TOPIC:

Back again to get some opinions. I have the original brake pedal from my bike. It just seemed bent and seeing how the bike had right hand damage to the front and rear turn signals. I assumed the pedal was bent. So I bought a NOS off evilbay.



When comparing them, OEM to NOS it seamed to confirm my suspicions. Then I remembered I might have another one in a parts lot I got with a ‘74 Z1 engine I bough a minute ago. Sure has Hattie’s I found it. Covered in a oozy sticky tar like crap. Soaked it in kerosene and it cleaned up. So I mocked it up next to the original and the NOS, and now I’m confused. No way both OEM are bent the same way, chances of that are slim to none. So I’m thinking the NOS might be a repop, that I paid way to much for. OEM far left, ‘74 middle, NOS right.

NOS looks like a repop to me. The first two look identical. Even the hue of the chrome matches on the first two.

I don't know if mine have a bend in them or not. One way to tell if the ebay one is NOS is to look at the chrome. If it looks really good then it's probably been rechromed. Kawasaki didn't do a great job on chrome back in the day, particularly with brake pedal and shifter.

You might want to check John's book to see if there were any variations from year to year.

hardrockminer wrote: I don't know if mine have a bend in them or not. One way to tell if the ebay one is NOS is to look at the chrome. If it looks really good then it's probably been rechromed. Kawasaki didn't do a great job on chrome back in the day, particularly with brake pedal and shifter.

You might want to check John's book to see if there were any variations from year to year.

Thank. I’ll look it up.

I would also agree that the chances of the two being bent identically are slim to none. I would also think there would be some road rash on the outside edge of the pedal itself.

Mike

There is rash on both of the OEM. I found some pipe and bar that help line up the critical points and the NOS is looking better. It completely aligns with the ‘74 Z1 pedal up to the foot pad point. The ‘76 OEM really does now look bent.

Not uncommon to see clutch covers with divots from being kissed by the brake pedal in a right side tip-over.
Looks like you got it scientifically figured out!

Mike

Hey Matt, wait till engine is on frame. pedal pad is nice and level and parallel with clutch cover.
And for that plastic? Ouch! I don't wet sand the black stuff. I just polish it like car clear coat ith a mild wax cleaner and buff with some hand glaze. Lower rpm's. Those small foam pad kits work nice. I've buffed red tail lights on the 3400 rpm electric bench buffer. looking great! then in a split second, it gets too hot and melts a spot. Good ol' silicone, some of that under car hood detailer they used in the older days at car dealers for everything, wires hoses. shined it all up. Till the first time car left the lot! Did you buy one of those original decal kits with all the info on them for under seat?

Marty yes I have the decal kit. The inner fender is getting there. Not done yet.been using 2” foam disc, with different grit buffing compounds.

My turn for a dumb question. I am organizing and sorting through the small nuts, bolts and washers required to assemble battery box, fenders, electrical relay plate and on and on and on it seems. I cannot find any indication of the airbox drain caps, shown in the red squares in the included photo, if they are fastened at all to the air cleaner stay bracket, second picture red square, or the frame. This will be my first bike with a factory air box. On the air box I have for a 1978 Kz1000, inside one of the caps is a course black plastic filter like material. Is it a factory item or personally installed to keep spiders out.

I don't fully understand what you're asking. Are you trying to locate the drain caps? I believe they thread on to posts on the bottom of the main air cleaner box. It looks like they are already on your airbox. At least, they are in the photo you posted in the silencer tube thread.



EDIT. Oh, I see. That's the kz1000 airbox, not the KZ900. I guess I'm confused. The diagram makes it look like kz900 the drain caps would be very similar to kz1000. They don't look like they would have anything to do with the stay bracket or frame.

Maybe I’m looking for something that doesn’t exist. I was assuming the air box was mounted to the frame somewhere. I just figured the drain caps would be the attachment point. Just seams strange the airbox would just sit, and not be fastened..