My 1980 Z1R Project

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22 Feb 2021 14:54 #843889 by 1980 Z1R D3
My 1980 Z1R Project was created by 1980 Z1R D3
Hey yall,
I finally decided to more fully document my bike project on this forum. I got the bike just before last winter after it sat for 28 years or so. It was my dads old bike and I managed to convince him to let me try and fix it up.(heads up, lots of mistakes have been and will be made) I refreshed the bike last winter, but just enough to get it running to learn how to ride, which I did and I really love it. However, I was frustrated by an ever worsening head gasket leak, and faulty gas tank sealant forced my hand by gumming up the carbs. As such I decided to really tear into it this winter and get it running perfect so I hopefully I can just enjoy riding it this coming season. I have already taken off the carbs, exhaust, camshafts, head, cylinder block and cylinders off. I figured if I was gonna really get into it I might as well replace everything that might need it while I was there. I've got my Clymer manual and I'm confident I'll get her running again. The current state of the bike is attached in the pictures below.
Things I still need to do: Hone cylinders, clean gasket surfaces and combustion chamber, value inspection and adjustment, carb clean and sync, among other things I'm sure that Ill find.
I can certainly post some photos from earlier in the process but it was rather spontaneous and I just tore it down in a weekend or so. Don't worry, I took pictures. I also work at a motorcycle shop which is also a Kawi dealership, so I get all my parts OEM from them.
Besides that I'm going to update this thread as I make progress, which will be sporadic and hectic as I am a full time college student.
Hope you all enjoy the process to come, I'm really grateful for this forum helping me through it all, I've had a hell of a time so far and we're just getting started.
Best, Colin



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22 Feb 2021 23:27 #843906 by Kaylinator
Replied by Kaylinator on topic My 1980 Z1R Project
Get yourself a factory service manual. You'll be much better off than with that Clymer.

1978 KZ1000-A2
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/613296-1978-kz1000-a2-barn-find

1978 KZ400-B1

2022 Z900RS SE

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23 Feb 2021 04:58 #843909 by hardrockminer
Replied by hardrockminer on topic My 1980 Z1R Project
If you have the cases apart you should change the cam chain. Not much you can do to the crank except listen to the bearings.

Be sure to measure your pistons and cylinders. If you are replacing the pistons in their original cylinders and not changing the rings then no need to hone. Check your valve guides and replace the seals.

I have several restored bikes along with a 2006 Goldwing with a sidecar. My wife has a 2019 Suzuki DR 650 for on and off road.

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23 Feb 2021 06:47 #843913 by 1980 Z1R D3
Replied by 1980 Z1R D3 on topic My 1980 Z1R Project
Definitely will check value guides and replace the seals, and I am planning on putting new rings on the pistons, that's why I am planning on honing. Was not planning on splitting the crankcase however. I'm not sure if that's what you meant or if I can change the cam chain with the bike the way that it is now.



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23 Feb 2021 06:53 #843914 by 1980 Z1R D3
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23 Feb 2021 08:55 #843919 by hardrockminer
Replied by hardrockminer on topic My 1980 Z1R Project
The cases must be split in order to change the cam chain, or to check the transmission or crankshaft. If you don't plan to do this, you should take your oil pan off and check/clean your oil pump strainer.

I have several restored bikes along with a 2006 Goldwing with a sidecar. My wife has a 2019 Suzuki DR 650 for on and off road.
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23 Feb 2021 09:30 #843923 by 1980 Z1R D3
Replied by 1980 Z1R D3 on topic My 1980 Z1R Project
Ok. I have already purchased a oil pan gasket because it was leaking, so I will clean the oil pump strainer as well while im there.



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04 Jun 2021 18:22 - 05 Jun 2021 06:06 #849621 by 1980 Z1R D3
Replied by 1980 Z1R D3 on topic My 1980 Z1R Project
I apologize for letting this thread die a little, it certainly has been an interesting past couple of months, waiting on parts for Japan, starting a new job and all that but summers here and I'm back to working on the bike regularly. A lotta stuff has been done that I haven't posted about so I am going to do separate posts for each of the "stages" of assembly.

I don't have any picture of the bike between when I put the pistons on with their new rings and stuff but I did check the ring gap and all of the piston and cylinder specs and they were in the functional range. Thank god I stuffed some rags underneath the pistons cause I dropped a piston ring circlip and it saved me from losing it in the crankcase. I honed the cylinder walls and cleaned the gasket surface really well on both the cylinder block and head with some scotch brite and it looked great. I used a polycarbonate brush on the end of a cordless drill to clean the combustion chambers and valves. It all turned out ok and I was pretty happy with it. It took a buddy and I quite a while to wrestle the block onto the pistons but we managed and that was where we stopped for the day. 
Below is a before and during photo for the head and an after photo for the block installation.

It looked so damn pretty with those shiny pistons back in their bores.



1980 Z1R D3
Last edit: 05 Jun 2021 06:06 by 1980 Z1R D3.
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