Skidmark wrote: A very Merry Christmas to the KZR forum members! Here's to a much better year than this last disaster - it can't get much worse (I have hope!).

I am getting very close to having the swing arm ready for powder coating. Still doing some finish grinding and sanding, then I need to pull the bearings out. I found some replacement bearings at a company called Motion Industries for $6 each cheaper than both Partzilla and Z1E. The replacements should be here before the powder coating is completed. Once all of the prep work is done I will post some more pictures of it before it goes out for coating.

I am still trying to get my hands on the valve shims. What a mess... after ordering the correct size to get the clearance closer to the middle of the adjustment range, the supplier waited for the first ones to be returned before shipping out the new ones. The US Postal service is really messed up right now. They sat for 9 days in a Sacramento sorting facility. Once the supplier finally received them, he shipped the correct ones. Unfortunately he clicked on my default PayPal shipping address. Since I rarely use PayPal, I had neglected to update my shipping address when I moved three years ago. So they went to the wrong address. USPS can't tell me if they are in route back to the shipper due to an expired forwarding address, or if they are in fact being delivered to my previous address. They are somewhere in postal limbo. This is entirely my fault, but at least my PayPal address has gotten updated. Hopefully the current owner of my old home or the supplier will see them soon, so they can get forwarded to me. I would highly recommend not using USPS for any shipments right now. UPS is doing a great job of keeping transit times down. FED-X is working in conjunction with USPS, so sometimes it's okay, other times not. Stick with UPS whenever possible!

DoctoRot wrote: Your lace pattern looks correct. the outsides will go opposite directions - ditto for the inners.

You don't need the fancy torque wrench to true a wheel. Just tap the spoke. if it rings its good, if it thumps it needs to be tighter. You also don't need a fancy truing stand either although it does make it a bit easier. a couple of 2x4s to hold the axle or even just putting the wheel in the swing-arm will work.

Truing a wheel is not as hard as you might think. loads of videos online how to do it. The only thing you gotta watch out for is if you start to get tight on the spokes if you have a cheap spoke wrench you can round the nipple over if it doesn't fit the nipple tightly. I personally love building wheels, go slow and it will be no problem.

If you still want to have someone else true it check with MX shops. replacing spokes is a regular occurrence for them.

Mikaw wrote: Appears you have a real mix matched parts lot. You have some from a later Kz1000, possible an LTD. Also I see performance parts, Dyna ignition and copper head caskets. The head looks like a kz1000 and the cam cover is definitely not Z1. I’m not dogging you I’m mentioning it so you are aware of what you have so you get correct replacement parts. You mentioned the goal is not factory correct. Appears you have enough to put together a running bike. My guess is someone put a 70mm (Kz1000) upper on a 66mm (Z1 900) engine, that was a popular period correct performance mod. If you know the cylinders are in need of at least a hone, measure the bore. I’d bet it’s at least if not bigger than 70mm. All good and acceptable for your goal. Please don’t assume you can order all parts based on it being a 1973Z1. Good bones to start with and extra parts. You did good... Ask lots of questions, HardRockMiner knows the Z1 inside and out. Your in good hands here. Have fun.