1983 kz550 ltd

Okay guys and girls. My new air filter with no mice in it!


My new battery which was recommended by other forum users.

Sorry, but I have been so busy working on this bike that I havent been updating. I have also been working on another bike so here is what has been happening. I have a lot of the black painted parts finished but did not take pictures, I must have been too busy

Here is my wife pretending to be excited

Here is rear wheel

Frame is painted. I ended upsandblasting the whole thing.

Also the forks are done



Rear brake cover is done. It used to be black. I sandblasted it then polished it. How do you get out those tiny little black holes?

I created an account just to say what an awesome job you are doing. I just recently acquired an '80 KZ550LTD and wish I had the means to do what you are doing.

Love it!

fastdave wrote: Also the forks are done



Rear brake cover is done. It used to be black. I sandblasted it then polished it. How do you get out those tiny little black holes?

Its hard to tell in the picture exactly what they are, either exclusions from the casting or pitting from corrosion. If you want a mirror finish you have to sand past them.

Thats what I figured. Yeah. Thats pitted from corrosion.
Here is some more pictures of parts that are painted



Here are the wheels. I polished all the areas that were originally polished and the black parts are now primered.



Swingarm and other parts primed



Finally, here iam working on the rearsets.




Thanks for looking

Those are pretty small, i doubt you will notice them when the bike is assembled. If it really bugs you, you can try aluminum solder paste. i have never used it but i have heard good things.

www.caswellplating.com/restoration-aids/...l-repair-0-25oz.html

Looks like you have some good helpers there. My daughter and granddaughter were 900 miles away. Had no money but time, kept me sane. When I did get the money together, it was ready to go. Fresh parts and clean ones made the job a pleasure. Kinda hated for it to end. It never does but you know what I mean.
Steve

Wheels are painted and polished to 3000 grit sandpaper. Im going to have new valves installed and my tires put on and balanced. I swear to god if they scratch these things I will be soooo mad. That is proba ly the only thing im not going to do myself. Anyway here are the pics.






Yes thats my kid helping. Shes almost four.

fastdave wrote: I swear to god if they scratch these things I will be soooo mad. That is proba ly the only thing im not going to do myself. Anyway here are the pics.

Take it to a bike shop you trust 100% then. The very first set of wheels i ever laced up with brand new Excell rims and stainless spokes, I took to a shop to mount tires on and they put a huge gouge in the lip of the rim, Then the d-bags tried to tell it me it was there when i brought it in! I was furious and I have mounted and balanced my own tires ever since. Its really not that hard and you have the peace of mind knowing it was done right.

I have a theory that motorcycle shops tend to attract the bottom of the barrel mechanics because highly skilled mechanics are working on heavy machinery and trucks and stuff; getting paid good money. Not to say there aren't good motorcycle mechanics out there, but i feel like there is a disproportionate amount of bad to good because bike mechanics don't get paid nearly as much as others working on more complex things.

My rearsets were so pitted I had to sandblast them and then orbital to get past the pits.

More parts painted and ready to go on

If only I had the means to do as you are with my 750... everything is looking good, can't wait to see the outcome.