Grumpy's baby

Thought I would post a few pix...been loitering around here for a while now...(Sitting in the back of the class, trying to deprive the rest of the kids of their education!) The back story: A buddy bought an old farm and asked me to help him clean out the barns...TONS of stuff laying about! The 2nd day I was helping him, I noticed an oddly shaped bush right up behind the house, just outside the overgrown kitchen door. Took a break, walked over to take a look, and guess what I found? (Ahh, you're WAY ahead of me) An original 1978 kz650 b2. Originally Red, but the sun had it's way with the poor girl...Have one pic from her resting place, but on an old flip phone with no way to get it out, and posted, dernit! This is the first pic I took of her. ( LTD seat was a gift from my buddy, original is screwed, vinyl dry and shredded, pan shot to hell...Neat find though...original owners manual under the seat in a ziplock baggie...mint!
spent a couple year going rounds, (had carbs rebuilt 3 times), trying to get her running reliably...lost a year in a buddy's garage, waiting for help that, unfortunately, he never got around to providing...thanks to Rehmert's Kawasaki, NOS points/capacitors, NOS master cylinder...finally, I could tentatively hit the streets!!

Amazing what a decade of exposure to the elements can do do a piece of machinery...Orange, indeed! ripped around quite a bit longer on old rubber than I should have



...resculpted and recovered donated LTD seat...better, but like to find a nice original..

FInally broke down and got new Avon rubber! Started thinking about the crispy paint...Adhering to my firmly held belief that Blue is the correct color for everything, The transformation began. Kind of "Christine-like"process...
bits here and there...(just can't put her up for the duration!)








So here is where I am currently...will update as parts fly onto her! Thanx for looking!

awesome save story !

sweet bike to show for your hard work!

congrats .

leon

I like it a lot. Keep the momentum going.
Dave

Can't say enough nice things about Z1 enterprises...I LOVE it when those selling me parts know more about my vehicle than I do...priceless! Got a BEEG box of parts the other day...Fork emulators, progressive springs. carb mounts,Hagons, x-ring chain, new sprockets, copper exhaust gaskets, and a V&H header....Temps are gonna be in the 50's tomorrow, so half day at work! Since I have "denuded" the front of the bike, am planning on taking advantage of the weather and no front end/exhaust in the way...give her a good "scrubby dubby" mask off engine, and paint the neck/frame as far to the rear as the bike hoist underneath will permit...Triple trees are ready to go back in with all balls bearings in place...A little machine work on the damping rod, re-assembly with racetech & progressive parts, and the forks will be ready to go back in...once mounted, and she's back on terra firma again, gonna move to the rear end...2nd verse, same as the first...strip her down a bit, scrub/wipe down and hit the frame with some paint....R &R chain and sprockets, mount new Hagons, After that, re-jet carbs, mount up new header, and see how good Jeff S. was at guesstimating jet sizes! Stuff is really starting to happen now...Am so stoked...Can't WAIT for Spring! Has anyone out there ever rebuilt the steering lock? Pic in FSM makes it look like it might be repairable, but DOGGED if I can figure out how it comes apart...It is locked up tight !after reading of the thievery at Berkley last weekend, it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to address this issue, if possible. Thanx, all, C'mon Spring!

If you remove the little cover (steering lock cap) that covers the steering lock I believe the lock will slide straight out (assuming it is not in the locked position). You may need to insert the key to do this. I replaced the steering lock cap and the "tapping screw" that holds the cap in place on mine for cosmetic reasons. When I did, I used a small flat blade screwdriver under the cap to gently persuade the cap and screw out. The screw isn't really a normal screw. Rather than normal screw threads the shaft just has a gentle twist to it to hold it in place. A little penetrating oil won't hurt the removal process.

According to Kawasaki.com the steering lock cap (part #11012-1134) and the tapping screw (part #92008-007) are still available. Partzilla lists them at $2.91 and $1.79. Ed

www.partzilla.com/search/?q=11012-1134&x=6&y=11
www.partzilla.com/search/?q=92008-007&x=6&y=11

Nice work on the 650 Grumpy.
Looks great in blue, my favorite colour.


I bought a stock seat for my 650s, but after a few rides found it too hard.
Back to using a few other seats I have.

thanx Rob! Yeah it had to be candy apple blue...ya wanna come off a nice original seat? Some modern (non antique !) Foam, and it would probably ride fine! seat recovering isn't too scary for me... I like that grab strap, old school look.plus the ltd pan I am using doesn't have that snazzy plastic lid to tuck the owners manual in! ¡muy importante! LOL! I keep an eye open when I think about it...they don't seem to pop up too often. Thanx again! Lotsa parts flying around right now!

Quick update...couple pix...6 hrs in garage Saturday...boots, carbs, carb monts, airbox, pegs, rear fender aasembly...just about as nekkid as I am comfortable posting on a family site! The deeper I dig, the more crud I find! Degrease,detail, repaint..clean, scrub...oy! A few more warm days here and there, she'll be on the way back together! Staying busy in the house wet sanding fork lowers. C'mon, Spring!

Quick update: too damn cold to get into the garage..polishing fork lowers...(no die grinder required! LOL!) THE "SPARKY" PIC IS A JOKE, GUYS!!!!! Wet sanding from 400, 600, 1000, at 1500 wet/dry right now. Leaving one alone for now...for comparative/inspirational reasons! Shiny stuff seems to be very hard to get in focus, but hear me now, believe me later when I tell you...the fork lower on the right looks marvelous! Will Hit it with 2000 wet next... And then I need to get some polishing wheels for the drill...might try some mothers on a rag...see what it does. Probably have 6 hrs sitting on the couch with a bucket in my lap so far...takes time, but looking berry berry nice! Thanx all! Edit: another hour, 2000 grit, and a little mother's...and POW! I don't think I'll need anything with a motor...all hand work so far, and I am tickled! Moving on to the other leg!

Looks real nice Grumpy. The second picture really tells the story. Don't use any type of silicone base wax or sprays on it. It will dull the shine. The Mother's Aluminum and Metal polish and a terry cloth to wipe is all it will need from now on. And only necessary every two to five months if the bike is garage kept. Very easy to maintain that shine. I wrapped my lowers in saran wrap after I polished them until I got them completely assembled on the bike. What did you use to wet the sand paper? I used a solution of water and dish washing soap in a sprayer.

Thanx joe! I'm tickled! When it finally started sparkling, it happened fast! Just a 1 gallon bucket with an inch or so of plain water in which to dunk paper..thought I might try a little simple green in it...next, engine covers!

So smooth bugs won't stick to it. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Looks great! Ed