Q's Z900 A4

[Richard Q]

I thought I would start a project thread, as I can see this becoming a life long rolling restoration

I bought this a few weeks ago from Edinburgh



I really wanted this, which I found on the internet a few weeks beforehand, drooll!



This is just like the first Z1 that I ever saw back in the mid 70's.

The one I bought is a 1976 Z900 imported from the US back in 1998 for the paltry sum of $400.

So far I have had to have to seat remodelled so that I could touch the ground and changed the footrests back to the original from the rearsets that it came with. Just got some M8/25mm stainless washers and dome nuts to finish that job off nicely.

There are a few mods that I like and will keep including the triple disc brakes and steering damper, but the colour scheme and exhausts will be going, in time

It came with - Paolo Tarozzi rearsets and fork brace, New alloy rims with stainless steel spokes, Dyna-s ignition system, coils and leads, Marving race pipe (almost brand new), Goodridge hoses front and rear, Recently fitted C & S, Koni dial-a-ride shocks, Halogen headlight conversion, Superdream regulator/rectifier conversion, K&N air filter, Steering damper, and Barrels have take-off for oil cooler.

This is a youtube video of the bike with the previous owner - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMyXYrPAOpQ

It still, in my opinion, looks a little 'jacked up,' possibly because of the non original swinging arm, so I have made up a mock shock absorber from a peice of wood to see what it would look like with 335mm shocks.





I have bought a new numberplate because much as I love the Police, I have no wish to stop and chat to them every few minutes.

Only problem now is that I do not have a spark, not one iota of a spark at all. Shame really as it's insured, MOTd and taxed as of 1st April and I want to go for a ride

[Fil]

Love the shocks, they'll catch on.
Good luck with it.
Please ride it, don't hide it.

[Richard Q]

Started collecting stuff for the winter rebuild, although if it doesn't stop raining every ten seconds, I might start now



Haven't completely unpacked them yet, they seem so well packed I think I'll leave them until ready for them.

[Richard Q]

Got some more stuff





Tax runs out tomorrow, so if it doesn't rain, it will the last ride if the year. If it does rain, then

Not sure whether to paint it up in the Z1B colours above, or take it back to standard and go for the green A4 livery

Watch this space

[Richard Q]

Just trying to ascertain exactly what I've got here, as I know my Z has been modified somewhat. Can anyone identify these carbs?





Or the swinging arm/rear disc?



Richard

[freddyz1r]

Not sure whether to paint it up in the Z1B colours above, or take it back to standard and go for the green A4 livery

or take it back to standard brown A4 livery

[Pigford]

Not sure whether to paint it up in the Z1B colours above, or take it back to standard and go for the green A4 livery

or take it back to standard brown A4 livery

Not BROWN Go Green

[Crofty]

Just trying to ascertain exactly what I've got here, as I know my Z has been modified somewhat. Can anyone identify these carbs?





Or the swinging arm/rear disc?





Richard

VM26 Mikunis if std Z900A4 or possibly VM28 if the p/o changed them. Swingarm look to be Z1000 set up inc caliper, disc has been drilled or could be a later model.

[freddyz1r]

Richard, take the carbs off and measure the internal 'throat' with some vernier calipers, this will tell you if they are 26mm or 28mm?
You can then post better pics.to identify the carbs.
or, you are more than welcome to bring them here (when you're passing) and compare to some of mine (theres a few on the 'shelf' ).
Cheers freddy

[ollie]

rear wheel is z1000 ,so if you are going for z900 you will need swingarm and a complete rear wheel including hub ,sprocket holder,brake hub and torque bar

[zedward]

Mr.Q , as you've already put they are not stock eheels ('alloy rim, stainless spokes' ).
So you need to check the hubs against a z1000?, brake caliper looks z1000.
Need more detailed pics to tell exactly

[Richard Q]

Cheers all.

The tax ran out today, so he is now SORNed and can be taken apart

I'll have the carbs off soon and measure them up. The PO said they were 28mm Z1R carbs, but I don't know how to tell. Are the Z1 28mm, Z1000 28mm, and Z1R 28 carbs all the same?

The PO wasn't sure what the swinging arm was, but to be honest, I quite like the rear disc, so will probably keep that. I was more interested in it because the pads don't sweep the whole disc, and they are around 1/4" above it. So I need to know if the pads are wrong, the disc is the wrong diameter, or they are just a mismatch. The rear end also looks a little high.



I am angling towards the green but so love that candy red of the Z1B - decisions

Have also noticed that the front reflectors have been removed, and the steering damper is now fixed to one the mounting points.

[garyd]

You need a bigger disc

should be easy enough to source one.

Maybe someone on here has a naff rear disk they can send you to check if that's what you need....

[Richard Q]

Started pulling it apart. Cams look fairly good, very little wear.



Cam bearings just starting to wear, all very clean though.



Bores are remarkably good for a 48K engine.





Head is a bit coked up. Any ideas what these little nicks are?





Never really come across little chunks missing from cylinder heads before, is this a problem?

[garyd]

The bores look like they have been honed as I'd expect to see a lot more vertical smoothing on them. Suspiction is that it's been apart at some time.

Must admit the 'nicks' have got me stumped.