Project Sharkey, 1978 KZ650C2

New paint for the bodywork is in order.
Will keep the Shark teeth, but make it bigger!
A rough sketch and playing with Paint3D;

Bodywork going to the painter;

 

Was having contact between the swing arm brace and muffler mounting bolts.
Someone put me on to Canada Bolts where I could order online what I needed;

A buddy helped make a new shield for the fairing.
First attempt left a melted mess in his oven, but second try turned out not so well done;

With most back together, and the weather getting better, been tempted to start her.
So add some gas to a bottle, and give it a try.
Nothing first attempts.
Play with the coil wires a few times, swapping green for black.
Then check carb bowls for gas, and only #1 has gas.
Spark has been tested and confirmed.
I try to blow down the gas line, then use some compressed air.
Try turning on the gas again, this time getting fuel on 1, 2 & 3.
Pull bowl off #4, and remove float and float valve.
Turn on gas, and #4 is now getting gas.

Try to start her again, and she does start.
Not running well though.
Throttle response is not good.

So off come the carbs again for a look.
On the fuel valves, a few dark rings can be seen around their bodies.
Some type of corrosion or build up.
I took a fine file and smoothed up the four splines of each fuel valve, then cleaned them.

Checked and set the fuel levels this time.
#4 below was low on first check, but when I came back after checking the other three, it's level came up;

The painter sent me this picture of the bodywork being done on the gas tank I sent him;

New 44mm Manual petcock found on ebay installed.
When the lever is up in the reserve position, it hits the bottem edge of the gas tank.
Some filing of the level looks to be needed;

Re-installed the carbs.
Found some mirrors to put on, their normally on the fairing.
Added a stock front fender for now.
Polished up some of the chrome bits;

Another attempt starting her.
This time she fired right up, and sounded good.
I could tell she was running on all four.
Once warmed, she idled well.
Throttle response was good.
The rain had let up a little, and the Sun was out, so took her for a ride.
To the gas station and up the street.
20 kms/ 12 miles in all, and got up to 90 kph/56 mph.

She ran well.
Throttle response is good.
She handles the bumps well.
And the clutch is working smoothly.

Been 5 years since I rode her.


 

Short video of her running;

ZX600E tail light video;

The ZRX1100, which got me off the KZ650, also got some TLC this past Winter.
One item I like is the green tail light.
It also has the signals built in, so off come the stock rear signals.
Rear fender also removed, and green undertail added.
The ZRX is so much like the KZ;

Looking good Rob
looking good !



 

Congratz Rob. It has to feel good after such a long time. BTW, you have great taste in motorcycles! 

Nice job bike looks great .Like the undertail on the zrx too . My other bikes have been suffering a bit since I bought my zrx too .

Hi Nick, would you have a pic of the steering damper mount  you used on the frame, I'm just about to fit a damper to my sons 650 and are looking at mount solutions..