1981 KZ750 LTD, worth $400??

Hey guys, been working on this bike for a little while now, trying to get it running. My sister's neighbor had it sitting behind his garage, and wanted $500 for it. I told him if I could get it running, that I would pay him the $500.

Long story short, I know it will run, I had it running very briefly a couple times, however there is a major setback. The starter clutch is bad. I talked the neighbor down to $400, but he won't budge from there.

My dilemma: Do I pony up, fix the starter clutch ($100 in parts, + ??? time, never tried it before), or do I walk away? There could be a host of other problems lurking, and some that I already know about are a seized rear brake lever, needs new tires, rusted exhaust, needs a new seat, and the light switches stick like crazy. I've already put about $300 into this bike...but could take off the parts I put on and give it back in the same shape I got it in. It does have good compression, and I've already rebuilt the carbs and installed new bars. I also only have garage space until Oct. 10th, at which point I'll have to pack it in, or find somewhere new to work on it.



What to do?!

You've got $300 into a bike you havent even paid for yet?

In your other thread on this bike you detail the tank and other things you have already for this thing. STOP buying, get it running and rideable in stock trim. If you decide it is t for tou, you could easily sell the bike for more than you have into it. If you're using the owners garage to work on it, he's being too nice, someone try the same deal with me they would be charged rent by the day, probably $30 or so a day. The starter clutch job is only 4 or 5 hours and no too difficult.

Biggest mistake everyone makes when fixing a bike up is to start chopping, banging, denting and buying before getting stuff sorted out. And most end up with a pile of parts for their trouble or a bike that ends up being worse than it was 30 years ago

It's my sister's garage, located next to the neighbor.

The bike is completely stock, and I have all the stock parts. Haven't chopped anything, So far I've been working on restoring it and getting it running. I happened to have a spare tank from a 650CSR from a friend, and thought it looked good, but doesn't fit the frame in a few spots, NBD.

Honestly, you really didn't answer my question, you just acted like a jerk.

But thanks for the info on the starter clutch job. With or without your little bit of info, I'm gonna go for it, and pay the $400. So thanks for the advice!

The sticky switches can be carefully opened, cleaned and re-greased so that they work properly.
The turn signal / light switch assembly on my 82 KZ750H was jamming up frequently and didn't make proper contact. I opened it, used cleaner to remove all the old grease, contact cleaner on the terminals and re-greased the moving parts and it works like new now. The hardest part was washing out the inside of the hazards switch so that it would start working again.

The starter clutch is involved but not terribly expensive or difficult, I think there are a couple posts on here about replacing it already.

I bought my 82 for $300 knowing it needed rear shocks, fork seals, a new seat cover, carbs rebuilt, new tires and both front and back brake systems completely rebuilt. After buying it I then found out all of the switches are gummed up and it had some other electrical gremlins but I still think it was a good buy. My parts and services list to complete the bike is currently holding at around $1050 and 15-17 hours of labour, I've spent $300 on the bike and $90 in parts as well as about 7 hours already so it is looking like it's going to be a good deal. Yours sounds comparable and in my opinion you should go for it.

Not really a jerk, you wouldn't be able to guess how many times people get on here and try that deal with someone only to get it running and the seller decides to keep it. Or diagnose a non runner, give the seller the eureka moment and BAM lose it because the owner knows what was wrong now.

Also seems the majority of projects get started, get to chopping and modding and get things pulled apart to never get going again, only to be scrapped or parted. And I believe you're the one that stated you have $300 into a bike YOU DIDNT OWN. I wouldn't even put a dime into fixing a family member's vehicle for them, let alone a neighbor, for not wanting to be burned. A bike unlike any thing else needs to be fully gone through, brakes, tires, chain, engine fuel system needs to be tip top or it's your life. If you ever lost a chain going down the highway, or had a small piece of junk plug up the pressure relief port on your brakes while riding you could appreciate getting iratated when people put the cart before the horse.

And FWIW; normal non-runners I pay $300 for max, but I have a 77 goldwing i got for $40, last year I bought 3 bikes for $400 and any kz1000s i have were under $500 running. My H2 cost me $1.50 per cc. With a locked motor, pricing depends on what you want.

No offense meant to the original poster, nor the repliers, and i know i am butting in, but why is it when some one asks a question and are met with a blunt straight forward answer, the person with the answer or input is always the jerk? With all due respect to all, my father always had one really good piece of advice..... don't ask a question that you dont really want the answer to.....you might not like it. One more thing..... what ever happened ro " respect is earned, not given"? Just my $0.50. Again, no insult intended.

No need to excuse "butting in" it is a discussion forum after all :blink: but yes, it does seem like a bit of a pattern as of late, nobody here tries to be a jerk (unless you, err cut up an ELR... Which nobody here is doing) but we may come off that way... Being a steelworker and a recovering mechanic, I guess my skin is thicker than most.

Pretty sure you have to split the engine cases to change the starter clutch. Huge job and expensive (just the gaskets alone will cost you more than $100). Basically a complete engine tear down to gain access to the clutch.

Nessism, I've read that it can be done from under the motor by removing the oil pain, oil pump and clutch.

Futureboy wrote: Nessism, I've read that it can be done from under the motor by removing the oil pain, oil pump and clutch.

Humm. Did some more research and believe you are correct. It's a lot of work though.

I rebuilt the top end of my Volvo 850 Turbo last summer, so I think it's within my skill level.