|
Post by zambia on Apr 3, 2017 11:17:28 GMT -5
You're right - it was similar but had vertical stripes on the tank
|
|
|
Post by crazycunuc on Apr 3, 2017 11:35:09 GMT -5
Looking really goof there Neil! Keep on posting
|
|
|
Post by ballvo on Apr 9, 2017 13:31:24 GMT -5
And on I go... The original gauge bracket was bent and a bit beat up but, luckily, I had a NOS one in a parts stash I picked up a while back. The bike came with pod filters. My H2B also had pods on it but the PO, my brother-in-law, had the foresight to keep the original assembly. Again, luckily for me, all H2s use the same airbox so I had a nearly new one with like-new, pliable rubber, etc. This is the one piece I didn't feel the need to powder coat. No question it needed a fair bit of clean up. The filter material crumbled on contact and the top circular felt on the upper cover was really filthy. Nothing a few nasty solvents couldn't resolve... Hang to dry for a couple days while everything else gets a good cleanup. In the above photo you can see the snorkel is a bit weathered looking. As luck would have it, while looking for something else, I found an almost new, shiny and pliable one in one of my parts bins. And, finally, cut a new filter out of some Uni foam. I just glue the ends together with contact cement. It leaves a bit of a rigid surface but it's worked for me in the past. And the finished product: The forks also got the full treatment. There was some very minor pitting lower on the inner legs that I thought I could get away with by maybe filling with JB Weld but the upper end of the tubes each had a deep gouge running about half way around the tube at the top of the lower triple clamp. I never noticed them until I got the forks apart but I'm guessing they faced the front of the bike and may be a result of the hard landing of too many wheelies ?!? While waiting for my new fork tubes I worked over the lowers. I wanted not so much polished lowers but more of an original brushed aluminum look. Started off by bead blasting them. Next pic the top tube is blasted the lower one is how it came off the bike. I used a length of threaded rod through the fork with rubber stoppers on either end held in with flat washers and nuts to keep the blasting media out of the inside of the tubes. After blasting I wet sanded with 400 grit, then 600, then a green scotchbrite wetted with WD40, and finally with 0000 steel wool, to get this: I considered clear coating the lowers, either paint or powder, but in the end decided to leave them bare. Ari helped in this decision as his experience with paint is that it begain to chip pretty quickly and he pointed out that leaving them bare allows them to be cleaned/polished while still on the bike vs. disassembly to refresh then re-coat. Once the new tubes arrived I was ready for reassembly with new seals and boots. Brake caliper, ignition switch base and rear brake plate were refreshed, again with blasting, masking where necessary, then powder coating. And, finally (for today): Gotta love that evaporust/steel wool combo - makes old parts new again,
|
|
|
Post by trevors78kh400 on Apr 9, 2017 19:54:00 GMT -5
Great photos Neil. Looks like your having fun with the project. I need a new one. lol
|
|
|
Post by drewski on Apr 10, 2017 18:36:52 GMT -5
As always, great work Neil!
|
|
|
Post by crazycunuc on Apr 11, 2017 7:06:43 GMT -5
Looking really goof there Neil! Keep on posting
I really need to proof read my messages.. really "GOOD" not GOOF
I'm loving the step by step pictures. I'm in the same stage with my resto so it's great to see how some of you veterans are doing things for tips.
|
|
|
Post by North on Apr 12, 2017 13:01:26 GMT -5
Fukc me, aren't you done yet? 😎😬
Looking great Neil... you're one meticulous bastard for sure and can't to see it all done!
Picking up the D tomorrow and get her home for some much needed luvin.
I'll have to do another drive by beer and bullshit session soon... just no Mexican beers this time! 😉
|
|
|
Post by ballvo on Apr 12, 2017 15:01:22 GMT -5
Yeah, not quite finished... Speaking of which, I thought you'd be riding that D of yours by now - with Higgspeeds, no less. Next visit you should stay awhile (like past when the beer fridge is empty!). And don't worry, I'll have a wall built around my Mexican beer next time (which you can pay for) N.
|
|
|
Post by ballvo on Apr 12, 2017 22:54:31 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by H2 Dude on Apr 12, 2017 23:46:21 GMT -5
Neil, My bike is looking gooood...lol..Great work!
|
|
|
Post by Walms on Apr 13, 2017 3:48:19 GMT -5
Awesome work Neil!
|
|
|
Post by pipe welder on Apr 13, 2017 16:16:11 GMT -5
All I can say is WOW! It's depressing to look at mine after seeing this.
|
|
|
Post by ballvo on Apr 13, 2017 16:52:56 GMT -5
Thanks, guys. Hey Jim, not trying for any one-upmanship here. Doing this mostly for myself, so I've got a (somewhat) permanent record of my build. Plus, I thought someone might pick up the odd tip or two if they're stuck on something with their own project. I always enjoy seeing how others get things done and usually come away with something. That's really where I've gleaned much of what I'm doing, is from reading about others' work. Look on the bright side - You've got a nice running bike and, I'm guessing, a positive bank balance. Me, on the other hand, have got a partially built bike and a negative balance (that's continuing to head south). And I still have a bunch more $$ to throw at it as I'm now dealing with the motor. Hopefully it's worth it in the end... Cheers, N.
|
|
|
Post by crazycunuc on Apr 17, 2017 14:43:23 GMT -5
As usual, the plastic wiring sheath was rock hard and cracked/broken in places so I got some replacement sheath from Vintage Connections and replaced the old stuff.
is this a generic Electrical sheath or is it Kawasaki specific?
|
|
|
Post by ballvo on Apr 17, 2017 15:25:09 GMT -5
www.vintageconnections.com/Here's a couple of quotes from their webpage: "This product is a perfect match for the original Japanese factory gloss black vinyl sleeving that was used from the Sixties through the Eighties.""The original sleeving on your Japanese bike was extruded from vinyl, which doesn't hold up well in heat and direct sunlight, or if exposed to liquid gasoline. Our high quality soft glossy-finish black and silver-gray sleeving are extruded from PVC for long life and for great resistance to heat, sunlight, and chemicals."It comes in a variety of I.D.s
Cheers, N.
|
|