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Out with the old and in with the even older! ('76 z900a5)

Post pictures of your bikes without having to pull them to bits to qualify for Projects. Club eligible Z based bikes only please, anything else should be in the bottom shed.
Please use it wisely and be respectful of other peoples' pride and joy....
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davejames
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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#16 PostAuthor: davejames » Sun Apr 15, 2018 1:57 am

That looks really nice :)
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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#17 PostAuthor: deka » Sun Apr 15, 2018 7:08 am

Scored again nice one
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damien.wrl
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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#18 PostAuthor: damien.wrl » Sun Apr 15, 2018 9:28 am

Plenty of restored bling out there, looks like you could end up with a mint unrestored survivor .... nice

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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#19 PostAuthor: Ultim8pc » Sun Apr 15, 2018 1:44 pm

damien.wrl wrote:Plenty of restored bling out there, looks like you could end up with a mint unrestored survivor .... nice

Cheers, however, It's not mint, but certainly in very decent original condition.
I have another brown 900 on it's way, so I can choose the best parts from both!
http://www.airevalleyclassics.co.uk
10% discount code Z1OCTEN
Keyster rebuild kits & carburettor spares - airscrews, jets, needles, starter plungers & gaskets.
Also petrol/ethanol proof float bowl gaskets. IMD pistons preferred seller.

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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#20 PostAuthor: Ultim8pc » Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:17 am

Had a bit of a poke about the bike yesterday and found that the rear light bulb had failed and was the cause of the stop light on the console flashing.
However, after replacing the bulb the light on the console still flashes.
So I need to see whether the brake light failure indicator switch under the tank is working correctly.

Also, as the bike is running roughly I checked that I have spark on all four plugs, which I do. So the issue is likely the carbs.
I removed the air filter and found what appears to be a home made air filter which uses a microfibre cloth as the filter!! :shock:

Front brake works really well. I checked the fluid and it's nasty, so that will need to be changed.

Inside of tank is rust free with a small amount of the usual brown residue.

I'll be giving it a deep clean over the next few weeks and that will help to find any issues.
http://www.airevalleyclassics.co.uk
10% discount code Z1OCTEN
Keyster rebuild kits & carburettor spares - airscrews, jets, needles, starter plungers & gaskets.
Also petrol/ethanol proof float bowl gaskets. IMD pistons preferred seller.

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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#21 PostAuthor: Ultim8pc » Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:39 pm

Found out a bit of history about the bike. It's had one owner until 2017, when it was sold to the person I bought it from. That original owner racked up the whole 8000 miles showing on the clocks by 1982 and then the bike was mothballed. It was occasionally cleaned, checked and started.

Anyway...

Made good progress on some other things today so had a few hours to take a closer peek 'under the bonnet' of the 900..

Removed the tailpiece to look at the rear sub frame and mudguard. Sub frame a bit dirty but no rust.
Rear mudguard had some moderate pitting, I cleaned ab it up with Quick-Glo fine formula and it came up nicely, so I removed the mudguard and got to work in stripping off the rear light and cleaning it all up fully.
Slight crack in by one of the mounts on the inner rear mudguard. :|
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A closer look....
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Under the tank shows pristine paintwork. Wiring should clean up to look like new I think.
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Rear mudguard cleaned up nicely with Quick-Glo. I also stripped the rear light and bracket and cleaned all that up too.
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What's this lurking in the airbox?
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Carbs are leaking and full of crud. So I'll be whipping those out to clean and sort them.
Interestingly, I notice the flat connecting plate across the carb tops. My previous A5 didn't have those...
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Last edited by Ultim8pc on Mon Apr 23, 2018 7:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
http://www.airevalleyclassics.co.uk
10% discount code Z1OCTEN
Keyster rebuild kits & carburettor spares - airscrews, jets, needles, starter plungers & gaskets.
Also petrol/ethanol proof float bowl gaskets. IMD pistons preferred seller.

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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#22 PostAuthor: Ultim8pc » Tue Apr 17, 2018 9:51 pm

Got a good six hours in today. Carefully removed the exhaust, rear wheel and battery box so that I can get into the nooks and crannies for cleaning.
Also removed the carbs, stripped them and ran them through the ultrasonic cleaner.
Figured out that the issue I have with the rear light warning light is the little controller box. Disconnecting has sorted the issue...

What have I started?
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Engine bay is not bad.
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Very carefully removed the OEM exhausts!
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Battery box is in very good shape with no corrosion.
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Under the battery box is decent too, just a bit grotty on top of the swingarm.
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Doh! broken tool tray mount... :(
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Carbs all stripped. Apart from the gaskets being porous they are pretty clean inside and no wear. The air screw o-rings have disintegrated though. T-pieces look OK.
However, the finish of the carb bodies is not brill. Never seen this before. It's almost like they are plated or coated in something, but the finish is inconsistent. Or the bodies have corroded in some way..
Ran them through the ultrasonic cleaner and they are not really any better. So I'll need to decide what to do with them...
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Old dry grease, so will need to repack them with grease.
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Rear brake and hub are in good shape, just need a clean up.
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http://www.airevalleyclassics.co.uk
10% discount code Z1OCTEN
Keyster rebuild kits & carburettor spares - airscrews, jets, needles, starter plungers & gaskets.
Also petrol/ethanol proof float bowl gaskets. IMD pistons preferred seller.

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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#23 PostAuthor: Gonzo » Wed Apr 18, 2018 10:44 am

I'm impressed on how the chrome came up on the rear mudguard.
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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#24 PostAuthor: Ultim8pc » Wed Apr 18, 2018 11:54 am

Gonzo wrote:I'm impressed on how the chrome came up on the rear mudguard.

Indeed. That's why I took on the rights as the UK re-seller for Quick-Glo!
http://www.airevalleyclassics.co.uk
10% discount code Z1OCTEN
Keyster rebuild kits & carburettor spares - airscrews, jets, needles, starter plungers & gaskets.
Also petrol/ethanol proof float bowl gaskets. IMD pistons preferred seller.

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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#25 PostAuthor: damien.wrl » Wed Apr 18, 2018 9:50 pm

It’s going to,look,the dogs when it’s done ... good work

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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#26 PostAuthor: Ultim8pc » Thu Apr 19, 2018 7:34 am

damien.wrl wrote:It’s going to,look,the dogs when it’s done ... good work

Cheers.

By way of an update, I'm not happy with the finish on the carb bodies, so going to get them vapour blasted. and get the engine cases polished.
Any recommendations for anyone in Yorks/Lancs for both those?
http://www.airevalleyclassics.co.uk
10% discount code Z1OCTEN
Keyster rebuild kits & carburettor spares - airscrews, jets, needles, starter plungers & gaskets.
Also petrol/ethanol proof float bowl gaskets. IMD pistons preferred seller.

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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#27 PostAuthor: Tonto » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:56 am

Love the bike - cracking find !
Ive used Stephen Smethurst in Salford for my Z900 and CBX polishing: stunning work both times: http://www.aloh.co.uk/samples/

Cheers Tim
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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#28 PostAuthor: Wrigers » Thu Apr 19, 2018 7:10 pm

Agrigg chrome plating in Leeds has a good name. As well as chroming he also does polishing and ultrasonic cleaning on carb bodies.
He might be worth a call, and he's up your neck of the woods. Paul.

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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#29 PostAuthor: chrisw1 » Thu Apr 19, 2018 8:56 pm

i use FJ Vapour blasting in Skelmersdale ......reasonable and fat turn around .he restores LCs so is bike sympathetic

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Re: Out with the old and in with the even older! ('75 z900a5)

#30 PostAuthor: Ultim8pc » Fri Apr 20, 2018 11:59 am

Did a bit of fine detailing on the rear wheel yesterday. I used Quick-Glo Fine Formula https://www.airevalleyclassics.co.uk/quick-glo-fine-formula-8oz.html (plug, plug) on the rim and hubs, using a tooth brush to get around the nipples.
Has come up pretty well and should now be protected for some time.
Spokes and nipples are dulled but not rusty and minor pitting to the chrome, but no thinning.
Image
Image
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http://www.airevalleyclassics.co.uk
10% discount code Z1OCTEN
Keyster rebuild kits & carburettor spares - airscrews, jets, needles, starter plungers & gaskets.
Also petrol/ethanol proof float bowl gaskets. IMD pistons preferred seller.


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