopefully my metal work finished on my 55 Belair.

HAFROD wrote: I had the new decals made in both colors in case I change my mind on painting it red or green.

How much did they charge for those decals?

The first time with set up fee for my 305 was $100. These were $40 cause they already had the file saved from the 305. They used the 0 and the 5 for the 550. They're doing some painting masks for me right now.

My new rubber

Just went out in the garage and fired up my propane heater. My oil pan and clutch cover gasket finally came in. Also got my new petcock in yesterday. I went to a single outlet to get rid of the vacuum one. Gonna try to get the bike long range rideable to try to put a few miles on it this weekend. Looks like a 60 degree day sunday. If the bike checks out OK, it will be ready for a tear down and resto.

Put just about a mile on it just riding around in my neighborhood. It seems fine. Trans shifted smooth in all gears. Took throttle nice. I went back out after about 10 minutes and noticed gas coming out of the airbox. I checked float levels and noticed one was too high. I took the carbs back off and set the float. filled the carbs back up and it was still too high. After examining the float needle, it has a groove wore into it.