What did you do to your motorcyle today?

[hardrockminer]

After delaying all summer I finally decided to change out the close ratio transmission in my blue Z1.  I've only put 700 miles on it since the restoration two years ago.  Much of the reason is because the bike revs much higher at highway speeds than my red bike, consequently the mirrors start vibrating at around 90 kph.  I can't see anything behind me after that point, but with the red bike I can see clearly up to about 105 kph.

So far I've got the engine out of the frame, split the cases and pulled out the old tranny.  I broke one M6 stud and had to get a local machinist to take it out.  Now ready to install the new (to me) tranny and close up the cases.  Then re-install in the frame and finish up the top end.

[754]

You removed the top end ?  Did you pull motor in one piece? 

[Runningdog]

Finally at wiring stage (new battery yesterday, that's optimism) of basket CB350, after spending summer making something that looks motorcyclish.

Head and cylinders are still at machine shop for overboring and lapping.

[754]

Well that looks better than the pile of parts we saw at your place..

[hardrockminer]

You removed the top end ?  Did you pull motor in one piece? 

I removed the head but left the cylinders in place.  In the past I've pulled the cylinders too.  This time I didn't want to go through all the cleaning required to remove the old base gasket.  So far so good!

Mark, that looks great!  I love the old 350's.

[Runningdog]

That Mark, he's always working on interesting things, ain't he?

[Galactica]

After delaying all summer I finally decided to change out the close ratio transmission in my blue Z1.  I've only put 700 miles on it since the restoration two years ago.  Much of the reason is because the bike revs much higher at highway speeds than my red bike, consequently the mirrors start vibrating at around 90 kph.  I can't see anything behind me after that point, but with the red bike I can see clearly up to about 105 kph.

So far I've got the engine out of the frame, split the cases and pulled out the old tranny.  I broke one M6 stud and had to get a local machinist to take it out.  Now ready to install the new (to me) tranny and close up the cases.  Then re-install in the frame and finish up the top end.

I’m curious about your vibrating mirrors.  Are they Kawasaki mirrors or aftermarket? 

When I first built my Led Zed (79 kz1000 Ltd), I used inexpensive aftermarket mirrors.  From several feet away, they certainly look the part.  When you actually use them as mirrors their failings are very soon evident.  The mirrors themselves are just flat mirrors rather than convex, so the field of view is small.  And they vibrate...a lot, making rear view awareness impossible. 

So at a swap meet I picked up a couple of Kawasaki mirrors.  But one wasn’t quite right as I determined much later after using them to a long time.  One of them was slightly different, and it vibrated a bit at highway speeds.   Not terribly, but enough to be noticeable and annoying.  I replaced it with a new old stock mirror off my Z1, no more vibration. 

I ordered a replacement from Kawasaki two months ago.  It was back ordered, but still available.  Apparently it’s probably coming from Japan, hopefully arriving this week. 

[Wheels]

You can take the mirror out of the housing and cut styrofoam or even a sponge or a rolled up shop towel will work.    Just remember to replace the shop towel every year or so.
That should do it until you decide on new ones or not.

[hardrockminer]

They are original mirrors.  The red bike are original to the bike when it was purchased.  The blue bike has a set off a '73 Z1.  The early Z1's had mirrors with brass inserts to screw into the stem.  These mirrors are thinner from front to back than mirrors on the rest of the Z1 to KZ900 production.  Interestingly, as you pointed out you can still buy OEM mirrors from Kawasaki.

My mirrors are fine up to 4,000 rpm.  Above 4,000 they vibrate and I can't see anything behind me.  My original Z1B that I bought in 1975 was the same.  As it turns out, 4k rpm is right about 100 kph.  I'm fine with that because I seldom go faster than 100 kph, but the close ratio transmission meant that 4,000 rpm is about 90 kph.  In an attempt to do even better I've ordered a couple of 32 tooth rear sprockets to bring rpm's down even lower at highway speeds.  I have tried rubber inserts on the handlebar attachments but the experiment failed.

The tranny is changed out, cases are back together and the engine is back in the frame.  I just need to re-assemble the bits and pieces I removed, including the head.

[stanfromhell]

It's time to start figuring out why my freshly rebuilt engine  won't start and only has 60 psi compression in each cylinder.
I was very careful to line up the marks on the crankshaft and cam but who knows?...,

[754]

 Very cool bike ..reminds me of Max and Rastus the Riding Cat..

[hardrockminer]

Love it!  On the compression issue, have you isolated it to head or cylinders?  ie: have you tried the spoonful of oil in the cylinder trick?  What is normal compression?

[Runningdog]

Got engine back together and married to rest of bike.   Now to see what is still missing or needs replacement.    I never know this last part until I dig out the next assembly.  

Installed clutch and all its connections, and cable, just to make sure it worked, and to get transmission shifting......all good on that front.

Next installed front sprocket and chain, and discovered that threads on one adjustor were stripped....got a pair of replicas from SCI over Christmas.

Then figured I'd mount starter and see if it worked.....wrong starter, although it is from a Honda.   Supplier sent a second (free) starter, with a broken mount (I knew about that before they sent it, I had the right mount already), and I was able to make a good looking starter with some paint and a starter rebuild kit.  Still waiting for a 47" power cable.  Discovered I also needed a ground cable the same gauge as the power cable, so found something at a local auto parts store for $7, and they tossed in a crimp-on connector to match the battery terminal size.  Now, I really need that 47" cable, and maybe I can turn this puppy over under electric power.

Pattern mufflers coming from David Silver, I have good headers.

Carbs and petcock, and assorted hoses, still to go on.  Getting close.  Probably missing some bolt or connector I need that I don't have even a clue about.

[754]

Looking good , I have long cables on the 750 starters, don't know if they can be pulled out or disconnected?  They may be just a tad shorter as they are behind the  cylinder . .?

[Jefft]

Looking great Howard!