Back From The Dead -- 1979 KZ1000 LTD

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Re: Back From The Dead -- 1979 KZ1000 LTD

03 Jan 2025 15:17
#907500
Nice looking bike Matt. So you live in Caldwell, we ride around that area a lot through the Palouse roads as I'm in Coeur D Alene. May have to stop in the dealer and look you up at some point.
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Re: Back From The Dead -- 1979 KZ1000 LTD

03 Jan 2025 15:56
#907501
Thank you! I'm actually in Mountain Home - East of Caldwell. I work at Mountain Home Auto Ranch Ford / Dodge / Kawasaki. Do stop in if you're ever in the area!
1977 KZ1000 LTD
1979 KZ1000 LTD
1978 KZ1000A

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Re: Back From The Dead -- 1979 KZ1000 LTD

04 Jan 2025 03:48
#907507
Great Job "bringing it back" to a running state!! So there's a Dealership that sells Ford/Dodge and Kawasaki under one roof?? Thats unique..
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Re: Back From The Dead -- 1979 KZ1000 LTD

04 Jan 2025 07:38
#907512
Thank you! Yes, we have all three of those brands under one roof! It's a pretty unique setup, that's for sure. It also keeps me really busy as a parts manager. Lots to know, lots to keep up with! 
Here's a small peek of the showroom from my office- It's a HUGE showroom and building in general.



 
1977 KZ1000 LTD
1979 KZ1000 LTD
1978 KZ1000A
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Re: Back From The Dead -- 1979 KZ1000 LTD

04 Jan 2025 08:04
#907513
I took some time over the course of the week to get things inspected and cleaned up for reassembly. I gave the rotor a good bath in the ultrasonic cleaner and decided that it is still well intact and in good shape. The epoxy that wound up in the engine's belly is really just superficial in this case. The magnets are still firmly in place. After a bit of research, it seems as though this is extremely common amongst this particular rotor design, and not really anything to worry about as far as I'm concerned. While it was apart, I took the opportunity to clean years of grime from the sprocket area and removed the sound dampener that goes inside the side cover. At this point, it was the consistency of a thick pudding and was foul beyond words. I cleaned and greased the clutch actuator, installed a new clutch cable, and gave the covers a little bit of sanding and polishing after a good cleaning. The stator wiring was the typical mess with crispy / corroded connectors and leaky grommet. I replaced the connectors on both sides and resealed the grommet. I also took a little time to freshen up the footrests with a good cleaning, new bushings and hardware.  At this time, I have a new NOS stator cover on order- it was one thing I decided to splurge on purely for aesthetic reasons - the cover on the bike has some pretty bad road rash that I can't fix to my liking. I also got a new stator from Rick's electric so that I have that peace of mind down the road. I will wait to install that until the new cover arrives from Japan, which could take weeks. For the time being, I put it back together with what I had, but it will be back apart again soon! Yay! 











 
1977 KZ1000 LTD
1979 KZ1000 LTD
1978 KZ1000A

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Re: Back From The Dead -- 1979 KZ1000 LTD

04 Jan 2025 08:41
#907516
That's Wild Matt!! Never thought that was possible, combining all those species under one roof, ha.

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Re: Back From The Dead -- 1979 KZ1000 LTD

04 Jan 2025 12:56
#907525
Yes, it's a little unusual! Most powersports manufacturers don't care about that sort of thing, but Automotive manufacturers tend to frown upon it!  
1977 KZ1000 LTD
1979 KZ1000 LTD
1978 KZ1000A

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Re: Back From The Dead -- 1979 KZ1000 LTD

08 Jan 2025 17:00
#907633
During the recent inspection / repairs, I took the opportunity to clean and grease the clutch actuator. The bike still has the original worm-gear style or whatever you'd like to call it, and the cable was quite dry and crispy. I replaced the clutch cable and gave the actuator and cable the proper adjustments. There was a lot of play and slack, so this was a much-needed repair. I went for a ride over this last weekend, and the clutch now feels great. Upon taking off, it hooks up hard, and shifts are as crisp as a Granny Smith! The bike is really starting to feel like something with some muscle, but the stock rear shocks were giving that 1970's station wagon type of feel to the ride. They needed to go. Luckily, I had a set of nice Koni 7610's sitting on my bench, waiting to go on something. I do have to admit that I liked the look of the stock chrome shocks better, but the improvement in ride quality is what really matters here. Maybe one day I'll look into a set of chrome springs for them... For now I am happy to not be bottoming out on every big bump in the road! 



 
1977 KZ1000 LTD
1979 KZ1000 LTD
1978 KZ1000A
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Re: Back From The Dead -- 1979 KZ1000 LTD

09 Jan 2025 00:41
#907642
Looking Great Matt, coming right along!! Actually, stock rear LTD shocks weren't chrome at all. Only chrome bit was the spring adjuster and polished aluminum top spring keeper on top. They were Made by Mulholland and used starting in 1976 on the LTD900. Then used in different single spring and duel spring configurations up thru the 90's on the P bikes. So..actually those black spring KONI's look more "stock" then the ones that came with it. I rebuild the original shocks for all the 900-1000's and have the chrome rechromed and the black re-powdered. Shown is an LTD900 1976 i'd finished last year, note the shocks on it. Anyway, just rambling. Keep going till you are happy with it!!   
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Re: Back From The Dead -- 1979 KZ1000 LTD

09 Jan 2025 08:56
#907666
Thank you! Yes, now that you mention it, I suppose all of the "factory correct" LTD's I have seen had the Mulholland shocks on them. I didn't know that was a given on all of them though- Still can learn something new from time to time!
1977 KZ1000 LTD
1979 KZ1000 LTD
1978 KZ1000A

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Re: Back From The Dead -- 1979 KZ1000 LTD

09 Jan 2025 10:37
#907668
You aren't the only person learning something New everyday!! Once One is DUMB enough to say they "know it all" then rest assured, they are basing such behavior on "Faith", that's not what makes sense,      just pete and re-pete. I've been around this stuff for 4 decades and still don't know it all. Anyhoot, here is what your original ones resembled.   
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Re: Back From The Dead -- 1979 KZ1000 LTD

15 Jan 2025 12:48
#907925
In December, I quickly came to realize that I am sick of working on a concrete floor, constantly kneeling and getting up and down over and over again. A weekend of working on the bike has been leaving me feel like a 2X4 for the rest of the week! I decided that now that I am over 40, my body deserves a little bit of a respite from these crude working conditions! My lift finally arrived yesterday evening and I can already tell I am going to absolutely love the change.

1977 KZ1000 LTD
1979 KZ1000 LTD
1978 KZ1000A
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