82 kz750 cafe racer

Bought the bike this week non-running with 12k on the clock. Plan is to turn it into a cafe racer/fighter of some sort.

Started out by cleaning the carbs. While they were off I decided to give the engine a thorough cleaning. I think it's fair to say it hasn't been this clean in a while. Going to put it back together today and try for a first start!

Short term plans:
Lower handlebars, either clubmans or flipping the existing superbike bars.
Lower headlight
Led taillight

Long term plans:
4 to 1 exhaust
Modern front suspension/brakes
Paint job

Well, I got it running! Seemed to run pretty well until I took it off choke. Not sure if I didn't let it warm up enough or what. Didn't take the time to figure out, because it started raining and it was leaking from the fuel filter and one of the float bowl drains... But at least it runs!

Please edit your first post and this time click "insert all" on the photos. This will make the photos show up in high resolution instead of thumbnails.

Your carbs look clean from the bowl side but did you remove all the jets before cleaning? It's critical to remove the pilot screws, pilot plug and jet, main jets, and bleed pipe, and clean them separate. Hold up each jet to a strong light and make sure the orifice is open. Also, shoot carb cleaner through the pilot circuit and make sure it comes out the small holes near the butterfly.

I did remove the jets during cleaning. There was one that I could not, due to some prior person chewing it up, but I shot a good amount of carb cleaner in there. I might go through it again, but after I buy new airbox hoses to make installation a bit easier.

I have some good used air box hoses I won't be using...

Awesome! PM sent.

One of the outer ones is a little stiff on one side, but all the rest are pliable.

Skidmark wrote: One of the outer ones is a little stiff on one side, but all the rest are pliable.

That could work well. 3 of mine are a little stiff on one side, but one outer is fully pliable

Look here for next cleaning www.kzrider.com/forum/3-carburetor/59856...-cleaner-in-cv-carbs

riturbo wrote: Look here for next cleaning www.kzrider.com/forum/3-carburetor/59856...-cleaner-in-cv-carbs

Thank you! I feel enlightened, indeed! I'm going to do this tomorrow after work!

Well I've been making steady progress! Finally got her running decent today. Went back into the carbs, adjusted the floats, and cleaned the idle circuit again. Also found out that my right side muffler was hanging on by a thread, so I switched to the 4-1 header. Now if finally idles nice!

Only issue is that it bogs and dies under wot, must be lean due to the open header. I may go ahead and order some 115 mains. Does that sound right?

Fabbed up a bracket for my new brake light. Installed clip ons. Lowered the front forks an inch or so. New headlight brackets. Painted headlight bucket matte black Removed chain guard and front mud guard.

Lots of little stuff, but it adds up to looking pretty good. At least now I have something to look at and rev up until I go get some gear and my license.

Oh yeah forgot to mention I painted the seat! Black Duplicolor vinyl spray paint. Went on super easy and looks great.