burning thru a 'hasn't run in 12 years' checklist!

Okay, I've nearly cleaned the carbs and ! am proceeding with "hain't been run in 12 year"
process to revive my kz1000 1978 that hasn't run in oh say 12 year.

And here is my checklist, I'm about to run through it now:

1) finish cleaning carb bodies (nearly done)

2) use a guitar string to clean the jet holes

3) lubricate the throttle slides with some light oil (they were sticking a bit)

4) install the new jets

5) set the proper float height

6) adjust the carb's air screws as per the manual

7) before putting the carbs back on, remove the spark plugs and spray some lubricant into the cylinders -- they've been dry a long time

re-install the carbs

9) install and adjust the throttle cables

10) trickle charge the new battery if it doesn't read 12 volts

11) install the battery, check for spark on all 4 plugs

12) check the timing using the timing lite with the motor off (if possible) or use the timing marks

13) if the timing is good and there is spark, flush the gas tank and clean the petcock and change the engine oil and oil filter

14) gap and install the 4 new spark plugs

15) put new fresh gas in the tank

16) kick it over and see if it will start

WHAT IF ANY AM I MISSING HERE?

If the battry is fully charged, you should read the same amount at the ignition coils.

If down around 8-10 volts when measured at the primary(small wires) side of the coils go to www.wgcarbs.com and read up on doing the ignition coil bypass in the wiring using a relay and simple wiring modification.

New sparkplug caps will ensure the spark is being transmitted to the plugs along with new plug wires.

that looks like a winner to me man, all else i could add is put air in the tires and lube the chain, lube all the cables, (clutch-throttles) maybe tach cable.

thats more for driveability, but once you get er runnin you are gonna wanna ride it, i know i would... so might as well get it all.

let us know how it goes dude!

good luck!


Luke

Thats a lot more than I would have done. :laugh: I'm a change the oil, put in new gas and go kinda guy.

Be sure to change the oil before you hit the starter. Also, to make sure you don't need to pull the carbs again, I would install a quality fuel filter in case there's bad karma hidden in the tank or petcock and carefully check the carb holders for signs of cracks and replace now if in doubt. Ed

checklist for me too.....

donthekawguy wrote:

Thats a lot more than I would have done. :laugh: I'm a change the oil, put in new gas and go kinda guy.

if its been sitting 12 years id also pitch the tires,flush the old fluid out of brakes and give it a good going over from one end to other.lots of things get dry rotted and forgotten over a 1 year period,let alone 12! :laugh:

Clean the petcock screen and bowl. Put inline fuel filters in. Air filter inspection. Remember to get ready to hit the kill switch in case she goes rogue. Try not to let your smile hit you in the back of the head if she fires up!

Then check your cables, tires, chain and sprockets. Your brakes and hoses.

Your swingarm and front bearings.

Electricals should be cleaned and di-electric greased.

You can skimp and hurry but do not do that on things that can kill ya in the blink of an eye. Sometimes there is no time to hit the do-over button.

Yep, that's why I like to post it, I left out some things and you guys pointed them out.

- My plan with the gas tank was in fact to drain the gas in there now and pull and clean the petcock. Didn't mention it but essential -- you guys wouldn't believe how bad the float bowls and jets were! Black with thick tar resin.

- And it's weird -- the gas in the tank only has a barely noticeable scent of varnish, so as one of you mentioned he put something in there like stabilizer in the tank

- the oil change -- forgot all about it. Thanks for the reminder!

- the electrical cleanup -- thanks for that tip.

- both front and rear brake levers are froze stuck (calipers are 'okay' in that wheels turn freely)
and I'm putting off that job until it's running okay.
Good call about the brake job, I'll be back to ask for help on that, never done a 12-year-sitting master cylinder rebuild! I don't even know if they're salvageable.

- tires look okay but I will replace them before any higher speed riding. Will keep them on to sort it out riding around the house at 25-30 mph.

Just some *excellent* advice from you folks, thanks!