Finally tried to start

I finally tried to start my 76 KZ900.

Tank off, starter fluid sprayed in air filter and a new battery. It sparked and fired 2-3 times, so next I'll attach the spare lawn mower gas tank I have hanging above the bike, with a universal petcock an new 1/4" fuel line. This is exciting stuff from a stock bike sitting in my garage for over 15 years. :woohoo:

Have you folks seem this Japanese shop's Web site?

www.ac-sanctuary.co.jp/rcm/gallery/z1_z2/index.html

This shop had some SERIOUS talent.

Nice bike. You did change the oil, right? Ed

Yes.

I drained the old gas, when I bought it from a co-worker 15+ years ago. It was a touring rig with giant Vetter fairing, cigarette lighter, crash bars and alarm. I took all that off, then it sat like this until last year, when I changed the oil, bought a new battery and put a little in the spark plug holes, before kicking it over. The starter seems to work well.

I try some gas in it soon.

After all of those years, you should pull the carb's and kit them, or at least clean them really good. All the passages, but look really close at the Idle, pilot jet and transition circuits. Also do a float level set, either by the manual with carb's inverted on the bench, or the clear tube method. A bench sync of the throttle butterflies with a small wire gauge drill bit is a good Idea.
Remember to replace the old fuel line, clean the tank and petcock screen, and install a Motorcycle in line fuel filter, or you might be right back in there.
Hope it runs real good for you, as summer is slipping by.

In my experience (and others) the bench float height doesn't work for crap. The clear tube method is the only one that worked for me.

Thanks folks. This is great. I thought I muddle through this for months, but there is a wealth of KZ experience on this site.

sactown900 wrote:
Have you folks seem this Japanese shop's Web site?

www.ac-sanctuary.co.jp/rcm/gallery/z1_z2/index.html


This is the shop where i always hang out on the weekends. I've posted pics of their bikes here before. I think they are probably the most professional and knowledgeable Z1 mechanics in the world, but damn expensive.

I have the time, but once I get my 76 running, I am rebuilding it to look like one of those Sanctuary bikes from Japan. SICK Talent!

I was shopping for a ZX-14, but for the price of a new bike, I can put the money in modernizing a 76 900.