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Hi Beachcomber.
Great to see you around again. It is kinda mixed good and bad news for you and I wish you all the best.
It would be fantastic if your health would be kind enough to allow you to finish the twin project off. You’ve put a lot of time and effort in so far and I would also like to see her complete.
All the best
KK
Amazing what a bit of sunshine does for you !
Thanx for the kind sentiments KK – I’ve decided I am going to carry on [ health permitting ]at least to the rolling chassis stage.
That way if I am forced to sell, then the potential buyer has a better idea of what they’re getting ! At the moment the project is spread all over my garage, shed and even the house !
BTW – my condition is now officially diagnosed as “CKD” – or “chronic kidney disease” – sounds apocalypyic, but there’s 5 stages and I’m currently stabilised at stage 3. A ways to go yet and the current meds seem to be holding their own.
Amazing what a bit of sunshine and a reasonably positive set of test results can do !
Health issue is now stabilised at stage 3 – the big test comes in July, when the specialists will be able to tell with some certainty if the drop in function is likely to progress to the next level or continue to stabilise.
In the meantime I’ve decided to carry on with the KZ project for as long as good health will allow.
Yesterday the fork legs and top caps went off to the machine shop – my guy wasn’t there, but his mate said he couldn’t see any problems. If he can’t re-machine the new [ smaller ] thread onto the caps, then he’ll look at making up some new ones.
Although they actually retain the springs, The only other function is as an oil seal retainer.
That just leaves a major clear up in the man cave and sort out all the scattered parts for a final push to get the chassis into a rolling stage.
I’m off to Saxony for a chill break and re-charge the batteries beginning of June – but I intend to have a real blitz when I get back.
These are the old caps – it’s a wonder they didn’t just fly off with the spring pressure !!
Just in time !
Got a call from my machine shop guy to say that the fork caps were ready. There was enough material for him to resize and rethread the new [ incorrect ! ] caps I got from the US.
Off to Saxony tomorrow – just for a week – when I get back it’s on with the rolling chassis. I’ve found MOST of the scattered parts, but it was the caps that were holding things up.
Plan is to get the chassis rolling on it’s wheels to give me a bit of encouragement prior to the July tests. At least once it starts looking like a bike and not a pile of bits, I’ll hopefully be reinvigorated !
Swingarm installed – after I found the grease caps I’d put “in a safe place” !!
I’ve also located all the parts for the forks to be re-assembled and fettled the polished alloy top fork tube covers. The stanchions were in good condition where it was critical [ sliders ], but had suffered on the chrome between the yokes. Non critical, but looked naff ! So I cut some polished alloy tube to length that just fitted over the stanchions.
I’ll reposition the electrical components on the under tray I made up for final fitment. I hadn’t allowed for the bulk of the 4 way fuse box. I’m looking for some Brass bolts / nuts so I can make up a couple of good earth points.
Just need a good sort out of my workspace area that had been neglected in the past 3 months!
Critical health checks coming up in the next few weeks – fingers crossed eh ?
Good to see you back beachcomber.
Hope all is as well as can be expected. My fingers are crossed here.
good to see you reviving the twin project too. You’ve a target date now so stop typing and crack on . . . 😆 😆 😆
Point taken KK !!
Now “getting on” sir.
Swingarm finally installed and all spindles re-checked for fit after passivating – all good.
Final [? ] layout for the electrics undertray finished and clamp for battery made up.
I managed to find just the right size “O” rings to go between the alloy cover tubes and the yokes to prevent any possible rattles.
While I was at it I tried the Tarozzi rearsets that I bought for my abandoned Vindicator Cafe Racer. Not that the bike needs them, but they do look the biz ! Bit of mild surgery on one of the original footpeg mounts and they are perfect. In reality they will only be placed back and up about 2″ – just right for my shortie legs !
As soon as the weather cools down a bit [ 40 degrees in my shed ]I’ll be back on the final pattern making for the tank.
I’m on a final pre-check of the fork legs and fittings now before I get round to the rolling chassis stage – there, that didn’t take long did it !!!!
Not many excuses to not progress now. I’m looking forward to seeing your progress, health permitting.
And the very next day I modified and fitted the Tarozzi rear sets !
Doesn’t seem much, but I did brave 42 degrees in the shed to finish them off. Required minor surgery on the OEM lower mounts – no going back now !
Another bonus – I can forget the complicated brake linkage – haven’t looked at the gear linkage yet ! As I was checking out the fuggly OEM brake lever for any useful bits – and hey ho,with a bracket welded on and the main part of the lever chopped off – I have my linkage ! Simples………..
Just requires tidying up / painting and then all the OEM connections work. I have managed to lose the little bracket that holds the rear brake light switch – any takers ? Oh yes, and the diaphragm that goes inside the rear master cylinder.
It’s obvious now that I can’t assemble much more in my shed, so I have to clear a space in my garage – once done I have access to my hydraulic bike lift. So there really IS a deadline now, as I don’t want to be working up there too much in the Winter.
Hi Beachcomber,
wish you all the best !
The bracket of rear brake light switch is welded to the upper, rear engine holder.
I may find a spare one in black.Can ship with a planned parcel to Kaptainkwak.
The diaphragms I have are in very used condition and it would make good sense not to use them. But even better than none.
I’ve checked the part number and here is the list of models that uses the same diaphragm. Hope that helps.
http://www.cmsnl.com offers just one of these right now for 13,- Euros + VAT + shipping + tax(?)
http://www.cmsnl.com/kawasaki-kz750b3-1978-usa-canadamph-kph_model15508/diaphragm_43028003/#.V5ZzgNKLTGgCheers, Michael
Michael,
many thanx for your good wishes.
Yes – I am a dummy ! I realised that the bracket is on the engine mount bracket ! I found it in my box of powder coated parts !! However, I definitely HAVE lost the lock nut [ plastic ? ]
Also thanx for the headsup on the master cylinder diaphragm.
Don’t want any more of them there tests thank you ! That’s 6 hours of my life I’ll never get back.
Results promised within the week.
While I was in the shed feeling sorry for myself – I decided I didn’t like the matt finish of the textured paint I used on some of the components. So stripped all the parts back down and a swift rattle can Satin Black finish has now been sprayed on – MUCH better.
So how to keep the next 7 days from dragging by while I’m waiting for results ?? GET STUCK IN !!
I decided to start on the tank today – it was still in the roughly shaped filler coat – all over [ last pic ]. Yes it was THAT bad originally. Looked good until I had it blasted. Showed up all sorts of mayhem and dents.
So an hour later I have the first knock down pass and actually isn’t that far away from shape !
I’ve subtly reshaped it to get rid of the flanged fabrication joints around the bottom and front to give it a smooth transition to the edges.
My new chain arrived today, number plate yesterday – marching on now !
Just to clarify for the hypercritical – the tank represents the first rough knockdown pass – still many lumps and bumps – and a bit more filler required, but the overall shape is exactly what I was aiming for. And essentially I wanted to get rid of the “pie crust” seams around the edges.
Brake lever cut and I made up a new actuating bracket which a pal welded up yesterday. Just needs cleaning up and finish [ Satin Black ? ]. The action is perfect and will also allow sufficient movement to place the lever where I want. I even found the return spring in my box of passivated parts !Results in ………………. my condition has stabilised since the interim tests.
No guarantees, but at least the pressure is off for the time being.
Just need to take ongoing assessments every 6 months – and keep taking the meds ! Thanx to all for the kind words and good wishes.
Scored this re-conned Weber 40DCOE for the Tracker project. Looks scruffy, but all new inside.
Does anyone have an old cylinder head I could borrow to use as a jig for making the manifold ?
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